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GO UP
Reader: Recently, I read
something about CMOS settings, but I
really have no idea what these do or how
to check to see if my CMOS settings
could be causing problems on my
computer. Can you tell me what they are
and how I can check them?
Computer Doctor: When a PC starts
up, it reads certain configuration
settings to identify the date/time,
amount of memory installed, the types of
drives installed, and other items. These
settings can be changed by entering the
BIOS setup. This is accomplished by
hitting a certain key when the PC is
starting up. The key you hit varies from
system to system, but many use F2, Del,
Ins, or Esc.
The BIOS settings should match the
devices installed in your system. For
example if you check the settings for
your hard disk, make sure the BIOS
settings match the actual drive
specifications.
Reader: I recently purchased
a new kit computer. After I assembled
it, I turned it on and the POST plays
three beeps. I checked in your Upgrading
and Repairing PC's book and it says to
contact the motherboard manufacturer or
BIOS manufacturer. I emailed the
motherboard manufacturer, but they have
not responded, and the motherboard
manufacturer's website has no
information. Can you help me?
Computer Doctor: There are
several different BIOSes on the market,
and each one uses different types of
beep codes. It sounds as if you have an
AMI BIOS, which has beep codes as
follows:
|
1 beep |
Refresh failure |
|
2 beeps |
Parity error |
|
3 beeps |
Base 64K memory failure |
|
4 beeps |
Timer not operational |
|
5 beeps |
Processor error |
|
6 beeps |
8042 - gate A20 failure |
|
7 beeps |
Processor exception
interrupt error |
|
8 beeps |
Display memory
read/write failure |
|
9 beeps |
ROM checksum error |
|
10 beeps |
CMOS shutdown register
read/write error |
|
11 beeps |
Cache memory bad |
All of the BIOS beep codes are
contained in tables in the technical
reference section of the CD-ROM included
with the book. If your board has an AMI
BIOS, then three beeps indicates a
memory failure in the first bank. Try
reseating or replacing the memory. You
could also try reseating or replacing
the processor, and if neither of those
work then I'd suspect you have a bad
motherboard.
To make sure you have an AMI BIOS, open
your system and look for a rectangular
chip marked with a sticker that says "AMIBIOS".
On some newer systems this sticker is
attached to the side of an expansion
slot rather than to the BIOS chip
itself.
Reader: I have installed a
larger IDE hard drive than the one that
came with the computer, but the computer
won't recognize the entire capacity of
the drive. What should I do?
Computer Doctor: Many computers
built before 1999 have various
limitations on the size of the hard
drive. Some systems can't recognize
drives larger than 2.1GB or 4.2GB, while
others can't recognize drives over
8.4GB. In some cases your system will
hang when it tries to access the new
hard drive, while in other cases the
BIOS and Fdisk can only detect part of
the drive's capacity.
In all cases like this, the best
solution is to obtain a BIOS upgrade
from the motherboard or system vendor.
Most Pentium-class and newer systems
have Flash BIOS chips that can be
upgraded by downloading and installing a
new BIOS image file. If you cannot
obtain a BIOS upgrade, you can use a
BIOS upgrade card like the $34.95 ATA
Pro Flash by MicroFirmware. See
for more information.
I DO NOT recommend using a software
patch provided with hard drives
(programs such as EZ-BIOS, Disk Manager,
MaxBlast, and so forth). Hard drive
support should be in ROM and not via
software tricks such as custom boot
sectors. If your system ever gets a boot
sector virus, or the boot sector is
modified by other software, or you boot
from a different disk that does not have
the EZ Bios or other patch software
software, you risk losing access to all
your data. You should remove it before
doing a BIOS upgrade or before using the
card I recommended.
Keep in mind that drives larger than
8.4GB may work normally although the
BIOS only reports 8.4GB of capacity; you
know you need a BIOS upgrade or BIOS
upgrade card if Fdisk can't prepare the
entire drive.
Reader: My clock keeps losing
time, losing several hours over a 2 - 3
day period. What is causing this loss of
time and how can I stop this from
happening?
Computer Doctor: That is the
first sign of a dying CMOS battery. When
the battery fails, the data stored in
the RTC/NVRAM (usually called CMOS RAM)
chip will be lost.
Most recent systems use a small coin
type 3V lithium battery on your
motherboard. Most use a CR-2032 which
can be purchased virtually anywhere that
sells batteries.
To replace your battery, start by
checking your motherboard to determine
the battery type.
Power on, access your BIOS Setup, print
(via shift-prtsc) or write down the
information on all of the menus. The
most important data to save would be
anything to do with the hard disk
configuration.
Power the system off, replace the old
battery with the new one. Then power
back up, run BIOS Setup, and check the
settings to be sure all is OK; reset any
information that has changed, including
the date and time. Then reboot and all
should be well.
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Reader: After switching on,
the system displays the following
messages:
CMOS system options not set
CMOS display type mismatch
After I press the key to start the
BIOS setup program, the hard drive is
listed as "Not installed", even though I
know it's inside the computer. I've
checked the connections and they appear
to be ok. The floppy drive is set
properly but the system will not boot.
What should I do?
Computer Doctor: You need to set
all the proper BIOS Setup (CMOS) options
for the system to recognize the drive,
display, etc. Set the display to EGA/VGA,
set the drive type to either Auto, or to
User Defined (and then enter the Cyl/Head/Sector
parameters for your drive), set the
correct floppy type, etc.
Once these options are set properly, it
should boot from a bootable floppy disk.
If it won't, then you have problems with
either the CMOS RAM (it is very static
sensitive and could be damaged, or the
battery polarity could be wrong which
also will damage it), the motherboard
(bad floppy controller, CPU, etc.), the
memory (bad first bank), floppy cable,
or possibly the configuration or jumper
settings on the drive.
Also check the hard drive cables, if
they are defective or backwards, the
system may not boot. This can also occur
if the drive is defective, not receiving
power, etc. Inspect and/or correct these
items and the system will work!
GO UP
Reader: I have a computer
with the Award PnP BIOS (1998 version),
and my system puts off a audio code of a
long beep, broken at regular intervals.
I read the list of BIOS beep codes on
the CD-ROM included with your book, but
the CD-ROM states that there is only one
audio code (a single long beep followed
by two short beeps) for this BIOS. My
system is making regular long beeps.
Computer Doctor: I checked with
Phoenix Technologies, who produces the
Award BIOS about your problem. They
provided this information:
"The only AwardBIOS beep code indicates
that a video error has occurred and the
BIOS cannot initialize the video screen
to display any additional information.
This beep code consists of a single long
beep followed by two short beeps. Any
other beeps are probably a RAM (Random
Access Memory) problem."
Power supplies can also cause strange
beeping on the system. My experience
shows that power supplies fail far more
frequently than memory, so that's where
I would look first.
You can find more out about the Award
BIOS error codes at
http://www.phoenix.com/pcuser/BIOS/award_error_codes.htm.
GO UP
Reader: I notice that many
different brands of computers display
the company's insignia when the computer
starts up and when Windows starts up.
Can I change either or both of these
images to customize my computer?
Computer Doctor: Some systems
incorporate what is called a "splash
screen" in the system BIOS. Some
motherboard manufacturers (Intel for
one) offer the ability to customize
these splash screens with a special
utility they offer. Intel has two, their
older boards use a "Logo Utility" while
their newer boards use a "Splash Screen
Utility", both of which can be
downloaded from their website at:
http://developer.intel.com/design/motherbd/gen_indx.htm.
These utilities are used so that
companies that sell systems with Intel
motherboards (Dell, Gateway, Joe's
Computer Shack
, etc.) can put their own custom logo
or startup screen right in the BIOS,
which helps perpetuate the myth that
their system is somehow different from
the others built using the same parts.
If your motherboard isn't made by Intel,
you'll need to check with the
motherboard or system vendor for a
similar utility.
The second screen you see is the Windows
splash screen. Windows 95 stores this
file as C:\LOGO.SYS; Windows 98 doesn't
need a LOGO.SYS file for its standard
splash screen, but you can use the same
procedure with either version of Windows
to create your own customized splash
screen.
A LOGO.SYS file must be a 256-color
320x400 pixel screen image that you can
edit. First copy or rename the existing
file (if any) as LOGO.BMP. Then you can
use MSPaint (included with Windows) to
edit the file, change it to whatever you
want. Just make sure you keep the same
size and color depth. Once you are done,
rename the new file as LOGO.SYS and the
next time Windows loads, you'll see that
file instead. Windows also uses
C:\WINDOWS\LOGOW.SYS and C:\WINDOWS\LOGOS.SYS
when it is shutting down, and these
screens can be similarly customized.
GO UP
Reader: I have a system with
CMOS problems reported by the BIOS. I've
tried to replace the battery but the
CMOS error continues.
Computer Doctor: Try removing the
battery and running the computer without
the battery. If you still get the CMOS
error, you probably need a new
motherboard if the CMOS chip can't be
removed. If it runs with the battery
disconnected, then try installing a new
battery.
If replacing the battery with a known
working one doesn't help, I'd try
removing and re-installing the entire
battery holder/connector module.
Sometimes the contacts where it inserts
into the motherboard can be corroded. If
your motherboard has a jumper for an
external battery module (look near the
regular battery socket for a three-pin
or four-pin jack), you may be able to
bypass the motherboard's battery holder
if it's defective.
GO UP
Reader: I have a computer at
my office that has a password protecting
the setup program, but the last user of
the computer isn't with the company
anymore and nobody knows what the
password is. Can I delete the password
without removing the rest of the CMOS
setup?
Computer Doctor: Unfortunately,
the answer is no. The CMOS stores both
the password(s) and the rest of the
system setup such as hard drive types,
memory settings, and so forth. You will
need to clear the CMOS RAM completely to
access the CMOS setup program. Look for
a jumper on the motherboard called CMOS
Clear or RAM Clear. Move the jumper
block to CMOS Clear, turn on the system,
and the CMOS values, including the
password, will be erased.
GO UP
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