[Enigma5]

I am reviewing the Zotac Z77X-ITX WiFi board. I used the DOS utility to update the BIOS ( A2290605.bin) and now every time I start the system I get the error:

Warning:
CMOS Error was detected
BIOS Settings have been restored
<F1> to continue
<DEL> to enter setup

If I hit F1 to go into Windows it starts to load and I get a BSOD. (Most likely because the default storage mode is set to IDE and installed using ACHI)
If I go into the BIOS and save settings and restart I get the same error over and over again. So I am stuck on the defaults right now and I am unable to make any changes to the BIOS

The code on the debug screen on the board is "64" or "b4".

Any suggestions? Is there another BIOS other than the A2290605.bin available?

[le_willard]

 Enigma5, on 15 August 2012 - 03:11 PM, said:

I am reviewing the Zotac Z77X-ITX WiFi board. I used the DOS utility to update the BIOS ( A2290605.bin) and now every time I start the system I get the error:

Warning:
CMOS Error was detected
BIOS Settings have been restored
<F1> to continue
<DEL> to enter setup

If I hit F1 to go into Windows it starts to load and I get a BSOD. (Most likely because the default storage mode is set to IDE and installed using ACHI)
If I go into the BIOS and save settings and restart I get the same error over and over again. So I am stuck on the defaults right now and I am unable to make any changes to the BIOS

The code on the debug screen on the board is "64" or "b4".

Any suggestions? Is there another BIOS other than the A2290605.bin available?

Hi Enigma5, and welcome to the Z-Spot forums!

Have you tried clearing your CMOS? Unplug your computer from the outlet, remove CMOS battery, and hold the power button for a minute or two. If this doesn't work, try leaving the battery out for a minimum of 8 hours, and try again.

[Enigma5]

 le_willard, on 15 August 2012 - 05:45 PM, said:

Have you tried clearing your CMOS? Unplug your computer from the outlet, remove CMOS battery, and hold the power button for a minute or two. If this doesn't work, try leaving the battery out for a minimum of 8 hours, and try again.

I have cleared the CMOS, even left the battery out for 2 days, I am still suck in the constant loop. I have tried updating the BIOS multiple times using a DOS flash drive. Here is a shot of it saying it has completed.




Yet still every time I reboot the system it gives me the same error:

Warning:
CMOS Error was detected
BIOS Settings have been restored
<F1> to continue
<DEL> to enter setup

If I go into the BIOS it says it is running A229P 0.07 x64

I cannot save any settings because when I go to reboot everything goes back to the defaults. Any suggestions? Anyone know where I can get an older version of the BIOS?

[WildFir3]

Hi Enigma5,

Bit late I know, but I just had a nightmare with this yesterday. In case you haven't solved it:

I wanted to upgrade my BIOS to try to fix random pauses where my PC locks up under load for 1-2 seconds, and also to fix S3 sleep (PC won't wake up from sleep).

Firstly, I tried flashing using the Windows (W7 64bit) utility but afuwin crashed part way through! After rebooting I had the exact same symptoms as you. The BIOS had definitely changed, but I could not get this checksum error to go away. My PC would lock up about 30 seconds after booting into Windows.

I suspected an incomplete flash might have been the cause (e.g. it flashed the main block but not another block, or something). I think that is your problem here - you have called the flashing executable directly in DOS without specifying the required switches.

The BIOS update manual shows the command as "afu301 <rom filename> /p /n /b"

I guess those switches ensure it does a complete BIOS upgrade? After I ran this command, everything seems fine.

Shame that nobody from Zotac has commented on this issue - it looks like your current BIOS upgrade path could use some attention!