Hi all,

I've got a problem with my mobo, its giving me a Bios rom checksum error on startup... I figured i could fix this problem by reinstalling the bios, because before starting to beep (cause of the error) it searches for a disk in the floppy drive. Above this error it displays "Award Bootblock bios, v1.0" I googled that message and it came up with a link where it is decribed in detail how to flash a bios, and even what to do in case of a bios rom checksum error. Using a program called AwardFlash i can flash the bios using a floppy.

Here's the problem: in order to make a disk for a new bios i need to know the make and type number of my mobo, and since i haven't gotten any manuals or documentation of this thing at all (got it a couple of days ago from someone i hardly know, but he hasnt got any information either) , i'm kinda lost... Here's what i do know:
It has a p3 processor (not with a chip, but like this)
a via chipset (VT82C686A)
an agp graphics port
on the bios chip there's a sticker that says 'Award ?1998, PCI/PNP 686', the bios chip itself is a Winbond W29c020C (not sure if that helps identifying the board..)
If you guys want to i could take some pics of it, maybe it helps identification process :tongue:
This site shows some sort of a manual for identifying a mobo by numbers on it, but i cant find any numbers that look like the codes on that site....

Anyway, hopeyou guys can help me out on this

(btw bluefish already knows this one :tongue: )

Hi Dr.Domino!
Welcome back to PC Help Forum!

First of all, taking pictures would be a good idea, but they should be of some quality so that we can read what's on your mainboard.
Second, are there any more brand names on the mainboard?
Also have you looked on the backside of the mainboard? (Don't think you'll find anything, but you can give it a shot.)
Bluefish

Yeah i checked the back too, there's nothing there though... Some pics:

the board itself

via and winbond chips, its a bit unclear but the codes on the chips are mentioned above anyway... the white bit has this code on it: 55.88401.0332KN95

A bit of code located between the agp slot, processor and ram (visible in overview pic too)

And there are no brand names on it as far as i can see... I only just noticed it has a Hycom Hy-05 'buzzer'

Could it be that your computer is an Acer?

Also, does this apply to your mainboard:

Yeah it could be, at least looks te same and the specs are right too... Just found out the via vt82c686a is also known as kt133 chip too

But how the .... did you find out it was this mobo, and are you shure there are no boards that it could be too? Cause i might kill it by installing a wrong bios ya know

Well I also found this:

It says updating the BIOS is possibly not the solution.