Udating Video Card BIOS

[doglet]

I have a Leadtek S320 II video card with a BIOS type that is different to the latest. I downloaded the new BIOS but I have no idea how to install it.

Could someone please give me a step by step procedure or point me to another site on how to update the BIOS.

Is there any gain in updating the BIOS on a card that has only been released for a couple of months.

Thanks in advance.

[Bleeding Edge]

I recall flashing the Bios on a few video cards in the past. A Matrox, and a couple Diamonds. Never really figured out what changed. In general a bios updated is released to provide more hard and soft system compatability or to fix some function on the card, such as, the TV/DVD support..

Typically, a bootable system diskette is used. The downloaded (and extracted) files are copied to this floppy. Then the system is booted from the diskette and the flash procedure initiates and runs by itself...

However, this proceedure may be different from maker to maker.

After booting from the diskette, you make be taken to the A:prompt instead. If this occurs, you will have to type in the name of the flash utility and press the Enter key to start the flash program. If you are prompted for the new file name (the flash image file that ends in .rom), type it in to update the Bios.

Note:
It may be better to disable video bios caching and shadowing from the motherboard's System Bios, if it isn't already. There may be no need for this but it won't hurt. Just remember to set it back to whatever it was..

Also note, the Matrox had a jumper that had to be changed on it before it could be flashed. I mention this only for reference. I highly doubt this is a concern with your vidcard or any of the new cards. It wasn't for the TNT Diamond. Like I say, I only mention this for reference..

Below are Diamond's instructions to flash a TNT card's Bios. Notice that there is no mention about disabling the motherboard's caching/shadowing feature for the videocard's Bios.


Diamond's instructions:

1) Make a bootable floppy:
Insert blank floppy in a: drive
At command prompt type: FORMAT A: /S

2) Extract all files you downloaded to a:

3) Reboot to floppy to flash bios

4) Remove floppy and reboot