BIOS Flashing

[IncubusDesigns]

Trying to install a new 80GB drive but it isn't recognised and hangs the machine. Apparently I need an updated Bios to use drives over 34GB.

So, now I'm trying to flash the BIOS for my Giga-byte GA-BX2000 board.

I've downloaded the correct files from the Giga-byte site and set up the floppy as instucted.

as well as system files, floppy contains:-

flash864.exe and bx2000.f9 (newest bios available).

I run the Bios update with:-

A:\flash864 bx2000.f9

Everything seems to work ok until i get to the bit where the instructions say 'It will pop up a screen and asks "Are you sure you want to Flash the BIOS?"'

Instead I get the message 'Bios ID Error'.

What am I doing wrong?

 

[KimberTech]

The flash will not work unless you have the exact file for your version of bios.
It sounds like perhaps you do not have the correct flash for yours....try looking again or post it here and can look for you.
Kimber

The more I learn,I realize how much more there is to know!

 

[IncubusDesigns]

K, pretty sure I've got the correct stuff.

Running BiosWizard gives the follwing info:-

Manufacturer: Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG
Bios ID: 07/19/1999-i440BX-8671-2A69KG0EC-00
Bios Date: 07/19/99
Bios ROM size: 256K
Bios OEM signon: Intel 440BX AGPSet BIOS for BX2000 V.1.7
Chipset: Intel 440BX/ZX rev 3
Super I/O Chip: ITE 8671 found at port 279h

BX2000.f9 and flash864.exe downloaded from the giga-byte site and are latest versions of the BX2000 bios and Bios flashing utility.

Any suggestions gratefully received...

 

[SESaskDFC]

Howdy:

Are you sure you got the right one?? I went to the site and downloaded the zip file.. When I unzipped it, I see
flash855.exe and bx2000.f9

The flash is different from what you are showing..

Murray

 

[KimberTech]

Just did the same thing...
I concur SESaskDFC.

I CANNOT STRESS THIS STRONGLY ENOUGH>....make absolutely sure you have the exact flash for your board.
Sounds like the flashes have become a little smarter than they were in the old days...one mistake meant new bios...eeek.
Kimber

The more I learn,I realize how much more there is to know!

 

[stinkybee]

Sorry, should have explained.

tried using the bios flash utility (flash855.exe), bundled with the the Bios upgrade but got the Bios ID Error.

I then tried the newer Bios flash utility flash864.exe, downloadable seperately from the giga-byte site.

Both utils seem identical and give exactly the same response - 'Bios ID Error'.

A search on Google reveals only one site that mentions this messsage, and that's in russian and seems to be something to do with Monitors. :-(

If I HAVE got the wrong bios upgrade, how do I locate the correct one? If I've got the right one, (which i'm *fairly* sure I have) Why am I getting this error?

 

[IncubusDesigns]

sorry, that last one was me again.using a different PC.

 

[IncubusDesigns]

Anyone got any ideas on this one yet? Got a useless new 80GB drive sitting here with my current drive getting read/write errors.. Really need to get this BIOS updated..

Thanks in advance for any help..

 

[Win98User]

Hi,
The bios you are trying to flash is not the correct one.

The info that is critical is;
Manufacturer: Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG

You need to hunt down an upgrade for that reference (I haven't got the info to hand but do a search). That particular version of BIOS is well known because you have to pay for the upgrade, lol.

You may have the right board but you have the wrong BIOS ~ just look at the version history on the giga-byte site. Also, while you are there you may see that their BIOS upgrade will not support the 80Gb HDD (according to the descriptions given).

All the best.

 

[IncubusDesigns]

As far as I understand it, the
"Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG" bit doesn't actually mean that much, as it's the motherboard manufacturer that customises the BIOS for their particular boards..

A search on google for "Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG" just seems to list a million and one other users looking for an update and being told they'll need to get the update from their motherboard manufacturer. In my case that's giga-byte.

Giga-byte makes no mention of "Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG" but seems to imply I need the flash855.exe and bx2000.f9 to upgrade (I have a BX2000 motherboard). Looking at the revision history, way back in Sep 1999 they released bx2000_18.zip which includes support for 35GB drives - I assumed this meant 'any drives over the 34GB ceiling'.

For something that's so critical to get right, I'm finding this whole process incredibly difficult to get sorted.

If I'm barking up the wrong tree with the bx2000.f9 update for BX2000 giga-byte motherboards, what should I be looking for?

Any help appreciated...

 

[Win98User]

Hi,
You understand wrong.

Regards.

 

[Win98User]

As I said, I haven't got the info to hand (or a V4.51 BIOS to test on) but this could well be the link that I have "somewhere".

http://www.esupport.com/biosagent/index.cfm?refererid=21

Regards.

 

[Grenage]

Yes, as everybody else here has says you need to make absolutely sure that all your files are correct.

Be grateful you got an error message at all, a few years ago it would have flashed it anyway and your'd be left with a duff board.

 

[IncubusDesigns]

OK, given them a try. Still not convinced tho
Guess it's the thought of having to pay for a bios upgrade. :-(

 

[IncubusDesigns]

And yes, I am being extremely cautious. Definately don't want to fry my Bios.

What I'm finding confusing is that everything I've searched for always eventually points to the bx2000.f9 upgrade for the GA-BX2000. If that's wrong, how the hell is anyone supposed to find the correct Bios upgrade?!

Don't think I've found anything so damn confusing in years :-(

 

[nizeguy]

There is a way to use your 80gb hard disk without flashing your BIOS, you will need to download a software from your drive manufacturer's web site. For Seagate, you need DiscWizard, for Maxtor, MaxBlast. I'm pretty sure the other drive manufacturers will have similar software on their web site. What it does is it installs a small program that loads before your OS so that the full capacity of the drive will be recognized. Try it. I've used them many times and it's very transparent. This could be a temporary solution until you can flash your BIOS or buy a new mobo. Good Luck.

 

[IncubusDesigns]

Hi nizeguy, thanks for the response. Yup - I tried DiscWizard when I first got the drive. Seemed to work, but then each time I re-booted it reverted back to drive not found and hang-ups etc.

The only way I could get it working using DiscWizard was to go through the whole install process from scratch each time I needed a reboot which isn't very useful. :-(

I've got partial use of the drive by setting the jumper switches to 'limit drive to 34GB', but of course I'm losing 46GBs of space.

any more ideas...?

 

[IncubusDesigns]

OK, got threads running on every techy forum i can find and no-one seems to know the answer

A lot of people are suggesting getting a controller card - Can anyone suggest a good one at a reasonable price?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Win98User]

Did that link I posted lead to a "pay for" BIOS update? If so how much?

Regards.

 

[IncubusDesigns]

Yes mate - got a reply from them today. £40 for a bios upgrade. Still not sure about going down that route though..