Hi, On boot I have this message for my Compaq Presario 9660...162-System Options Not Set. I'm able to boot with F1 and no problems. I'm also able to go to F10 setup and run diagnostics. Here are the resulting error codes: Error 200-96 System Memory Failed Memory Size Test Count: 1 Pass error occurred: 1 Memory - 0 Megabytes Error 214-96 System Memory Failed Memory Size Test Count: 1 Pass error occurred: 1 What does this mean? Do I simply replace the CMOS battery? Or, is my motherboard about to fail at the system memory chip? I did a search of this forum and this was not resolved for another user. I did a search on google and found for other Compaq's in later years that it meant that the "memory board be replaced". Memory board? BTW, my FastPage RAM is counting good to 104mb during boot, so I figure the "0-megabytes" means system memory not RAM. And, finally in my config batch I have the following command set for system memory: shell=c:\command.com /e:6144 /p I use this to extend the limit of system memory for old games. Thanks for help. Pavelow Dell Dimension 8250 Compaq Presario 9660

Replace the battery, although sure, you may also have bad or mis-seated RAM (and perhaps other issues) "I use this to extend the limit of system memory for old games." Is that what you think that does? 'fraid not - that basically increases the DOS environment. While beneficial if you're setting a great number of DOS environment variables, hard to imagine many (or any) games that require it Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie!'... till you can find a rock

http://h10061.www1.hp.com/ccsearch/...

Your error is common to may bioses. "Do I simply replace the CMOS battery?" No. There is nothing wrong with your cmos battery. Error 161 is a dead mboard battery, not Error 162. e.g. 161 System Options Not Set-(Run SETUP); Dead battery 162 System Options Not Set-(Run SETUP); CMOS checksum/configuration error 162 - System Options Not Set This error message occurs when the hardware is modified and the System BIOS options are forced to change. (Solution:) Reset the default BIOS In other words, load bios defaults in the bios Setup. If that does not help, there's something else wrong, probably with some hardware. If the computer was working fine until you recently installed some hardware, remove the hardware you added and the problem will probably go away. "I'm also able to go to F10 setup and run diagnostics. Here are the resulting error codes: Error 200-96 System Memory Failed Memory Size Test Count: 1 Pass error occurred: 1 Memory - 0 Megabytes Error 214-96 System Memory Failed Memory Size Test Count: 1 Pass error occurred: 1" "BTW, my FastPage RAM is counting good to 104mb during boot, so I figure the "0-megabytes" means system memory not RAM." I don't know where this F10 diagnostics takes you, but if it's not to the hard drive, then system memory = the ram on the mboard. Did you recently add any ram modules or change any of the ram modules you have installed in this computer? In the QRG for this model series: Presario 9660 - has no onboard video. Inferred: "Maximum system memory is 136mb" Inferred: Comes with 8mb of ram permanently installed on the mboard itself. Up to 4 32mb SIMM (72 pin) modules can be added to the 4 slots. "Memory upgrade Simms must be installed in pairs Use SIMMs with tin/lead contacts only." If you actually have 104mb of ram, you should have have 2 16mb ram modules and 2 32mb modules in your ram slots (96mb total). Plus 8mb built into the mboard = 104 mb. Is that what you actually have? Do any of them have gold contacts and not tin/lead (silver colored)contacts? If you are able to determine that you actually have at least two memory modules that are larger than the above and make your actual memory total larger than the reported 104mb, you have at least 2 modules installed that are not compatible with this mboard - only part of the ram on two (or 4) modules is actually recognized by the mboard. If the sizes of modules are correct, if you have any modules that have gold contacts instead of silver colored ones, you probably have oxidation problems in the SIMM slots because the slots are silver colored (tin/lead plated). In that case, you need to remove the modules that have gold contacts, and use something such as a pink or white or yellow pencil eraser that has no abrasive in it (don't use one that is on a pencil) to remove the oxidation film on the ram module contacts, and less likely, on the contacts in the slot the ram was in. "Memory upgrade Simms must be installed in pairs" A matched pair must in specific slots, with one module in a pair beside the other, and in this case, either in the first two or last two slots. The size of each module in a matched pair must be the same. Each module in a matched pair must be the same type, preferably identical, but if not, having the same number and type of chips on each module in the same arrangement. If none of the modules have gold contacts, you could try making sure all the ram is well seated, that is, all the way down in it's slots, with the latches at the ends of each slot latched.

Other things that could cause this 162 error? - you flashed the bios with a proper bios update for this mboard but did not load bios defaults after you flashed. Solution: load bios defaults in the bios Setup. You MUST do this (or Clear the CMOS by moving a jumper on the mboard) in order for the bios update to be fully accepted by the mboard. You must set at least the time and date after you load bios defaults. - you flashed the bios with a improper bios update for this mboard, but it partially works. You could try loading bios defaults but it probably will not help - you may need to flash again using a proper bios update for the mboard.

Short, and to the point (as always) Diplomacy is the art of saying 'Nice doggie!'... till you can find a rock

Short, and to the point (as always) LOL a bunch of times.