flashing an old socket 7

[HOTRODk62]

I've got a asus p5a-b that I want to setup as a linux/fileserver, and in order to do that I need the latest beta bios on it to support large harddrives. I tried to flash the latest bios with the award 221 flasher off asus site, but it says unknown flash memory type, and will not flash. Am I using the wrong award flasher??? If so which one is correct? Thanks

[Bovon]

I just bought a P5A-B to swap out with a FIC 503+ board at ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=4615&item=2083397775

omega31 left the following advice for me:

"Some things to note on the auction:

BIOS = Award, Ver. 1001, Date 07/17/98
Motherboard Revision = 1.00

You would need a bios version 1007 for k6-2 500mhz. You can get latest non-beta version 1010 here:
ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/asus/mb/sock7/ali/p5a-b/
BTW, read the index.txt at the ftp page.

The other thing is the motherboard pcb revision. I was under the impression that you need at least pcb revision 1.03 or later to run the higher speed k6-2s. >THIS< says you need at least pcb 1.05. Sorry, it's German. I can't make out most of what it says, but I've read about most of the contents elsewhere and I can't find it
elsewhere, yet. Otherwise, you'll use lower fsb and higher multiplier.

You can also get the 1011 bios file here, http://web.inter.nl.net/hcc/J.Steunebrink/k6plus.htm

This is primarily for using the K6-2+ or K6 III processor, but I believe it has all of the up to date enhancements as well...like recognition of the large hard drives. I got my JE4333 for this FIC 503+ board, and it will run the larger hard drives.

[lptech]

Make sure that you have your system connected to a UPS-Uninterruptable Power Supply(backup battery), because if you have any power problems while doing the BIOS update, your mobo would become useless! Meaning that you'd have to send back to the manufacturer to replace the BIOS chip! Just my .02 cents being put into the info mix you're receiving!:)

[Sterling_Aug]

Sorry to disagree with you lptech but I have never used a UPS when I flashed any of the hundreds of systems I have worked on. Even if you do have a problem during the flash, you can "hot flash" the BIOS on another working system that uses the same BIOS chip even if that system uses a different BIOS code.

[BFlurie]

Hotrod, sometimes you have to "shop around" for a compatible flash program. Try older versions. There's also some "universal" flash program that can work in many instances, but I don't have a link.

Remember, you have to flash from a minimal boot floppy, or in W9X from "safe mode" command prompt (which in essence is the same thing).