For information on Award Software products: sales@award.com
For technical support: support@unicomp.com
or try Award's BBS at: (978)686-6468

Many people have written me asking how they can upgrade their bios. Contrary to popular belief, you can't download the latest version off of just any old ftp site and 'flash' it into your ROM. You can indeed upgrade this way (via software) on most motherboards, but you must obtain the software from your system's manufacturer.

Once the bios is in the hands of the manufacturer (motherboard or entire system manufacturer), it can be changed any number of ways to suit their needs. This is why Award Software, Inc. can't give you an upgrade. They have no idea what the manufacturer did to the bios, so they have no way of tailoring your upgrade to fit your particular motherboard/system.

Award might be able to determine who your manufacturer is if you have a generic motherboard (i.e.- not obvious like Dell, Compaq, Micron, Gateway, etc.), but they can't give you the upgrade themselves. If you would like them to help you with the motherboard identification, write them at support@unicore.com, or see http://www.award.com/tech/upgrade.htm

If you feel you need an upgrade, contact your system's manufacturer (Dell, Micron, Compaq, ASUS, etc.).

If you are having difficulty installing Win95 because of an inability to disable virus protection in the bios setup, and you have this bios version, you're not alone. Microsoft acknowledges the fact that v4.50G might have installation problems with Win95 -- this isn't true for every system however.

There is a solution!

There are two methods of getting around the problem. Choose the one that you like best:

The first is to use a program that when run, will disable the Virus Protection in your Award BIOS so that Windows can be installed. The program is called virwarn, and is available at the VIRWARN page.

The second method is as follows:

FROM: midiman@onwe.co.za
TO: sdw@sysopt.com

This is a message to all those poor suckers like me, who couldn't load WINDOWS 95 due to the built in Virus Protection in Award Bios not being able to be turned off. There is an undocumented Microsoft switch which overcomes this problem. type A:setup /ir This prevents anything being written to the boot and partition areas. Make sure you do a SYS C: from your Startup disk afterwards, it worked for me. If you have any queries, mail me at midiman@onwe.co.za

Many people have written to me about their problems with this 'caveat', and here is what a few of them had to say:

Date: Mon, 28 Aug 1995 07:39:39 -0400
To: Non Receipt Notification Requested 
Subject: Award BIOS & WIN 95

Last night I read your post on the NET regarding WIN95 and the Award BIOS and 
found it quite helpful. I am having the exact problem you described.
My situation is that on the post you see all the tests that are being 
performed etc. and it shows that virus protection is enabled. However, when 
you go into the CMOS setup you don't have the option to disable the virus 
protection.
Any suggestions. I am at a loss.

Thanks,

Robert S.
--------------------

Date: Sat, 02 Sep 95 23:27:46 -400
To: sdw@sysopt.com
Subject: Award 4.5 Windows 95 install


Hi:
I am having a problem installing Windows 95 and I am sure it is
the virus protection that is the problem.  I can turn off the 
switches for other things like internal cache memory but not
the virus protection.  Is there some trick?  
Any help you can offer would be appreciated.

Scott T.
-----------
Date: Mon, 31 Jul 1995 23:09:01 GMT
To: sdw@sysopt.com
Subject: Award BIOS 4.50G and Win95Beta


Hi...

I am trying to install the latest Beta copy of Win95 but am having a problem.
The entire Win95 prog is being installed ok, but then when it tries to re-boot 
the computer, I get the opening text showing what hard drives, memory ect I have 
but then when it would normally say 'Starting MS Dos' The machine locks and will 
do nothing else and stays there with a blank screen. CTRL-ALT-DEL does not work. 
If I switch off the machine the same things happen. All I am able to do is to 
reboot from floppy. I then have full DOS control, but to be able to restore 
booting from HD I have to remove the Win95 boot up and config programs. I 
believe that Win95 is objecting to the BIOS ? - Are you able to confirm this or 
offer any assistance. My version of the Award BIOS - v4.50G - does not contain 
the option of Boot Sector Virus, and no boot sector virus errors appear at any 
time during installation of Win95 or subsequent attempts to boot.

- 
Regards,

Russ

Based upon the mail I received, it would appear to me that Windows 95 has a conflict with Award's boot sector virus protection. If the setup has no way to disable this, then apparently Windows can't write properly.

Microsoft suggests that you obtain a newer version *if* you run into problems (contact Microsoft for tech. support before doing this though). The only way to do this is to either, A) Get an upgrade from your system manufacturer (flash bios upgrade), or B) Replace the motherboard with one that has a newer version.

Recently, someone wrote me and told me to not spread rumors on the net. Let me tell the person who said this that MICROSOFT, INC. informed me of the incompatibility problem. I did not invent it! Further, Microsoft said that this problem applies to the final version and not just a beta version If you would like more information on this subject please write Microsoft and not me because this is all I know about it.