CMOS Checksum bad--bad flash, how to rescue?

So I've waited long enough in the HP boards for replies, but I haven't gotten any. Seems this one's the first case.

I flashed a friend's HP Mini 1109TU using AFUDOS and a flash disk, and even if it didn't give any errors while flashing, after restarting I keep getting a quick glimpse of the AMI startup checks and a brief "CMOS Checksum bad" before having the system start the vicious cycle over again. Now, I was lucky to have thought of making a backup of the current BIOS before I flashed it, so I have some chance of saving the laptop.

I've read about AMI Bioses having a "boot block" recovery technique, and I even read somewhere that he did it with a flash drive only. It doesn't seem to work.

Now, would the method only work with a floppy disk? Would a USB Floppy drive work? How about those flash drives which have an extra 3.5" floppy drive that pops out when you plug it in? Would it work? Are there any more things I could do to recover the BIOS?

Please, guys. I really need help. Thanks in advance!

 

I know I am going to regret asking this....there are three different 1109TUs...two came with bios updates, but they were both flash updates applied through windows. The third one didn't have an update that I know of, and I cannot find one.

So, here comes the question: why were you using afudos and a flash disk when the flash was windows based?

 

I made a little BIOS editing and tried to see if it works. Well, it didn't.

You know of any way? Ugh. I'm desperate here.

EDIT: Now I'm kinda thinking the 1109TU I have here is the one that didn't come with a BIOS update. Seems I flashed the BIOS from a previous 1109TU. But that brings the question--shouldn't it have been compatible? It's essentially the same version of the BIOS, and even though it was an edited one, shouldn't it have given the laptop a black screen instead of a CMOS checksum error? AFAIK people only get the checksum error when they apply BIOSes that aren't in the same family or something--if it is larger than the BIOS intended for the model.

 

I had a sneaking suspcion you did something like that.

No, sorry, I got nothing--you bricked your pal's netbook. Short of replacing he chip, or pulling that chip and getting your hands on an EPROM programmer I cannot see you getting this fixed.

 

There is a place where you can purchase a programed bios chip to replace the one that will not work. http://www.biosman.com/

 

Nice.

With some luck, some perseverance, and sheer desperation and non-want to save up to buy another replacement laptop, I finally managed to reflash the Mini with its original BIOS, basically, BRINGING IT BACK FROM THE DEAD!...or maybe just unbricking it.

So, with help from a good guy wuhoatu over at the mydigitallife forums, I managed to use a 1GB Imation Nano USB drive (which I happened to pick up and have unclaimed just this morning! how weird can this case get.) and reflash the BIOS using the boot block method. it's described in detail (kinda) in the above post.

So, if ever this happens to someone else, this is an addition to NBR's "Lessons Learned" guides. LOL. Hm. That makes me think, why don't we have a thread like that done? Or at least a compilation of the said guides? Lol.

Anyway, thanks all, for trying to help. Much appreciated!

 

That is awesome. I am impressed and learned something from your plight.

 

good to know in case I ever run into something like this! thanks!

 

Well, hopefully, you are not going to be flashing the bios on a laptop that doesn't belong to you with a bios that is not designed for the laptop

I am happy for kisetsu17 but I think he got reallllllllly lucky.

 

You could say that again. LOL. Lesson learned. WTH.