Legacy System support (bios)

[Wraith]

If like me you have a REALLY old system and would like to shove bigger disks in it (this normally means upgrading the BIOS which *can be* 1. Very Dangerous- i.e you can easily kill your PC, 2. Very unlikely- I just tried hunting for a .bin file to upgrade my BIOS and zilch, 3. not very future proofed...)

So- found this on the net - If anyone has come across this and has feedback (it's good? - it's bad?) then please let me know...

http://store.firmware.com/cgi-bin/mfi/flash.html?id=IohhDTxr

Oh- why am I bothering?- it's being used as a file server- and for the record its a P2-200 with a ai5tv mobo!

[Herrline]

best one to ask is major, he`s the man for bios questions but i thinks he may surjest up gradeing your motherboard to p4 at around 2.8gig plus extra ram and maybe graphics card ect so you could expect 2 or 3 hundred squids or more but well worth it m8 :D

[Marauder]

Here is some more info on your motherboard.

Program: Unicore BIOS Wizard Version 1.5
Program: Unicore Chip Detect v0.72 2000.03.10
BIOS Date: 03/03/97
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG
BIOS ID: 03/03/97-i430VX,W83877F-2A59GM29C-00
BIOS Eval: AI5TV-V7-0304
Chipset: Intel Triton 430VX rev 2
Superio: Winbond 877F (use 87h) rev 0 found at port 3F0h

There is a y2k bios update (whether is has any other updates im not sure but here is the link

http://www.adspc.com/service/srv-download.htm#BIOS%20Updates


Also found this on www.driverguide.com

Manufacturer:
Taiwan Mycomp Company

Device Type:
Bios

Model:
AI5TV upgrade

File Name:
AI5TV8.zip / AI5TV9.ZIP

Size:
132665 bytes

OS:
Not Specified

Comments:
This should upgrade your BIOS for larger HDD support. Unzip to get an exe file. Run this to get the program and data files. Save all files to a bootable floppy. Boot your PC from the floppy. Run the Awdflash program. Enter the new BIOS name (AI5TV8.bin) including the BIN extension. When asked to save your old BIOS say yes - just in case...!. When this has saved, say yes to program your BIOS. Ignore the error about program file number not matching. Worked ok for me - recognised my 13GB HDD.

Thats www.driverguide.com

Login to the members section with

User name : drivers
Password : all

Do a basic search and type : ai5tv

On the found click the latest addition. then just click the download this file link on the right hand side.


Hope this helps ya mate... If it's there I will find it.. |wings|

[Wraith]

Cheers chap- been a member of driversguide.com for yonks.. tried the 8 & 9 upgrades and the BIOS refused to go past checking out the new HDU- so reverted back to v7.

Did some sniffing around and found a company selling the upgrades (with continued support):-

https://www.unicore.com/biosagent/index.html
This applet gave me all the extra info (got most of it freezing the BIOS POST)...

Quote
The most notable features are:

- Hard Drive support up to 137 GB
- Faster Intel and AMD CPU Upgrade Kit Support
- Windows 2000 and Windows XP Compliance
- ACPI Specification for Advanced Power Management
- CD-ROM + LS-120 Boot Support
- Virtual technical support assistance
UnQuote

Cost $24.95 but at least they will keep me posted of future upgrades.

>>and the timings perfect- took a couple of hours for the order to be processed- it's just arrived ; )

[Wraith]

It's Alive :)
That was painless.. now recognising the larger HDU... will report back if any probs etc.

Just doing the fdisk and all that jazz...

Thanks for taking a look around Marauder.