ACPI Controller

[kiddznet]

I have here an AOpen s661fxm 7s that will not boot past the device manager display and stops at ACPI Controller
This is before Floppy and CDROM so i've no chance to reflash it as far as i can see
I can get into the biospage but can see no way of disabling ACPI
Any ideas?
What next?

[digge]

Re: ACPI Controller

In some bioses there is something called "reset DMI data" or something similar, cant remember exactly from the top of my head, that have worked once for me.

Other then that try pulling any extensioncard or similar hardware you can, have had strange lockups with usb devices during boot in the past, in that case it was my webcam. Works fine if you connect it after bootup.

[Uranium-235]

Re: ACPI Controller

memtest+ it, clear cmos

[kiddznet]

Re: ACPI Controller

Thank you,
Board is bare sitting on a phone book
How woud I run Memtest when I cant start the board?
Boot doesnt go past second screen device managers
Cannot load floppy

[Wizard]

Re: ACPI Controller

Like others says, go into set up bios settings and reset as instructed.

cheers, wizard

[kiddznet]

Re: ACPI Controller

Thank you
Nothing works
Replace bios chp?

[Uranium-235]

Re: ACPI Controller

yeah good point

take all pci cards out, put a single good known stick in, maybe switch out video card?

[kiddznet]

Re: ACPI Controller

Thank you
I got 1 stick of ram in it keyboard and thats it
PSU known to be good

[pfrcom]

Re: ACPI Controller

I used to love getting a board like that for free or cheap (back when they were worth something)

Provided BIOS chip is socketed, removing it and reloading its firmware contents with an EPROM programmer should fix it

Replacing the BIOS chip will probably achieve the same result

[kiddznet]

Re: ACPI Controller

Thank you
PLCC 32 soldered in tricky but do-able

[pfrcom]

Re: ACPI Controller

I can get into the biospage but can see no way of disabling ACPI

Downloaded manual IS pretty light on detail

I posted previously because fault reminded me of a problem that Award BIOSes had in Socket7 days, where they'd stall after the Verifying DMI message

I tried various snake-oil suggestions from the Net to fix those, but the only thing that worked for me was external reprogramming of the chip

However, before you attack with the soldering iron ...

Probably can disable ACPI by going into Power Management Setup, and setting Power Management (or similar) to Disable

Another snake-oil suggestion I recall was Disable everything related to processor Cache (Load Setup Defaults first)

If all else fails, disabling everything default Enabled may be worth a go

PLCC 32 soldered in tricky but do-able

How do you remove a soldered PLCC chip without damaging the board ? - I've salvaged a few chips from dead boards, using a paint stripper type hot air gun, but the board isn't a pretty sight afterwards

[kiddznet]

Re: ACPI Controller

This has worked for me

A scalpel can be used to cut the legs of the EEPROM, I use an oil stone to flatten the cutting edge of the blade at the tip . Its possible to angle the blade so that the cutting edge falls directly on to the top of the next pin as it cuts the preceding pin.
Care must be taken to ensure that you are not hitting the board surface during the process. The flattened tip helps avoid track damage in the event of a mishap, but direct contact between blade and board surface should be avoided.

The reason for cutting away the old PLCC chip is that the remnants of the pins can easily be removed from the board one by one, without overheating the tracks using a small 15 or 20 watt soldering iron. If you don't have the right tools and you try to de solder the chip without cutting the legs then track damage is very likely to occur.

The remnants of the pins will stick to the iron as you move across them. Do not try to pull them off with tweezers or pliers as you will lift the footprint pads from the board.

http://bios-repair.co.uk/bios/diysb.htm

[pfrcom]

Re: ACPI Controller

Another thought

Sounds like a corruption of CMOS

If it was mine, I'd remove the CMOS battery and leave it out overnight to be absolutely sure CMOS was cleared

(Wait for someone to chime in saying overnight not necessary, but same reason why Irish wear two condoms)

However someone's already suggested clear CMOS, and you've said Done

Also, it's not necessarily ACPI that's the problem

The firmware programmer could either issue the message when ACPI initialisation is starting, or when it's complete

If the former, then ACPI is the problem - but if the latter, it could be the next item to be initialised

[kiddznet]

Re: ACPI Controller

Thank you
tried overnight batteries removal and cmos dump
Same problem
I cant believe there is no solution on Google!

[Chriso]

Re: ACPI Controller

I think you want to get into the Bios and set the hard drive mode to native IDE or not use AHCI.

[Uranium-235]

Re: ACPI Controller

Its not AHCI, its ACPI. But on the subject. Does this board have a seperate ATA controller chip? sometimes the bios's in those can corrupt and prevent booting

[pfrcom]

Re: ACPI Controller

I found a factor in retaining my sanity while playing with questionable computer bits, was to know when to scrap it and walk away

In the past, I acquired a Gigabyte nForce2 board with a soldered BIOS chip, assured not working because of a bad BIOS flash, and cut the PLCC chip out with a hobby knife

Took me ages - not as simple as those instructions make it sound, when you've got to be uber careful not to slip and cut the board

Then cleaned up the PLCC solder pads, finally programmed a replacement chip and held it in place for a test

You've guessed it - not a peep

Nowadays I wouldn't touch a board with a soldered chip, especially one based on a SiS chipset, unless I knew it would boot

Seeing yours does that, it's a value judgement whether you potentially throw good money after bad, assuming you have to buy the replacement chip

[Chriso]

Re: ACPI Controller

Its not AHCI, its ACPI. But on the subject. Does this board have a seperate ATA controller chip? sometimes the bios's in those can corrupt and prevent booting

Google tells me it is AHCI that is causing the problem and setting native IDE is a cure.

[kiddznet]

Re: ACPI Controller

pfrcom I hear ya. This is a hobby for me wastes plenty of time for small outay!
here i have ground off a PLCC32 chip with a Dremel.About five minutes careful but no sweat work
Next flick off stubs with a small iron and clean up

[ratdude747]

Re: ACPI Controller

if you wish to avoid killing chips, you should look into a product called chipquik.

see this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTQqjggeklo