Re: Bios will not initialize my video


"raja0203" <rslotey@xxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1129829051.601910.24120@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Hi,
>
> My computer will not initialize the video on Bios boot-up.
> Here is my computer:
> Tyan S2466-4M
> Dual Amd Athlon Mp 2000+
> Kingston PC2100 1GB REG ECC Ram
> Adaptec 29160 SCSI controller card
> 3 Seagate 10k cheatahs
> ATI Radeon 9700 Pro
>
> I know that I need to replace my CMOS battery because if I cold boot my
> pc, my time goes back. However, recently, I dont have any video
> display when my BIOS boots up. My video is only activated when the
> adaptec controller card bios boots up. In a normal bootup, you have
> the computer bios, and then the adaptec bios, and then the XP loading
> screen. My monitor basically turns on when the adaptec bios is being
> loaded. Do you think this is due to the CMOS battery which I've been
> too lazy to change or is it something more serious?
>

If you are getting video at all, then your video card is being initialized.
AFTER the video card is initialized, then you might see information from
other subsystems booting, such as your adaptec controller card. Most
likely, your CMOS has lost its settings due to the battery failure. This
means that, while the BIOS is running its hardcoded boot sequence (and thus,
your video card is initialized), the booting process is getting interrupted
somewhere after the video card initializes. As you are seeing information
from your adaptec SCSI card, it would seem to be working fine. Best guess .
.. . your CMOS settings are no longer set to boot from the SCSI adapter,
because your battery died. So while the computer can see the SCSI adapter,
and the SCSI adapter is working OK, the computer has no idea what to do with
the SCSI adapter or anything attached to the SCSI adapter (like your hard
drive, duh) :)

So what you should see is . . . video comes on briefly, displays adaptec
adapter card information, and then nothing happens when you would normally
expect Windows XP to start up. Replace battery, clear CMOS, load
"optimized" (or performance) defaults in BIOS, then set your system BIOS to
boot from SCSI, if necessary. -Dave


.

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