POST Error codes.

NathanD · 9 Dec 2006 at 11:17

A few days ago i was getting the POST error 2a when booting from cold. only way to get my PC to start was to clear CMOS and start again, however last night my PC froze for about 5 seconds then to rebooted, however. i didnt get the POST error 21 this time, instead i got FF, and now my PC wont start, wont boot in safe mode either.

everytime i reboot its saying, CMOS Checksum error: Loading Defaults

My motherboard is a Abit AW8D 975x

any ideas whats happened?

BUFF · 9 Dec 2006 at 12:02

FF is normally a good sign as it's where the board is looking for something to boot from.
have you tried clearing CMOS again?
Also check your boot priorities.

NathanD · 9 Dec 2006 at 14:44

i've cleared CMOS again yes and still no luck, when i set my boot options and save to CMOS the PC goes to reboot but doesnt finish its cycle so i then i have 2 power down the PC and power it up again, then it says CMOS Checksum error: Loading Defaults.

Press F1 to continue

BUFF · 10 Dec 2006 at 15:26

Tried flashing the BIOS?

if you haven't already you may want to post your problem on the Abit-USA forums.

WJA96 · 11 Dec 2006 at 10:28

2 Possibilities I think -

1. You have bent a pin or pins in the LGA775 socket when inserting the chip (This is very easily done and usually requires a new motherboard). The CPU identifier is set by various pins making contact in the socket. If one or more of those pins don't make contact then the CPU can be mis-identified. The computer looks like it's booting up fine, but fails as described above because the BIOS cannot work out what the CPU is. Completely missing pins are less common, but they do happen. Please note that RMA'ing a motherboard with a bent pin will be seen as user error. RMA'ing the same board with missing pins will be seen as a manufacturing fault.

2. The BIOS chip itself is faulty. Abit were infamous for this about 18 months ago when they supplied a very large number of AA8, AA8-XE and AL-8 boards with BIOS chips that could not be flashed properly. I would very much doubt that this is the problem, but if you do a search for "Abit care UK" then usually they will send you a new BIOS chip FOC just to be sure.