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View Full Version : CMOS Checksum Error - HUH?!!


Beno
01-14-2002, 09:36 PM
Hey Guys and Gals,

What is causing this error "CMOS Checksum Failure"??

What is CMOS checksum?? Why is it used??

My A+ book mentions that CMOS checksum can occur when battery is low but what is the actual checksum for anyway and why would it give this error message??

Cheers

Beno


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Paleo Pete
01-14-2002, 10:43 PM
I can't explain it fully but it basically means what the BIOS sees does not match what is stored in the CMOS chip. When the battery gets low it usually defaults back to basic factory settings and since you've changed BIOS settings or added hardware it doesn't match...so you get a checksum error.

The actual checksum is a bit/byte stored in memory with data that BIOS looks for at boot, telling it all is hunky dory. If that doesn't match the actual hardware and configuration it sends back a checksum error.

I'm sure if I missed anything someone will think of it and tack it on...



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