Hot-swapping BIOS problems

[vagpap]

Hi there
Reading on this forum for methods to re-write a bad flashed BIOS I came up with the solution of hot-swapping BIOS chips. I tried to do this but I came up with some problems.
The bad BIOS is one of a VXPro mobo. Unfortunately I couldn't find a mobo with the same chip so I tried it to another one (I think it is 430FX, not sure). Some versions of AWARD flashers can't recognise the chip it -self. Other versions say that the BIOS that I am trying to flash doesn't match with my system (can I override this check?). In one (I think it was version 6.22 or 6.50) when it tried to flash my chip said that flashing aborted due to error in cleaning the chip (is my BIOS chip useless?)
Also I want to ask you if it is possible to program somehow the chip from another mobo (for example the 430FX I am using) to the VXPro BIOS? Do I have any chances of getting it to work, or I am just going to ruin another BIOS chip?

Thank you
Any answers will be helpful.

Vangelis

[RobRich]

You may be able to restore your Award BIOS with a simple bootdisk. Take a look:
http://www.ping.be/bios/HTML1/faq.html#q9

I've repaired several "dead" boards using this technique.

Good Luck,
Robert Richmond

[BFlurie]

Hopefully Rob's reply will work. If it doesn't, be aware that some BIOS chips are 5 V & others are 12 V. I saw a website showing various BIOS chip types & voltages, but it's been too long.....
The Award flasher I had success with was Awfb52b.exe The boot disk used should be bare minimum. As far as using another BIOS chip, I'd say yes as long as it is similar enough to your "bad" one to accept the flash ROM.