HELP!!!! "Checking NVRAM error"

[dray32]

When I power up my computer I get the following message: "Checking NVRAM" This message appears and the computer just sits there and does nothing.
Components installed:
MSI Kt4 Ultra mobo
Athlon XP 2200
Elixcer 512MB PC2700 DDR Ram
PNY GeForce4 TI 42000 video card
Volcano 9 T-n-T heatsink and fan
(All components are brand new)

I have tried the following actions, but to no avail:
- Reset the CMOS via jumpers on the mobo (when I did this it came back and said "Checking NVRAM...update OK, but then just sits there)
- Removed and re-installed the video card
- Removed and re-seated RAM, (even tried different slot)
- Removed and re-installed heat sink and fan.

I do not recieve any POST beep errors, and naturally I can't get into the BIOS setup. Anyone have any ideas of things that I should try, or should I just chalk it up to a bad mobo and return it????
I do plan on trying the following items later on today:
- Replace CMOS battery.
- Trying a different video card.
- Curl up in a ball and cry like a little girl.

Any help would be greatly appreciated... Thanks alot guys.

Dave


<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by dray32 on 02/27/03 11:28 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[Teq]

Hi Dave,
I checked the specs on your motherboard... They are here:
<A HREF="http://www.msicomputer.com/product/chipset.asp?chipset=via_kt400" target="_new">http://www.msicomputer.com/product/chipset.asp?chipset=via_kt400</A>


First thing... hook up your in-case speaker, if you haven't already. It will give you beeps when there are errors.

It's an AMI bios, so the information on POST sequence and BEEP codes is here:
<A HREF="http://www.ami.com/support/doc/AMIBIOS-codes.pdf" target="_new">http://www.ami.com/support/doc/AMIBIOS-codes.pdf</A>

You should be able to tell from the AMIBIOS docs, where your system is bombing out.

From your description, it sounds like it could be bad ram. The BIOS needs a minimum of 64k of good ram to start up. I noticed, while checking your motherboard specs, that they say very clearly that it only supports a very short list of memory modules... You may have to buy from their list to get it to work.

Hope this helps...




<b>(</b>It ain't better if it don't work.<b>)</b>

 

[dray32]

Hi Teq.... Thanks for the advice, I am thinking that it is not the RAM, because I bought it from a store that had the same board running the same RAM???? Oh well, I guess I will keep tinkering with it, untill I get it to work.... After all, isn't that how we all learn??

 

[KWPLunchbox]

Sounds like the battery on your motherboard is dead. Replace and clear the CMOS before booting.

<font color=purple>AMD XP 2200+, A7N8X Deluxe, 512mb PC3200 Corsair XMS DDR, Geforce3 Ti-500, Audigy Platinum, TDK 48x CDRW, Lite-On 16x DVD, XP Pro SP1, and more neon than a ghetto sled </font color=purple>

 

[jags851]

Sounds like the battery on your motherboard is dead. Replace and clear the CMOS before booting.

<font color=purple>AMD XP 2200+, A7N8X Deluxe, 512mb PC3200 Corsair XMS DDR, Geforce3 Ti-500, Audigy Platinum, TDK 48x CDRW, Lite-On 16x DVD, XP Pro SP1, and more neon than a ghetto sled </font color=purple>

i was having a similiar issue and replaced my battery, everything on the computer seems to be working fine now, but my internet connection is dead. could these issues be related at all? and what do you mean clear CMOS?

 

[desertwar66]

i was having a similiar issue and replaced my battery, everything on the computer seems to be working fine now, but my internet connection is dead. could these issues be related at all? and what do you mean clear CMOS?

replace the battery on the motherboard, looks like a watch battery, might be hidden underneath your
video card, make sure you ground yourself to the computer to avoid electrical static discharge.