First post, by Whiskey
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Hi Vogons, I'm having problems with a PC Chips M537 VXPro+ motherboard. (manual https://web.archive.org/web/20070704112912/ht … 4.htm#mPage%205 )
Specifically the BIOS, which Posts, counts the memory/identifies the CPU correctly and then throws up some graphical glitchy-ness with a half rendered menu. If I mess with the menus I can trigger a screen redraw and it displays the 'Hard Disk Low Level Format Utility' Award Software Inc. 1992-97. I can move around the menu but no options actually work and I cannot quit it. This menu is bypassing all booting options, so I cant boot off a floppy (dos 6.22 or Win98 bootdisc) or HDD (FAT MBR Dos 6.22 install) to re-flash the bios. I've also replaced the battery and can get into the bios but the only changes it remembers are the date and time, changing floppy seek or boot order are forgotten on reset (CMOS reset jumper is set correctly).
- Solution 1: Get a eprom programmer and reflash the bios onto the existing chip.
- Problem: Removed the Award Bios Sticker to find the chip model to see if its a 12v/21v etc. chip so I know I'm buying the right kind of programmer but its only markings are 'H.T. M11989 C9730' which yields no results on google.
- Solution 2: Get a eprom programmer and buy a new blank IC to program.
- Problem: What IC do I buy? The only things I know about the non functioning chip is that the BIOS BIN is 128kb and its a 32Pin dip chip.
Can I use a larger chip ie. https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/eprom/1274049/ Microchip Technology AT27C010-70PU which is a 1MB (128K x 8 bit) 5v chip.
I've tried the the obvious things to narrow down the problem to the BIOS; tried other cpus, checked and tried alternative jumper settings (volts, multiplier, freq), used alternative vga cards (pci & isa) and swapped out the memory for known working.
If anyone has any advice or suggestions I'd welcome them as I'm almost at a loss now for how to proceed. (Side note: I looked online to see if I could just buy a spare bios chip and this delboy on ebay is trying to flog one for a little shy of £100 inc postage. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AWARD-BIOS-Chip-PC … &frcectupt=true)
Thanks in advance! W.