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Need BIGTIME Computer HELP!!

Posted on 12/11/2004 8:59:15 PM PST by KoRn

***NOTE***

My PC ran Linux great before what you are about to read.

I recently upgraded the BIOS on my PC. After I upgraded my BIOS I can't run Linux. When I power on, the message shows:

BIOS DATA CHECK OK, BOOTING KERNEL

---At this point the system reboots----

I tried reinstalling Linux, and the same thing happens when I run the install CD. I also tried running "Damn Small limux" from the install CD and the same thing happened, so I'm at a loss.

If anyone out there can offer any asistance, I would be forever in your debt, because I'm condemed to the world of Windows until I can resolve this matter.

PLEASE HELP!!!!


TOPICS: Computers/Internet
KEYWORDS: computers
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To: KoRn

The CDs don't work? Now that is strange.

Did you remember to change the BIOS settings to set boot priority to CD-ROM?


21 posted on 12/11/2004 9:42:15 PM PST by Ex-Dem (AFL-CIO - Where organized labor becomes organized crime.)
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To: KoRn

Most bios flashes will reset the bios to it's default settings once flashed, and so right after the pc reboots the first time you need to hit the delete key (most common, some pc's hit F1) to get into the bios and make adjustments so it reflects your former setup. Turn off the pc and turn it back on, hit the delete key as soon as you see something appear on the screen and this should get you into the bios.

That's where I would start first, its probable that default settings has changed some hardware setting so linux can not boot.


22 posted on 12/11/2004 9:43:53 PM PST by SeaBiscuit (With God, I will never be alone again.)
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To: Ex-Dem
Yes, it will boot from the CD's, it then displays the message: BIOS DATA CHECKOK, BOOTING KERNEL. Thanks for the responses everyone!
23 posted on 12/11/2004 9:44:01 PM PST by KoRn
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To: SeaBiscuit

Would it be ok to revert back to the previous version of my BIOS? I've heard that's risky, as it's flashed onto the chip, and can damage it.


24 posted on 12/11/2004 9:46:10 PM PST by KoRn
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To: KoRn

You said in your LQ post that you upgraded to 3.15. Phoenix's website says that their latest is 4.0R6.1. Maybe you should give that version a try.

http://www.phoenix.com/en/Products/Core+System+Software/Other+Platform+Products/PhoenixBIOS+4.0/default.htm

This is probably my last post for tonight, hope things work out for you.


25 posted on 12/11/2004 9:50:18 PM PST by Ex-Dem (AFL-CIO - Where organized labor becomes organized crime.)
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To: Ex-Dem
I think I'm just going to get the parts and build a PC from scratch. After being in the IT field for a few years, I've aways wanted to do it. From everything I've read you get more bang for your buck that way.
26 posted on 12/11/2004 9:52:42 PM PST by KoRn
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To: KoRn

no more so than the risk you take whenever you flash the bios. But I would not revert, do what I said above, check your bios settings that they match what you had before, especially boot sequences for floppy, hd, cdrom. Check, memory, pci bus, etc. Make sure the settings match your hardware, you may need to go into the pci settings options and set 'reset configuration data' or similar title to 'enabled' then reboot. This often needs to be done when you add new hardware and your pc won't boot but may apply here since the bios flash put settings back to default which may cause a hardware conflict.

Try playing with the bios settings for awhile before risking trashing your bios chip with a possible bad flash.


27 posted on 12/11/2004 9:54:27 PM PST by SeaBiscuit (With God, I will never be alone again.)
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To: Ex-Dem

Thank you, and everyone else very much.

I love getting into problems like this on the computer. When the problem gets solved, and it WILL be, I will learn something new. Many thanks to all of you for helping it happen.


28 posted on 12/11/2004 9:56:19 PM PST by KoRn
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To: KoRn
"I reformatted the HD as a part of troubleshooting. I installed Windows on a partition like it was when things went wrong."

Looks like you reformated the HD and reinstalled Windows. Now LILO's gone. Normally LILO is used on a blank hard drive to create partiitons, then Windows is installed on the one you created for that. Else windows ends up in charge and always screws things up. I think you lost the geometry and a lower one came back. Is the HD a smaller size now?

Leave the BIOS, or upgrade it further.

29 posted on 12/11/2004 10:04:41 PM PST by spunkets
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To: spunkets
I reinstalled Windows on the partition after things went wrong.

Linux was running fine on my system until the BIOS upgrade. Then it would get to the:

BIOS DATA CHECK OK, BOOING KERNEL

(reboot)

I wiped the HD after the bad stuff started going on

30 posted on 12/11/2004 10:14:34 PM PST by KoRn
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To: KoRn
" Linux was running fine on my system until the BIOS upgrade. Then it would get to the: BIOS DATA CHECK OK, BOOING KERNEL (reboot) I"

I think all that happened is that the HD geometry changed. THen the pointer to the active partition was NG. Going into the BIOS setup and redoing that and some other changes would have fixed it. Now you have to reinstall.

Were you the one that originally put the 2 OP SYtms on?

If you look from Windows, does the HD have the same size?

31 posted on 12/11/2004 10:20:49 PM PST by spunkets
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To: KoRn
How did you upgrade your BIOS? Did you flash it or did you replace the chip with a new one?

If you flashed it, it is more than likely the flash did not work and corrupted the BIOS. If this is the case, I would petition the company that you bought the flash software from and demand a new chip....as well as a chip with your old BIOS version on it.

The same thing happened to me and when I expressed my displeasure with the integrity of their flash software, they sent me 2 new chips, one with the old and one with the new BIOS.

32 posted on 12/12/2004 7:56:16 AM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (All I ask from livin' is to have no chains on me. All I ask from dyin' is to go naturally.)
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To: Bloody Sam Roberts
I flashed the BIOS with software from Compaq. I don't believe there is anything really wrong with the BIOS because Windows still runs ok.

The computer manufacturer wouldn't do anything to help me since I was using Linux. They said: "Any software other than what the PC shipped with is considered 3rd party, and we don't support 3rd party software."
33 posted on 12/12/2004 8:23:54 AM PST by KoRn
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To: KoRn


34 posted on 12/12/2004 11:15:37 AM PST by ThreePuttinDude (Plumbers for Bush....We flushed the Johns)
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To: ThreePuttinDude

Hehe Love that pic. As for my problem, I believe I'm gonna just build a system from the ground up, and use it as a dedicated Linux box.


35 posted on 12/12/2004 11:27:41 AM PST by KoRn
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To: KoRn
I don't believe there is anything really wrong with the BIOS because Windows still runs ok.

Yeah...I saw that after I posted. I know zippo about Linux. So I'll sit back and watch.

36 posted on 12/12/2004 1:55:58 PM PST by Bloody Sam Roberts (All I ask from livin' is to have no chains on me. All I ask from dyin' is to go naturally.)
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To: rdb3; chance33_98; Calvinist_Dark_Lord; Bush2000; PenguinWry; GodGunsandGuts; CyberCowboy777; ...

Linux assistance requested over here.


37 posted on 12/13/2004 5:49:28 AM PST by ShadowAce (Linux -- The Ultimate Windows Service Pack)
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To: KoRn

I am more familiar with GRUB than Lilo but did you try booting into runlevel 'S'? I am assuming by the error that you can boot into windows?


38 posted on 12/13/2004 5:58:38 AM PST by N3WBI3
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To: N3WBI3
Yes, Windows boots fine. I can get to LILO, and choose Linux.

Here's what happens:

BIOS DATA CHECK OK, BOOTING KERNEL.

(System reboots)

It does this over and over, after I updated my BIOS. The BIOS update was by flashing from an executable file downloaded from the Compaq website.

This even happens when I run the Mandrake 10.1 install CD's. It also happens when I attempt to run 'Damn Small Linux from CDROM.

All I know is there is something about that BIOS update that the Kernel doesn't like, that wasn't there before because Linux used to run great on my system.
39 posted on 12/13/2004 6:15:43 AM PST by KoRn
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To: KoRn

Have you tried booting into different run levels?


40 posted on 12/13/2004 6:33:36 AM PST by N3WBI3
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