BIOS problems...

Right, so first, here's a few drops of information about my PC...

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Speed : 2.80GHz
Performance Rating : PR3080 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Internal Data Cache : 8kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 4-way set, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector

Mainboard
Bus(es) : AGP PCI IMB USB
MP Support : No
MP APIC : Yes
System BIOS : Award Software, Inc. ASUS P4S533-MX ACPI BIOS Revision 1004
System : System Manufacturer System Name
Mainboard : ASUSTeK Computer INC. P4S533MX
Total Memory : 256MB DDR-SDRAM

Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc SiS651 CPU to PCI Bridge
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 133MHz (532MHz data rate)
Total Memory : 256MB DDR-SDRAM

Video System
Monitor/Panel : Plug and Play Monitor
Adapter : NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 (Microsoft Corporation)

Physical Storage Devices
Removable Drive : Floppy disk drive
Hard Disk : HDS722580VLAT20 (77GB)
CD-ROM/DVD : DVDRW DRW-3S163 (CD 48X Rd, 48X Wr) (DVD 6X Rd, 6X Wr)
CD-ROM/DVD : SAMSUNG DVD-ROM SD-616Q (CD 48X Rd) (DVD 6X Rd)

Logical Storage Devices
1.44MB 3.5" [A:] : N/A
Hard Disk [C:] : 30GB (23GB, 77% Free Space) (NTFS)
Backup [D:] : 47GB (27GB, 57% Free Space) (NTFS)
CD-ROM/DVD [E:] : N/A
CD-ROM/DVD [F:] : N/A

Peripherals
Serial/Parallel Port(s) : 1 COM / 1 LPT
USB Controller/Hub : SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : SiS 7001 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : SiS PCI to USB Enhanced Host Controller
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
USB Controller/Hub : USB Root Hub
Keyboard : Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse : PS/2 Compatible Mouse

MultiMedia Device(s)
Device : Standard Game Port
Device : Game port for Yamaha DS1
Device : YAMAHA Legacy DS1 WDM Driver
Device : YAMAHA Native DS1 WDM Driver

Power Management
AC Line Status : On-Line

Operating System(s)
Windows System : Microsoft Windows XP/2002 Professional (Win32 x86) 5.01.2600 (Service Pack 2)

Network Services
Adapter : SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter


And here's some more detailed info on mainboard...

Mainboard
Manufacturer : ASUSTeK Computer INC.
MP Support : No
Model : P4S533MX
Version : REV 1.xx
Serial Number : xxxxxxxxxxx
System BIOS : 01/24/2003-SiS651/SIS962/IT8705F-P4S533MX

System Memory Controller
Location : Mainboard
Error Correction Capability : None
Number of Memory Slots : 2
Maximum Installable Memory : 1GB
Bank 1 - DIMM 1 : Empty
Bank 2 - DIMM 2 : DIMM Synchronous DRAM 256MB/64

Chipset 1
Model : ASUSTeK Computer Inc SiS651 CPU to PCI Bridge
Bus(es) : AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 133MHz (532MHz data rate)
Maximum FSB Speed / Max Memory Speed : 4x 133MHz / 2x 166MHz
Width : 64-bit
IO Queue Depth : 8 request(s)
Priority Master Queue Depth : 7 request(s)

Chipset 1 Hub Interface
Type : MUTOL
Width : 16-bit
Full Duplex : No
Multiplier : 2/1x

Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
Bank 0 : 256MB DDR-SDRAM 2.0-2-2-5 2CMD
Channels : 1
Width : 64-bit
Refresh Rate : 7.80µs
Power Save Mode : No
Fixed Hole Present : No

APIC 1
Version : 8.00
Multiplier : 1/2x
Maximum Interrupts : 24
IRQ Handler Engaged : Yes
Enhanced Support : Yes

Memory Module 1
Type : 256MB DDR-SDRAM
Technology : 8x(32Mx8)
Speed : PC2100U 2.5-3-3-6
Date of Manufacture : 25 December 1999
Set Timing @ 133MHz : 2.5-3-3-6
Set Timing @ 100MHz : 2.0-2-2-5

Cooling Device(s)
Auto Fan Speed Control : No
Chassis Fan Speed : 3199rpm

Voltage Sensor(s)
CPU Voltage : 1.52V
Aux Voltage : 1.62V
+3.3V Voltage : 3.04V
+5V Voltage : 4.95V
Battery Voltage : 3.26V

AGP Bus(es) on Hub 1
Version : 2.00
Speed : 4x
Fast-Writes Enabled : Yes
Side Band Enabled : Yes
Aperture Size : 64MB

PCI Bus(es) on Hub 1
Version : 2.10
Number of Bridges : 1
PCI Bus 0 : PCI (1/1x PCIClk)

System SMBus Controller 1
Model : SiS 961 Ext SMBus
Advanced TCO Mode Enabled : No
Slave Device Enabled : No
PEC Support : No
Speed : 56kHz


And, yet more information. This time about my CPU...

Processor
Model : Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Speed : 2.80GHz
Performance Rating : PR3080 (estimated)
Cores per Processor : 1 Unit(s)
Threads per Core : 1 Unit(s)
Package : FC µPGA478
Rated Speed/FSB : 2800MHz / 4x 133MHz
Multiplier : 21/1x
Minimum/Maximum Multiplier : 0/1x / 21/1x
Generation : G8
Name : P4N (Northwood) Pentium 4C 130nm 1.6-3.4GHz 1.475-1.575V
Revision/Stepping : 2 / 9 (9)
Stepping Mask : D1
Microcode : MU0F2921
Core Voltage Rating : 1.550V
Maximum Physical / Virtual Addressing : 36-bit / 32-bit
Native Page Size : 4kB

Processor Cache(s)
Internal Data Cache : 8kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 4-way set, 64 byte line size
Internal Trace Cache : 12kB Synchronous, Write-Thru, 8-way set, 64 byte line size
L2 On-board Cache : 512kB ECC Synchronous, ATC, 8-way set, 64 byte line size, 2 lines per sector
L2 Cache Multiplier : 1/1x (2800MHz)

Advanced Settings
Data Error Checking : No
Fast Strings : Yes
x86 FPU Compatibility Mode : No
Prefetch Queue : Yes
Branch Trace Storage : Yes
Data Cache Active Mode : Yes
IO Queue Depth : 12 request(s)
TM - Thermal Monitor : Yes


And, finally, some more of my BIOS ROM information...

ASUS Model: P4S533MX
Version: ASUS P4S533-MX ACPI BIOS Revision 1004
Chipset: SiS651/SIS962/IT8705F
Date: 01/24/2003
Onboard Sound: None (woa)
Onboard Lan: Exist (wl)
BIOS Size: 256 K
BIOS Type: Award


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So I'm running Windows XP w/SP2, and I'm kinda dual-booting, too. I've got 2 WinXP w/SP2 installation sat on my main partition, but as my PC had already gone wrong, I had no regard to properly make it so only one OS was on there, but still deleted user accounts from the other Windows after taking ownership of them and transfering important files. (The other XP installation stopped working. That's the reason for me dual-booting; I didn't have any spare partitions to play around with.)

So anyway, not too lnog ago, my brother decided to open this PC up and give it a clean and ended up using a vacuum cleaner. Upon putting it back together and booting it up, the BIOS decided to mess around with me.

It would halt after the opening screen where it displays your PC information (like your BIOS versions and stuff). The screen where, if you're booting a CD (like the XP installation disc), it comes up and tells you to press a key to boot the CD.

It'd stop there. So, I went configured my BIOS and disabled a lot of stuff. It then worked, so I re-enabled these again, in small groups, several after several, until I discovered that by disabling "IDE Bus Master Support", my PC would skip the screen it used to halt on and just go straight on to boot from my hard drive.

There's all kinds of other problems which have spawned, too. For some reason, when I try to install Windows, I can't seem to do a non-"quick" format because it just does nothing when I attempt to.

Anyway, since the vacuum cleaner incident, my PC has drastically reduced in speed. Slow enough, and inconsistant enough for my PC to not be able to play just about any audio in real-time without crackling or slowing down.

Also, in the past few days, another problem began to occur. For some reason (and I strongly think it's triggered, but not directly caused, by the programs or combination of programs that I use) -- for some reason, after a period of time using my PC (could be 3 minutes, could be 40 minutes), it'd come to a sudden halt where it'd appear to run at litterally 0.3% of the speed it should do. When it does this, a simple task such as trying to minimise a window, bring up the task manager, or open the start menu would be delayed for about half a minute.

When this happens, I'm forced to restart. However, I've noticed that when this major slowdown occurs, upon restarting, my PC fails to get past the screen with all the mainboard info on -- it will get to the part just before where it accesses and displays the drives in my system, and just halts and does nothing. However, if I turn my PC off and leave it for a few minutes, it'll be fine (or my PC's version of "fine") and boot up like my PC's version of normal. Obviously, because I switch it off at the mains (which I don't like doing), it informs me of my PC being hung at its improper frequency in the BIOS config.

With the PC coming to a halt and slowing down drastically, I've noticed that 3 times in a row where I was using Winamp nearly immediately after booting up Windows, my PC began its major slowdown antics within 3 minutes. But, after this, I decided to try it in Windows Media Player and it didn't trigger the major slowdown at all. Craziness.

I'm in knowledge that having 2 Windows sat on one partition can substantially impair the performance and efficiency of the PC's operations, but I believe that the problems occured before that. As soon as I've fixed problems not related to operating systems, I will then reinstall a fresh version of WinXP and go through my regular proceedure of making the fastest, safest, most reliable, most efficient and most effective form of Windows XP possible for my hardware.

Additionally, because of the problems my PC has encountered, I lost any regard, whatsoever, to look after this Windows installation. It could be a complete mess, and thus be the cause of some of these problems, but definitely not the ultimate cause of all of them.

So, if anybody on these forums can help me out with this problem, it would be greatly appreciated and you will be my favourite person for nearly 3 minutes. If you have any queries, then I'll answer them. Thank you.

 

I'm finding it hard to scan through all the writing. If you could simplify it a bit and put your problems as numbers like this;

1.
2.
3.

I would find it much easier to read.

 

you can try unpluging the computer and taking the battery out for 2 mins then plug everything back in then in your bios set up your date and time then use defult setting to start with then if you computer boots and runs right then change your settings to suit you

 

First thing should never use Vacume to clean PC, Vacume = static elec = can kill hardware.
Reset CMOS, then configure BIOS to suit your set up.
Here's Bios Guide:
http://www.rojakpot.com/default.aspx?location=7&var1=18
Review all Bios settings then Format & Partition ( If ya use windows cd dont use Quick format, I'd recommend HDD manufactures free utility) If you want to run Dual Boot PC make Multiple partitions use one partition for each OS, load the oldest OS on the first partition, first.
Set CPU & memory to stock speeds
Reinstall windows

 

Well, I'm aware of the static problems, but it wasn't me who did it.

Anyway, questions...

(1) Do you really think that the vacumm incident didn't actually make any of my hardware faulty?

(2) How about my BIOS problems? Will that be resolved by clearing my CMOS? I've ran a utility through Windows which cleared my CMOS and it's didn't help me at all.

(3) Will taking the battery out for a while and putting it back in help me? And what exactly would that do?

(4) Do you think that clearing my CMOS, reconfiguring my BIOS settings, nuke and booting my HDD, and reinstalling Windows will bring my PC back from its sunstantial decrease in speed?

(5) If by completing the process I mentioned afore, I find that my PC is still being slow, what should I do?

(6) Could, and do you think, my faulty BIOS be the cause of my PC's substantial decrease in speed? If so, how could I fix this problem?

 

I agree with ASUS the vaccum incident could very well have fried one or more components if not by static you bro could have damaged something I'd put five of your bucks he has partially unseated the ide cable or damaged it and that is what is causing the slowdowns so check the cable and if possible try a new new or different one,as for your questions

2 could be, resetting the cmos jumper or removing the battery will reset your mobo to default fail safe settings

3 yes it will reset all your bios settings to default fail safe settings

4 might do theres No harm in trying,you can always optimize the bios settings once they have been reset,if you wanna play safe make a note of all your settings,it will take while though

5 post back

6 could be,reset the cmos jumper or remove the battery

By your line of questions I detect your a little weary of resetting your bios,its a very safe thing to do you can always undo it by setting everything back the way it was

 

I'm not wearing of resetting my BIOS at all. I can do it in the config menus automatically, anyway. I know it's not my BIOS setting which aren't the problem though.

As soon as the problem came up, I immediately went into the BIOS to see if anything had happened, then reset them, then my system failed to boot up. So, after a bit of messing around, I discovered that disablling IDE bus master support fixed that problem specifically, but the speed problem was still there. And my BIOS' faulty antics persisted, and still persist today.

My BIOS ROM appears to be very faulty.

 

I doubt there's any connection between resetting your bios and then your system failing to boot. I feel it has more to do with the vacuum "incident".
As Rikky said, it could be a faulty or partially dislodged IDE cable or some such thing.

If possible, open your case and check all your cables inside. Make sure they are correctly seated.
You might want to also search for an updates bios. You will find this on your motherboard manufacturers website.

Good luck.

 

A bios update may help your prob,I have checked ASUS'S site for your a bios update for your board only updated bios I can find for your P4S533MX is a beta bios thats 2 years old it can be found here I cannot link you to it as its found using a plugin

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

there is no readme explaining what the bios fixes,so have downloaded it and believe it or not there is also no readme in the downloaded file so its impossible to tell what the bios may fix this has slightly pi$$ed me off compounded by the fact that the asus site will not load using IE because of my security settings so I have used firefox which would only download the file at 10k a second I really hate using the asus support page

other than that you could try replacing the cmos battery

 

You're entirely wrong there. That was me pointing out that when I reset my BIOS, IDE bus master support is defaultly enabled. And, in my PCs current state, enabling IDE bus master support makes my PC not boot up.

It's nothing to do with a dislodged cable, but it might be a faulty one. I'm pretty sure that I replaced my managled cable with a new one around the time of the "I'm going to turn into a 400 MHz" situation.

It could be a dodgy cable then. I'll check later on in the day...

 

Yes, I would go inside and check to be sure all the cables are seated tightly including the power cables. That is the more likely problem area.

.bh.

 

Have you tried running the drive manufacturer's diagnostic utility on your hard drive?

What I'm thinking is that if a static charge developed by the vacuuming zapped something, one of those somethings might have been your hard drive's controller. That might explain the massive slowdown.

After all, there's a reason that hard drives are shipped in anti-static envelopes just like everything else inside the case of your computer.

 

Is your computer custom built (one you built yourself) or a major brand computer if that is so i would suggest calling your computer maker's tech support and see if that helps.