[GRLUG] BIOS problems

[Tim Schmidt]

Hi Bob,

The error you're seeing 'BIOS checksum error' most likely does not
mean that your BIOS is 'bad'.  It generally refers to the settings the
BIOS is capable of changing and storing in volatile battery-backed ram
on the motherboard itself.  The so-called CMOS data...  I'd need more
information about your problems to help specifically with runtime
errors your having, but CMOS checksum errors are generally caused by a
failing battery which can be replaced for between $0.50 and $5.00. 
Just pop out the old one (usually looks like a large watch battery)
and take it to the local computer shop or jewler.

As far as general motherboard troubleshooting goes, It helps if you
strip the machine of all non-essential parts (cards, drives, extra RAM
modules, etc) and stress the system that way (I find a good kernel
compile or two to be by far the best at catching spurious RAM and CPU
problems -- better than memtest86 and the like -- if you get a
segfault, you have problems).  So long as the bare board works fine,
add components one by one and re-test after each addition to pinpoint
the problem.

Feel free to send more information if you like, I could then give you
some more detailed things to test.

--tim