BIOS ROM checksum error:(?

Question

Hi there! Could someone please help me out?

I have recently decided to upgrade my IDE (ATA) Hard Drive. When I installed the new Samsung HDD inside, it gave me an error. However, even after putting the original Maxtor HDD back, the error persisted:

Award BootBlock BIOS v1.0
Copyright...

BIOS ROM checksum error

Detecting floppy drive A media...
INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER

Well, I created a bootable floppy disc with BIOS update in hopes of flashing it, but the computer won't read anything:

Drive media is : 1.44Mb

Disk I/O error
Replace the disk, and then press any key.

I am completely desperate right now. Maybe some of you have already faced this problem and could give me a hand...

NOTE: I have already done all the basic stuff like replacing CMOS battery, connections and bad capacitors check.

Answer 1

It may be that the diskette you tried was corrupt or not bootable. Try several diskettes of different brands, also ensure that they work on another computer.



Unfortunately it may also be that your BIOS is corrupt enough to stop it being able to boot from diskette. If that's the case you will need to pull the ROM from the motherboard, burn it on a dedicated ROM burner and then replace it. Unfortunately, again, this is the kind of hassle that is often complex, sometimes expensive and often does not succeed.



If you're using good diskettes, if you cannot boot from any other media (USB drive or network), and you know no one already proficient at blowing ROMs with a ROM programmer, then I would recommend going straight to the "buy a new motherboard" step.

Answer 2

It's obviously a BIOS corruption. Yes, you have to flash it again, and you got to have the exact type of software and BIOS image to succeed. If that is the case, than:

1. 90% chances the magnetic material of the floppy you created is bad, so it's not bootable: create another one, or maybe several, and try them. Personal advice: when you first format the floppy, and then, when it's written, pay attention at the noises the floppy unit does: if there are some quick retrying noises, abort the operation, because that floppy material is defective; retry with another till you hear just noises like unique steps, separated by 0.5 to 1 seconds: that is the sound of good writing.

2. Your floppy unit has dirty ,used or misaligned heads, or it's electronically bad: replace it with a known good one.

Good luck! (you need it...)

Answer 3

I guess your BIOS files got corrupted, so insert Hiren boot CD and try to recover it .

Answer 4

Sounds like a failed hard drive to me. I had this problem once and that was the problem.