dc7800 "smart card reader not present" during POST

[jonassimpson]

Hi,

I've got a dc7800 Small Form Factor system. It was working fine but after a reboot it won't start up normally anymore. The black POST screen appears, RAM testing starts to count up and then I see and error about "system options not set". After less than a second, a blue window in the middle of the screen displays the message "smart card authentication" and below that, "smart card reader not present".

From a bit of reading it seems like a BIOS problem but I can't figure out how to really reset the CMOS and get things working again. I've tried removing the CMOS jumper and booting the system, removing the power cord and CMOS battery for 10 minutes, and have tried putting a BIOS .bin file on a FAT32 USB key in an attempt to use the BIOS recovery option, none of which has worked.

Is there a way to do one of the following:

- force the CMOS defaults to reset and remove the configuration that requires the smart card authentication?

- force a BIOS recovery, with a key combination or by using a different jumper or jumpers on the motherboard?

I see various other jumpers and pads on the motherboard like "ROM RCVRY" and the E15 Boot Block Recovery Header but scant information about how these might be used to solve the problem.

It seems to me that the hardware is fine as it powers up and displays the POST screen. It's like a BIOS setting has been reset to require a smart card, even though there isn't one, nor even a smart card reader, in the system.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

TIA,

JS

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

I think the motherboard has a problem--or at least the ROM chip does.

The correct way to clear the CMOS, is to follow the troubleshooting procedures for clearing the CMOS at the link below (although pulling the CMOS battery probably does the same thing).  The green jumper (if that is what you removed), only clears any BIOS passwords set.

Appendix B, pp 60-61

http://bizsupport2.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01162207/c01162207.pdf

[jonassimpson]

Yes, I did that. I'd forgotten as I'd been through so much else so far. I've tried holding the CMOS reset button, with nothing connected to the computer, for 5, 10 and 15 seconds at a time. It hasn't had any effect on the problem.

Is there no way to force the system to do an emergency BIOS recovery from a USB key, floppy or CD-ROM? My thought was that if I could reflash the BIOS that way it might resolve whatever is causing the smart card error. Another question come to mind: would attaching a smart card reader (not that I have one...) make any difference?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

After doing some research on the message, I came across this post.

I guess your PC has a smart card optional system.

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Compaq-Elite-Pro/DC7800-smart-card-athentication/m-p/10691...

Now, if you can get into the BIOS menus, if you look at the top of page 8, you will see what you need to do in order to enable/disable the smart card reader message.

http://bizsupport1.austin.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c01162201/c01162201.pdf

Whatever the problem is, it is a security setting issue, and clearing the CMOS or updating the BIOS will not have any effect on that setting.

Unfortunately, I have no experience with the security settings or protect tools software on HP business PC's.

I have a dc7800 (and only use HP business desktops and notebooks), so I am very familiar with all the other aspects of the PC but that one.

You may want to post your issue on the HP business support forum, business PC section.  Hopefully someone there has experience with turning this feature on or off.

http://h30499.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Compaq-Elite-Pro/bd-p/bsc-271#.Uk2rcJAo69I

You may also want to log in and reply to that post, but don't get your hopes up that it will be answered.

RichS hasn't replied to a post in 3 years. Although someone else may.

Good luck, and please post back if you find the solution to the problem.