BIOS Help - questions and answers

EvgenyPlehov writes:
i flash my mainboard bios with wrong file (try modify logo manually :-).

now system start with bootblock in BIOS, but can't initialize VGA card (AGP and PCI). Mainboard without ISA bus (845PE-based, DFI NT78-BC).

So - now system start, beep long and 2-3 short beep (i think it's 'can't init VGA'). Next - try locate awdflash.exe on floppy and load it to memory and try start :) after this system hang (i think:). i think awdflash try output some via VGA BIOS and hang on INT 10 call :-) So - i can't restore my BIOS :) maybe exists some workaround for this problem ? like special (patched) awdflash without video output ?

P.S. Flash IC hard-mounted on Motherboard :-)

biosflash replies:
Hi,

yes, 1x long, 2-3 short means: VGA-Error. But you don't need any graphic card to reflash your PC.

1. you'll need a bootable DOS Diskette (without config.sys!)
2. create (on a 2nd PC using a texteditor) a file called: "AUTOEXEC.BAT", with only one Line:
"awdflash.exe updatefilename /py /sn" (without quotes!) and copy it onto your diskette.
3. copy awdflash.exe and your update file onto the diskette
4. deactivate any write protecting (on diskette and files!)

Now, boot from diskette and listen to the beeps:

While booting:
2 short beeps = no Bootdiskette in Drive A:
Continuously short beeps = no Floppydrive ;-)

After the Flash Process:
Continuously long beeps = Programming successfully. RESTART!


I hope that it shall work for you. Please let me know.

cu biosflash

EvgenyPlehov replies:
in DFI mainboards used some new Phoenix/Award workstation BIOS 6.0. This version can directly load AWDFLASH.EXE from floppy and pass in parameters first .bin-file from diskette (like awdflash.exe bios.bin /py /sn ). So - DOS not loaded from floppy and DOS-function required for AWDFLASH emulated by BIOS itself. You can invoke AWDFLASH by pressing ALT+F2 while normal startup screen (when showed PRESS DEL FOR ENTER SETUP or ALT-F2 for start AWDFLASH).

And BootBlock also use this way. But i think memory controller incorectly initialised and system hang after loading AWDFLASH. Also i see it on usual Award Bios 6.0 (on MSI-6391MB, i845, SDRAM) - this BIOS with bootblock, which try to load DOS from floppy but hang while DOS starting. So - BootBlock on modern AWARD BIOS 6.0 some brocken - incorectly initialize memory controller and repair by BootBlock impossible :) So - many MB manufacturers turn from AWARD to AMI (MSI for example).

Presenting video adapter not critical for BootBlock startup - if video card not available INT10 functions emulated (stubed:).

In may case i change MB under waranty :) So - MB go to hardware repair (FLASH IC hard-mounted :-)

P.S. Some companies like Asus modif AWARD BIOS for bugfixes in BootBlock and repair work on Asus MB's :)

EvgenyPlehov replies:
maybe some experiment with different memory modules (in my case - some old DDR200 modules instead DDR266/333) solve problem, but i fail :)

So - updating Award BIOS on modern MB's is danger process :) BootBlock repair routine fail in 99% :) Be carefull :)

biosflash replies:
Hi Evgeny,

you're right. But also remember: Never touch a running system! ;)

merry xmas
biosflash

EvgenyPlehov replies:
but now i change BIOS EPA AND LOGO :) with success :) by original AWARD utils downloaded from this forum :) thanks to maintainers of this forum and download area :) this most full archive MOBO tuning-tweaking utils available on net :) Award/Phoenix not publish this utils on own site (i think only for system manufacturers and OEM's )

marry xmas :)

biosflash replies:
Come on! Give us a little shot of your EPA-Pic ! :lol:

Anonymous replies:
my funny-crazy cat on EPA logo - http://www.megasoft.org.ua/~boss/ohu-cat.bmp
this has been maked form http://www.megasoft.org.ua/~boss/ohu-cat.jpg (some color loosing:-)

mounted to my BIOS firmware with cbrom 2.x (cbrom bios.bin /epa ohu-cat.bmp). cbrom convert this BMP 16 color to own format (BMP2EPA not need, i think it's need only for Award 4.5)

EvgenyPlehov replies:
it's was my replay :-)

biosflash replies:
Yes, i've recognized it :-)

But, you could use my BMPtoEPA (from www.flazh.de) with 4-Bit Colors, instead of the old BMP2EPA (from AWARD) which works only with 1-Bit Colors.

cu biosflash

EvgenyPlehov replies:
yes - i mean BMPtoEPA :) original bmp2epa from Award outdated for 6.0 Award Bios. But with modern cbrom converting with BMPtoEPA not necessary :)

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