bios updating/formatting

[ToxicRat]

Okay.. i want to format my comp...
and then install new bios update..
my mobo manufacture is via and my chipset is apollo pro 133
so i d/led the 4in2 update fot that..(even though i've got pPIII proccesor)
then went to read the begginer guide for updating.. in the guide was written about creating a system disc and then putting the update into it..
the aouthor said something about .bin file and "AFLASH" or "AWDFLASH"
the prob is that the update i d/led was zipped and after i unziiped itit's 1.54 mega so i don't have enugh place in the disc.. not to mention i couldent see any of the things he talked about overhtere...
(btw.. after i format.. what should i install win98 or winme?)

Cheers

[The Doors]

Hi ToxicRat, wellcome to the Forum,
The Mobo Bios is stored into a E-Prom, the "AFlash" or "AwdFlash" is the prg that erase and after reprogram the chip with the new Bios release stored into the *.bin file.
About the bigger size of the file that you've downloaded, well, it's really strange coz generally the *.bin file is around 200-300k and the AwdFlash is max 100k, is it the right one?

[ToxicRat]

Well..
i d.led the 4in1 update from here
http://www.viatech.com/jsp/en/dr/driver.jsp

my chipset is apollo pro 133 as said before.. when zipped it less the 1 mega
something like 900k
but when unzipped it 1.55mega..
maybe i d/led the wrong one?

Cheers

[The Doors]

Well,
the Bios and the Via 4in1 drivers, are totally different, the Bios is the BasicInputOutputSystem, when the Via 4in1 are drivers needed by the Operating System to manage properly the specs of the Via Chipset.
You must first of all upgrade the Bios of your Mobo downloading from the manufacturer website (not Via) the right upgrade, and after install the OS, W98, Me or better W2000, and at the end install the Via 4in1 drivers.

I hope it helps you ;)

[KILLorBE]

You downloaded a driver update, you can do that after you installed windoze.
For a bios update you need to go to your mobo manuf. site.

If you want to update your bios you should make a bootable floppy and put AwdFlash or aFlash and the bios update (.bin file) on it.
But before you do that check your bios version, it might be the latest. (at boot up it should show at the top of the screen, example: Award bios v.1006).

But I also suggest not to update the Bios unless you have problems.

If you decide to update I suggest you make 2 floppy's, just in case one fails.
And never shutdown your comp if the bios update wasn't succesful (in that case go to the neighbors or so and make a new floppy).

[The Doors]

For More info on 'What's the Bios?' take a look to this link http://www.redneck-puters.com/help/bios.shtml

I hope it helps you ;)

[RedDeathDrinker]

In general, most manufacturers sites (Tyan for me) will not only give you the BIOS to d/l, but the flash program and a user guide to follow. Just don't make a mistake.........

[ToxicRat]

Cheers mates..
i went to sissoft sandra and looked at the
CPU & BIOS information
and it says my Bios manufacturer is AWARD SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL
so i guess it slove my prob ;)
i just need a site now!
thnx again! i like this forum ;)

[ToxicRat]

btw reddeathdrinker.. where did u get that cool sig from?

[The Doors]

Originally posted by ToxicRat
Cheers mates..
i went to sissoft sandra and looked at the
CPU & BIOS information
and it says my Bios manufacturer is AWARD SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL
so i guess it slove my prob ;)
i just need a site now!
thnx again! i like this forum ;)
Award is the manufacturer of the Bios installed on your Mobo, but you need of the manufacturer of the Mobo, not Bios, and the model, so take a look into the section of Sandra called 'Mainboard Information' to get the right infos for a Bios update,and after browse the website of the manufacturer for the right upgrade for your Mobo Model.

I hope it helps you ;)

[ToxicRat]

OMG this frustrated =[ so much details... =/
well lets see...
my mobo manufacture is Via
apollo pro133 plus
dunno what else to do.. so much confusing things..
like
system mainboard
exended mainboard info..
chipset.. entire system
i know that i've got all by via
i just have no clue hwta model to choose from what i see.. =/

Cheers
CS time =]

[The Doors]

I know, I'm sorry, but without this infos you cannot upgrade your Mobo, look the Extended Mainboard Data into the section suggested, you must found a Manufacturer, a Model, a Serial Number, and a Chipset model.

[ToxicRat]

okay here it goes

Extanded MainBoard Data
Manufacture: Vtech
Model: BIOS-2M (2k000218)
Serial Number: 02/18/00-693-686A-2A6LGV3CC-00
Chipset: VIA VT82C693 Apollo Pro Plus Chipset

now i entered my bios and copied the 3 lines that show in the upper screen and it says
ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A6LGV3C)
CMOS SETUP UTILITY
AWARD SOFTWARE, INC

Hope that help coze i want to update my bios ;)
okay bed time now =P

Cheers

[Zuck Gou :)]

Open your case and look for a silk screen of a name. Should be the biggest writing on the mainboard.

[The Doors]

Originally posted by ToxicRat
okay here it goes

Extanded MainBoard Data
Manufacture: Vtech
Model: BIOS-2M (2k000218)
Serial Number: 02/18/00-693-686A-2A6LGV3CC-00
Chipset: VIA VT82C693 Apollo Pro Plus Chipset

now i entered my bios and copied the 3 lines that show in the upper screen and it says
ROM PCI/ISA BIOS (2A6LGV3C)
CMOS SETUP UTILITY
AWARD SOFTWARE, INC

Hope that help coze i want to update my bios ;)
okay bed time now =P

Cheers
I'm sorry but I don't found info about your Mobo, I've founded the Vtech website but there isn't info about Mobo's & Bios upgrade :(

[ToxicRat]

:(
i expected it though... i mean i live in israel... everything is expensive so we buy ready system i bought min more then a year ago.. i guess it some unknown company or so.. i found my user guide
and it says nothing then "MotherBoard" commitment to excellence

and a pic of a metal/rootic hand or so...
and in the disc it say something like
HIS motherboard...
maybe something will be written in the disc readme or so.. and i'll open my pc too...=/
thnx for all your help!

Cheers

[ToxicRat]

wait.. i have a Q
if i know my chipset and my bios manufacturers and the versions and models.. what is the prob to fined an update?
what it the EXECT thing i need to know?

[The Doors]

You're wellcome :)
try to found a link to a website on the user manual, I've founded only http://www.vtech.com/ or http://www.vtech.net/

[The Doors]

Originally posted by ToxicRat
wait.. i have a Q
if i know my chipset and my bios manufacturers and the versions and models.. what is the prob to fined an update?
what it the EXECT thing i need to know?
You need to Know the Brand & Model of your Mobo to go on the right manufacturer website and download the Bios upgrade right for you, but what's the manufacturer website???
and now I've a question for you, why you wanna upgrade your Bios, do you have probs?

[ToxicRat]

lol good Q :p
well basicly because i'm an idiot...
but then...i'm to complitily sutesfied (or however i write it)
with my system.. and i want the newest thing for my system.. my brain tell me to do that =]
always ;)

Cheers

[The Doors]

No, why you say idiot?!
you're only try to learning about Pc's, nothing of what you do is stupid, you know, the knoledge is power and the ignorance is stupid! ;)

[ToxicRat]

You are right about that =]
the on;y prob is that my mobo manufacturer (vtech)
seems to be cell phones/kid learning stuf company =/

[The Doors]

Infact, I've tried to found the right one, but untill now is what I've founded, I hope to be more lucky in the next search ;) it's all I can do.

[The Doors]

Now I'm looking http://www.pcpartner.com.hk/ that seems to be the right one, but I don't found the model of your Mobo?!......;)

[ToxicRat]

wow!
cheers mate!
u actuallt searched something for me..? neve saw something like that in a forum! ;)

[The Doors]

It seems to be the right place for your Mobo, but probably you must take another look with Sandra for the Model, or better looking directly on the Mobo for the code :)

[ToxicRat]

I have news!
went to the site
and i have some intresting things...
okay.. in the extended mainboard data
i see that my chip set is appolo 133 pro plus
and it's via VT82C693
went to the site and saw that.. clikced on it but,
the data code ddin't match to anything...
so i went and looked at sissoft again
and in the "sysem chipset"
i see again.. via technologies but in this section is see
VT82C691/othermodel#/othermodel#
so i went up again.. and i see that under the apollo pro there is this model #
i click on it and i could find my data code I/O 2K000218
then i searched for my
system model # at all the page and found it... + the data code!

http://www.pcpartner.com.hk/bios/viabios.htm#pro133

[The Doors]

Yes, but what's your Mobo Model?
the VIM816D or the VIB862D/APBS1-C862, wait a moment, the Bios upgrade to download is the same for both the version so isn't important what is your Model code! :)
at this point you must download the Awdf776b utility and the P862-2m.zip Bios upgrade.

[ToxicRat]

the truth is i have no clue!
god in every section of the main board there are diff #
what # u need the one in the extanaded mainboard data?
and what this utillity (Awdf776b ) doing?
and what vib are u talking about.. i have no vib/abp in any of the models models
thnx for your help!

[The Doors]

The Awdf776b is the AwdFlash utility that erase the E-Prom that contains the old Bios version & after rewrite the Bios upgrade stored into the *.bin file (the supposed P862-2m.zip) into the E-Prom.
The prob is that we have a lot of code, all different and probably wrong! so the best way to go is to take a look inside your Box for the right code written on the Mobo, generally is an alphanumerical code written on a white label, probably in the middle of the Pci's slots!!!

[ToxicRat]

cheers mate i gonna do it asap =]
seems like the forum was down yesterday night?
at least for me...

[ToxicRat]

okay.. update ^^
i open the case and looked for via chips...
i found 2... 1 just under the cpu socket
and one just right to the pci slot (which the size of it is samller)

now the big one under the cpu says - VT82C686A
and the smaller one right to the pci slots says - VT82C693A

now i looked at sisoft sandra again
and i noticed that the smaller chip (again right to the pci slots)
# matches to the one in the extended mainboard data - system chipset (just without the A)
and in the system chipset i noticed that it says
model - via technolgies inc VT82C691/693A/694X apollo pro/133/133A

take a look athe the model #
it says VT82C691/ 693A
if so it matches

so my model is
VT82C693A

hope u understood me.. and that html work ;)

hope it finally sloved my prob !

:D

[ToxicRat]

Anoher update! i think i found the right one!
it's the one i thoguh it was before http://www.pcpartner.com.hk/bios/viabios.htm#pro133
it's the one that his chipset part No. is VT82C693A - noth bridge
and the data code I/O CLK gne is 2K000218 (like mine!)

so i guess i gonan d/l it =]

another Q in the why what is the diffrence between north bridge and south brige?

CHEERS

[The Doors]

Yes, it'a all right,
the chipset is the 693A like writed on the chip, so your Mobo is based on the Apollo Pro 133 chipset, at this point you can download the upgrade, but take attenction to the specs of your Mobo aboutthe Cpu slot (Slot1, Socket370 or both) and also to the Platform (AT, BabyAT, ATX or MicroATX).
About the two chips, well, the bigger is the NorthBridge & the smaller the SouthBridge and they manage the comunication with the Cpu Bus, Agp, Pci..... ;)

[ToxicRat]

thnx for all your help.. but im a n00b so what do u mean by

but take attenction to the specs of your Mobo aboutthe Cpu slot (Slot1, Socket370 or both) and also to the Platform (AT, BabyAT, ATX or MicroATX).

1st what do u mean by take care of the spaces of my mobo aboutthe cpu slot?

and how can i know what platfor mine is?
my english aint so good too so it's not helping =[

cheers

[The Doors]

I'm sorry, probably depends by my explanation :)
if you look the Pcpartner website you found differents Mobos with the same specs of yours (Via Apollo Pro 133) depending by the different slot and alimentation used, at this point what kind of Cpu are you using into your system? a chip slot1 or FcPga?
I'm not sure that the Bios upgrade is the same for all kind of Mobo with the Via Apollo Pro 133 chipset, so it's better to be sure and check it ;)

[ToxicRat]

I have no clue what FcPga is so i'm gussing my cpu using slot 1
and i've checked not just the model # i checked the data code too... and its the same so i guess i d/led the right one..
no i just need to figure out of to format and to get win2k
=P
thnx for eveything

Cheers