BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project with

the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I wouldn't

recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end up

with a paperweight. :-)

 

You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there is

no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

unforgiveable, on their part!

 

My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so damn

difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version (especially

when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or vice versa

(like Dell and Intel)?

 

And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips, just

out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real chip

limitations)?

[Guest Xandros]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

You may wish to pose your question to the BIOS manufacturer. Microsoft

doesn't manufacture BIOS and therefore your question is inappropriate to

these groups.

 

--

 

Xandros

 

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:%23Ofly3$gIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project

> with the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I wouldn't

> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end up

> with a paperweight. :-)

>

> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there is

> no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

> unforgiveable, on their part!

>

> My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so damn

> difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version

> (especially when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or

> vice versa (like Dell and Intel)?

>

> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips,

> just out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real

> chip limitations)?

>

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

Xandros wrote:

> You may wish to pose your question to the BIOS manufacturer.

 

I don't.

> Microsoft doesn't manufacture BIOS and therefore your question is

> inappropriate to these groups.

 

I'm talking to people in a newsgroup who might have had some experience with

it, not IBM. And yes, BIOS *does* indeed tie in with the operating

system, laddie.

> Xandros

>

>

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> news:%23Ofly3$gIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project

>> with the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I wouldn't

>> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end

>> up

>> with a paperweight. :-)

>>

>> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there

>> is

>> no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

>> unforgiveable, on their part!

>>

>> My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so

>> damn

>> difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version

>> (especially when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or

>> vice versa (like Dell and Intel)?

>>

>> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips,

>> just out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real

>> chip limitations)?

[Guest PD43]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>I'm talking to people in a newsgroup who might have had some experience with

>it, not IBM. And yes, BIOS *does* indeed tie in with the operating

>system, laddie.

 

So does Microsoft Word, but this ain't the place to ask MS Word

questions either, pops.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

PD43 wrote:

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>

>> I'm talking to people in a newsgroup who might have had some experience

>> with

>> it, not IBM. And yes, BIOS *does* indeed tie in with the operating

>> system, laddie.

>

> So does Microsoft Word, but this ain't the place to ask MS Word

> questions either, pops.

 

Big difference between Microsoft Word, and which paragraph style to use, and

BIOS, laddie.

[Guest PD43]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>> questions either, pops.

>

>Big difference between Microsoft Word, and which paragraph style to use, and

>BIOS, laddie.

 

Ask yer BIOS question in windowsxp.hardware pops.

[Guest smlunatick]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

On Mar 12, 12:00 am, "Bill in Co." <not_really_h...@earthlink.net>

wrote:

> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project with

> the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade.   I wouldn't

> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end up

> with a paperweight.    :-)

>

> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there is

> no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

> unforgiveable, on their part!

>

> My question is:  why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so damn

> difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version (especially

> when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or vice versa

> (like Dell and Intel)?

>

> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips, just

> out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real chip

> limitations)?

 

As previously stated, this is not really a XP question.

 

BIOS manufacturers tend to create their chips fast and at the lowest

cost. Some manuafcturers do provide a downgrade path and others make

soem BIOS with a spare chip.

 

BIOSes are currently extremely important to motherboard as these store

how to access the PC's components correctly so updates most be done

correctly. Update applications must make sure that you the user

definiately want to do an update and must verify that the update

completes correct.

 

You show also note that Intel is trying to replace the BIOS chips with

a different technology but since BIOS is used on most motherboards, it

will take time.

[Guest PaulMaudib]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

On Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:00:06 -0600, "Bill in Co."

<not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project with

>the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I wouldn't

>recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end up

>with a paperweight. :-)

>

>You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there is

>no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

>unforgiveable, on their part!

>

>My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so damn

>difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version (especially

>when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or vice versa

>(like Dell and Intel)?

>

>And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips, just

>out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real chip

>limitations)?

>

 

Why do idiots bring all this in a group that is about XP and has

nothing to do about what the group is for?

 

Just stop Professor Farnsworth...Great News, Everyond.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

PaulMaudib wrote:

> On Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:00:06 -0600, "Bill in Co."

> <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>

>> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project

>> with

>> the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I wouldn't

>> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end

>> up

>> with a paperweight. :-)

>>

>> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there

>> is

>> no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

>> unforgiveable, on their part!

>>

>> My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so

>> damn

>> difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version

>> (especially

>> when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or vice versa

>> (like Dell and Intel)?

>>

>> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips,

>> just

>> out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real chip

>> limitations)?

>>

>

> Why do idiots bring all this in a group that is about XP and has

> nothing to do about what the group is for?

 

Because we're trying to emulate you in absentia, Bubba.

[Guest Lil' Dave]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:%23Ofly3$gIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project

> with the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I wouldn't

> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end up

> with a paperweight. :-)

>

> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there is

> no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

> unforgiveable, on their part!

>

> My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so damn

> difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version

> (especially when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or

> vice versa (like Dell and Intel)?

>

> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips,

> just out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real

> chip limitations)?

>

 

All the motherboards I've dealt with have had an Award bios on them. I've

never run into the discrepancies you're speaking of as a result of an

attempted bios flash. The option to save the current bios to floppy has

been around for a long, long time.

 

Paramount to flashing the bios in my learning experiences was setting the

bios settings to default both before and after the flash. Perhaps, clearing

the cmos from time to time as well.

 

That all was with single bios chip configurations.

 

My current dual bios chip configuration on my current motherboard makes all

of that so much easier in the case of a botched bios flash. Also using

Award bios.

 

--

Dave

 

My vote in this primary was for the lesser

of many evils...

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

Lil' Dave wrote:

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> news:%23Ofly3$gIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project

>> with the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I wouldn't

>> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end

>> up

>> with a paperweight. :-)

>>

>> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there

>> is

>> no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

>> unforgiveable, on their part!

>>

>> My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so

>> damn

>> difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version

>> (especially when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or

>> vice versa (like Dell and Intel)?

>>

>> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips,

>> just out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real

>> chip limitations)?

>

> All the motherboards I've dealt with have had an Award bios on them. I've

> never run into the discrepancies you're speaking of as a result of an

> attempted bios flash. The option to save the current bios to floppy has

> been around for a long, long time.

 

AMI and (now) Intel BIOS, over here. But no, they don't ALL have that

option, sad to report.

 

And it's even been documented on some of the forums (I found out later) that

some of these BIOS "upgrades" (esp. to a different manufacturer), are

one-way journeys -once you do it, you can't go back (due to some of the code

in the BIOS installer).

 

But at one point I actually tried to, by using a Hex Editor to change some

specific bytes in the BIOS exe installer (discovered this proposed

workaround solution on another forum), but it was still a no-go.

 

Trust me, there apparently are a LOT of variations and eccentricities in

this BIOS arena, and it seems I've only discovered the tip of the iceberg,

at least from what I can tell. But it is fascinating (when it's not hair

raising)

> Paramount to flashing the bios in my learning experiences was setting the

> bios settings to default both before and after the flash. Perhaps,

> clearing

> the cmos from time to time as well.

>

> That all was with single bios chip configurations.

>

> My current dual bios chip configuration on my current motherboard makes

> all

> of that so much easier in the case of a botched bios flash. Also using

> Award bios.

>

> --

> Dave

>

> My vote in this primary was for the lesser

> of many evils...

[Guest PD43]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>And it's even been documented on some of the forums (I found out later) that

>some of these BIOS "upgrades" (esp. to a different manufacturer), are

>one-way journeys -once you do it, you can't go back (due to some of the code

>in the BIOS installer).

 

An old-time under-the-hood player like you (or like you represent

yourself to be) should've found that out years ago.

[Guest Lil' Dave]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

news:%23jDb72XhIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Lil' Dave wrote:

>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

>> news:%23Ofly3$gIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project

>>> with the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I

>>> wouldn't

>>> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end

>>> up

>>> with a paperweight. :-)

>>>

>>> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there

>>> is

>>> no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

>>> unforgiveable, on their part!

>>>

>>> My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so

>>> damn

>>> difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version

>>> (especially when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries, or

>>> vice versa (like Dell and Intel)?

>>>

>>> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips,

>>> just out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real

>>> chip limitations)?

>>

>> All the motherboards I've dealt with have had an Award bios on them.

>> I've

>> never run into the discrepancies you're speaking of as a result of an

>> attempted bios flash. The option to save the current bios to floppy has

>> been around for a long, long time.

>

> AMI and (now) Intel BIOS, over here. But no, they don't ALL have that

> option, sad to report.

>

> And it's even been documented on some of the forums (I found out later)

> that some of these BIOS "upgrades" (esp. to a different manufacturer), are

> one-way journeys -once you do it, you can't go back (due to some of the

> code in the BIOS installer).

>

> But at one point I actually tried to, by using a Hex Editor to change some

> specific bytes in the BIOS exe installer (discovered this proposed

> workaround solution on another forum), but it was still a no-go.

>

> Trust me, there apparently are a LOT of variations and eccentricities in

> this BIOS arena, and it seems I've only discovered the tip of the iceberg,

> at least from what I can tell. But it is fascinating (when it's not

> hair raising)

>

 

On the older single bios chip flash upgrades, with some, due to its limited

flash storage area, an upgrade might mean losing something to gain something

else. I do remember having to resort to flashing the backup bios bin file

to restore to condition prior to the flash upgrade. I liked what the

upgrade provided that wasn't there before, but liked less what I lost in the

process. The upgrade flash file online provided the info what was new, but

not what I would lose in the process.

 

--

Dave

 

My vote in this primary was for the lesser

of many evils...

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

PD43 wrote:

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>

>> And it's even been documented on some of the forums (I found out later)

>> that

>> some of these BIOS "upgrades" (esp. to a different manufacturer), are

>> one-way journeys -once you do it, you can't go back (due to some of the

>> code

>> in the BIOS installer).

>

> An old-time under-the-hood player like you (or like you represent

> yourself to be) should've found that out years ago.

 

Hey Bubba, they aren't all that way, but since you've never done any, I'll

cut you some slack here.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

Lil' Dave wrote:

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

> news:%23jDb72XhIHA.1208@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

>> Lil' Dave wrote:

>>> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote in message

>>> news:%23Ofly3$gIHA.6032@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

>>>> Just spent an "interesting" (to put it mildly!) weekend on this project

>>>> with the other computer, to enable a microprocessor upgrade. I

>>>> wouldn't

>>>> recommend it for the faint-hearted, suffice it to say, or you might end

>>>> up with a paperweight. :-)

>>>>

>>>> You know, it wouldn't be quite so bad, except that in some cases, there

>>>> is no reverse path available (i..e, it's a one way trip) - which seems

>>>> unforgiveable, on their part!

>>>>

>>>> My question is: why do these BIOS manufacturers sometimes make it so

>>>> damn difficult to upgrade/downgrade or go back to a previous version

>>>> (especially when going from one manufacturer to one its subsidiaries,

>>>> or

>>>> vice versa (like Dell and Intel)?

>>>>

>>>> And not only that, but even block certain upgrades with certain chips,

>>>> just out of self-centered arrogance on their part (and not due to real

>>>> chip limitations)?

>>>

>>> All the motherboards I've dealt with have had an Award bios on them.

>>> I've never run into the discrepancies you're speaking of as a result of

>>> an

>>> attempted bios flash. The option to save the current bios to floppy has

>>> been around for a long, long time.

>>

>> AMI and (now) Intel BIOS, over here. But no, they don't ALL have that

>> option, sad to report.

>>

>> And it's even been documented on some of the forums (I found out later)

>> that some of these BIOS "upgrades" (esp. to a different manufacturer),

>> are

>> one-way journeys -once you do it, you can't go back (due to some of the

>> code in the BIOS installer).

>>

>> But at one point I actually tried to, by using a Hex Editor to change

>> some

>> specific bytes in the BIOS exe installer (discovered this proposed

>> workaround solution on another forum), but it was still a no-go.

>>

>> Trust me, there apparently are a LOT of variations and eccentricities in

>> this BIOS arena, and it seems I've only discovered the tip of the

>> iceberg,

>> at least from what I can tell. But it is fascinating (when it's not

>> hair raising)

>

> On the older single bios chip flash upgrades, with some, due to its

> limited

> flash storage area, an upgrade might mean losing something to gain

> something

> else. I do remember having to resort to flashing the backup bios bin file

> to restore to condition prior to the flash upgrade.

 

And you were lucky that you had that option. :-)

This is not to say that I haven't been able to accomplish that indirectly

too (at least in some cases) (esp if in the same family) - but only by

reflashing to the previous version, however.

> I liked what the

> upgrade provided that wasn't there before, but liked less what I lost in

> the

> process. The upgrade flash file online provided the info what was new,

> but

> not what I would lose in the process.

 

Indeed.

Often the documentation (WHEN you can find it, and IF it even exists),

leaves a bit to be desired, to put it mildly.

 

But in the final analysis, I came out way ahead, as I went from 800 MHz to

1.6 GHz, for my other computer.

[Guest PD43]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

"Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>> An old-time under-the-hood player like you (or like you represent

>> yourself to be) should've found that out years ago.

>

>Hey Bubba, they aren't all that way, but since you've never done any, I'll

>cut you some slack here.

 

Flash the BIOS? 3 I think.

[Guest Bill in Co.]

Re: BIOS upgrades - reflashing the BIOS

 

PD43 wrote:

> "Bill in Co." <not_really_here@earthlink.net> wrote:

>

>>> An old-time under-the-hood player like you (or like you represent

>>> yourself to be) should've found that out years ago.

>>

>> Hey Bubba, they aren't all that way, but since you've never done any,

>> I'll

>> cut you some slack here.

>

> Flash the BIOS? 3 I think.

 

That's encouraging to hear, as I was about ready to tell you how to access

the BIOS, and now I won't have to (which saves me some typing, and I know

you have some difficulty with "longer" posts).