BIOS inquiry

[Endless Pain]

Please forgive me if this is the wrong forum to be posting this question in, but I wonder if anyone might know anything about this topic. I wanted to buy a computer, but I have seen that many companies(i.e:Compaq, Acer) put their computers' motherboard BIOS on the hard drive, rather than on a flash chip on the motherboard. However, when you detach the hard drive from the motherboard and turn on the system, a boot sequence list comes up. Since these companies only offer Windows flash utilities for the motherboard BIOS updates on their websites, how would I make those files into bootable BIOS files(in case my hard drive was corrupted and I couldn't get into Windows at all)?

[YukonMaster]

Hi and Welcome to PCMedia Tech Forums

New COMPAQ's and ACER's do not do this anymore. The BIOS is stored on the CMOS chip.

Hope that helps,

YukonMaster

[Endless Pain]

But, unless their websites offer a bootable BIOS Flash file, then there is no way to create one in order to boot your system outside of Windows?

[pam123]

I think I understand your confusion.
The boot order is established in the bios.
Now all you need to do is set the optical ( or floppy if they're still included ) first in the boot order and you can, if you wish boot from a disk in either of those drives.
This would be outside of Windows.
There is no reason to flash the bios.

[Endless Pain]

I know I'm being a pain, but I don't think I'm making myself clear. What I'm talking about in booting outside of Windows is force flashing the BIOS(in the case of the BIOS file being corrupted). Also, YukonMaster, I know you said that new Compaqs and Acers don't store the BIOS on the hard drive, but I turned off both brands of desktops in a retail store, unplugged both cables from the hard drives, then turned on both computers, and instead of being able to press F1 to get into their respective BIOS, I was just given a small boot sequence setup on the Compaq and a message on the Acer that no bootable CD was found. Someone please help me with this question!

[glc]

You need to follow the manufacturer's instructions to flash the bios on those machines. The way you get into Windows if the hard drive is corrupted is use the system recovery, whatever they use for that. This may wipe the drive, or it may not work and you need recovery media. This is why we do not recommend name brand computers with a proprietary preload and no easy way to boot into any kind of repair or diagnostics.

[Endless Pain]

I guess you're right. But the worst thing that happens is you just buy a new motherboard and operating system disc, right?

[pam123]

Originally Posted by Endless Pain I guess you're right. But the worst thing that happens is you just buy a new motherboard and operating system disc, right?

No.
The date for this is 2001, by 2002 Compaq had discontinued this but of course there were still lots of Compaqs out there with "maintenance partitions".

6. RE: HELP: How to Setup BIOS for new hard drive??? lbyard Jun-22-01 04:04 PM In response to message 5 Most Compaqs have a maintenance partition on the hard disk drive which is the equivalent to part of the CMOS on other computers. This would have to be put on the new disk drive if the old one is removed. Larry

http://www.duxcw.com/dcforum/DCForumID6/158.html

This is what you're talking about.

That means you needed another working computer to down load the special software Compaq was using, put it on the drive and from their reinstall the OS. So you'd need a computer savvy friend with a burner ( and burners weren't all that cheap back then).
If you actually had to flash the CMOS on the motherboard you could only do it with a file from the Compaq site, like glc said.
Like Yukon Master has said you're not likely to run into this now, unless you're refurbishing and older machine.

Nowadays computers come with restore partitions and you can either burn your own restore disks or remember to order them, often at extra charge, when you buy the computer.
We're not really happy about that either.

[Endless Pain]

Okay, so let me just clarify this. You're saying that even if I replaced the motherboard with a new one and used a full installation disc of Windows, I still wouldn't be able to get into Windows on one of these modern computers? Or are you saying that I won't be able to use the other devices(i.e:dvd burners, etc.)?

[glc]

No - if you used a full Windows installation disk your only problem would be getting drivers.

[Endless Pain]

All right. Thank you very much for putting up with my incessant questions and answering them in so much detail.