Receiving a suspicious BIOS warning when booting PC

Hi there! Sorry if I have posted this in the wrong section - I'm new to this so please forgive.

I need some help! I switched on my pc this morning and it came up with this warning that says:

!!WARNING!! Loading BIOS Settings. Don't reset or power off!!!

The warning is in red writing and fades in then fades out again on a cycle of about 20 seconds. The pc also sends out one single beep every 20 seconds as well.

I have no idea what it's problem is but all I can assume is that I've picked up a virus.

Could someone please help me out - I have no idea how to get rid of or around this warning! It's very suspicious looking!

Thank you so much in advance!

Oh, forgot to mention I'm running Windows XP

 

What security programs if any are you running, include your AV? If you think it's a virus or some other malware try an online scanner such as this one. http://www.pandasoftware.com/products/activescan.htm

 

We have Nortons as our virus protection. The message is appearing as soon as I turn on the pc - its a black screen with the red message centered in the middle fading in and out. Windows isn't loading at all and I have no clues as to how to get around the message. So my pc is just decoration at the moment.

 

You said Windows isnt loading at all? Now, if that's the case then I don't see how you're able to use the computer normally.
Also, as for the suspicious BIOS message, have you tried pressing a button to enter the BIOS setup and check the BIOS settings during the time when the BIOS shows something like ''press [F2} to enter ...."

As this seems to be a problem with your BIOS, I do not assume that its a virus. Rather your BIOS has a problem somewhere. And regarding your computer making beeping noises every 20secs, there might be a setting in the BIOS or something wrong with the motherboard, or a faulty hardware component. The beeping noises might be trying to tell you that there is a problem with your motherboard or CPU.

You may need to update your BIOS. Another thing, who is your BIOS manufacturer? Or check the manufacturers' website and see if the FAQ section has any answers regarding problems like these with the BIOS.


I've tried searching for clues that may help you. Please read the information in the link below.
From http://www.computing.net/hardware/wwwboard/forum/38541.html

Subject: No picture on bootup, strange beeps
Reply:

Read the motherboard manual. It might tell you that the beeps mean you have a motherboard or CPU problem.

 

You could try pulling a jumper from the mainboard to reset cmos. It usually works 75% of the times when there is a problem with booting and other stuff too.

So take a look in the manual on how to do it under 'jumpers' and look for 'cmos'.
Remember to pull the power plug before messing around in there

 

If he pulls the wrong jumper and ends up damaging the hardware, I cant imagine what will happen. I think asking a technician would be better, but if he REALLY knows how to handle the components in there correctly then it wont be a problem. Somehow I find this method risky.

 

That's true. If you have no idea how to do this, ask one of your more experienced friends to do it for you or get a hold of a technician.

 

Sorry, I'm on our second computer posting this - it is my other pc that is having the trouble!

From when I boot the PC no other messages are shown except for this warning message. It is on a black screen with the warning message centered in the middle - nothing else. I have tried pressing buttons like F2 etc, but nothing.

I might ask/beg a friend who is a bit more computer lit to have a look at doing that jumper thing - I don't trust myself!

I have had a read of the manual but it doesnt' really tell me much info about from what i can see.

 

Wow, I think the BIOS is corrupted and spoilt. Perhaps you should get a hardware tech to do that pulling out the jumper thing, no other solution. I don't know if it will work. If it fails, then call the computer manufacturer for assistance.

Good luck.

 

It does sound as if the BIOS is having some serious problems. If the comp is under warranty I would sure call them and see what their ideas are.

 

Thanks guys for all your comments and suggestions. It turns out the battery was fading so a newie fixed the problem! It would've been much more helpful if the PC shot me a "low battery" warning instead of the one I was getting!!

Thanks again for your help, I'm one relieved camper now.

 

I'd say....

That is one bizzare way to alert someone to that problem.



snowbound

 

Oh, come on, everyone knows that translates into, !!WARNING!! Low Battery. Recharge/replace immediately!!!

 

Your smarter than I am. I'd never seen that before.

 

Guess I'm lucky that my pc actually tells me when the battery is almost dead

 

Baggy,

Set your own low battery warning's. Runbox - enter: powercfg.cpl > *Alarms* tab.


GF

 

I think that run thang is for laptops only not a CMOS battery located on the mobo.

 

the screen for a CMOS low battery would be a DOS screen not a windows screen.
The fact the bios need to reload each time would however indicate a bad CMOS battery. The BIOS settings are not held.

 

Granted our author resolved their issue, a valid point nonetheless .... one that couldn't go without further (on my part) investigation. Some research led to this sliver from M$ ....

There are utilities described for retaining the BIOS/CMOS setting's supplied by a few manufacturers, but not all. In this instance several similar DOS based tools (correct again) are freely available by Googling "cmos backup utilities."

Langa has an interesting clip in one of his newsletter's under System Passwords ....

ht*tp://www.langa.com/newsletters/1999/nov-15-99.htm

BTW - I happen to be using a laptop, so thank's for the push to emphasize.



GF

 

Meant to include this as a general guide ....

ht*tp://www.smartcomputing.com/Editorial/article.asp?article=articles/2004/w1510/32w10/32w10.asp&guid=

GF