You're missing a real time clock chip (DS12C887A+ or similar) in that empty socket

jakethompson1 wrote on 2023-05-11, 19:27:

You're missing a real time clock chip (DS12C887A+ or similar) in that empty socket

On a pic attached yes but I've got two of these. One original (dead) and the other one modded with CR2032 battery. When tested it I've used both just in case but no difference.

The only advice I can offer at this stage would be to obtain a POST diagnostic card.

Repo Man11 wrote on 2023-05-11, 20:02:

The only advice I can offer at this stage would be to obtain a POST diagnostic card.

Already tried it. The only thing it shows is one led on (PCI RST) Nothing else shows on it.

Tried on different working Socket 7 motherboard and had exactly the same result which is pci rst led on.

Not that this will fix your issue, but for older motherboards similar to this style is recommended - https://www.ebay.com/itm/201914181739 (ISA+PCI), that's why you probably didn't get any results of yours on the working board.

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-11, 20:51:

Not that this will fix your issue, but for older motherboards similar to this style is recommended - https://www.ebay.com/itm/201914181739 (ISA+PCI), that's why you probably didn't get any results of yours on the working board.

Hmmmm maybe that's the thing. I might need to invest in that older version of post card and see if get any different results.

I also have this board. It's extremely fussy about the SDRAM it supports - are you using that or SIMMs?

Also, it could be the BIOS has degraded. Someone I know recently had similar symptoms on a different board, reflashed the BIOS and it worked. There are versions available from here.

brassicGamer wrote on 2023-05-13, 12:44:

I also have this board. It's extremely fussy about the SDRAM it supports - are you using that or SIMMs?

Also, it could be the BIOS has degraded. Someone I know recently had similar symptoms on a different board, reflashed the BIOS and it worked. There are versions available from here.

bit rot can be fixed by plopping that EEPROM in a TL866 or something or having a working board with a DIP32 socket on hand and hotflashing it with uniflash and flashing the bios for that board on that chip.

Windows9566 wrote on 2023-05-13, 13:55:

brassicGamer wrote on 2023-05-13, 12:44:

I also have this board. It's extremely fussy about the SDRAM it supports - are you using that or SIMMs?

Also, it could be the BIOS has degraded. Someone I know recently had similar symptoms on a different board, reflashed the BIOS and it worked. There are versions available from here.

bit rot can be fixed by plopping that EEPROM in a TL866 or something or having a working board with a DIP32 socket on hand and hotflashing it with uniflash and flashing the bios for that board on that chip.

I'm using SIMMs on it. I was thinking that bios might be dead but I don't have any tools to program it again. Never had any situation with dead bios so don't really know how to reflash it 😒 not sure what I might need of want to do it...?

What CPU(s) did you try?

Robx66 wrote on 2023-05-17, 01:53:

Never had any situation with dead bios so don't really know how to reflash it 😒 not sure what I might need of want to do it...?

Do you have a network card with a vacant ROM socket? This is the easiest way. If not you can 'hotflash' like Windows9566 said. This requires another working system with the same type of DIP BIOS socket and follow the normal procedure for updating the BIOS of that computer:

- Make a boot floppy
- Download the flashing tool for your working system (AMI / Award / Phoenix usually - it says on the chip or in the BIOS) and copy it to the floppy. UniFlash is also an option.
- Download a BIOS file (from the link I shared) and put this on the floppy as well.
- Start the (good) computer from that floppy.
- Remove the BIOS chip from the good motherboard (it is not in use, so it's safe to do this) and replace it with the chip from the dead board.
- Run the flashing program (it usually comes with a readme.txt) to flash the BIOS. You might need to 'force' the update - documentation tells you about this.
- Turn off your system and swap the chips back again.

This is a very basic guide - there are more detailed articles elsewhere online.

majestyk wrote on 2023-05-17, 06:18:

What CPU(s) did you try?

Tried pentium 133, 166 non mmx and 200 mmx.
Same result.

brassicGamer wrote on 2023-05-17, 09:51:

Do you have a network card with a vacant ROM socket? This is the easiest way. If not you can 'hotflash' like Windows9566 said. T […]
Show full quote

Robx66 wrote on 2023-05-17, 01:53:

Never had any situation with dead bios so don't really know how to reflash it 😒 not sure what I might need of want to do it...?

Do you have a network card with a vacant ROM socket? This is the easiest way. If not you can 'hotflash' like Windows9566 said. This requires another working system with the same type of DIP BIOS socket and follow the normal procedure for updating the BIOS of that computer:

- Make a boot floppy
- Download the flashing tool for your working system (AMI / Award / Phoenix usually - it says on the chip or in the BIOS) and copy it to the floppy. UniFlash is also an option.
- Download a BIOS file (from the link I shared) and put this on the floppy as well.
- Start the (good) computer from that floppy.
- Remove the BIOS chip from the good motherboard (it is not in use, so it's safe to do this) and replace it with the chip from the dead board.
- Run the flashing program (it usually comes with a readme.txt) to flash the BIOS. You might need to 'force' the update - documentation tells you about this.
- Turn off your system and swap the chips back again.

This is a very basic guide - there are more detailed articles elsewhere online.

I might try hotflash as I have another motherboard on tx chipset with compatible bios chip so might do it on that board. Sounds quite easy to do....

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-11, 20:51:

Not that this will fix your issue, but for older motherboards similar to this style is recommended - https://www.ebay.com/itm/201914181739 (ISA+PCI), that's why you probably didn't get any results of yours on the working board.

What is that cable for which comes with this post card ???

Robx66 wrote on 2023-05-17, 21:41:

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-11, 20:51:

Not that this will fix your issue, but for older motherboards similar to this style is recommended - https://www.ebay.com/itm/201914181739 (ISA+PCI), that's why you probably didn't get any results of yours on the working board.

What is that cable for which comes with this post card ???

It's for the pc speaker connector on the motherboard. You don't have to use it.

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-17, 22:57:

Robx66 wrote on 2023-05-17, 21:41:

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-11, 20:51:

Not that this will fix your issue, but for older motherboards similar to this style is recommended - https://www.ebay.com/itm/201914181739 (ISA+PCI), that's why you probably didn't get any results of yours on the working board.

What is that cable for which comes with this post card ???

It's for the pc speaker connector on the motherboard. You don't have to use it.

I doesn't make sense for me. This card already has buzzer on pcb so why someone would want to connect it to external speaker ? Hmmm maybe for better beep sound quality 😀

Robx66 wrote on 2023-05-18, 00:31:

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-17, 22:57:

Robx66 wrote on 2023-05-17, 21:41:

What is that cable for which comes with this post card ???

It's for the pc speaker connector on the motherboard. You don't have to use it.

I doesn't make sense for me. This card already has buzzer on pcb so why someone would want to connect it to external speaker ? Hmmm maybe for better beep sound quality 😀

It has a buzzer on the pcb that is not connected to anything. The cable 'brings' the pc speaker signal from the motherboard.

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-18, 03:10:

Robx66 wrote on 2023-05-18, 00:31:

bogdanpaulb wrote on 2023-05-17, 22:57:

It's for the pc speaker connector on the motherboard. You don't have to use it.

I doesn't make sense for me. This card already has buzzer on pcb so why someone would want to connect it to external speaker ? Hmmm maybe for better beep sound quality 😀

It has a buzzer on the pcb that is not connected to anything. The cable 'brings' the pc speaker signal from the motherboard.

Oh ok, now I get it 😀
Anyway I ordered card like that and will try it soon

Post card finally arrived so plugged it in and that's what it shows.....
It's in PCI slot, no codes, all leds on apart from 3.3 Volts, irdy, frame, reset. No beeps
In ISA as you can see.
Dead ???? or there is still something I can do or try ?