In order to understand what a checksum error is, it is important to first learn what a checksum is. A checksum is a redundancy check during a computer’s start up process, which makes sure that the computer’s data is intact and unhampered. The data is scanned and tested for accuracy, either based on how well it relates to data elsewhere or based on previous data that was stored on the same computer. Essentially, all of the bits of data in a particular document or file are added up and a number or hash is created. This number or hash can then be compared to the number or hash generated from the same file on another person’s computer or at a previous time on the same computer.
When does a Checksum Error Occur?
Although a checksum error can occur at any time while a computer is comparing data, it is most commonly present during a computer’s startup procedure. During a computer’s start up processes, the BIOS settings, which are stored in a CMOS memory chip, are computed and then checked against the previous value. If the computed values do not match exactly, the computer warns the user with a checksum error message that the data may have been changed or corrupted between start up cycles. All BIOS programs present a different error and therefore will either continue with booting or refuse to boot until the problem is corrected.
Depending on the type and the severity of the error generated, there may be one of a variety of ways to rectify the issue. The most common cause of a checksum error during the startup process is a faulty battery that is not providing sufficient power to the motherboard when the computer is off. However, motherboard malfunctions and viruses can also contribute to checksum errors.
Other Types of Checksum Errors
Another type of checksum error may occur with any program at any time. It is usual for many programs to now provide checksum information when that program is downloaded. Using a checksum program or MD5 hash checker, a user can quickly compare the checksum of a downloaded program with the checksum that the software developer provides. This is a common way to make sure that users are downloading the proper program and that no data was corrupted during the download process. Checksum errors originating from download errors can easily be corrected by re-downloading the problematic program.
noor
my laptop is not starting at the beginning of computer gives us message of check sum error and under that computer show f1 and f10 but f1 and f10 does not work
by removing cmos also it does not work
Jason Arthur
Basically i learn through testings start up problems the error was so easy to find after 3 years trying to find out and is was the ram that causes the problem i am a technician and i fixed five system my changing the ram it happens when the ram had a bad diode in the mix on the memory board
Venkatesh
I have been getting checksum error..so based on the information known i changed the battery but the error still persists. what else could i do? also let me know by what it means by taking some values from cmos. please help me out
Dave
when my syystem is boting up it stops and says check sum error. i changed the battery twice and even cleared the memmory.I still get the same message.
Harold
Today, my laptop started doing something… I’m not sure what. Spontaneously it went to a black screen, but did not turn off, and had two lights flashing, the one by caps lock and the one above end/num lock. Turning it off and then on, it went back to this a few times, but eventually it went to a checksum error page. The f6 option froze it. Later, the f5 option worked, and my computer came back.
But then it went to the black screen again, this evening, and no checksum error page is coming up, after turning it off and then on many times… it’s just the black screen, the flashing lights, the sound of the computer running hard.
Any idea what’s going on?
MUHAMMAD SABIR
there can be several reasons fro this.
1) hard ware problems, such as RAm over run, CPu heating, or vide oe card problem
2) software problem, such you installed some softawre or trie dto tweak your windows or may be a virus.
the best solutiion is to get a repair from authoirised dealer of your laptop or if you can do it your self, get all recovery DVDs/CDs and try a fresh installation of the whole system.
rollins
Hello Sir, I’m using Windows 7 ultimate if software problems do i need to full scan by using windows defender is this a good solution..
replay back Thanks.
Craig
Dump (uninstall) defender. In stall Microsoft Security Essentials.
www.microsoft.com/security_essentials Pick either 32 or 64 bit for your installed version. 64 is the most probable.
Much more protection.
Raniel
I have an Acer Aspire M5800 at home. I had been encountering system failures and turning it back in time via factory settings for a year. now it shows Checksum error, with two settings. One: Press Del to enter Setup. Two: Press ??? to skip. I always press setup, then exit without saving… and it still appears… help? (My parents bought the PC… and I broke the warranty by accident. A 2-year warranty… 5 days aft purchase I broke it.)
memenode
What kind of system failures?
Perhaps your CMOS battery needs replacing.
Daniel Memenode
Originally posted by celena: “Ok I have this problem, But the weird part about it is that i had never seen this before untill my boyfriend decided he was going to try to “help” me with my dvd drive that hadn’t been registering dvds in the drive. Anyways he took my computor practically apart and stripped a screw in the midst of everything 🙁 Anyways he did alot more than just look at my dvd drive. When i booted it up it said chksum error hit f5 or f6 f5 didnt work so im forced to press f6 after I do so another screen pops up saying choose drive to boot from :
Windows Vista
or
Memery tool
Could this error be something unplugged or I dunno?”
Who knows what he did there, but it appears you could still boot into Windows Vista by choosing it in the startup procedure, right? A way to make the error go away might be to simply reset the bios (which can be done by shorting the jumpers on the motherboard (I’m guessing your boyfriend would know how to do this much), and if it happens again replace the CMOS battery.
Does the DVD drive work now though?
celena
Ok I have this problem, But the weird part about it is that i had never seen this before untill my boyfriend decided he was going to try to “help” me with my dvd drive that hadn’t been registering dvds in the drive. Anyways he took my computor practically apart and stripped a screw in the midst of everything 🙁 Anyways he did alot more than just look at my dvd drive. When i booted it up it said chksum error hit f5 or f6 f5 didnt work so im forced to press f6 after I do so another screen pops up saying choose drive to boot from :
Windows Vista
or
Memery tool
Could this error be something unplugged or I dunno?
Daniel Memenode
Originally posted by zhbdaa: “ive encountered this problem… my pc keeps reset time to 2006. ive changed the battery but still having this problem. any solution??”
Have you looked at the BIOS time settings? Perhaps you need to set the time there? Changing the battery would reset all BIOS settings to factory defaults.
zhbdaa
ive encountered this problem… my pc keeps reset time to 2006. ive changed the battery but still having this problem. any solution??
kitz
does the checksum error affect the operating system or its function