If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Question About a Risky BIOs Flashing
I have an MS-7093 motherboad that I got with an HP PC. The HP BIOs
version is stripped all to hell, with nothing more left than the absolute minimum settings. Would it be possible to install the actual MSI BIOs instead of the HP version? If I could do that, I could have access to MANY more options, including overclocking. There is a backup copy of the BIOs burnt in, so that you can "press F5 to load default setup". If I did flash an incompatible BIOs, would I still be able to load that backup copy? Or would all be lost? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Question About a Risky BIOs Flashing
'Shadow Tek' wrote:
I have an MS-7093 motherboad that I got with an HP PC. The HP BIOs version is stripped all to hell, with nothing more left than the absolute minimum settings. Would it be possible to install the actual MSI BIOs instead of the HP version? If I could do that, I could have access to MANY more options, including overclocking. There is a backup copy of the BIOs burnt in, so that you can "press F5 to load default setup". If I did flash an incompatible BIOs, would I still be able to load that backup copy? Or would all be lost? _____ First of all, please post more information about your system. YOU have the system, we don't. Secondly, changing the BIOS to something that may not match the motherboard is unlikely to be successful. And, depending on the components used in your system, even success may not mean much in terms of improved performance. Thirdly, "press F5 to load default setup" DOES NOT MEAN THAT A BACKUP COPY OF THE BIOS IS AVAILABLE. All it means is that the DEFAULT BIOS settings are available to load if you have incorrectly set these parameters. Finally, your serious misconceptions are an indication that you should NOT consider changing ANYTHING about your BIOS except for the parameters that are user changeable Unfortunately, that's the way large manufacturers design their standard systems; not to give user flexibility, but instead to give the best chance of long term stable operation. There may be other changes to your system that MIGHT allow overclocking, but the changes will not be obvious, nor easy, nor have a guaranteed outcome. Phil Weldon "ShadowTek" wrote in message ... I have an MS-7093 motherboad that I got with an HP PC. The HP BIOs version is stripped all to hell, with nothing more left than the absolute minimum settings. Would it be possible to install the actual MSI BIOs instead of the HP version? If I could do that, I could have access to MANY more options, including overclocking. There is a backup copy of the BIOs burnt in, so that you can "press F5 to load default setup". If I did flash an incompatible BIOs, would I still be able to load that backup copy? Or would all be lost? |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Question About a Risky BIOs Flashing
ShadowTek wrote:
I have an MS-7093 motherboad that I got with an HP PC. The HP BIOs version is stripped all to hell, with nothing more left than the absolute minimum settings. Would it be possible to install the actual MSI BIOs instead of the HP version? If I could do that, I could have access to MANY more options, including overclocking. There is a backup copy of the BIOs burnt in, so that you can "press F5 to load default setup". If I did flash an incompatible BIOs, would I still be able to load that backup copy? Or would all be lost? I looked in the BIOS section of the manual, and I don't see a place to set the CPU input clock. The DRAM timing section, allows you to set CAS (but not the other three). That MSI BIOS may have a lot of settings, but doesn't look like a really good overclocker BIOS. If the board had an Nvidia chipset, the "Clockgen" program allows some of those chipsets, to have the clock setting adjusted while in Windows. I'm not aware of that working with ATI chipsets. The Nvidia chipset seems to have clock synthesis built-in, which may be why it can be done. (You cannot get datasheets for Nvidia chipsets, so I'm guessing at that.) The F5 feature, restores default BIOS settings. That is an entirely different feature, than something like the Gigabyte Dual BIOS, where a second chip stores a backup copy of the BIOS flash code. So F5 doesn't undo all the damage that a bad flash operation can do. If you erase the flash chip, the board won't POST again. You could press F5 all day long, and nothing would happen. If you want to change the BIOS file, and be guaranteed to be able to back out later, on demand, then purchase a second BIOS chip from badflash.com . To do that, you have to tell them the part number on the socketed BIOS chip, and you also have to send them the BIOS file to flash into the chip. You also send them $25. They send you a chip. This tool can be used to easily remove the PLCC from the socket. A tool similar to this, but perhaps a cheaper version, may come with the PLCC from badflash.com . I don't really know, what they include in the package. So if you don't have any tools at all, this tool can be used to ease the chip out. You don't put chips back with this, and you push them back into place with your thumb. It takes a bit of force to get them to snap in the first time. And they have to be put back in the same orientation as they came out. There are seven different ways to do it wrong (and some of those, cause the chip to burn). http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062619 If you didn't want to deal with badflash.com , there is also the BIOS Savior product, from ioss.com.tw . But I'm not sure that many computer retailers carry that product any more - there are five or more versions, and you have to figure out which one to buy, which is never easy. IOSS don't have a product now, to handle the biggest flash chips. Some motherboards come with 1MB flash chips, and there isn't a BIOS Savior for them. The BIOS Savior adds a second flash chip. It includes a toggle switch. By flipping the switch, you can flip from one BIOS image to the other. Which is a quick way to move between two BIOSes. Someone who has used it, claims he also clears the CMOS, when changing from one image to the other. So then you set up the BIOS settings again. Based on what I've seen in the MS-7093 manual so far, I don't think I'd bother. Computers like the HP, may "key" their recovery CDs to the BIOS. If you put in the MSI BIOS, then want to use the recovery CD to reinstall the HP copy of WinXP, then the installer may complain if it doesn't see the HP BIOS. That is why I'm emphasizing schemes that make changing the BIOS back, easy, for when that day comes. As I'm not familiar with all the details of how keying works with HP/Dell/Gateway, you should do a bit more research yourself, as to what effect a change to BIOS or hard drive makes. HTH, Paul |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Question About a Risky BIOs Flashing
On Tue, 26 Feb 2008 18:54:59 -0800, ShadowTek wrote:
I have an MS-7093 motherboad that I got with an HP PC. The HP BIOs version is stripped all to hell, with nothing more left than the absolute minimum settings. Would it be possible to install the actual MSI BIOs instead of the HP version? If I could do that, I could have access to MANY more options, including overclocking. There is a backup copy of the BIOs burnt in, so that you can "press F5 to load default setup". If I did flash an incompatible BIOs, would I still be able to load that backup copy? Or would all be lost? I can't answer the question you asked but I can give you some general tips about this. I did the same thing with an MSI K8N Neo2 Platinum motherboard that came in a Compaq. The MSI BIOS flasher doesn't recognize the HP BIOS so it won't burn the new BIOS unless you give it a switch to force it, /F. After flashing the BIOS the system was completely dead until I cleared the CMOS RAM. After I cleared the CMOS RAM it was fine. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Question About a Risky BIOs Flashing
I looked in the BIOS section of the manual, and I don't see a place to set the CPU input clock. The DRAM timing section, allows you to set CAS (but not the other three).
Yeah, that's one of the things I wanted access to. I was having some trouble with "bad" RAM a while back, and thought it would be nice to be able to relax some of the timings when troubleshooting in the future. I forgot about the "BIOs key" issue for software bundles. That would be a problem, so long as I use Windows for this PC. I didn't know that there was anything that could be done for screwed up BIOs. I'll keep that website in mind if I have any future problems. Another reason I wanted the "real" BIOs is just so I can know what the current settings are. All the user changeable settings that HP stripped out of it would have been preset by them to some particular value. But, of course, they don't give any documentation about it, and when you try to ask customer support, they won't tell you anything useful. Oh well, I guess I will just stick with what I have now. I just wanted to get some input on what my options were. Thanks |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
bios flashing | joanne fee | Homebuilt PC's | 1 | January 19th 08 08:24 PM |
ASUS V9570 (Geforce FX 5700) - Overclocking/BIOS Flashing question | Cronzor | General | 2 | August 4th 06 06:49 PM |
Mobile Fidelity CDr's (is it risky to burn higher than 1x)? | soundandvision | Cdr | 32 | August 27th 05 11:33 PM |
video bios failture...flashing bios... | dippi | General Hardware | 0 | February 9th 05 07:08 PM |
Cheap Copies: A Risky Bargain | Ablang | General | 0 | July 25th 04 04:18 AM |