CMOS Problem with ABIT KD7A MB

I've been dealing with an odd problem for the last few months. About two to
three months ago, my machine wouldn't boot up at all. Somehow I got it
started, but found that would lose the BIOS settings. Actually, to get it
going, I removed the 3v CMOS battery. A new battery didn't help. I have to
satisfy myself with resetting the date and other BIOS data each time I
reboot. I inquired at ABIT about having the board examined, but it's past
their interest date.

Someone mentioned that problems like this are from a bad power supply, so I
recently purchased a new PSU. Same problem.

Although, this can be irritating, I guess I'll live with it until I can get
around to replacing the board with a new one. This post is a just a last
attempt to scratch the itch.

Here's some data:

ABIT KD7A, 265M RAM, AMD Athlon XP 1.337G. Perhaps I can reuse the CPU chip,
if there are still boards around that support it.

Comments?



--
Wayne Watson (Nevada City, CA)

Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net>

On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:32:59 -0700, "W. Watson"
<> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>I've been dealing with an odd problem for the last few months. About two to
>three months ago, my machine wouldn't boot up at all. Somehow I got it
>started, but found that would lose the BIOS settings. Actually, to get it
>going, I removed the 3v CMOS battery. A new battery didn't help. I have to
>satisfy myself with resetting the date and other BIOS data each time I
>reboot. I inquired at ABIT about having the board examined, but it's past
>their interest date.
>
>Someone mentioned that problems like this are from a bad power supply, so I
>recently purchased a new PSU. Same problem.
>
>Although, this can be irritating, I guess I'll live with it until I can get
>around to replacing the board with a new one. This post is a just a last
>attempt to scratch the itch.
>
>Here's some data:
>
>ABIT KD7A, 265M RAM, AMD Athlon XP 1.337G. Perhaps I can reuse the CPU chip,
>if there are still boards around that support it.
>
>Comments?

Measure the battery voltage in-circuit. If your BIOS has a hardware
monitor screen, then, depending on the motherboard design, it may also
report the battery voltage. Otherwise a software hardware monitor may
be able to tell you this.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

BIOS setup shows 2.99v.

Franc Zabkar wrote:
> On Mon, 16 Jul 2007 09:32:59 -0700, "W. Watson"
> <> put finger to keyboard and composed:
>
>> I've been dealing with an odd problem for the last few months. About two to
>> three months ago, my machine wouldn't boot up at all. Somehow I got it
>> started, but found that would lose the BIOS settings. Actually, to get it
>> going, I removed the 3v CMOS battery. A new battery didn't help. I have to
>> satisfy myself with resetting the date and other BIOS data each time I
>> reboot. I inquired at ABIT about having the board examined, but it's past
>> their interest date.
>>
>> Someone mentioned that problems like this are from a bad power supply, so I
>> recently purchased a new PSU. Same problem.
>>
>> Although, this can be irritating, I guess I'll live with it until I can get
>> around to replacing the board with a new one. This post is a just a last
>> attempt to scratch the itch.
>>
>> Here's some data:
>>
>> ABIT KD7A, 265M RAM, AMD Athlon XP 1.337G. Perhaps I can reuse the CPU chip,
>> if there are still boards around that support it.
>>
>> Comments?
>
> Measure the battery voltage in-circuit. If your BIOS has a hardware
> monitor screen, then, depending on the motherboard design, it may also
> report the battery voltage. Otherwise a software hardware monitor may
> be able to tell you this.
>
> - Franc Zabkar

--
Wayne Watson (Nevada City, CA)

Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net>

On Tue, 17 Jul 2007 17:35:09 GMT, "W. Watson"
<> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>BIOS setup shows 2.99v.

A fresh battery should measure around 3.20V. I'd confirm the voltage
with a multimeter, with the battery in-circuit, and with the AC power
disconnected.

- Franc Zabkar
--
Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

On Jul 17, 1:35 pm, "W. Watson" <wolf_tra...@invalid.com> wrote:
> BIOS setup shows 2.99v.

As Franc Zabkar noted, a useful procedure is to measure that battery
with a 3.5 digit multimeter. Even at 2.99 volts, a battery would not
create CMOS problems. Not only measure the new battery (to confirm it
is OK under load) while still attached to motherboard. Also measure
the old battery to learn if that was reason for failure.

Meanwhile, also measure voltages on one orange, purple, red, and
yellow wire from power supply to motherboard. Those voltages must
exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7 volts. Also report those numbers here
since those numbers may contain information you don't realize.

Those four voltages should be taken both with computer powering up
AND with a full load of peripherals. Access all peripherals
simultaneously - multitasking. For example, download from the
internet while playing a movie from CD-Rom (so that video subsystem is
processing complex graphics), while doing searches on both hard drive
and floppy, while using the modem. What are those voltages when
everything is working simultaneously? Again, useful information.

Once we have exonerated the power supply system (yes, power supply
is only one system component), then move on to other suspects. The
power supply system having been removed from the 'unknown' category
and located in a 'definitively good' category. Even with a new
power supply, that system is currently still 'unknown'.

What did event (system) log report? Computers now see problems,
record them, and work around those problems. How would you know?
That useful history would be in system logs.

I'm back. I can no longer boot up again.
I'll nevertheless check the voltages as described below with my DVM.

w_tom wrote:
> On Jul 17, 1:35 pm, "W. Watson" <wolf_tra...@invalid.com> wrote:
>> BIOS setup shows 2.99v.
>
> As Franc Zabkar noted, a useful procedure is to measure that battery
> with a 3.5 digit multimeter. Even at 2.99 volts, a battery would not
> create CMOS problems. Not only measure the new battery (to confirm it
> is OK under load) while still attached to motherboard. Also measure
> the old battery to learn if that was reason for failure.
>
> Meanwhile, also measure voltages on one orange, purple, red, and
> yellow wire from power supply to motherboard. Those voltages must
> exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7 volts. Also report those numbers here
> since those numbers may contain information you don't realize.
>
> Those four voltages should be taken both with computer powering up
> AND with a full load of peripherals. Access all peripherals
> simultaneously - multitasking. For example, download from the
> internet while playing a movie from CD-Rom (so that video subsystem is
> processing complex graphics), while doing searches on both hard drive
> and floppy, while using the modem. What are those voltages when
> everything is working simultaneously? Again, useful information.
>
> Once we have exonerated the power supply system (yes, power supply
> is only one system component), then move on to other suspects. The
> power supply system having been removed from the 'unknown' category
> and located in a 'definitively good' category. Even with a new
> power supply, that system is currently still 'unknown'.
>
> What did event (system) log report? Computers now see problems,
> record them, and work around those problems. How would you know?
> That useful history would be in system logs.
>
>

--
Wayne Watson (Nevada City, CA)

Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net>

I still can't get it to boot. Power is definitely on. I took out the battery
and it measured 3.02v. I'm pretty sure that's the new battery I bought about
8-10 weeks ago. I can't find the other one. I measured the MB powered up
voltages as follows:
Orange: 3.38v (it was a bit tricky doing this)
Purple (blue?): no way to get at it except via the 20 pin socket
red: 5.5v
yellow: 12.05v

I think it's time to give up on this board. Fry's in Sacramento is having a
sale on MBs this weekend, so this might be a good time to replace the 3-4
year old ABIT KD7A. I'd like to preserve my AMD Athlon XP (2000/2200?), but
that's probably not possible. Maybe I can preserve the 256M, but probably
not. So it looks like I'll get to reformat my HD, and re-install W2K, and
all my apps.

W. Watson wrote:
> I'm back. I can no longer boot up again.
> I'll nevertheless check the voltages as described below with my DVM.
>
> w_tom wrote:
>> On Jul 17, 1:35 pm, "W. Watson" <wolf_tra...@invalid.com> wrote:
>>> BIOS setup shows 2.99v.
>>
>> As Franc Zabkar noted, a useful procedure is to measure that battery
>> with a 3.5 digit multimeter. Even at 2.99 volts, a battery would not
>> create CMOS problems. Not only measure the new battery (to confirm it
>> is OK under load) while still attached to motherboard. Also measure
>> the old battery to learn if that was reason for failure.
>>
>> Meanwhile, also measure voltages on one orange, purple, red, and
>> yellow wire from power supply to motherboard. Those voltages must
>> exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7 volts. Also report those numbers here
>> since those numbers may contain information you don't realize.
>>
>> Those four voltages should be taken both with computer powering up
>> AND with a full load of peripherals. Access all peripherals
>> simultaneously - multitasking. For example, download from the
>> internet while playing a movie from CD-Rom (so that video subsystem is
>> processing complex graphics), while doing searches on both hard drive
>> and floppy, while using the modem. What are those voltages when
>> everything is working simultaneously? Again, useful information.
>>
>> Once we have exonerated the power supply system (yes, power supply
>> is only one system component), then move on to other suspects. The
>> power supply system having been removed from the 'unknown' category
>> and located in a 'definitively good' category. Even with a new
>> power supply, that system is currently still 'unknown'.
>>
>> What did event (system) log report? Computers now see problems,
>> record them, and work around those problems. How would you know?
>> That useful history would be in system logs.
>>
>>
>

--
Wayne Watson (Nevada City, CA)

Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net>

Say that was fun. I just went down to Fry's Electronics in
Roseville/Sacramento. My heavens! PC hardware has really changed since I
bought the ABIT KD7A MB 3-4 years ago. SARA drives, PCI Express, heat tubes,
.... A surprise was that XP's price was not totally unreasonable.
I'll be going back to look more carefully. It seems like I should be able to
buy a used PC of the MB type I have for a decent price.

Gee, I noticed a truck load of refurbished ABIT computers there for a low
price. What a surprise. Ho, ho. Sorry no more ABIT for me. They have one
tech guy on the phone, and he's single minded. He's good, but sometimes a
little variety helps when communications go astray. Their Forums aren't bad,
but when I changed ISPs, I screwed up my new e-mail address. I couldn't get
anyone to correct it. Eventually, I just got a new userid. I have another
ABIT machine, and it's working fine; however, either it or the PSU have been
RF noisy.

W. Watson wrote:
> I still can't get it to boot. Power is definitely on. I took out the
> battery and it measured 3.02v. I'm pretty sure that's the new battery I
> bought about 8-10 weeks ago. I can't find the other one. I measured the
> MB powered up voltages as follows:
> Orange: 3.38v (it was a bit tricky doing this)
> Purple (blue?): no way to get at it except via the 20 pin socket
> red: 5.5v
> yellow: 12.05v
>
> I think it's time to give up on this board. Fry's in Sacramento is
> having a sale on MBs this weekend, so this might be a good time to
> replace the 3-4 year old ABIT KD7A. I'd like to preserve my AMD Athlon
> XP (2000/2200?), but that's probably not possible. Maybe I can preserve
> the 256M, but probably not. So it looks like I'll get to reformat my HD,
> and re-install W2K, and all my apps.
>
> W. Watson wrote:
>> I'm back. I can no longer boot up again.
>> I'll nevertheless check the voltages as described below with my DVM.
>>
>> w_tom wrote:
>>> On Jul 17, 1:35 pm, "W. Watson" <wolf_tra...@invalid.com> wrote:
>>>> BIOS setup shows 2.99v.
>>>
>>> As Franc Zabkar noted, a useful procedure is to measure that battery
>>> with a 3.5 digit multimeter. Even at 2.99 volts, a battery would not
>>> create CMOS problems. Not only measure the new battery (to confirm it
>>> is OK under load) while still attached to motherboard. Also measure
>>> the old battery to learn if that was reason for failure.
>>>
>>> Meanwhile, also measure voltages on one orange, purple, red, and
>>> yellow wire from power supply to motherboard. Those voltages must
>>> exceed 3.23, 4.87, and 11.7 volts. Also report those numbers here
>>> since those numbers may contain information you don't realize.
>>>
>>> Those four voltages should be taken both with computer powering up
>>> AND with a full load of peripherals. Access all peripherals
>>> simultaneously - multitasking. For example, download from the
>>> internet while playing a movie from CD-Rom (so that video subsystem is
>>> processing complex graphics), while doing searches on both hard drive
>>> and floppy, while using the modem. What are those voltages when
>>> everything is working simultaneously? Again, useful information.
>>>
>>> Once we have exonerated the power supply system (yes, power supply
>>> is only one system component), then move on to other suspects. The
>>> power supply system having been removed from the 'unknown' category
>>> and located in a 'definitively good' category. Even with a new
>>> power supply, that system is currently still 'unknown'.
>>>
>>> What did event (system) log report? Computers now see problems,
>>> record them, and work around those problems. How would you know?
>>> That useful history would be in system logs.
>>>
>>>
>>
>

--
Wayne Watson (Nevada City, CA)

Web Page: <speckledwithStars.net>