Compaq BIOS upgrade

[Somnath]

We have one old Compaq Presario 4712 with 166mhz Pentium processor, 2.5gb primary hard drive. It has EPP Runtime BIOS Version 1.1.
We wanted to upgrade the primary hard drive to 16gb and processor to 300mhz. We have been told by Compaq Tech Support that above BIOS can not be upgraded.
Who makes EPP Runtime BIOS? Is it possible to change brand name computer BIOS to AMD BIOS?
TIA
Best

[ram]

It would not be cost effective to try and upgrade this Bios. I would suggest selling it
in the classifieds and then get a good ATX MB
with some PC100 sdram and a new CPU then stick it in a ATX case, or get the above and use the drives out of the Compuke.The folks on this Board can guide you in getting the best setup for the best price...

[alien_from_io]

We all have an opinion, mine is to overclock the existing machine you have. I assume you're running win95, you need 16-32ram to run 95 right. Go slow if you don't know how to tune your machine. Main thing is DON'T SPEND MONEY, except for some ram(maybe) and if you do, get Win98 upgrade(Office Depot)$89.00. Go to "overclocking" read "Fryed CPU" and lots of others. The motherboard usually has the jumpers labeled, sometimes microscopic figures. A P166 o/c first step, will perform well as a surfer or scan/print general use machine.. If you are gonna do something more specific MAYBE you need a new machine. The fsb on the compac is probably 66mhz thats ok, not great but ok. I've "refurbed"(read cleaned) several P100-120 units lately and am suprised as to how well they operate AFTER overclocking to the next speed. Keep the cpu heat sink clean, and any other thing in there that gets HOT to the touch. Maybe add a small case fan 3" , there are lots of power sources there already, usually. Please forget the 300mhz cpu, you'll be sadly disappointed, considering the cost.. check here in "user to user" for some Compac ram,, I THINK it's FPM(fast page mode)you need, not sure. If you do go with Win98, you'll need min of 32ram..good luck,, Take me to your leader

[Richard_Cranium72]

Here is Compaq's web site for your model, http://web14.compaq.com/falco/sp_list2.asp I also think you don't need to upgrade the CPU. I doubted the veracity of the one who told you there was no BIOS update, but I couldn't find it either. If the Motherboard has a mfg name one it(I doubt it) then you can go to them for a bios update.
AUDIO
SP8485 9/16/98 Presario Specific Models ESS 1869/1887/1888 Audio Driver
SP2848 2/10/97 Presario MIDI Maker Fix
SP2841 2/5/97 Presario Magic Carpet and PGA Tour 96 fix for ESS ES1888
DISPLAY
SP6335 3/3/98 Compaq Monitor Information File
SP2937 3/21/97 Presario Windows 95 MediaMatics MPEG Update
ROMPaqs and System Software
SP10245 6/14/99 Personal Computer Diagnostics
SP2373 9/27/96 Personal Computer Diagnostics (Version 10.11 Rev. B)
SP2141 8/6/96 Personal Computer Setup (Version 1.51C Rev. A)
Software Solutions
SP7604 6/25/98 Presario 336-VSC Modem Driver (Full Install)
SP7491 6/12/98 Presario Fix for Windows 95 NTKERN Error with 64 MB RAM
SP7489 6/10/98 Presario Telephony Upgrade to Fix Microsoft Outlook 98 and Phone Center
SP5747 1/8/98 Presario Telephony Upgrade to Fix Microsoft Outlook 98
SP4644 9/5/97 Allow Presario Sleep Mode on a Network
SP4492 9/2/97 Presario 33.6 VSC Modem Driver Update
SP4437 8/28/97 Fix Presario Phone Center and Easy Access Buttons
SP4270 8/7/97 Presario Fix for PaperPort Driver
SP3245 5/12/97 Presario Windows 95 Fix for Diskette Drive (OSR1)
SP3183 5/7/97 Presario DirectX 3.0 Support (Fall 1996 U.S. Models)
SP2871 2/14/97 Presario Phone Center Address Book Update
SP2694 12/20/96 Presario Phone Center Dialing Error Fix
SP2517 12/2/96 Enable Compaq PCs to Run QBASIC Programs
SP2345 10/15/96 Office 95 Keyboard Slowdown Patch
SP2355 10/11/96 PIM Server Patch for Compaq Phone Center
SP1853 7/23/96 Software Update Diskette for the Presario 4000
SP1845 7/12/96 Presario 4100 and 4700 Scanner Keyboard Upgrade
SP1835 5/15/96 Allows DOS Apps to Show over 15 MB Extended RAM

[Axel]

Were the drive and processor given to you and now you want to use them?? -

I'd have to agree with the others - don't waste your time & money -

You'd be better off buying a mother-board for the chip and a stock case & power supply. The board you'll have to specify what exactly you want to move from the compaq to the new system. The case & power-supply you can pick up for about $40 new in the box if you aren't too picky.

If you're going to upgrade - don't start off by taking a step "BACK" into an old COMPAQ case with an unsupported BIOS.