Invalid Copy Bios Message

[TygerTyger]

I've never heard of this before, does anyone know what it means? My brother is putting a computer together out of 2 separate desktops, and after getting past the BIOS screen it displays "Invalid Copy" on the monitor, apparantly from the BIOS of either the graphics card or the motherboard. Anyone know what it means? I can only find a single reference to it on Google, and they didn't really know either.

I can't swap hardware to see what works because there's none spare, but I have lessened the load on the power supply to see if it worked, which it didn't and swapped the RAM around a bit.

Trouble is, that buying new hardware and seeing if it works is a bit of a risky business when it could be a few things

[seb21__]

? ? ?

I don't know.

[kee-lo_]

Just a hunch here, but I have a feeling the BIOS is corrupted, and the checksum doesn't add up. It's a big hunch - really wish I could give a more concrete answer.

I stopped building PCs as it was just a lottery, got broken DVD drives, bad mobos, it was just too much, and costing me a fortune in postage back to companies, and I always got hassle from them. So I said sod it, I'll try a VAIO. No turning back.... love it.

[jammold]

I know what you mean mate - building your own computer is a risky business - I have trashed more CPU's this way because of thermal grease or breaking pins etc...

My VAIO was the turning point, the best thing I have ever bought - love it!!!

EDIT: Sorry TT, I forgot this is your thread [:">] [:">]

Just a thought - have the BIOS chips been swapped from one motherboard to another? If so it could be a self-protection thing as each BIOS can be motherboard dependant.

If this is not the case then as Kee-Lo says, its probably a corrupt CMOS or BIOS... Try resetting CMOS and doing burn-in tests... Listen for POST beep codes as well - they are useful for diagnosis.

[TygerTyger]

There are no beeps, and no BIOS hasn't been shifted around. This isn't new parts or anything, this is just combining the best parts of 2 existing desktops that worked fine individually.

Actually I just passed by the computer and it said Operating System not found so.....well somehow he has got past the error. Wonder if it was just something to do with a corrupt Windows.

Whatever it is I find it a bit odd that not even Google has heard of the error really.

[kee-lo_]

Sounds like you should stick with the other mobo.

James: funny how you and I have similar issues, had trouble with an overheated AMD, thats when I started not to like them.

Now they have financial issues, thats because they were so hard faced and wouldn't comprimise.

[jammold]

LOL it is, but my problems were with Intel and not with AMD at it happens.

Installing CPU's was the most technically challenging thing I have ever done, adding the heatsink was always something I used to dread, still do in fact. The other problem I used to suffer from is that I mixed up the pin-one wire (red) so it did NOT point towards the power supply (which it should in fact) and so damaged hard disks, ports LOL not good!

So this time, my setup is a VAIO laptop and a HP Pavilion a707 (discontinued now) desktop computer.

[kee-lo_]

Heatsinks were always b*tches to me too.

[jammold]

Hehe Hate those heatsinks... Rarely do I find CPU with an attached heatsink that I like so I do it myself and mess it up!:smileylaugh:

TT: Try reinstalling Windows XP on the affected computer, and remember that XP hates too many hardware changes - stick to using one type of HDD with a mobo and reinstalling. Operating System Not Found errors are characteristic of NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM and NTOSKRNL.EXE corruptions, best to Repair or Reinstall... If you reinstall delete the main partition and format to NTFS during XP Setup for 100% compatibility.

Kee-Lo: Have a great weekend mate. See you next week (hopefully I will have a good weekend at work )

[TygerTyger]

There is no XP for that machine, it's Win 98.