Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

[Lolucoca]

Hey guys. I got a problem. My ga-ep-ds3l doesn't post anymore since I installed new RAM. I had 4GB of DDR2-800 memory and tried to add another two sticks of 2GB DDR2-800 memory. I know this was dumb since this motherboard only supports 8GB of RAM if all 2GB modules are single-sided. It didn't boot, so I removed the new RAM and tried again. Now it's showing me "Award BootBlock Bios v1.0 [Some legal information] Scanning BIOS Image in Hard Drive". Nothing else happens. I guess it's stuck there. I already tried moving my RAM, installing a new BIOS battery, clearing the CMOS, booting from a hard drive, USB disk and CD-ROM with a proper BIOS on it, removing my CPU (fully working!) and disconnecting my Hard drive, but it's stuck there. Even when no drive is installed at all, it shows that screen. I guess the BIOS is corrupt since not even the USB-ports are providing power. All four Lights are on, RAM is fully functioning, as well as the graphics card. System:
Q8200
ga-ep-ds3l
4GB DDR2-800 from G.Skill
Windows 10 Pro
GTS 450

What can I do? I can't get it to post, so there's nothing I can do with the software.

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

Your bios is searching your hard drive's host protected area for a saved copy of your bios. If a copy of the bios is not in the HPA or your drive does not have an HPA this procedure will not work.

Your system might be able to repair the bios if you place a copy of the extracted bios on an empty floppy disk and you boot using only one memory module and the floppy disk connected to your system. Naturally you will need the keyboard and monitor connected. If you system is able to read the bios it might take several minutes to read the bios from the floppy.

The name of the latest bios file for the rev: 1.0 board is motherboard_bios_ga-ep31-ds3l_f5f.exe

The name of the latest bios file for the rev: 2.0 or 2.1 board is motherboard_bios_ga-ep31-ds3l_2.0_fdc.exe

You will need to run the correct downloaded EXE file to extract and copy the uncompressed bios file to the floppy.
I downloaded and ran the rev: 2.1 bios file and the 1MB EP31DS32.FDc is the only file that needs to be copied to the floppy.
The autoexec.bat and FLASHSPI.exe files are not needed.
If you have the rev: 1.0 board you would copy the 1MB ep31ds3l.f5f to the floppy.

If the floppy disk procedure does not work try this procedure:

Removing BAD CMOS Data is the reason your Mobo comes fitted with 2 pins marked CLR_CMOS --> just need to short them together for a couple of seconds. Of course, since doing this will reset all your Bios's settings, it will then be necessary to enter the BIOS and change its settings to whatever you require for your setup !

In some cases, you will need to:

• unplug the power supply from the wall outlet
• remove the motherboard battery
• press and hold the front panel on/off switch for 15 - 30 seconds
• place a jumper block on the CLR_CMOS pins for 15 minutes, several hours, overnight or for 24 hours

Don't forget to remove the jumper block and replace the battery before re-starting your system.
You should immediately:

• enter the bios
• load optimized settings
• save settings and exit
• re-enter the bios
• make any required bios settings
• save settings and exit

In some cases the only thing that worked was to clear the cmos for 24 hours using the above procedure.

rev: 1.0 __________________________________________________ _____ rev: 2.x

The motherboard revision number is in the upper left corner of the above images.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you have the rev: 1.0 motherboard there is only one bios chip on the board and you can't use the following procedure because the following procedure requires two motherboard bios chips.

You must use extreme caution with this procedure: http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ng-failed.html
LSDMEASAP was the forum guru and I suggest that you follow his advice.

Check out post #34 where he accidentally fried a motherboard where he let the "magic smoke" out of his system.

[Lolucoca]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

Thanks for the answer! I'll surely check that! Unfortunately, I got Revision 1.0... :P

[Lolucoca]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

Both didn't work :( Is there any way to write on the HPA of my drive?

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

I don't know of any way for an end user to create and write to a hidden disk partition.

With older Gigabyte motherboards some motherboards had an option to save a copy of the bios to the HPA.

It looks like the only option now is to buy a used P35 or P45 motherboard.

[Lolucoca]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

Just ordered another BIOS-ROM :D Gonna solder it on my board when it arrives :)

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

Just ordered another BIOS-ROM :D Gonna solder it on my board when it arrives :)

Good luck! Let us know how it works out.

[Lolucoca]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

So... I got my new BIOS-chip, i soldered it on my board the wrong direction; Just gonna buy a new board :D

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

If you're looking for a replacement LGA 775 motherboard, I recommend the EP45-UD3P or the EP45-UD3R models.

The P35-DS4 is also an excellent motherboard and it should be somewhat less expensive.

The P35-DS3L will be the least expensive, but I think that all of these models only have one bios chip.

If you want to go with a different brand, be sure to read reviews from the best review sites.

Good luck, let us know how you make out.

[Lolucoca]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

Already habe the EP35-DS4 in my 3rd PC :D Think I'll go with that :) It has 2 BIOS chips, so I should be safe ^^

[profJim]

Re: Gigabyte GA-EP31-DS3L BIOS-chip dead?

Go into the bios of EP35-DS4 and press CTRL and F1 at the same time to un-hide all hidden bios settings.

I don't recall if there is a hidden bios option to enable copying the bios to the HPA.
As I recall this option is in the Advance Bios Features or the Integrated Peripherals sub-menus.

I don't trust the dual bios setup to automatically work every time there is a problem. In theory it should be good, but in practice it sometimes fails.