Help with updating Bios on a machine running XP Home

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xUSNflyer - 30 Jan 2007 14:10 GMT

I know this has to be simple, but for some reason I can't think of how to do
it, so I need you all's expertise advice. I've got a computer I built, it
has an Abit mobo (AB9 Pro) and it's bios is outdated and needs upgraded
badly, however, Abit says that I must boot into "pure DOS" and I've tried the
things I know and I can only get the screen by pressing F8 while booting but
that doesn't get me "pure DOS". I've tried booting to a floppy and it will
do that, but the floppy is too small to hold the system files and bios update.

I'm sure there is a simple way of doing this but I'm drawing a blank and
have for some time, so I need all of your experts opinion and help. Any
would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.
Ken

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Bruce Chambers - 30 Jan 2007 14:17 GMT

> I know this has to be simple, but for some reason I can't think of how to do
> it, so I need you all's expertise advice. I've got a computer I built, it
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> that doesn't get me "pure DOS". I've tried booting to a floppy and it will
> do that, but the floppy is too small to hold the system files and bios update.

If the manufacturer's files are too big to fir on a flopy diskette,
you'll have to ask them how they expect you to use them.

> I'm sure there is a simple way of doing this but I'm drawing a blank and
> have for some time, so I need all of your experts opinion and help. Any
> would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance.
> Ken

    It's not possible to boot into MS-DOS, if WinXP is the only operating
system installed. You'll have to use an MS-DOS boot diskette.

    Insert a blank floppy, and, in My Computer, right-click on the flopy
drive icon and select "Format." One of the options will allow you to
create a bootable floppy diskette for the purposes of flashing the BIOS.

    You could also download the necessary files to create bootable
diskettes of various types from www.bootdisk.com.

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Bruce Chambers

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Dave B. - 30 Jan 2007 14:54 GMT

Make a separate disk (non bootable) that has the BIOS flash files on it,
boot from the boot disk, then switch disks.

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>I know this has to be simple, but for some reason I can't think of how to
>do
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Thanks in advance.
> Ken

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Ken Blake, MVP - 30 Jan 2007 15:34 GMT

> I know this has to be simple, but for some reason I can't think of
> how to do it, so I need you all's expertise advice. I've got a
> computer I built, it has an Abit mobo (AB9 Pro) and it's bios is
> outdated and needs upgraded badly,

Why do you say "it needs upgrading badly"? How do you know that?

Certainly don't do it just because it's X years old and there are upgrades
available. Although a BIOS upgrade normally goes well, it is not without
danger. If something goes wrong while the upgrade is an progress (for
example, a lapse in power) you can be left with no BIOS at all, and an
unbootable computer.

Do a BIOS upgrade if you *need* to--because you are having a problem that
the new version is known to fix--not just because what you have is old or an
upgrade is available.

> however, Abit says that I must
> boot into "pure DOS" and I've tried the things I know and I can only
> get the screen by pressing F8 while booting but that doesn't get me
> "pure DOS".

Correct.

> I've tried booting to a floppy and it will do that,

That's the way to do it.

> but
> the floppy is too small to hold the system files and bios update.

Not a problem. After the boot completes, simply change floppies and insert
the one with th BIOS upgrade software.

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Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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> I'm sure there is a simple way of doing this but I'm drawing a blank
> and
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> Thanks in advance.
> Ken

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Poprivet - 30 Jan 2007 16:02 GMT

REread the instructions. If it won't fit, boot from a DOS CD instead.
Bootdisk.com

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Dave B. - 30 Jan 2007 16:07 GMT

Ummm, the flash utility is 40k, and the update is 4k, both will fit on a
bootable floppy.

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>I know this has to be simple, but for some reason I can't think of how to
>do
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
> Thanks in advance.
> Ken

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