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 possible corrupt BIOS Post a Reply  
From: neil on 06/22/2002
I have a P3 600Mhz,with AMIBIOS v1.23.
The peripherals fail to initialize
on powering up my PC from cold. They will always initialise on pressing the reset button. then the
machine boots up with no problems.
The machine has no add ons (apart from a RAM upgrade
to 512Mb)(the problem was occuring before this anyway)
Could it be a peripheral problem? (Monitor,kbd, mouse,printer,USB Camera,USB scanner), or is it a BIOS
fault?
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From: Computerpilot on 06/23/2002

Define, "...peripherals fail to initialize on powering up my PC from cold".

Are you locking up? Are you just unable to access your devices (aka peripherals)? Did you try to reset the BIOS to default settings? Do you have a recent virus scanning software (about 2000 or newer)? Did this recently start ocurring after you installed new hardware?

I have had a similar problem with one of my servers that contracted the W32.Magistr.39921@mm virus. This virus is capable of destroying MBR's and can screw up or erase your BIOS settings. I am also aware of a few other viruses that are spreading in the midwest region that destroy BIOS settings and is not detectable by virus scanners. I would recommend you reset the BIOS settings to a 'fail safe default' and restart. Sometimes this is not enough. You may want to reset the BIOS from a jumper pin on the motherboard. This may require some help from your motherboard manufacturer. If you give me the name of the motherboard or computer, I might be able to track down a diagram for you to help you out with how to rest this. Typically, this will get rid of the problem associated with the Magistr virus so you can at least boot to your computer and get yourself a virus scanning software (or update it).

Another possiblity is that the BIOS is indeed corrupt. It is not unusual for something like this to happen but your computer is new enough where you should not be having issues. This would require that you rewrite the BIOS programming by obtaining an update and a flash utility from either your computer or motherboard manufacturer. Some of these update address specific issues with hardware devices and the particular motherboard that is in question. Perhaps AMI would have an update on their website. However, I would highly recommend obtaining the update by either the motherboard or computer manufacturer.

NOTE: UPDATING YOUR BIOS IS A TRICKY PROCEDURE AND SHOULD BE DONE WITH CARE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT UPDATE OR YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR COMPUTER.

Enough with the warnings, already. If you need help, just post back.

Computerpilot@hotmail.com

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From: neil on 06/23/2002
Firstly thank you for taking the time to answer my question.
Basically, when I power up,the monitor does not power up, as is the case with my scanner,and camera.
I have a Norton Firewall and antivirus installed, but the antivirus did not pick up any problems.
As for hardware, the only recently installed hardware was an ethernet NIC, but the problem has existed long before this installation.
What puzzles me is that everything will come to life ok when I hit the reset button! Is the boot sequence hanging up somewhere?
I will try resetting the BIOS to fail safe and let you know the results.
Thanks once again for your help.

neil London

:
: Define, "...peripherals fail to initialize on powering up my PC from cold".

: Are you locking up? Are you just unable to access your devices (aka peripherals)? Did you try to reset the BIOS to default settings? Do you have a recent virus scanning software (about 2000 or newer)? Did this recently start ocurring after you installed new hardware?

: I have had a similar problem with one of my servers that contracted the W32.Magistr.39921@mm virus. This virus is capable of destroying MBR's and can screw up or erase your BIOS settings. I am also aware of a few other viruses that are spreading in the midwest region that destroy BIOS settings and is not detectable by virus scanners. I would recommend you reset the BIOS settings to a 'fail safe default' and restart. Sometimes this is not enough. You may want to reset the BIOS from a jumper pin on the motherboard. This may require some help from your motherboard manufacturer. If you give me the name of the motherboard or computer, I might be able to track down a diagram for you to help you out with how to rest this. Typically, this will get rid of the problem associated with the Magistr virus so you can at least boot to your computer and get yourself a virus scanning software (or update it).

: Another possiblity is that the BIOS is indeed corrupt. It is not unusual for something like this to happen but your computer is new enough where you should not be having issues. This would require that you rewrite the BIOS programming by obtaining an update and a flash utility from either your computer or motherboard manufacturer. Some of these update address specific issues with hardware devices and the particular motherboard that is in question. Perhaps AMI would have an update on their website. However, I would highly recommend obtaining the update by either the motherboard or computer manufacturer.

: NOTE: UPDATING YOUR BIOS IS A TRICKY PROCEDURE AND SHOULD BE DONE WITH CARE. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT UPDATE OR YOU WILL DESTROY YOUR COMPUTER.

: Enough with the warnings, already. If you need help, just post back.

: Computerpilot@hotmail.com


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From: Computerpilot on 06/23/2002
I bet the reset works. If not, I would definetly flash your BIOS. Before doing that, I would do a full reset by jumper on the MB. This has worked for me.

It sounds like a bad setting in the BIOS or the programming is corrupt.

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