Checksum Failure....CMOS memory size mismatch

[metamorphy]

OK, When I power on my 486, I get the following bios error messages:

EISA CMOS checksum failure

WAIT......

CMOS memory size mismatch

when I run the setup utility and set the hard drive values to match the values printed on the drive, the total drive size comes out different (smaller) than the size printed on the hard drive. Does this have anything to do with the problem?

Invariably, I get the following message after exiting the setup utility:

HDD controller failure

Can anyone give me a clue as to how to get the bios to recognize the hard drive? I dont care about the data on the hard drive, I would just like to be able to boot up dos and reformat the drive if this is possible?

Thanks in advance for helping the hardware impaired....

 

[Mulga]

On older systems you often get the "memory size mismatch" message after removing or adding RAM, however if there is no other problem just going into setup and then exiting and saving usually stops it. The HDD controller failure message can indicate a dead controller as it says but can also be generated bt a faulty or incorrectly connected cable, a faulty hdd or bad cmos settings. Seeing you are getting these two usually unrelated messages and are unable to set the hdd correctly in setup I would suspect your bios has become corrupt or you have a motherboard hardware failure, either way it means a new motherboard as a bios that old would not be flashable. All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door.

 

[edfair]

And can be a symptom of the battery going bad. Ed Fair
unixstuff@juno.com
Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. Help increase my knowledge by providing some feedback, good or bad, on any advice I have given.

 

[Mulga]

whoops... brain fade, forgot that one, thanks ED All things are possible except skiing through a revolving door.