I've run across a problem that's got me stumped. Here's what it does. When
it attempts to start, the process is stopped after the master IDE detection.
The memory checks ok. The screen message says "CMOS checksum error -
defaults loaded" At the bottom of the screen, just above the chipset and
motherboard info, a prompt says to press F1 to continue or Del to enter
setup. Neither key does anything. The battery and keyboard are both good.
I've attempted to start the machine with each peripheral device disconnected
(one at a time) to see if one of them was adversely affecting it but the
results are the same. I've tried another video card also. The BIOS chip is
not burned and all the legs are clean and fit into the socket correctly.
ESD precautions have been taken while touching the machine

CMOS Checksum Error means CMOS has found something in hardware that doesn't match what's been set in BIOS. Usually that's related to a bad battery, the battery goes dead and CMOS loses drive parameters, etc, and it will find a mismatch, and that error message is to tell you it sees a problem.

If you haven't replaced the battery yet, do so. Then check out the hard drive and floppy parameters, and whatever else in BIOS might have been changed when Defaults were set. Reset those so they match the hardware in tha machine, and if the battery is good you should not see that message again.

If you did replace the battery, there is a chance you got a bad one. They do sit on the shelf for a while occasionally. I've gotten watch batteries that didn't last 2 months...

------------------
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

The replacement battery was good, 3.1
volts according to my voltmeter, but it made no difference. The system is
dead after the checksum error message.

Any ideas
thanx

Has the BIOS recently been flashed? or attempted to be flashed?

Try disconnecting the IDE devices, right now you want it POST not boot, if it POST and you can get into BIOS then try and reset the defaults, or set things for the known equipment.

------------------
mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/highrise/11/index.htm)

Do Vulcans even have to debug?

Hi everybody I know I'm kind of new here but I couldn't help but notice the problem. Every time I've seen this message it's either a fried mobo or a stick of RAM burned out. Do you have more than one stick of ram in there? If so take one out and see if it makes a difference if not take the other out. If you only have one see if you can get another to try it.

Either way that is a bogus message to get on your computer. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/mad.gif
Hope this helps

------------------
Tim Jones MCSE

Hi everybody I know I'm kind of new here but...

I don't think anyone minds if you're new here, and as long as you come up with good info, I think they'll all be glad to have your assistance. Looks like you came up with a good possibility on this one too, could be either, I would lean toward memory.

Usually it's a bad battery, but occasionally it can be bad hardware. I've found hardware to be more the exception than the rule...

And welcome to the forums...

------------------
Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!
Note: Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)