Tazdrummer
July 18th, 2001, 06:57 PM
[silly babble] This is so incredibly awesome now that I am employeed and can actually contribute some actual tech advice. <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> [/silly babble]
This was an interesting thing I found out today. We were trying to set up some new machines. The certain version of the BIOS they didnt have listed on the main server and we had to flash it over to a differant version. After we did the flash, the screen went black and beeped a bunch of times.
Due to my experience I thought the BIOS flash failed. Logically it seemed as if 1+1=2.
Later found out that those two machines where the BIOS flash apparently didnt take, it actually did and it booted fine. I was told by one of the senior techs there, alot of times when there is a lack of video..... reseat the cpu. He was also saying that alot of times reseating the CPU has fixed tons of things.
Who'd of thunk it? <IMG SRC="smilies/biggrin.gif" border="0"> Just thought I would pass it on.
USA 1
July 19th, 2001, 09:41 PM
Strange but possible. If it did not move during the flash how would the cpu have moved? Or Video for that matter?
HHHmmmmmm..... <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0">
Danger
July 22nd, 2001, 02:15 AM
Originally posted by Now unemployed Tech_ FormerlyTech:
<STRONG>Strange but possible. If it did not move during the flash how would the cpu have moved? Or Video for that matter?
HHHmmmmmm..... <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
True enough, but I've had this work for me on dozens of occasions.
Gabriel
July 22nd, 2001, 03:12 AM
Originally posted by Now unemployed Tech_ FormerlyTech:
<STRONG>Strange but possible. If it did not move during the flash how would the cpu have moved? Or Video for that matter?
HHHmmmmmm..... <IMG SRC="smilies/eek.gif" border="0"></STRONG>
It is a new feature on Compaq's Bioses...
Tazdrummer
July 22nd, 2001, 09:08 AM
Well here is the update to this whole thing...
We got those pc's down to the shop that were "messed up" by the BIOS flash. The other guy I was working with was gonna show someone what it was doing. He plugged it up and turned it on..... it booted. Apparently after we unplugged it it cleared something. I had to flash a few more the next day. I unplugged it then plugged it back up and tried it, and it worked.
TangleWeb
July 23rd, 2001, 07:55 AM
I've had this happen also. If you read this thread carefully, you will note that in the cases where they thought the flash had ruined the BIOS, unplugging the system from power for a period of time "fixed" them.
In both cases, either re-seating the CPU, or powering off for a period of time, you are removing power from the CPU, allowing a re-set.
In the case of modern Compaq Deskpros, there is a CMOS "re-set button" (silver color) on the mobo. It is well marked. Press & release this (I think holding it in for 10 seconds may be required, I forget the details) this clears the BIOS. This will fix many, many problems!
Another tip. On older Compaq Deskpros & Digital workstations (Celebris, Venturis, 4000 series, 5000 series) & any workstation with a slide out 2-part mobo, where the main part of the mobo that lays parallel to the case, plugs in to a long slot on a riser card, and is usually secured by 2 thumb latches to "seat" the mobo firmly into the slot do the following: Lift the levers (Latches) to eject the mobo from the slot, as if you are going to slide the mobo out of the case, then re-seat it firmly by pushing the latches back down. Do this 4 or 5 times. It cleans the contacts. It will solve a lot of "Flaky" problems with these workstations. We had one that would re-boot if you leaned on the front edge of the case, another that the integrated NIC wouldn't work, etc. All solved by this technique.
On some older DELL's, there is a re-set button that must be held in for about 10 minutes to totally clear the CMOS! Even removing the battery didn't do it. I sat a heavy object on it rather than hold it in by hand for 10 minutes. This brought back a system that had NO VIDEO, no matter what after a BIOS flash update.