I fried my Motherboard

[CityOfJoy]

Trying to upgrade BIOS, I screwed up and now my PC won't boot up. I need help if you any of you guys know where I can either (a) get it reprogrammed, repaired or (b) get a new mother board compatible with PIII-450 Mhz CPU.

The motherboard I have (read had) is GA-686BX (gigabyte)

Please help ASAP.

link to manual : http://america.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/FileList/Manual/manual_686bx_e.pdf

 

[Peeping Tom]

There should be a clear cmos jumper - look it up in the manual. Remove this and allow a few minutes. Alternately, try removing the battery for a few minutes.

 

[CappinStabbin]

to get you bios chip reprogrammed, it'd have to be removed from the mobo and sent to the manufacturer, but being as your computer is rather old and rather shittay... just buy a used motherboard from store on spadina or just use EBAY.

 

[CappinStabbin]

There should be a clear cmos jumper - look it up in the manual. Remove this and allow a few minutes. Alternately, try removing the battery for a few minutes.

I think he's talking about rewriting the bios software... which if done incorrectly, the entire chip must be reprogrammed or the board is garbage.

 

[CityOfJoy]

I already tried removing the CMOS battery, disconnecting power from the wall.... and retrying after about an hour... didn't work.

To explain what I did:
1) Downloaded update bios files from gigabyte
2) used award flash from dos mode.
3) when program asked to back up current bios, said yes.
4) this is where it took about 10 minutes of "please wait", i figured it was stuck and hit reset.
5) thats it... never boots up again.

I think my only options are to get a used motherboard or whatever. need to know where i can get one.

reprogramming might not be worth it.

i don't know if I need the same type of mb or can i get any motherboard compatible with the cpu.

if you know any phone number of shops on spadina or college... please pm me.

thanks a lot.

 

[auto doctor]

I have looked into upgrading the BIOs (basic input output system). But the upgrade was to complex and no real gain. The most important thing I remember was printing out all your BIOS settings before you start. If you don't and need to recover. Your............................................



















FUCKED...............IMHO

 

[CityOfJoy]

. The most important thing I remember was printing out all your BIOS settings before you start. If you don't and need to recover.

I did print all that... have it all..... but even so, I am ..... ya.. u guessed right.

 

[auto doctor]

When you start the comp.....keep hitting the Esc button and if nothing comes up the....I would seek professional help...But the Mob should be okay it's just the Bios Chip....That need some TLC

 

[CityOfJoy]

Is $50 good for used motherboard supporting p3?

 

[CappinStabbin]

ya, don't spend much more than 50 bux, you might as well just get a new mobo altogether, being as it's old.

 

[shordy]

what a perfect post... my motherboard refuses to boot up too. In my case, it just kaput... it was a P3 Apollo 64 VIA chipset board... served me for 10 years... oh well...

Anyone know a good quality via chipset AOPEN motherboard that i can purchase?

shordy

 

[LoveThemGirls]

I found 2 mobo's on ebay that are compatible with pentium III, didn't pay more than $20. Make sure you know which slot it is, either slot 1 or slot 370.

 

[CityOfJoy]

well, so what should I absolultely make sure before buying? I thought just the CPU is what you need to ensure.

Now I hear.. slot ? I know mine is SLOT 1.

do i need to worry about the chipset .. I dont think. the new mbo will have it's own chipset.

 

[CappinStabbin]

well, so what should I absolultely make sure before buying? I thought just the CPU is what you need to ensure.

Now I hear.. slot ? I know mine is SLOT 1.

do i need to worry about the chipset .. I dont think. the new mbo will have it's own chipset.

you have to make sure the ram is the same as the ram you have also. So it's slot 1 probably pc100 ram. Also, youll have to reinstall windows because the motherboard drivers will be different.

 

[zzap]

It's about time you get rid of any computer running at only 450MHz !!!! wow thats like a 7 year old CPU.

These guys are local in Ontario and have some really great deals on computer parts and stuff..

http://www.extreme-pc.ca

 

[Peeping Tom]

whoa there zzap. The user never said what he does with it - if it is used to post here, run word and excel then it is more than adequate, providing it has enough ram. Heck, even w2k does a good job with 256 MB.

 

[Peeping Tom]

CityofJoy

I have an Asus P3V4X (slot 1) and at least 512 MB of compatible ram - if you are interested, gimme a holler. I also have a P3 750 cpu for this board but don't know where the hsf or retention mechanism went.

PM me if you can comfortably build yer own - I'm in Montreal and can't babysit.

 

[baci2004]

Good site zzap!

Check this one out too, they have great deals on systems. I buy most of my parts there.

Pc Village

 

[TheTao]

Award is most likely the manufacturer of your BIOS. All you need the model and revision number of your specific BIOS. Should be printed right on the EEPROM. Then after you turn the computer on you hold a sequence of keys usually something like CTRL + F4 it varies but the information is available from Award. You should also have a Floppy disk in with the source file for your BIOS instructions, also attained from the BIOS manufacturer. FYI it’s a Binary file…something .BIN – you wont be able to use the BAT file at this level.

edited by ModeratorFor about $320 plus tax.

 

[zzap]

whoa there zzap. The user never said what he does with it - if it is used to post here, run word and excel then it is more than adequate, providing it has enough ram. Heck, even w2k does a good job with 256 MB.

Yes that’s true... I have an IBM 100MHz 486 in my basement that runs all my automated system in my home. Heating/Cooling system... security lighting... and some other security functions. It's been running for 5 years now non stop!