VA503+ bios flash problem

[Rookie]

I have a tnt thread also, but this seems the best place to post this question:
How does anyone choose a bios at the FIC site? The first 2 listings (the newest ones)don't say what they fix or improve?
I have pcb 1.2a
bios version 1.15je35
I tried to update to 1.15je36 but it just seemed to hang at the flash utility splash screen. It gave an error code but didn't say what the error was? Did I not wait long enough, I left it there about 10min?
On reboot, (which frightened me, supposedly resetting before it finishes can ruin it) I still have the old bios. At least no harm was done that I can tell.
Additionally, the mobo cd came with a via chipset patch, I think its for running 95a or b? If I use it and then enable dma for either the cdrom or hdd it hangs on bootup until I go into safe mode and reboot again?
Sometimes it that gives me an extra floppy, sometimes both a floppy and floppy controller listing in device manager. This is the same thing that happened when I tried to run 95a on here (before I got 95b, I know there is an amd over 350 patch for that but I put 95b on an older slower machine so its not applicable here)
I even tried the newest via 4in one patch and still no dma enabling possible, well there is a screen offering to enable dma during the 4in one install, so it may be enabled but it doesnt show that in device mngr? (that may or may not be that dma IS enabled but the chipset/mobo/bios just doesnt detect that dma is enabled?)
Many questions???
Mant thanks to anyone that sheds light on this http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[mschuch]

Well, first off, it looks like you have PCB version 1.1A, NOT 1.2A, according to the FIC website. And 1.15je35 IS the most recent BIOS for your board, so you don't need to upgrade it.

Second, the new VIA Busmaster driver doesn't work properly, at least on my boards (Tyan S1590, and FIC VA-503+). The last known version that worked for me was the 4 in 1 drivers version 4.14. I believe the Busmaster version is 2.1.43. Of course, this does not fix problems with some CD-Rom drives not showing. You'll need to disable the CD-Rom under the program VIADMATOOL that was installed when you updated your drivers.

Hope this helps.

[Toadman]

I use the je37 BIOS on my 1.2a VA503+, even though my mobo is not recommended for the K6-3 I'm running. The busmaster driver in the 4-in-1 pack is flawed, so just use Win98's driver.During the 4/1 install, I left the DMA option unchecked, but then enabled it in Win98.