ASUS A8N-VM CSM - Unknown Processor Revision
Feb 2nd, 2006 by Don Ray
Well, I am currently a little bummed out. I finished putting the new PC together. It went together like a dream. It was the easiest time I had ever had putting one together. Then the moment of truth came when it was time to power it on. I hit the power button with great anticipation. I was ready to put in my DVD for SuSE 10.0 and start debugging Linux problems on this motherboard.
The monitor displayed that memory and all devices (Hard drive, DVD reader, and Memory) were recognized and just when I was expecting the DVD reader to startup, I see this message:
*****Warning: Unknown Processor Revision*****
The processor(s) installed in your system are of an unknown revision. Please contact your BIOS vendor for appropriate updates.
@#$%&* floats from my mouth!
Now this problem would be trivial if I were back in Dallas because I would just go back to Fry’s and change the motherboard. But being here, I am stuck with resolving the problem myself.
After spending several hours on the Internet searching ASUS and other sites for information, I have found others have had the same problem and ASUS says that you need to buy a new BIOS. Well, doesn’t that just frost me! Since the PC won’t come up you can’t download a new BIOS and install it.
But as I say, nothing is perfect, some things even more so than others. This challenge may take a while to solve. If anyone reading this has had the problem and solved it easily, I would like to know about it.
GRRRRRRRRRR!
How did you fix that problem? I have the exact same problem with the same board and this is the first google hit. What chip do you have? amd ath64 3500 here. Lemme know if you found a solution.
Yes, I fixed the problem and there is another post on this site about it. But to summerize, it was very easy. Read the section in the ASUS manual about the ASUS EZ Flash utility. It is on page 2-3 of my manual. You have to download the latest BIOS (I have a secondary PC that I used to do that). Rename the download as specified in the manual. I put it on a floppy, but I think you can put it on a CD as well. Boot the new PC with the source for the new BIOS in place and hold the ALT and F2 keys down. The EZ Flash will start and do the rest. Good Luck.
Thanks Don - that worked for me.
It is amazing where you may find the answer to a problem.
I had that problem too:
AMD Athlon 64 3500
MSI K9N Neo
It drove me nuts for a couple of days because i bought the motherboard from a travelling market: no warrenty
But this solution works, and if it doesnt for you then get a professional service to replace the BIOS chip on your motherboard.
New boards are on the market now and I am sure there will be new problems. Thank goodness for the Internet.
Hey…
Funny… I have a MSI K9N-Platinum motherboard,
and an AMD athlon64 x2 5200+, and I get the same message.
I think I know what i should do… but were can I find this new BIOS.
I know that my english is bad.
Your English looks good to me. Good luck with your problem. I know it is not fun!
Hello peepz!
I have the exact same prob. with my MSI K9N Neo mobo and my AMD x2 3600+ ( i’ve also tried w. a 5600+).
Two questions:
1. Where do i find the appropiate Bios version? When i try and searth for it, all i see when i reach the MSI homepage is a list of like 20 different Bios.
2. Can i use a usb-memory to transfer this new Bios from my sec. comp to my good ( and broken ^^) one?
Thank you.
MSI is a different manufacture and I would suggest using instructions for that specific manufacturer. Normally you have to go to the manufacturer’s website and then go into the support area. Then you have to select the model of the motherboard you have and download the bios for that specific model.
Ok thank you. I will try and look in the MSI homepage again.
Oh, and Btw this is the so far, by far the best forum i’ve visited. Quick responses + you dont have to waste 3hrs of your life doing a registration of some sort.
Really nice job !
Hahaha. Well, it is just a blog and computers are a hobby, so there are posts that are PC related sometimes. Good luck with your problem. Flashing a BIOS can be a scary event.
I know I was frustrated for several days until I fixed my MB.
I have the same problem, but in my case I get a ‘fatal error’ and computer won’t boot, so I can’t update the BIOS.
I think I’ll have to buy a new one.