You can get replacement BIOS chips. I wasn't able to find that exact
motherboard on the MSI site, but this should be similar.
http://global.msi.com.tw/uploads/prod_44d3fe72808f21e00a9a3e6bef0079d...
In the lower right hand corner, is a brown plastic socket with a black
chip in it. Underneath the paper label stuck on the chip, is a part number
for the chip.
If you go to a company like badflash.com , they can provide a replacement
BIOS chip. You have to tell them what kind of chip it is (which means
getting the part number off the chip). That is important, because
if you ever want to upgrade the BIOS again, the flashing tool will have
a limited list of chips it will support. So it would help to have a
compatible part used to replace the chip.
Badflash.com will also need a BIOS file, to use to flash the chip.
You'd need to either send them the file, or give them a URL as
to where they could download it.
When the replacement chip arrives, the new one has to be installed
with the same orientation as the old one. You may see a dot on the
chip, aligned with a triangle on the socket. That marks pin 1, or where
they count pin 1 from.
It is possible sometimes, to recover from a bad BIOS flash, but it
relies on the "boot block" being intact. If your boot block was OK, then
you might hear the computer attempting to access the floppy drive.
But most of the time, people are not able to recover by using
a boot block based method, so just spending the $30 on a
replacement BIOS chip is more straight forward.
Reading your user manual, may describe what recovery techniques
are provided. It is cases where the flashing tool has erased
the boot block, where recovery is impossible.
The chip can be pulled out of the socket, with a pointed object.
You work on diagonal corners of the chip, easing it out a bit
on one side and then the other. You can also get a chip puller.
It makes the removal process easier, but owning the tool makes
more sense if you plan on doing more than one of them. Having
a chip puller may also make a "hot flash" recovery easier.
Note that some local computer store, may also be able to handle
a BIOS replacement or reflash operation. At work, we had a
$6000 machine that could flash just about anything, but that is
not something that a mom & pop computer store would invest in.
(Payback would take too long.) I flashed a couple hundred chips
on our machine, so it was money well spent.
There is also the "hot flash" method, but that works best if
a friend has an identical motherboard, and doesn't mind taking
a risk. The reason for the identical motherboard, is because the
BIOS update procedure generally works if the donor has the same
brand of BIOS (AMI/Award/Phoenix etc). So an identical motherboard
is the easiest way to do that. With the hot flash, what you do
is boot the donor board, and then *pull the flash chip out while powered* ..
Then install the BIOS chip that no longer has a good BIOS image
inside it. Then use the flash tool to program it.
Naturally, that is dangerous, but the people who have done it, claimed
they didn't have a problem. I probably wouldn't have the guts
to try it, because PLCC chips tend to bounce around when you're
trying to seat them in a socket. (You push them into place with
your thumb, and a tool is not needed to install them. Only
removal benefits from assistance of a tool of some sort.)
This is an example of a PLCC puller.
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2062619
So I hope $30 (or less) is all it'll take to get you back on
your feet.
Paul
I don't work for badflash.com . They