Computer Problem eek!

[andyfenna]

I bought some computer parts from a fare and put them together and the PC post but all it is saying is ESCD UPDATING... and hangs.

The parts that I bought were:
-P6IWP-FE Motherboard
-Intel Celeron 600
-128mb SDRAM PC133
-20GB Matrox HDD - Brand new
-Mini ATX Desktop Case

Here is what I have done so far:
-Cleared CMOS (BIOS) Twice
-Tried different HDD
-Disabled all onboard resouces ie, audio Comms ect

The CPU Speed and Memory clocks up fine and. The HDD is set to master on Pri IDE. I have also set to master on Sec IDE. I'm really confused about this and can't seem to understand why the PC POSTs but then hangs saying UPDATING ESCD... WHATS THE PROBELM???? sorry but its doin my head in

 

[shadus]

I have to seriously ponder why you bought something like that when for less than $150 you can get a 1700+ amd system off pricewatch. Could be several things, bad mobo, improperly inserted cpu, or mobo battery dead/upsidedown.

Double check all jumper settings and check the cpu. Double check the bios setup and make sure you're not overclocked, this used to be a pretty common problem, but I don't remember what all the fixes were and what causes it off the top of my head.

Try searching google for "Updating ESCD Lock hang"

Shadus

 

[andyfenna]

I went to buy this hardware because I need some thing quiet and small as i'm using the PC as a Home Threate centre. I can't seem to find anything on google that relates to my problem, The CPU is OK and RAM as I have tried them in a different PC is got somthing to do with Plug and Play in BIOS but I don't now what

 

[andyfenna]

Will Flashing the BIOS resolve anything?

 

[Coyote]

Here's a site I found which seems to address your problem specifically and lists trouble shooting steps for mobo and other components. If you have'nt already seen it you may wish go here:<A HREF="http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/booterrGBER23-c.html" target="_new">http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/sys/booterrGBER23-c.html</A>

BTW, the links to trouble shooting are at the bottom of the article

EDIT: Here's another site addressing the problem, albeit in a much less detailed fashion. In this forum type discussion someone mentions that with HD's larger than 8GB one may run into the INT 13h issue that affected older mobo's (I noticed your's is a new 20GB HD?). Anyway here's the link and good luck:<A HREF="http://forums.pimprig.com/archive/topic/8289-1.html" target="_new">http://forums.pimprig.com/archive/topic/8289-1.html</A>
This link has a problem, so I'll try again:<A HREF="http://forums.pimprig.com/archive/topic/8289-1.html" target="_new">http://forums.pimprig.com/archive/topic/8289-1.html</A>

XP 2000+
MSI KT3 ULTRA-2 KT333
Maxtor 60GB ATA 133 7200RPM
512MB PC2700
ABIT G4 Ti4200 OTES 64MB
Win98SE<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1><EM>Edited by Coyote on 11/24/03 11:51 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

 

[andyfenna]

I left the PC running at the point where is says "UPDATING ESCD..." now the PC is saying "BULIDING DMI POOL......." then hangs. I'm unable to get the system to boot from either CD or Floppy so I think a BIOS replacement is in order. Can any body give me some details in ordering a BIOS from the UK.

 

[Icedout]

prob the cpu is so dang slow it will take time to do all this maybe problem with the mulitplier on the board vs what cpu needs to operate correctly.

Dont know.. Just shooting in the dark and probably just killed someone.

LIFE IS LIKE A BOLT OF LIGHTNING...UNLESS YOU MAKE AN IMPACT YOU WON'T BE NOTICED

 

[shadus]

Try <A HREF="http://www.badflash.com" target="_new">http://www.badflash.com</A>. A bios replacement is going to run about 20$.

Shadus

 

[shadus]

Thought occurs, post up exactly what kinda case (or add pics!) you need and perhaps someone on here knows of a case or something that could be purchased cheaply (and new) that would work with a modern system... might save yerself alot of money refurbing that ancient thing.

Shadus

 

[Zoron]

Have you got any add-in cards that you haven't pulled out? ESCD hangs are very rarely due to a bad BIOS... usually it's caused by an add-in card that the system doesn't like. (Either bad card or causing hardware conflicts).

Flashing the BIOS may help; but I'd first suggest removing all add-in cards (with the exception of the video card if it's not integrated) and seeing if you can boot. If you still can't boot, disconnect your drives one at a time (retrying after each drive) starting with the CD-ROM. I've run into this issue more than once, and it's almost always either an add-in card or a bad drive causing the problem. (Not likely the hard drive, since you tried another already)

<font color=red> If you design software that is fool-proof, only a fool will want to use it. </font color=red>

 

[andyfenna]

The motherboard has got 2 PCI Slots which are both empty as the devices are integrated. The system does not go as far as booting up from either HDD, Floppy or CD-ROM. The IDE devices are found at POST with no errors or problems. I have not yet tried booting up with out a CD-ROM in place but would that make a difference? I have ordered a replacement BIOS from http://www.biosflasuk.com

 

[andyfenna]

I'm not sure what settings the muliplier is as the board is jumplerless. The CPU is a Celeron 600mhz what should the FSB be and what about the multipler?

 

[andyfenna]

Well as for case ect, this is brand new, its the insides I need like a Micro ATX motherboard and CPU above 500mhz, I have RAM, HDD, CD-ROM, can anybody help?

 

[shadus]

Aight, how bout this...
ASUS A7V8X-MX - $60
Athlon XP 2500+ 333mhz fsb - $82
(Off pricewatch)

You could drop the cpu pretty far down to lower the price if you wanted to. $45 for a 1700+. If you needed ram for that you could snag up 512mb sticks of pc2700 for about $60/stick.

Shadus

 

[andyfenna]

I live in the UK!

 

[shadus]

Can't help there, check your local suppliers for those parts... or perhaps someone here can suggest a good place to get parts in the uk, I know i've seen several suggestions before (course those were in usd also.)

Shadus

 

[ChipDeath]

Just using the examples already given...
A7V8X-MX £48.60
XP2500+(OEM) £63

from Komplett.co.uk. I've bought lots of stuff from them and never had a problem.


---
<font color=red>The preceding text is assembled from information stored in an unreliable organic storage medium. As such it may be innacurate, incomplete, or completely wrong</font color=red>

 

[andyfenna]

PROBLEM SOLVED! YIPPEE. It was due to a corrupt BIOS file, I replaced my BIOS Chip with on I ordered from BIOSFLASHUK and guess what

UPDATING ESCD.......COMPLETE
BUIDLING DMI POOL.....COMPLETE

Yee Ha

 

[ChipDeath]

Well done bud. tinkering with these things is much more fun when you're winning

---
<font color=red>The preceding text is assembled from information stored in an unreliable organic storage medium. As such it may be innacurate, incomplete, or completely wrong</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

Actually on boards that old, ESCD errors due to a bad BIOS chip are quite common. The ESCD data gets written to a certain part of flash ROM, and can only be flashed a certain number of times before it fails. I used to refurbish Asus motherboards and this was the most common problem that wasn't fixable by reflashing BIOS. In fact, I bought a bunch of blank chips and an RD1 BIOS Savior so I could flash whatever BIOS I needed on another board.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>