Hello everyone! I've got a good one for ya.

First of all here the basic system specs.
Pentium 3 450mHz, 440BX chipset on a
AZZA PT-61B MOBO
Award BIOS
256MB PC-100 SDRAM
13G Hard Drive
ATI 32MB Video
etc.
Running Windows 98 SE

Here is the problem, about a week ago when starting my computer I got the following Award BIOS beep code. One repeating beep. When this happened I wasn't sure what to do so I kept pressing the restart button on the tower and after a few tries it would boot up.
So, once it was booted I backed everything up and re-formatted the drive and re-installed win98se. Everthing was going fine utill I shut the computer down and tried to boot up the next day. When I booted up I was still getting the same beep code. So, I did a bunch of research on the BIOS Beep codes, The 1 repeating beep is supposedly a memory error.

Then the next thing I did was ran some diagnostic software to see if I could find any problems. Everything checked out fine.

Next I cracked open the case and pulled every card and both memory sticks and re-seated everything, swithing the two RAM sticks (putting #1 in #2 and vice versa) And tring each stick by itself.This did not work either.

So next I thought it might be the CMOS so I bought a new battery and cleared the CMOS using the MOBO specs, set the BIOS to the factory defaults, this did not work either.

The next thing I tried was replacing the RAM with a stick from a friends computer(pretty much same exact machine as mine.) This also did not work.
Still the same beep code.

The weird thing is that if I press the restart button enough (usually 7 or 8 times) the computer will boot. And unless the CMOS is reset I get a Windows registry error, and it goes to the back-up registry. Restarts and everything works fine. After the registry is replaced the computer will restart just fine but it cannot be completely shut down.

It doesn't seem like a hardware problem because once the computer is up and running all is good. So, I am wondering if the BIOS is corrupt and needs to be flashed. If so how do I find the correct BIOS bin file and flash program. I know that you can get the BIOS info from the POST screen. But is this enough. I know that there are 3 versions of the Award BIOS for my MOBO, one for a 1Mb BIOS for MOBO's without jumpers, two is for a 1Mb BIOS for MOBO's with jumpers and three is 2Mb BIOS for MOBO's with jumpers.
How do I find out which on two use.

Thanks in advance,

Kevin (sun_volt) http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

To tell if your motherboard has jumpers or not......take a look inside! If you find "STAMPED" on the motherboard different settings for the clock speed and different settings for the "BUS" speed, then yours is a JUMPERED mobo...if it is all done in BIOS settings, then it's jumperless. So then, all you need to find out(assuming it's a jumpered mobo) is whether it's a 1 or 2 MB onboard cache type. I only know of to ways to do it: A. It should be on the "BOX" the motherboard came in...or B. You will need to get the EXACT model # off the motherboard itself and compare it to the info at the "Flash" update site. But before doing all of that, you might look to see if the 1 mb & 2mb ver. for jumpered mobos is the same bin # http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif [often they are].

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Will XP save Me ?

Thanks Randy_tx for the MOBO info. It is a jumper MOBO.

But does it sound like flashing the BIOS will fix the problem. Or could it be the Power Supply. I've just been reading some posts of similar problems, the computer only working with a "soft reboot" and not working on a "cold reboot" because of the power supply being bad. Could this also be a possibility?

Thanks,
sun_volt

Could be the power supply......but every bit as likely would be a "Surge Protector"[I see em cause probs all the time] .......try plugging DIRECTLY into a wall socket .....if it still gives problems.....power supply is next to try. If new PS doesnt fix it, you either have a bad BIOS or a bad mobo....so flashing would be the first thing to try before giving up on mobo.

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Will XP save Me ?

Thanks again Randy_tx. I will try these suggestions and hope it doesn't come to flashing the BIOS. By the way is there somewhere I can get reliable procedures for Flasing a BIOS I've never done this before and know it can seriously screw things up if done wrong.

Thanks
sun_volt

By the way, this is by far the best PC troubleshooting forum I've found. Keep up the great work!!!

The "README" information at the BIOS site where you download the BIN files is a very comprehensive and detailed outline of what you need to do to be successful.....It's really not that hard to do.....but you MUST follow the steps to the enth degree! You dont want ANY programs on so you do it in a DOS environment and you DONT turn off the computer while its "flashing"...and that's about it. Try the other suggestions before taking this step however.

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Will XP save Me ?

Couldn't agree more. To paraphrase This Old House -- Read Twice (at least), Flash Once. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif One other suggestion. Usually in the flash upgrade procedure, there is the option to save a copy of the present BIOS version. Sometimes it is a question asked by the program, and other times it is accomplished by adding a switch to the flash command, like /s or something. How ever it is for yours, I'd strongly recommend it. If you try to flash a 2 Meg BIOS version to a 1 Meg chip, you'll get some kind of "mismatch" error message, and the program will terminate. I'm not sure this is true if you try flashing a 2 Meg chip with a 1 Meg BIOS file. Although there is some real potential for error, flashing a BIOS most often goes off without a hitch. Keep the kids and the pets away from the power switch and the plug, and don't do it during a thunderstorm. Good Luck! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-24-2001).]

Well, After work today I switched the power supply with a known working one and plugged it directly into the wall socket. No Luck, same exact problem.
So, I decided to flash the bios. Ahh but it's not that easy, I've found two possible bin files from two diffrent sites that seem to be valid AZZA motherboard sites.
http://www.azza.com.tw/SERVICE/support.htm
http://www.azzaboard.com/download.html
The two files are
6BE2.BIN date: 02/23/2000, and
6BE278.BIN date 07/08/1999
Both of these files are for an AZZA MOBO PT-61BP w/2mb bios with jumpers
I have verified that this is my setup.
Next I ran the flash program (in DOS prompt mode) with the destructions for flashing the BIOS infront of me I proceeded.
When I ran the flash for 6BE278 I got a "source file not found" error (when asked to save and when asked to program) and it kicks me back to C:\>
So, I tried to run 6BE2 and this time I got a "Fail due to EMM386 or QEMM"

The good news is that my machine is still working the flashing problems didn't screw anything up.

Any possible solutions would be great...

~~~~~~~THANKS~~~~~~~

Almost all BIOS updates MUST be conducted in pure DOS, that is from a boot floppy that contains just the system files and BIOS update program, no autoexec no config.sys, not DOS mode (a:\ "flash program")

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

468th Rule of Aquistion: Debugging of software is foolish, there is much profit in updates and upgrades.

Problem --- the Flash Utility and the bin file don't fit on a boot disk.
even with autoexec.bat and config.sys gone.

Are there any other files I don't need on the boot disk?

If by "DOS prompt mode" you mean restarting Windows in MS-DOS mode, or any mode where you boot from the hard drive, that won't work. You need to boot from a floppy into "raw" DOS. Insert a diskette, open Windows Explorer, right-click on A:, click Format, and in the Format type box click "Copy system files only", and then click the Start button. When it's done, copy the flashing program (awdflash.exe or whatever) and the .BIN file (probably the most recent one) to the diskette. Was there a batch (.BAT) file included in the download? If so, you need to copy that to A: also. With the diskette in drive A:, restart Windows and let it boot to the A: prompt. If there was a README file or anything with .TXT or .DOC included with the download, follow its instructions. If not, type dir to see the directory listing. If you did get a batch file, type its name at the A: prompt. If not, type the name of the .EXE file at the A: prompt like this -- PROGRAM /?. That may bring up a help file explaining the correct syntax and available options or switches. If not, try PROGRAM /h. If neither step results in a help file of some sort, you're kind of flying by the seat of your pants now. I'd suggest going back to the sites and looking for more info.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

Will both the flash program and the .BIN file fit on one freshly-formatted disk by themselves? If yes, you can boot to "raw" DOS as described earlier, and after you reach the A: prompt, remove the boot disk and insert the one with flash and .BIN files, and just go from there. You may get a message like "Can't find COMMAND.COM..." when the flash is completed -- just take out the flash disk and put the boot disk back in.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-25-2001).]

FLASHED THE BIOS IT WORKED FINE, BUT THE SAME BEEP CODES AT POWER ON.
I can see that the bios is updated on the post screen. New dates etc...

Still, when I hit the reset button a few times it will boot properly.

Bad Motherboard???

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

If you have the option in BIOS setup to enable fast or quick boot, try disabling that. Sometimes the HD doesn't spin up fast enough to respond and be ready to boot.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

My 2 cents:

In Mobo manual it says that POST beeps in an endles loop mean: No DRAM installed or detected. So, my guess is: RAM is bad.

If you have one POST beep repeating forever, it could easily be RAM error. Have you recently added second DRAM module? Have you thoroughly cleaned module seats using compressed air?

I strongly suggest: Try with THIRD (NEW) RAM module (RAM is cheap now).

BTW, if you prove that RAM is O.K, the only thing that could go wrong is Mobo.

I wish you luck!

ez :~)

I've run out of ideas.

To tjay: I tried disabling the quick boot...but that didn't work, I think it's time for a new MOBO

To ez: I twice switched the RAM with known working RAM, I had hoped that this was the problem. but it wasn't.

Thanks for all your great ideas!!!!
All of you have been a HUGH help!!!!

sun_volt http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

There are some known problems with ATI cards and drivers. If you go to the Microsoft Knowledge Base, select Win98SE as your OS, and search for just the word "ATI", you get more than 25 hits. Maybe one of those will help. Quite a few of them mention ATI drivers and turning hardware acceleration down or off.

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

Thanks for the info tjay... I'll check that out.