Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

[zeeliejm]

Hi Everyone

After allot of searching I was brought to this site and after searching the forums here, regarding this problem, I di find some threads which pointed to other threads, but each time I click a link it just takes me to the main page.

I heard that a user by the name of Lsdmeasap, had a guide for this specific problem.

Can anyone help me out please?

Regards

Johan

[profJim]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ng-failed.html might have the information you're looking for, but this is a last resort procedure.

Please describe your problem in more detail and provide detailed information about your system. Follow the procedure in steps 1 & 2 in http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...tml#post295784 to add your system information to your forum signature.

[zeeliejm]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Hi ProfJim

Thanks for responding. I have a Gigabyte 8IP900 Motherboard Rev 1.0.

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket 478 - GA-8IP900 (rev. 1.0)

[profJim]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

It looks like your main bios chip is removable.
I looks like your board doesn't have a backup bios chip, so the first linked to post won't help you.
If you have a floppy drive, your system might "find" the bios if you download and copy the bios file to a floppy.
Insert the floppy into the drive before you power on your system.
The floppy does not need to be bootable, it just needs the extracted bios file.

We really need more information:
What led up to the problem?
Any recent changes to your system?

**EDIT** It looks like F11 is the most recent bios version, so you need to copy the xxxxxxxx.F11 extracted bios file on the floppy.

[zeeliejm]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Hey Prof

Ok, after scouring the earth, I finally found some stiffy's and a drive. Copied the F11 bios across and connected it to the MB. It still says searching in Hard drive. No HDD connected.

Prof. I am not sure what happened to the MB. Worked one day, next day it did this. The MB has given problems in the past.

Regards

[profJim]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Another option is to put the bios file in the root directory of your hard drive.
You'll need to hook up your hard drive to another computer to copy the bios file to the drive.
What is the name of the bios file that you copied to the floppy?

**EDIT** For the bios to "find" the new bios file on a hard drive, the partition can not be NFTS formatted.
Fat12/16/32 partitions are required for the bios to see the bios file.

[zeeliejm]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Prof

I have tried the bios option on the hard drive, in the root, to no avail. The file name is 8ip900.f11. I also read in the manual the following:

Xpress Recovery Introduction
What is Xpress Recovery?
Xpress Recovery utility is an utility for backing up and restoring O.S. partition. If the hard drive
can not work properly, you can restore it to the original state.
1. It supports FAT16、BFAT32、NTFS Operation System .
2. It does not work when you install Boot Manager .
3. It must be used with IDE hard disk supporting HPA .
4. The first partition must be set as the boot partition. When the boot partition is backed up,
please do not change its size.
5. It must be connected to IDE1 Master .
1. System data and hard disk's reading/writing speed will affect backing up speed.
2. It is supported only by Intel 865 / 875 chipset based motherboard from Gigabyte.

Page 77 of the manual from Gigabyte's site. LINK

[profJim]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Express Recovery is initially run from the bios to backup your boot partition.
You need to press F9 from the post screen or enter the bios to run Express Recovery to backup your boot partition.
If your boot partition is corrupted, you should still see the post screen, followed by a message that says something like "invalid disk, press ENTER to ....".

[zeeliejm]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

I understand. Ok so if the bios still says searching for bios in hard drive, all hope is probably not lost?

[profJim]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Yes you're still in the game.
Check out Lsdme's http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ash-guide.html and follow the procedures for performing a clear CMOS.
You should remove the mobo battery for at least 20 minutes and possibly overnight. It's possible that the battery is weak, your best bet is to install a new battery before you try your next boot.

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Clear CMOS help any? Did you try for a long time, maybe 8+ hours?

Do you have a floppy disk drive?

[zeeliejm]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Hey Lsd

I have not tried the 8 hours CMOS clear yet, will do that today. Yes I have a floppy drive.

Regards

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: Bootblock Scanning for Bios . .

Let us know how the extended clear CMOS works out for you.

Please unplug the PSU from the board (24 and 4 or 8 pin), or unplug it from the wall and press and hold the case power on button for one minute. Then remove the CMOS battery overnight.

Great to hear you have a floppy, if all else fails you can try a blind flash via floppy.

It's not finding the BIOS on the hard drive because it only looks in the HPA hidden section of the drive, so if there is no BIOS backup there it's not going to find one.

If you used to use a different hard drive on this board, put that old drive back in and it may have the BIOS backup hidden in the HPA.

Did you already try with a CD Drive ONLY connected to the first SATA port or master IDE, with the motherboard install CD in?