K8NGM2-NBP BIOS Issue, not posting.

CombatGold1 · nLightened

Me again

I have an MSI K8NGM2-NBP motherboard in one of my machines. I attempted to update the BIOS to 1.1. MSI Live Update sucks and doesn't work, so I did it manually by making a boot disk and using the MS-DOS flash utility.

The BIOS file was written, and I waited until it told me I could restart the machine. When I did, I find it's not POST-ing any more.

I decided to look for recovery tools. First thing I did was hit the CMOS reset button and tried to start up, nothing.

Found this page: http://www.msi.com.tw/html/support/bios/note/boot.htm on how to recover an American Megatrends BIOS.

I've tried both version 1.0 and 1.1, formatted a floppy disk and stuck the BIOS on it. I turn on the machine, hold CTRL+HOME, and the floppy disk drive starts to do stuff. It attempts to read a CD first though (not one in the tray).

I know it's reading the BIOS file "AMIBOOT.ROM", because:

1) If the disk is blank or there is no AMIBOOT.ROM, I get 2 beeps then 4 beeps and it attempts to find it again.
2) If there is no disk in, it just keeps looking for one.
3) When the file is there (on it's own or not), it spends about 10-15 seconds reading the disk.

After it reads, I don't get the 4 beeps to tell me that it's been flashed and I can restart, even after waiting 5 minutes or more. It just stops doing stuff, other than the num/cap/scroll lock lights blinking once right after it stops reading. I can press those 3 keys to toggle the modes, and press CTRL+HOME again to read the disk again without restarting; shows there's some level of BIOS running? Even if I restart, I can keep getting it to read the disk with CTRL+HOME, but no POST.

I've contacted MSI for support (2 days ago), no reply yet. Anything else I can try without having to take out the motherboard and send it back to MSI for a hefty postage and packaging price?

wonkanoby · Ultra nForced

im sure the boards bios is award not ami

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

CombatGold1 · nLightened

It's certainly AMI, along with my K8N Diamond Plus. The manual displays that.

You have to rename the BIOS file to AMIBOOT.ROM when putting it on a floppy disk for it to be read during the recovery program.

I can't currently get to MS-DOS to use those switches.

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

CombatGold1 · nLightened

It doesn't POST at all, not even gets to the bit where you enter the BIOS setup. No videio output.

I' don't think the RAM is bad, as they all worked before I flashed. I'll try that and the power cables anyway.

CombatGold1 · nLightened

Doing the power chord / drain capacitors trick worked. Thank you very much sir Smile

wardog · **Exited the premises.** Ultra nForced

CombatGold1 · nLightened

Hello. I kind of need your help again Smile

I attempted to update BIOS 3.5 to 3.7, but forgot that not using the /P /B /N /C switches causes my system not to POST.

These steps you posted that worked last time don't seem to allow me to boot, even if I try to put back version 3.5.

I've tried these steps:

Put either A7207NMS.350 or A7207NMS.370 onto a clean formatted floppy disk.
Slap the disk in my problem computer.
Power it on and frown at it not POSTing,
Hit CTRL + HOME to read the floppy disk. Wait for it to stop reading,
No beeps occur, so I wait 30 seconds before powering down.
Remove the CMOS battery.
Power down, press CMOS reset button 3 or 4 times.
Remove the power cord, press the power button 3 or 4 times. The machine attempts to start but dies to the lack of power on the first press.
Left the system idle with no power for an hour.
Put the CMOS battery back in.
Press the CMOS reset button, insert the power cord, then press it again.
Power on the computer, but frown once again due to no POST.

CombatGold1 · nLightened

Again, fixed.

Booted fine with 1 stick of RAM instead of 4. Started up in MS-DOS then reflashed remembering /P /B /N /C.