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| Thread ID: 56476 | 2005-04-06 01:59:00 | Can the BIOS be Replaced? | vinref (6194) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 342054 | 2005-04-06 01:59:00 | I am attempting to do a multiple machine install, and some machines have the awful "non-standard" BIOS' from Compaq, HP and IBM. These bloody things nut me out, as they never seem to implement shutdown properly, have weird and wonderful password protection features, and it just makes it that bit harder to diagnose POST problems. Unfortunately, Google won't help me find a way to replace them altogether, which makes me think that you cannot. Oh well, just in case someone knows of a way. |
vinref (6194) | ||
| 342055 | 2005-04-06 02:09:00 | Just find out what the make/models are of the PC's, go to the site and download the BIOS update/s (if there's a later BIOS update) . Is that what u mean by can the bios be replaced?? You cant replace them with a completely different BIOS, (if it's not the original BIOS, or a BIOS update for that particular PC) if thats what u mean . It's either update whats there now, and if there's no update for them . You cant do much about it . Theyre either too old / obselete, or its time to get a more up to date system . If they dont shut down properly, it doesnt necessarily mean the BIOS is the prob, it could be a windows prob (if it isnt updated), on why it doesnt shutdown . |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 342056 | 2005-04-06 02:15:00 | Can the bios be replaced? of course. Will it still run? Most probally not. I presume your projected course of action is to find the actual manufacturer of the board and use the closest match they have? I wouldn't even think about it unless the boards are surplus to requirments,there is no telling how many changes have been made to the board to fit in with Compaq,HP and IBM 's view of the world. |
Metla (12) | ||
| 342057 | 2005-04-06 02:27:00 | I want to replace the Compaq, HP or IBM BIOS' with something like AWARD, AMI, PHOENIX etc. I do suspect that this is either not possible, or more trouble than it is worth. Compaq BIOS on most Deskpros I have used do not shutdown or reboot properly under Linux or BSD. Many HPs and IBMs give me other sorts of grief, and make it very difficult and dodgy to administer remotely. And yes, these are older machines (mostly under 500MHz). Ah well... |
vinref (6194) | ||
| 342058 | 2005-04-06 02:33:00 | No u cant then . It has to be the BIOS/brand whatever it is award/phoenix etc, that was made for that pc or an update made for that PC . |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 342059 | 2005-04-06 03:21:00 | . . . awful "non-standard" BIOS' from Compaq, HP and IBM . How can an IBM BIOS be non-standard? They invented the x86 PC BIOS . Compaq copied ("reverse engineered") the IBM BIOS . If you've got a real standard BIOS, it will complain about ROM BASIC being not found if there's no bootable device . It's all those others who are out of step . :) |
Graham L (2) | ||
| 342060 | 2005-04-06 03:22:00 | It would depend on whether the motherboard used in the PC was adapted from a standard design used elsewhere. Dell Dimensions around the 500MHz era used Intel motherboards and the Dell customised BIOS could be replaced with the generic Intel one. This allowed some CPUs that Dell never offered to be used. Usually these BIOS switches become common knowledge (Google) if there's something to be gained. |
PaulD (232) | ||
| 342061 | 2005-04-06 03:29:00 | What is really annoying is that the proprietary splash screens hide the POST. Like on my 500MHz Deskpro, the Compaq screen comes up with an hourglass in the bottom lefthand corner, which is then followed by 'Starting Windows 98..' | Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 342062 | 2005-04-06 03:30:00 | Pardon my ignorance on the subject, but doesnt the BIOS relate to the motherboard irrespective of what the computer is? So isnt it then a matter of finding the motherboard model number and updating the BIOS if so inclined? | Cptn Hotshot (3904) | ||
| 342063 | 2005-04-06 03:37:00 | But, as pointed out by Metla, "brand name" motherboard versions used by Compaq, HP, Packard Bell et al do not always conform to the exact configuration that the retail versions of the motherboards do . They are a often sub-model produced exclusively for the PC maker, and often have subtle differences that a retail BIOS flash finds, with disastrous results . |
godfather (25) | ||
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