Friday, February 13, 2009

Computer Hangs at "Verifying DMI Pool Data"

DMI or DesktopManagement Interface is a layer of abstraction between system components and the software that manages them. The System Management BIOS (SMBIOS) is an extension of the Basic Input Output System (BIOS) that formulates and delivers this information to the operating system. The pool data is the information. In short, when the BIOS is "Verifying DMI pool data" it is verifying the table of data it sends to the operating system (Windows, etc.). If it isn't sucessful, it should return an error. Wait a reasonable period of time for it to finish. It may make take some time or it may be stuck. Possible fixes:
1. If you changed the hardware just before this problem occurred (e.g., installed a new hard disk drive), unchange it.
2. If you installed a new hard disk drive, set the motherboard CMOS Setup to Auto for the drive type. You may have to disconnect the drive first.
3. Enable "Reset Configuration Data" (may be "Force Update ESCD" in some CMOS Setuups) in the motherboard CMOS Setup PNP/PCI configuration. (Rebooting will automatically disabled it after it has done its thing.)
4. The CMOS may be corrupted. Clear it.
5. Disconnect all drives not required to boot the computer. If this fixes it, reconnect one at time.
6. The floppy drive may be bad or not connected properly.
7. Reseat all expansion boards.
8. Pull all boards not required to boot the computer.
9. Check your order of boot devices. Simple mistake, I know. But some motherboards will hang instead of moving on to the next boot device. My thanks to Adam Spade who contributed this step.
10. unplugged the memory stick and the machine booted fine. Anyone receiving this error should be sure that they do not have a reader, camera, etc., connected to the computer.

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