Bios update problems

[foxhole]

Have a Mercury KOB KT266a FDSX motherboard and have been supplied following file to update bios 'FLASH846.EXE and awd822a.exe and also kobv2_22.BIN'. But unsure how to use them , instruction manual says to run flash from bootable floppy and follow onscreen directions, but there are none? Just shows three window one of which I presumably have to enter data into [.bin file?]but no way to type in the field?
Running Xp pro Athlon 2400xp [not recognised until bios is updated]a 512mb memory, nvidia 64mb vid,60gb hard drive.

[Eric Legge]

You copy those files to a blank floppy disk and the add the three DOS files that make it bootable.

But you need the command that flashes the BIOS.

You should have been provided with the command in a text file or in the motherboard's manual

You enter the command in the flash utility's box when it comes up.

See this page for the names of the three DOS files:
http://www.legge40.freeserve.co.uk/BIOS.htm

If it doesn't work try using the method to flash the BIOS from Safe mode that is also given on that page.

But don't flash the BIOS unless it's necessary to run new hardware, software, or fix a bug, because if it goes wrong you will have to buy a new BIOS chip or a new motherboard.

Eric,
http://www.legge40.freeserve.co.uk/BuyerBeware.htm

[Bovon]

Some additional reading that might be helpfull as well. (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=98927)

[foxhole]

'You enter the command in the flash utility's box when it comes up.'
This is my problem when the flash utility box comes up I cannot enter anything in it only the 'enter' command works which cancels the process.

[BipolarBill]

You mentioned two flashers. Use the "awd" flasher.

Make sure that all of the downloaded files are unzipped - do that in Windows. Rename the flasher to "FLASH.EXE". Copy it to the floppy. Rename "kobv2_22.BIN' to "NEWBIOS.BIN". Copy to floppy.

Boot with the floppy and enter FLASH NEWBIOS.BIN. Follow the prompts.

[foxhole]

Thanks, will give it a try, don't understand why the manufacturer sent me two flashes?

[foxhole]

Ok tried as suggested, prompted to save existing bios , had to put in second floppy as insufficient space on boot floppy then received message as follows>the program file's part number does match your system.
Any idea what I should do now?

[BipolarBill]

You need to go download the correct BIOS.

[foxhole]

The Bios was supplied by the motherboard manufacturer [via email] and is identical to the first one I tried which I downloaded from there web site [they only have two listed, this one and a previous bios for this particular board]?

[BipolarBill]

Is this where you got it?

http://www.kobian.com/download_product.php?category_id=54&product_id=113

[foxhole]

Yes thats right, version 2.2____ Release Reason:
1.To recognize new AMD CPU still ~2600+ ( FSB: 133Mhz )
(release on 11/04/2002).

[foxhole]

I have written to them , I will wait to see what their support has to say.

[BipolarBill]

Try the 030118 version.

[foxhole]

Recieved a reply from support at Kobian, their English is poor and the reply is of no use , I quote "Check with the attachment for the flash utilites on this board. Kindly revert if you have further clarifications.
I will try the latest bios as suggested here.

[foxhole]

Now have tried bios suggested still receive message "the program file's part number does match your system"
Any other suggestions?

[BipolarBill]

Then you don't really have a KOB KT266a FDSX board.

Why are you flashing? Is something wrong or are you just being thorough?

[foxhole]

A bios update is required to support current cpu 2400XP, the bios I was trying supports up to 2600xp.The cpu is currently only seen as 1500mhz and is unrecognised in the 'system info'.

[BipolarBill]

Which AMD CPU is it?

[BipolarBill]

Does the board have an AMI or an Award BIOS? Why did you download two flashers?

[foxhole]

Athlon 2400xp cpu, I downloaded the award bios [which is correct?] from the kobian site the ami flasher was sent to me along with the award flasher and the bios by the Kobian support people, presumably they are not sure which I need ? In a second email they sent a further award flasher and ami flasher, they seem as confused as I am.

[BipolarBill]

It's a simple matter to pause the BIOS screen and read which you have.

[foxhole]

My bios screen only appears for about 1/5th of a second took a few efforts to get bios string which is
03/14/2002-vt8366-8233-k7vta2c-00
My confusion refers to why I'm having so much trouble with what should be an easy task.

[BipolarBill]

Press the Pause key when you see the BIOS screen.

[BipolarBill]

The 2400+ CPU must have the Front Side Bus screen set to 133MHz. It should run at 2GHz. Yours is running at 1.5GHz. This tells me that you haven't set your FSB/Host Clock properly for your CPU. Yours is running at 100MHz.

I don't think that you even need a BIOS update.

In the future, you should tell us your root problem (from the beginning) rather than how to address what you believe is the problem. As a for instance, this sticky has been up for months in the CPU forum:

http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=145455

A simple search would have found it.

[foxhole]

My original [first post] mentions the reason for the update, if I set the fsb at 133mzh the machine does not boot at all?

[BipolarBill]

That's usually caused by slow RAM (PC1800) or aggressive RAM settings. Try setting BIOS defaults and then only setting the FSB properly.

Your current BIOS should support that CPU. It's not that old and 133MHz Athlons have been around for 3 years.

Still - pause the BIOS screen and read if it's Award or American Megatrends (AMI).

[foxhole]

Had a suggestion from another forum that my motherboard may be relabled and suggested I look at another source for the bios.While looking at a bios site I took a look at winbios and realised that it allowed unrecognised bios warning to be ignored so I used winbios to install original bios and when 'id error ' occurred during installation chose to ignore and install , turned out it was the correct bios everything [cpu etc] is now recognised and working fine.[now running fsb at 133mhz , cpu 2ghz]
Thankyou for you input and patience.