nForce2 BIOS Recovery Issue

The INQ has been running a story highlighting a BIOS problem affecting some versions of nForce2 motherboards, here’s a few snippets from the article:

Setting the FSB too high can stop Nforce 2 motherboards from POSTing. Once the motherboard has stopped POSTing, the only way to get it going again is to reset the FSB back down to 100MHz. Only most motherboards don’t have the jumper so you can’t do that.

Nvidia obviously knew about this problem because they built the reference Nforce 2 motherboard with that jumper. The fact that many manufacturers didn’t put the jumper onto their motherboards means that someone deserves a slapped wrist at the very least. Whether that’s Nvidia for not emphasising the need for the jumper or the manufacturers for not including it is something we may never know.

However, what we do know is that a fix will soon be at hand for everyone. Nvidia has managed to create a fix for the BIOS on Nforce 2 motherboards that will solve the issue. That fix has already gone to several manufacturers who should be able to supply an updated version of the BIOS for their specific motherboards soon.

Nforce 2 BIOS problems confirmed and fixed @ theinquirer.net

While you’re over there, take a look at the Letters page and you’ll find a couple of BIOS recovery methods get a mention.

This isn’t an issue for every nForce2 board or indeed every nForce2 owner, but you only have to check out the forum here to see it’s caused a bit of a stir (or a ‘disturbance in the nForce’ as Yoda might have said in a galaxy far, far awa…).   Although some of those with the issue have come up with a workaround or two, we’re sure it won’t be too long before we see new BIOS versions appearing with the fix (assuming it can be fixed) from each of the motherboard manufacturers.