Bios Rom Checksum Error, plz help

rosskking,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

A checksum error shows a problem with the memory. What model system do you have and do you have the Dell customer diagnostics that should have come with your system? If you do not have them or can not find them you can download the latest version from the Dell download site to another system and bring them to this system to test for hardware failures. You will need to boot the system with this file to run the tests.

The most likely resolution to this problem is to replace the ram. If you have more than one stick of ram installed in the system the problem could be either or both of the sticks.

Thanks Les, but I don't think it is the ram. I just took the two current sticks out and tried them one at a time and it did the same thing. I tried the ram from the computer I am using now, and it still did the same thing, beeping. The computer is a Dell Dimension XPS D266 with an Intel Pentium II Processor, with MMX technology. I don't have any manuals that came with it because i bought it used from a friend. It's not a very new computer, it was designed for windows 95, but it has had some minor upgrades. I took all of the parts out of it and replaced them one by one. When all of the parts EXCEPT the floppy drive is in, it does not beep for awhile. I turn the computer on and it sounds like it is running and then about 2 minutes later that code beeps again. Would this whole problem be something with my floppy drive? Thanks again for the help.

rosskking,

Have you tried reseating your processor? If the system has set up for a long time without power then you may also want to look into a new CMOS battery too.

Rosskking

The link below is for an on-line version of the XPS D User's Guide for your reference.  These would be the on-line version of what the original owner received when the system was new.

 

No, Les, I haven't tried reseating my processor, how do u do it? I'm getting a new battery pretty soon too.

rosskking,

See the information at the following site for instructions.

 

Please IGNORE THE LAST POST BY ME. I forgot to put the ram back in after i took the last thing out. but otherwise, the same beep code is coming and reseating that thing didnt help. is there anything where i can talk directly to someone? like in a chat (like msn)? thanks.

Thanks Les, that stopped the beeping, but now theres still no picture!? wut else could it be?

nevermind les, i didnt have it pushed in all the way :(. but now there is a different beep code. right wen i plug it in it is this (4 beeps, 3 beep, 4 beeps, one beep). what is this now?

Unfortunately Dell doesn't offer a chat room, only the forums as you see them.  

Did you ever replace the motherboard battery as you had previously mentioned?  A weak or dying battery could be causing the BIOS to lose it's information and thus cause your checksum error.  Also is there any number listed with the checksum error?

Well, i'm having someone get me a battery right now, i havent ever replaced it before. and there is no number with the error. thanks

Well I replaced the battery..... no change          ?????

ok, osmeone told me that the battery isn't going to be the solution, but he said i should get a small utility plus a BIOS file from the motherboard manufacturer. Get that, plus the instructions from Dell, and try flashing the BIOS. unfortunaltely i dont know wut he meant by any f this so i will have to ask you to plz help me with this too, thanks!

I'm not quite sure what was suggested as far as a "utility,"  but for the BIOS version an Intel BIOS will work.  The XPS D model is one of the very few Dell models that will accept the Intel BIOS without creating additional problems.  The Intel BIOS upgrade was done frequently a couple of years ago by XPS D owners that wanted additional BIOS support for processor upgrades.  This link here is to Robert Hancock's web page dealing with the XPS D processor upgrade and what is need to be done including the Intel BIOS upgrade.  There is mention on the web page of using a hex editor to hack the Intel BIOS file as one of the ways to flash it on a Dell.   That is possibly utility you were informed about.  One word of caution.... in the event you don't like the performance of the Intel BIOS then it will be very difficult if not impossible to flash back to a Dell version.  Hope this info helps in resolving your problem.