Old motherboard problem

My friend's computer has been acting weird, and it didn't boot at all. Turns out it was a memory problem. I fixed that, and then booted the computer. After the IDE devices were detected, it said "cmos checksum error, defaults loaded" It then gives me two options to continue or go to the setup menu. The problem is, it does not respond to the keyboard's commands! I've tried four different keyboards, and I know they aren't the problem. Help!

Could you be more specific about the brand, make and model of the mainboard.

Have you visually inspected the mainboard for failing components ie bad capacitors.

MD

It's a Micro ATX mainboard, no idea what company it is. It's a Celeron (don't laugh) 850mhz. The BIOS is a Phoenix 686.

I doubt the motherboard is actually physically broken, as it is able to turn on.

are you using 2 or more SDRAM modules?

assuming everything is plugged in correctly...I would disconnect all IDE devices-then boot, and see if you can enter the BIOS. if it still hangs, remove your RAM, clear the CMOS, and try with one RAM module at a time to see if you can enter the BIOS setup. if you are using more than one try them all as single, then in combo(s).

you may find (if you are using more than one stick of RAM) that the combo of sticks is causing the hang. unplugging the IDE(s) is just to eliminate any possible cause from your drives. you can hook up you drives once you get in...and save your settings etc.

This M-ATX board only supports one module of RAM. I've resetted the bios to attempt to get it to work, but no luck. I'll try unplugging all the IDE drives, but I doubt it's the problem.

DuffMan72 said:

It's a Micro ATX mainboard, no idea what company it is. It's a Celeron (don't laugh) 850mhz. The BIOS is a Phoenix 686.

I doubt the motherboard is actually physically broken, as it is able to turn on.

Click to expand...

1. When it boots is there nothing on the initial screen (where it typically shows the memory test progress) to indicate a manufacturer and/or model? Sometimes there is a logo at the top of the screen. IIRC, there should also be a model number at the bottom. Write this number down and check the Phoenix BIOS web site, they do have a list of number prefixes that indicate the manufacturer.

2. The checksum error is often displayed when the cmos battery is dead.

3. If you haven't already done so try booting with a completely bare system. Just mobo, ram, cpu, gpu, and a keyboard plugged in keyboard (don't use a usb kbd). You should be able to get into the bios. If the kbd still doesn't work, you could try unplugging the psu and removing the cmos battery for 1 minute.

The Phoenix BIOS website doesn't have any updates, for some reason. The BIOS version is... 8604-686B-6A6LLDAAC-00

I am able to see the processor and memory test when the computer boots, as well as the IDE devices being displayed, but it doesn't go any further after saying there's a CMOS error. I will try getting a new battery, as that seems to be the problem. But, how does that explain no response from the KB?

DuffMan72 said:

The Phoenix BIOS website doesn't have any updates, for some reason. The BIOS version is... 8604-686B-6A6LLDAAC-00

Click to expand...

Mobo manufacturers have to customize the BIOS. Was there a copyright notice displayed on the first screen. You really need to figure out who manufactured the board.

there is another way to find out who made the board and more detailed info. YOu will need to make a bootable floppy. DL this BIOS ID Utility

copy the file to the floppy, and boot from it. at the A:\ run the exe, and it will display manufacturer and other information including chipset etc...

hope it helps.

BootDisk.com has many useful boot disk images and other utils as well.

DuffMan72 said:

I doubt the motherboard is actually physically broken, as it is able to turn on.

Click to expand...

That means nothing, I have had systems that boot successfully 30% of the time with bad caps in them.. So check for leaking/bulging capacitors etc.

Also you could have a blown keyboard controller/BIOS, again a hardware issue.

==>Lazn

This might sound dumb, but from the posts above, you didn't indicate that the keyboard wasn't at fault. Just for the sake of eliminating the keyboard as a source of error, try another one!

I have just replaced a mobo for the same issue...
What I tried:
Removed EVERYTHING (including processor)...
Reset CMOS (it had a 'reset cmos' button)
Reinstalled the processor and 1 stick of memory and the AGP Vid card = nothing else.

Reboot - post up shows vid/mem/hdd's and then checksum error...
Replaced battery, same error
Replaced memory, same error
Replace CPU (had several..), same error
Tried all componants on another mobo, they all worked fine.

Reinstalled floppy drive and tried to replace the BIOS from floppy boot up.. but it never gets to the floppy...
The keyboard/mouse/floppy were never detected because the checksum error ...

Looked at mobo with magnifying glass, and found scorching at the PCI bus (near the card slots... and followed those to FSB... so MY issue was a burnt mobo... yours may be differant.

Good Luck.

You should see if it will boot to a floppy