🚀 go-pugleaf

No, I'm not afraid to mess with this BIOS, really!!!

Ben, extremely informative note.  Could I bother you for more input?

-When you refer to making the mobo useless, are you saying I couldn't even
recover it with a boot disk and earlier version?
-Any input on the following BIOS recovery procedure provided in another
response?  Is this what you refer to by "hacking" into the BIOS?
http://developer.intel.com/design/motherbd/standardbios.htm#6

As far as why I'm updating, I have an Intel revision list detailing 01-09.
Many changes along the way.  Most compelling:  07 and above support HDs>
8.4gb and the CPU upgrade I plan to install reportedly has issues with DT05.
Additionally, I would like to discontinue the use of the OnTrack disk
overlay as part of my continual process-of-elimination when troubleshooting
other problems I'm experiencing.  Lastly, I am assuming the Micron version
corresponds with Intel's version.  I have verified my current 03DT05 does
not support HDs over 8.4gb.  I've sent Micron a note asking them to clarify.

Thanks for the feedback.  -Pat





"Ben Myers" <benmyers@ultranet.com> wrote in message
news:3a9e5f1e.1494069@news.ma.ultranet.com...
> Here's the story about Intel generic vs. OEM BIOS.  Also generic vs.
> OEM boards.
>
> First, Intel assigns a BIOS suffix to each of its OEMs.  This enables
> Intel to track which motherboards are OEM and which are generic.  OEMs
> like Micron provide on-going support for any boards bought from Intel,
> who rightfully maintains a hands-off policy.  Micron's siffix is "5".
>
> Intel also releases the BIOS in source code form to its OEMs.  Some
> OEMs like IBM and Dell customize the BIOS extensively with their own
> common look and feel, but the guts of the BIOS remains essentially the
> same.  Other OEMs like Micron, Gateway and the lamentable Packard-Bell
> do no real BIOS customization at all, except for a bitmap logo
> constructed with standard Intel developer tools (I've flashed some
> motherboards with my own bitmaps).
>
> Rarely is there any physical or electronic difference between OEM and
> generic motherboards of the same model.  The differences boil down to
> optional features like on-board sound or not.  In some cases, Intel
> builds a "special" motherboard with a special BIOS for one of its
> OEMs.  The "special" motherboard is simply a variation of a
> standardized motherboard design with its own unique BIOS identifier.
>
> This approach to motherboard production enables Intel to produce
> motherboards cost effectively for its OEMs.  If Intel had to engineer
> truly special motherboard designs for its OEMs, the cost to do so
> would be outrageous.
>
> Unfortunately, the only way around flashing the DT0 BIOS onto your
> DT05 motherboard involves hacking the BIOS, as far as I know.  IFLASH
> checks the entire BIOS identification to make sure you are flashing
> the right motherboard BIOS with the right OEM suffix onto your board.
> This is a reasonable safeguard.  If you have a programmer's text
> editor or some other tool, you can try to change all occurances of
> DT05 to DT0_ in the flash BIOS files.  BUT YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY AND
> POSITIVELY ON YOUR OWN IF YOU TRY THIS.  You run the risk of messing
> up the board and making it useless.  Have a flash recovery diskette
> for the DT05 BIOS handy should you attempt to do this.
>
> You might try executing IFLASH from the DOS prompt with either no
> command line parameters or the quasi-standard /h or /? to see if it
> gives you some options like forcing an image onto the board.
>
> Flash BIOS software for earlier Intel motherboards actually had a way
> to force flash the BIOS, avoiding any cross-checking of BIOS IDs.
>
> Good luck!  My recommendation?  Stick with 1.00.03.DT05.  Do you see
> any compelling features described in the REL_NOTE.DOC for 1.00.09.DT0_
> ?  Do you have any assurance that 1.00.09.DT0_ is NEWER than
> 1.00.03.DT05 ?  Did you think that Intel does not require its OEMs to
> follow the same BIOS revision numbering scheme that Intel follows for
> its generic boards?  Just a few questions... Ben Myers
>
>
> "Lonsway" <lonsway@home.com> wrote:
>
> >I am trying to update the BIOS on my Micron XRU PII 266mhz with the Intel
> >PD440FX motherboard.  I'm currently running ver 1.00.03.DT05 which is the
> >most recent update offered by Micron.  I was able to flash this without a
> >problem.
> >
> >Intel offers ver 1.00.09.DT0_ for the board but I cannot get it to
complete
> >the flash process.  I get an L05 error about not being able to initiate
> >erase.  Intel's sight indicates their updates may not work on OEM boards.
> >Both updates use IFLASH.
> >
> >Any workarounds for how I can the the Intel version to flash?  Does the
DT0_
> >vs. the DT05 designation have any meaning?   Any help would be
appreciated.
> >Thanks.
> >
> >
>