BIOS / hard drive query

[rs125]

Hi

Im going to get a new hard drive but as my PC is getting on a bit now (3 years old) i don't know if the bios would support a new 80gb drive.

Ive gone into system information and it says - Bios version date = American megatrends inc . 62710, 20/05/1999..

Now ive gone to american megatrends website but can't find any info on my BIOS version , all it says is how to update it but i have to pay and have no credit-cards.

Any help would be much appreciated

Thanks

gavin...

[TwoRails]

Hi rs125,

What is the motherboard make and model??

TwoRails

[rs125]

Originally posted by TwoRails Hi rs125, What is the motherboard make and model?? TwoRails

i have no idea tworails ??

It was bought as a full sysyem - are there any programs that i could run to find this out ?

thanks

gavin..

[avx]

www.belarc.com Download their advisor, run it, and post back here

[rs125]

Ok ive ran that program and this is what i have -

Board: Micro-Star Inc. MS-6178 1.0
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. 62710 05/20/99


Thats a good program by the way -thanks

[NationalServer]

I just went there to belarc....it was fast and the info was right on target. Thanks...was using another prog from germany but this one beat it hands down

[NationalServer]

MSI (micro star) posts bios updates on their web...this box here has an msi in it

[NationalServer]

oh..by the way...the update is free at MSI and watch that you can do it and also that it is done right

[avx]

This is the only info I could find regaurding your BIOS and Board, this is about as far I can go on helping you, I havnt had any experience with updating a BIOS, so I would recommend being very careful, and letting some other mmembers possibly post some good tips tricks and the general process of it...unless you are vonfident that you know what to do, if you are, go for it, gl, and let us know how it goes.

[reboot]

There is only 1 update for your BIOS, and it's dated a month after the motherboard was released.
If you want it, here's the direct link: http://216.158.218.35/edoc/bios_uploads/a6178v10.exe
Download it, and run it. It extracts 4 files, the flashrom, the program to flash, and two .doc files with all the instructions.

[avx]

How did you find that reboot? I was scouring google for like 5 mins and I could'nt find anything useful..

[rs125]

Thank you all very much for your help

I don't know if ill bother though as im sure ill do something wrong !!

[reboot]

Went to the site, got into the motherboard model #, then BIOS updates, and went down the list until I found the AMI one. All the others are for Award.

[rs125]

Ive found 10 Bios updates for it - but they say MS-6178 not MS-6178 1.0 or is the 1.0 by bios version ?
This is what i found but none of them say anything about hard drives ???
---------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 255KB
Version 2.0 Update date 2000-11-2
Update Description -Fixed fan will stop after running AMIDIAG 5 hours if suspend is disabled.
-Fixed USB mouse won't work a moment after system resume from S3 under WINDOWS 2000 if marking USB mouse's power management and USB wakep up from S3 was disabled
Special note ,
Download w6178v20.exe
----------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 185KB
Version 1.9 Update date 2000-7-18
Update Description - Fixed Coppermine 600MHz(133X4.5) CPU will be detected as 594MHz
- Fixed the problem wherein when USB mouse is attached to a USB hub, it cannot work after resuming from suspend to RAM under WINDOWS(R) 98SE
- Support SST49LF004 Flashrom
Special note ,
Download w6178v19.exe
-------------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 213KB
Version 1.8 Update date 2000-4-25
Update Description - Updated the VGA bios to version 4.00
- Support both Winbond and ICS clock generator

Special note ,
Download w6178v18.exe
------------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 186KB
Version 1.7 Update date 2000-3-22
Update Description - Fixed the problem wherein the RTC doesn't count if the CMOS battery is removed for few minutes.
- Support Celeron(TM) Coppermine(R) 600 CPU.
- Updated the VGA bios to 3.01.
Special note ,
Download w6178v17.exe
-----------------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 182KB
Version 1.6 Update date 2000-1-22
Update Description - Fixed the problem wherein the system will show "suggested CAS Latency to 3" even when correct settings are made.
- Fixed the problem wherein you couldn't install WINDOWS 2000/ACPI without pressing key "F5"
- Fixed some SDRAM compatibility issue.
- Fixed USB mouse couldn't work properly after system resumes from S3 under Windows(R) 2000.
- Support S.M.A.R.T HDD.
- Updated the VGA BIOS to v3.0
Special note ,
Download w6178v16.exe
----------------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 183KB
Version 1.5 Update date 1999-11-30
Update Description - Fixed the problem wherein no Power management menu bar found under WINDOWS(R) 2000.
- Fixed Microsoft(R) ACT 5.0 test failed under the unreported memory.
- Fixed FDISK failed if Boot sequence is set to (1)Floppy (2)SCSI and when you connect 1 SCSI HDD and 1 IDE HDD.
- Fixed the problem wherein the system cannot wake up under Windows(R)98 APM mode when USB mouse is used.
- Updated VGA BIOS to 2.14
- Support SigmaTel STAC9721 codec.
- Support both ICW195B and Winbond W83194AR-We clock generators.

Special note ,
Download w6178v15.exe
-------------------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 177KB
Version 1.3 Update date 1999-8-9
Update Description - Fixed HCT8.1 PNP bios test fail problem
- Fixed Chassis intrussion problem not functioning when using Celeron(R) 433MHz
- Fixed the problem wherein the system couldn't enter suspend mode after waking it up from modem riser.
- Fixed the Incorrect IDE primary information when changing from HDD to CDROM.
- Fixed the codec beep sound not functioning.
- Updated Intel(R)810 VGA bios
- Updated DMI information
- Change the default of "Midi Port Address" to 330
- Change the default of "Midi Port IRQ" to 10
- Change the <<< CPU PLUG & PLAY III >>> to "Frequency /Voltage Control"
-Show "NA-" if the power supply is without -5V
Special note ,
Download w6178v13.exe
-----------------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 171KB
Version 1.2 Update date 1999-7-6
Update Description - Support Chassis Intrusion
- Support Hardware monitor
- Support Auto CAS latency
- Updated DMI information
-This bios allows the customer to add their own Logo
Special note ,
Download w6178v12.exe
-------------------------------------------
BIOS Type Award® BIOS File Size 201KB
Version 1.0 Update date 1999-5-18
Update Description This is the initial Award(R) BIOS release.
Special note ,
Download w6178v10.exe
------------------------------------------
BIOS Type AMI® BIOS File Size 450KB
Version 1.0 Update date 1999-6-23
Update Description This is the initial AMI(R) BIOS release.
Special note ,
Download a6178v10.exe

[reboot]

The one you want is the last one for AMI (American Megatrends), NOT any of the Award ones. The 1.0 is the bios version number.
BIOS Type AMI® BIOS File Size 450KB
Version 1.0 Update date 1999-6-23
Update Description This is the initial AMI(R) BIOS release.
Special note ,
Download a6178v10.exe
Note that it is only a month newer than what you already have, and isn't worth the trouble.

[rs125]

Originally posted by reboot The one you want is the last one for AMI (American Megatrends), NOT any of the Award ones. The 1.0 is the bios version number. BIOS Type AMI® BIOS File Size 450KB Version 1.0 Update date 1999-6-23 Update Description This is the initial AMI(R) BIOS release. Special note , Download a6178v10.exe Note that it is only a month newer than what you already have, and isn't worth the trouble.

Ok and thankyou reboot - ill stick with what i have