CMOS problem - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

bogosj13 · 09-06-2003, 10:40 AM

I recently got a motherboard/chip from a friend, and I installed it in my box with my old harddrives and RAM. I turned the machine on, and everything was working fine. Everything worked for a few weeks, but then the machine needed to be rebooted, and it wouldn't reboot.

I reboot the machine, and it constantly beeps from the internal speaker, three beeps at a time. If I turn the machine off, open the case, and put the jumper to reset the CMOS, then put the jumper back, I can get the machine to turn back on, once. If it needs to reboot, it fails turning on again, continually beeping.

When I reset the CMOS, and reboot the machine, I note on the screen "CMOS Checksum error - Using Defaults" or something along those lines. The clock is always set at Jan 1, 2001. I've switched out the battery with one I know is functional, I can't think of anything else that would be causing this. Any suggestions?

Silvy · 09-06-2003, 10:53 AM

Resetting the CMOS causes the error you mentioned.
Also resetting may/will cause the clock to reset, so these things do not point to an error.

What kind of motherboard and proc do you use?

Does turning the system off for a few hours and then booting work?

Have you tried disabling the "Quick Memory Check on bootup" (or something like that) in your BIOS?
(i had a similar problem that was solved this way)

Please give us more details.

Silvy

bogosj13 · 09-06-2003, 11:05 AM

I don't think the reseting the CMOS is causing the problem. If I reset the CMOS, the machine reboots and gives me that error. I can choose F1 to continue, or DEL to enter setup. If I enter the setup, and set some settings, and save the CMOS and exit, I get that beeping error again.

I will try looking for that quick memory check thing.

I'm not sure of the motherboard type, I think the chip is a Duron 600.

bogosj13 · 09-06-2003, 11:20 AM

I couldn't find an option for any memory options.

On boot, the screen says:
Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
Copyright 1984-2001
MK33 R1.14 Jun.07.2001

Still can't find anything about what the version of the mobo is.

Silvy · 09-06-2003, 11:23 AM

Ok, AMD chips are known to have power issues (is they require a lot of it)
Older power supplies can have problems dealing with the sudden jolt of booting the processor AND running through the memory like crazy.

I think this explanation sounds a little bogus, but it was given to me together with the 'quick memory' solution. And it completely solved my AMD K6-450 problems which sound a lot like yours.

Good luck!

kel · 09-06-2003, 11:55 AM

Sounds like something may be touching the CMOS clear pins or one of the traces leading to it, maybe shorting it...

Dragonlich · 09-07-2003, 12:37 AM

Perhaps the motherboard's battery is dead?

happened to my brand new p4p800 mainboard: the clock wouldn't run properly. After replacing the battery, it's working fine.

bogosj13 · 09-07-2003, 07:47 AM

No, I've switched the battery out to one from another board that I know still has juice, no luck.

tinfoil · 09-07-2003, 09:51 AM

When you reset the CMOS, it drops it back to factory defaults, including the date.

This is likely not a CMOS issue, rather a hardware issue elsewhere. Drop a new PSU in there as well, if the current one is more than 2 years old and / or less than 350 watts (350 is min, unless you don't have a power hungry vid card.)

bogosj13 · 09-08-2003, 02:18 PM

I'm starting to think now it's a memory incompatibilty issue, though there wasn't a problem with these DIMMs on my previous board. I'm going to try multiple combinations of them when I get home.

09-06-2003, 10:40 AM	#1 (permalink)
bogosj13 Upright	CMOS problem I recently got a motherboard/chip from a friend, and I installed it in my box with my old harddrives and RAM. I turned the machine on, and everything was working fine. Everything worked for a few weeks, but then the machine needed to be rebooted, and it wouldn't reboot. I reboot the machine, and it constantly beeps from the internal speaker, three beeps at a time. If I turn the machine off, open the case, and put the jumper to reset the CMOS, then put the jumper back, I can get the machine to turn back on, once. If it needs to reboot, it fails turning on again, continually beeping. When I reset the CMOS, and reboot the machine, I note on the screen "CMOS Checksum error - Using Defaults" or something along those lines. The clock is always set at Jan 1, 2001. I've switched out the battery with one I know is functional, I can't think of anything else that would be causing this. Any suggestions?

09-06-2003, 10:53 AM	#2 (permalink)
Silvy paranoid Location: The Netherlands	Resetting the CMOS causes the error you mentioned. Also resetting may/will cause the clock to reset, so these things do not point to an error. What kind of motherboard and proc do you use? Does turning the system off for a few hours and then booting work? Have you tried disabling the "Quick Memory Check on bootup" (or something like that) in your BIOS? (i had a similar problem that was solved this way) Please give us more details. Silvy __________________ "Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints)

09-06-2003, 11:23 AM	#5 (permalink)
Silvy paranoid Location: The Netherlands	Ok, AMD chips are known to have power issues (is they require a lot of it) Older power supplies can have problems dealing with the sudden jolt of booting the processor AND running through the memory like crazy. I think this explanation sounds a little bogus, but it was given to me together with the 'quick memory' solution. And it completely solved my AMD K6-450 problems which sound a lot like yours. Good luck! __________________ "Do not kill. Do not rape. Do not steal. These are principles which every man of every faith can embrace. " - Murphy MacManus (Boondock Saints)

09-06-2003, 11:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
kel WARNING: FLAMMABLE Location: Ask Acetylene	Sounds like something may be touching the CMOS clear pins or one of the traces leading to it, maybe shorting it... __________________ "It better be funny"

09-07-2003, 09:51 AM	#9 (permalink)
tinfoil Fucking Hostile Location: Springford, ON, Canada	When you reset the CMOS, it drops it back to factory defaults, including the date. This is likely not a CMOS issue, rather a hardware issue elsewhere. Drop a new PSU in there as well, if the current one is more than 2 years old and / or less than 350 watts (350 is min, unless you don't have a power hungry vid card.) __________________ Get off your fuckin cross. We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.

09-06-2003, 11:05 AM	#3 (permalink)
bogosj13 Upright	I don't think the reseting the CMOS is causing the problem. If I reset the CMOS, the machine reboots and gives me that error. I can choose F1 to continue, or DEL to enter setup. If I enter the setup, and set some settings, and save the CMOS and exit, I get that beeping error again. I will try looking for that quick memory check thing. I'm not sure of the motherboard type, I think the chip is a Duron 600.

09-06-2003, 11:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
bogosj13 Upright	I couldn't find an option for any memory options. On boot, the screen says: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG Copyright 1984-2001 MK33 R1.14 Jun.07.2001 Still can't find anything about what the version of the mobo is.

09-07-2003, 12:37 AM	#7 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	Perhaps the motherboard's battery is dead? happened to my brand new p4p800 mainboard: the clock wouldn't run properly. After replacing the battery, it's working fine.

09-07-2003, 07:47 AM	#8 (permalink)
bogosj13 Upright	No, I've switched the battery out to one from another board that I know still has juice, no luck.

09-08-2003, 02:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
bogosj13 Upright	I'm starting to think now it's a memory incompatibilty issue, though there wasn't a problem with these DIMMs on my previous board. I'm going to try multiple combinations of them when I get home.