On Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:23:25 -0500, John Dulak <Johnd@Booogus.com> wrote:

>Steve Urbach wrote:
>> On Fri, 13 Nov 2009 22:24:14 -0500, John Dulak <Johnd@Booogus.com> wrote:
>> 
>>> Group:
>>>
>>> I am getting an error on starting a Tecra 9000 that had been working 
>>> well for years but gets only light use. I shut the system down 
>>> compleatly - not "Hibernat" or "Standby" but OFF. When I went to 
>>> restart it I get:
>>>
>>> 1.) A normal Toshiba logo screen with a message "press F12 for boot 
>>> device selection".
>>>
>>> 2.) A normal black and white screen with the message "starting 
>>> Windows" and a progress bar.
>>>
>>> 3.) The normal color Microsoft Windows 2000 Pro screen with a progress 
>>> bar.
>>>
>>> 4.) A low res blue screen with the message:
>>> *** Hardware Malfunction
>>> Call your hardware vendor for support
>>> NMI: Channel Check / IOCHK
>>> *** The system has halted ***
>>>
>>>
>>> Does anyone know if this message is generated by Windows or some 
>>> onboard diagnostic. Even better would be WHAT hardware component to 
>>> look at.
>>>
>>> If I try to boot into safe mode via the F8 key I get either "IO Error" 
>>> or the F8 selection menu is partly overwritten with what appears to be 
>>>  an error message that includes a bunch of Hex values.
>>>
>>> I've also tried starting without the CD drive installed and on AC only 
>>> with no battery. The results are still the same.
>>>
>>> John Dulak
>> Your BIOS battery may have gone bad over the years  (W2k implies a fairly old
>> model) of low use and your BIOS settings scrambled.
>> At boot, press F2 when given the  F2, F12 choice.
>> 
>> Check the clock, ca lender: if it is really wrong, that is a good clue the
>> battery is weak. Correct that and check other settings(Disk...) or restore to
>> setup defaults (F9)
>> F10 (Save and Exit)
>> 
>> 
>> BTW My old Satelite ha3 THREE batteries.
>> The External access one you think about :)
>> BIOS that most PC's have and a Internal "Keep Alive" that allows the external
>> one  to be changed out (if you carry a spare) with stuff in memory.
>> The last 2 require Factory trained replacement as they require disassembly.
>
>Steve:
>
>Thanks for your thoughts on this. THe date and time are correct on the 
>system. I was able to verify this this morning when the system decided 
>to stsrt up normally!! It would even start up from a bootable CD to DOS.
>
>I have found out that the error message is generated by Windows and 
>that my particular flavor relates to any sort of IO device (Disk, 
>keyboard, mouse). I have also noticed that sometimes the thing will 
>give the error message immediately on using the keyboard or mouse 
>during boot. When selecting from a boot menu for instance.
>
>I have the disassembly instructions (.PDF File) for this unit and am 
>comfortable with taking this thing apart since I built or repaired 
>scientific instruments for decades. When I get a chance I will open 
>the thing up and check all the connectors and reseat things. I will 
>also check the condition of the CMOS battery and give everything a 
>good cleaning. Will report what I find out.
>
>Thanks.
>
>John Dulak

Well it was a WAG

Nice to see there are still people that /try/ a repair themselves.
I had the front panel indicators go intermittent, once I found out how to get
the Keyboard lifted, I snapped the printed cable connector latch back into
place. Good to go. :)
(Yes, I drop tested it a year before. It took that long to work loose)
Good luck