Tekram MB - not booting

[drizzle]

Please move if this is the wrong place for this post.

I have a Socket 7 motherboard, the Tekram P5M4-M+. The system has been running with no problems now for about two years. In it, I'm using one PC100 128MB module.

Just recently I switched out the memory module to test another that I had laying around. That module was a PC133 256MB stick. I've used PC133 modules on that board in the past and didn't have problems. After the PC133 module was installed and the system was powered on, the system starting beeping, like a beep every second or so (no video also). By the time I was able to power it off, it must have beeped like 15 or 20 times easily.

So after that happened, I put back my PC100 module and powered on the system. This is where it really gets interesting. Now with the original memory module back in, the system is still not booting. I get NO beeps and NO video from the system. I've tried to force the system to beep by removing the memory but still nothing. I've tried multiple video cards as well. The board has on-board video so right now I have no add-in cards on it. I've also tried removing the CMOS battery for a while but that didn't help either.

Any ideas or suggestions? Seems as if my BIOS was toasted, but I'm not sure.

[CERuppel]

Ouch...

I was going to suggest the battery, and original config, but you beat me to it in your own post.

Can you remember the BIOS memory settings? Had a prob where the setting was 133 but the module wouldn't take it. Now the board is history, but it was quirky from that day on....

[drizzle]

Originally posted by CERuppel
Ouch...

I was going to suggest the battery, and original config, but you beat me to it in your own post.

Can you remember the BIOS memory settings? Had a prob where the setting was 133 but the module wouldn't take it. Now the board is history, but it was quirky from that day on....

I really don't remember what the BIOS memory settings were. I think I can order a replacement BIOS chip from Tekram for $20, but I'd just like to check for other options before I do that.

[drizzle]

I tried leaving the CMOS battery out for 12hrs straight and that didn't have any effect on it at all.

[CERuppel]

Did you use the reset jumper on the MB?

Not just the reset option in the BIOS, but the reset JUMPER on the MB?

Might (?) have the desired effect (I hope).

If not, well, a new MB isn't that much more than the new chip you mentioned, and would have a new warrenty.

[TOAD6147]

Try a different P/S unit as well just to be sure. Other than that, I wouldn't know what else to suggest. You need to do all different components, i.e. RAM, vid, P/S, etc. at the same time to be sure that it's definetly the board that has gone south.

[drizzle]

I've tried different PS units as well as memory. The system isn't producing any beeps. I've placed known-good memory in it, so the board is really the only thing left as the problem. I've had a response to a support e-mail sent to Tekram and doing what they suggested (to clear the cmos) didn't help either.

I guess the board is toast.