Asus M2N32-SLI Deluxe+AMD 6400: Updated BIOS to 2101 from 0903, only black screen, Yu

[zoro]

Last nite I decided that I should try to update the BIOS on the MB due to stability issue. So I downloaded the latest BIOS 2101, backuped 0903 and use the latest Asus Update utility (v.7.1304) to update the BIOS in Windows XP. Everything seems to work fine: the BIOS was successfully flushed, updated and CHECKSUM went ok and the computer asked for a reboot. So I did, and then all I was staring at was a black screen, no BIOS screen and since I don't have case speaker, no post to tell.

Can anyone give me some advices on what I should do next? This is the first time I update the BIOS (in after thought, I should have updated the video card and other devices drivers first).

I read from the user manual that I might be able to restore the BIOS from the MB Support Disk. I also read from some forums that I might be able to get the computer to boot by resetting the CMOS.

So my questions are:
1. Can you let me know what I should do?
2. What is the best BIOS version for 6400 CPU?


Below is my computer's configuration (laundry list):

* ASUS M2N32-SLI Deluxe Wireless Edition AM2 NVIDIA nForce 590 SLI MCP ATX AMD Motherboard
* AMD Athlon 64 X2 6400+ Windsor 3.2GHz Socket AM2 Processor Model ADX6400CZWOF
* Antec Nine Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
* Rosewill Stallion Series RD500-2DB ATX V2.2 500W Power Supply
* Zalman CNPS9700LED Ultra Quiet CPU Cooler
* Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model BL2KIT12864AA804 (4-4-4-12 2.2Volts)
* OCZ 2GB ( 2 X 1GB ) Platinum PC2-6400 800MHz 240-pin DDR2 Memory - OCZ2P800R22GK (CL 4-4-4-15, 1.9 - 2.0 Volts)
* XFX PVT84GUDF3 GeForce 8600GTS 256MB 128-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card
* Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD5000AAKS 500GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
* LITE-ON Black 20X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 20X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache IDE 20X DVD?0„3?0†8R DVD Burner
* Rosewill RCR-102 52-in-1 USB 2.0 Black Card Reader
* Arctic Silver 5

Thanks in advaced.

[TomL]

Reset CMOS

[zoro]

Hi TomL,
Thanks for your reply.
I reset the CMOS following the instruction in the manual.

I then tried to use the CrashFree Utility but I don't have a PCI video card to see if the reflashing went through. I am going to try to get a PCI graphic card and use it to try the Crashfree Utility again.

Here is what I did using the CrashFree Utility:

I found some instruction in other forum regarding using the CrashFree Utility. The instruction said I should remove all the connections and peripheral except an IDE CD/DVD drive and add a PCI graphic cards. The purpose of the PCI graphic card is so that you can connect it to an VGA monitor and watch the BIOS getting reflashed.

Since I don't have a PCI graphic card, I just followed the instruction, removed all the connections except the IDE CD/DVD drive and used the motherboard support DVD that came with the MB. Reboot the system, hoping the Crashfree Utility will read the BIOS on the support disk. Well... so far no luck, I don't think the BIOS has been reflashed. The CD/DVD drive LCD light seems to flash for 10 seconds, and then no more flashes. I remove the support disk and reboot, still black screen.

So I guess the CrashFree Utility did NOT revive my computer..

Anyway, will keep trying.. Good thing the board has 3 years warranty.. if it still doesn't work, I guess I do an RMA...

but... meanwhile, I am without a desktop, until someone who can help me fix this BIOS problem..

[ShrimpBrime]

I would try to get a speaker on that mobo to hear some beeps. that will tell if it is a hardware issue or not.

Flashing bios for a processor that doesn't need it can some times be a bummer.

Pull HD's and see if bios posts. The new bios may be config for sata native rather than IDE or visa versa.

You can always pull the plug then battery wait five minutes and re install batt.

I hope you get lucky. Bios can corrupt real easily, even though it seems everything went well.

Did you update for a Phenom??

The bios was probably not the stability issue. Look before you leap my father always said........

[zoro]

Hi ShirmpBrime,

No, I didn't upgrade for the Phenom. My computer was having a stability issue, it would just crashed for no reason at all... maybe I should've updated the device drivers first... oh well.

I did pull the HD to see if the BIOS came out, but no luck. Perhaps I should pull the RAM as well....

And your father is definitely right

Originally Posted by ShrimpBrime

I would try to get a speaker on that mobo to hear some beeps. that will tell if it is a hardware issue or not.

Flashing bios for a processor that doesn't need it can some times be a bummer.

Pull HD's and see if bios posts. The new bios may be config for sata native rather than IDE or visa versa.

You can always pull the plug then battery wait five minutes and re install batt.

I hope you get lucky. Bios can corrupt real easily, even though it seems everything went well.

Did you update for a Phenom??

The bios was probably not the stability issue. Look before you leap my father always said........

Additional Comment:

Dear All,

After all the attempts, I figured the only way I can fix my computer is to get new BIOS chips. So I ordered three chips, each with different BIOS preprogrammed into it. I got my BIOS Chips today. I first tried the 1802 version. The machine still didn't boot. I cleared CMOS, still no boot. Then I thought I should just skipped the chip with 1701 BIOS and go straight to 1201. Wow! It booted and gave me a CMOS checksum error on the BIOS screen but I exited the BIOS and booted the machine up. When I see the Windows XP welcome screen, I was so elated. But then it said the Soundmax needed to be reinstalled.

I rebooted the system, the BIOS screen didn't show CMOS checksum error and when I goes into XP, no more Soundmax problem either.

I rebooted the machine again and went into the BIOS to reset the date and see what else needed to be changed (any advice appreciated here for setting up the BIOS parameters). However, one more problem popped up.... I thought 1201 supposedly fixed the problem that when shutting down the PC, it will turn off the power to the case and CPU fans. However, I still have the problem of after the OS is shut down, the fans on the PC just keep running, even after Windows XP is shut down. It just seemed like the PSU never shut down and the Motherboard is still powering the CPU fans. To shut down, the only way I know how is unplug the power cord or switch off the PSU in order to shut down (or more like turning off the case fans.) Anyone know what this problem is?

Thanks for all the help!

Additional Comment:

Dear All,

After all the attempts, I figured the only way I can fix my computer is to get new BIOS chips. So I ordered three chips, each with different BIOS preprogrammed into it. I got my BIOS Chips today. I first tried the 1802 version. The machine still didn't boot. I cleared CMOS, still no boot. Then I thought I should just skipped the chip with 1701 BIOS and go straight to 1201. Wow! It booted and gave me a CMOS checksum error on the BIOS screen but I exited the BIOS and booted the machine up. When I see the Windows XP welcome screen, I was so elated. But then it said the Soundmax needed to be reinstalled.

I rebooted the system, the BIOS screen didn't show CMOS checksum error and when I goes into XP, no more Soundmax problem either.

I rebooted the machine again and went into the BIOS to reset the date and see what else needed to be changed (any advice appreciated here for setting up the BIOS parameters). However, one more problem popped up.... I thought 1201 supposedly fixed the problem that when shutting down the PC, it will turn off the power to the case and CPU fans. However, I still have the problem of after the OS is shut down, the fans on the PC just keep running, even after Windows XP is shut down. It just seemed like the PSU never shut down and the Motherboard is still powering the CPU fans. To shut down, the only way I know how is unplug the power cord or switch off the PSU in order to shut down (or more like turning off the case fans.) Anyone know what this problem is?

Thanks for all the help!

Additional Comment:

Dear All,

After all the attempts, I figured the only way I can fix my computer is to get new BIOS chips. So I ordered three chips, each with different BIOS preprogrammed into it. I got my BIOS Chips today. I first tried the 1802 version. The machine still didn't boot. I cleared CMOS, still no boot. Then I thought I should just skipped the chip with 1701 BIOS and go straight to 1201. Wow! It booted and gave me a CMOS checksum error on the BIOS screen but I exited the BIOS and booted the machine up. When I see the Windows XP welcome screen, I was so elated. But then it said the Soundmax needed to be reinstalled.

I rebooted the system, the BIOS screen didn't show CMOS checksum error and when I goes into XP, no more Soundmax problem either.

I rebooted the machine again and went into the BIOS to reset the date and see what else needed to be changed (any advice appreciated here for setting up the BIOS parameters). However, one more problem popped up.... I thought 1201 supposedly fixed the problem that when shutting down the PC, it will turn off the power to the case and CPU fans. However, I still have the problem of after the OS is shut down, the fans on the PC just keep running, even after Windows XP is shut down. It just seemed like the PSU never shut down and the Motherboard is still powering the CPU fans. To shut down, the only way I know how is unplug the power cord or switch off the PSU in order to shut down (or more like turning off the case fans.) Anyone know what this problem is?

Thanks for all the help!

[TomL]

Were you OCed when you first flashed the BIOS? You should never flash while OCed. If so, it kind of sounds like it did more damage than corrupting the new BIOS. While the new problem might be an issue with the PSU, I am leaning towards the BIOS still not being correct or MB issues.

I would try reflashing the BIOS again to see if the issue clears up. Someone else might have a better suggestion, IDK

[shovelwrench]

I have that board (just nuked it though).

When heavily overclocked it would shut down as yours does, system shuts off but fans keep running. Never figured out why, down clocked it a bit and the problem went away.

[zoro]

TomL and Shovelwrench,

Thanks for your replies.

Actually, I never OCed. I haven't got that far yet. I was just seeking a stable system first before I start experimenting with OC.

When the MB came with 0903 version of the BIOS, the problem existed. I read somewhere 1201 fixed this problem. However, the problem that fans remain running after the OS shut down still exist.

[Wizy]

That Boards a Piece of crud. I was running a 6000+ on that board and it was totally not compatible... It would run OS and normal stuff... but when gaming it would lagg and ping out lol, worst thing ever... so i downgraded to a 4600+ and OC' to 2.6Ghz and runs Perfect without one bit of lagg lol!!!

[shovelwrench]

Originally Posted by Wizy

That Boards a Piece of crud. I was running a 6000+ on that board and it was totally not compatible... It would run OS and normal stuff... but when gaming it would lagg and ping out lol, worst thing ever... so i downgraded to a 4600+ and OC' to 2.6Ghz and runs Perfect without one bit of lagg lol!!!

Bull SH**

Thats a great board.