When I boot, I get a messsage: Press F1 to continue or Escape for Bios
Soft Menu.

I'd like to get rid of the annoying message so my machine can continue
to boot w/ou interruption. Everything in the bios looks OK according the
the manual (Abit IT7).
I have not tried "Optimize Defaults". Is there any danger in launching
that? I'm very gun shy about doing ANYTHING in the Bios or registry.

herbzee wrote:

The most common reason for getting that error is that your motherboard
battery needs to be replaced. The batteries cost under $5usd and are
easy, so do that. After you replace the battery, you'll get the Press
F1 prompt so you can go in and set the time, date, etc.

It doesn't matter if your motherboard is new; this is a cheap
troubleshooting fix so try it.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

Malke wrote:
Any comment on Optimize defaults in the bios ?

herbzee wrote:

Nope. There's no way I'm going to comment on someone else's BIOS
settings on a machine I can't see. If you've changed out the battery
and are still getting the prompt, something else is wrong and you'll
continue to get the error until you fix it. Contact Abit if you bought
the motherboard and installed it yourself or look on Abit user forums.
This isn't a Windows issue.

If this is an OEM machine, contact the OEM for tech support.

Malke
--
MS-MVP Windows User/Shell
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic"

herbzee wrote:
Chances are you need a new motherboard battery.


--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

herbzee wrote:
The "optimized defaults" are safe. It's the high performanance ones you
should watch out for. Make sure your date and time are set correctly.
You can do this from within Windows.

Malke wrote:
Malke, thanx-but THAT did'nt work; what next?

herbzee wrote:

Don't you read the answers in your thread? Here's what I had to say on
this in my last post:

That's my opinion - note the word "opinion" - on this machine that I've
never seen. Get an on-site diagnosis from a local professional or do
the above.

Malke
--
Elephant Boy Computers
www.elephantboycomputers.com
"Don't Panic!"
MS-MVP Windows - Shell/User

herbzee wrote:
This is the list of something else's.

LOAD AND SAVE OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS.

You could have the bios-clear jumper set in the wrong spot. Most MBs
won't let you boot that way, but yours could be an exception. After
changing it to the other position, and if it boots, go into the bios,
load the defaults, then save and exit. If it doesn't boot, you just
cleared the bios, put the jumper back, and then go into the bios, load
the defaults, then save and exit. READ THE MANUAL for your motherboard
first. If you lost it, you can download another one online.

Check all jumper settings are correct for your CPU. Then go into the
bios, load the defaults, then save and exit..

There could be a short that drains the battery. Check the underside of
the motherboard. Look for loose screws, and basicly anything metal.
touching the motherboard. If you find one, clear it, then go into the
bios, load the defaults, then save and exit.

You may have gotten a bios virus, They're exceedingly rare relics from
the days of DOS. It is also possible that the bios was corrupted by
another means. Download the latest bios from your motherboard
manufacturor. If you have the latest bios, flash it anyway. Then go
into the bios, load the defaults, then save and exit..

The bios chip itself could be bad. Usually they're in a socket, and can
be pulled. MAKE SURE YOU ORDER THE RIGHT ONE. If you do replace it then
go into the bios, load the defaults, then save and exit.

THe battery mount, does it appear to be corroded? It needs to be
de-soldered and replaced if so. Then go into the bios, load the
defaults, then save and exit.

Lastly, do any of the capacitors appear bulged or leaking? Capacitors
are those cylinder shaped thingys soldered on to the motherboard. They
can be replaced. But It's hard to find someone who's willing to do the
work for less than the replacement cost of the motherboard.

If none of these work, congratualtions, you have a bad motherboard. Get
a new one or live with it till it dies. You do back up your data,
right?

Only one of these is completely safe procedure to try as an expiriment.
The rest carry some inherant risk.