- Why
sticker on the mainboard "PhoenixBios Pentium IV"?
Pentium
IV is registered by Phoenix® BIOS company .
Pentium
is registered by Intel® .
Pentium
IV is Pentium IV ( with IV ) NOT Pentium for Intel .
- When I start
flash utility, the computer hangs. Why?
Most likely there's not enough memory
to complete the operation. Don't load non-essential drivers (sound,
mouse, anti-virus) and check that himem.sys is loaded in the boot disk's
config.sys.
- Why not update BIOS?
In 90% of cases, a BIOS update is released to
address a problem with a particular piece of hardware or software.
Therefore, the new BIOS gives the system some new (different) parameters
to work with. Newer BIOS'es contain all fixes from previous versions.
If the fix list of a new BIOS does NOT address any of problems that
you may have, it is unreasonable to update BIOS only for sake of it,
because you may be using a combination of hardware/software that is
incompatible and not yet tested with the BIOS version you're upgrading
to.
It is recommended to refrain from updating BIOS without a good reason.
If you don't see your problem listed in the fix list, do not update
BIOS - better go to a shareware Web site (winfiles.com,
shareware.com,
tucows.com) and
update your software or do something less dangerous.
And finally, some 10% of BIOS updates contain new CPU ID strings and
code enhancements (ACPI, etc.). For those an update is recommended only
when it is necessary (i.e. the processor ID does not display properly,
the system must have ACPI, etc.).
A typical situation occurs when a user wants to update BIOS because
the new version supports a CPU he/she "plans" to buy sometime in the
future. With some bad luck, the user ends up with a wrong BIOS (wrong
PCB, or chipset, or I/O or all of them) and consequently damaged BIOS
chip.
- How do I clear BIOS password?
To clear the CMOS password, you have a put a
jumper cap on jumper CPW.
Once this is done, put a jumper cap on CPW pin header, the system will
erase the CMOS password on bootup and will normally not ask you again
for the password.
- How do I flash a new BIOS?
All newer FIC motherboards ensure that upgrades
are easily performed by incorporating the system BIOS in a FLASH Memory
component. With a FLASH BIOS, there is no need to replace an EPROM component.
Once downloaded, the upgrade utility fits on a floppy disc allowing
the user to save, verify and update the system BIOS.
Read the BIOS Update Procedure
for details as how to go about flashing a new
BIOS.
- How do I know if my motherboard
has a flash BIOS
The motherboard's BIOS is stored on a chip of
one of two kinds: an EPROM Chip or an EEPROM chip (Flash EPROM). You
can only flash a BIOS if you have a Flash EPROM chip.
All FIC Pentium and Pentium Pro motherboards
use a Flash EPROM chip, (with the exception of the PN-2000). However
for many 486 boards this is optional.
The following FIC 486 motherboards have a Flash
EPROM BIOS chip.
- 486
PIO-2
- 486
PIO-3
- 486
POS
- 486
VIP-IO2 (PCB Rev A2)
The
following FIC 486 motherboards have an optional flash EPROM (BIOS) chip.
- 486
GIO-VT2
- 486
GIO-VP
- 486
PAK-2
- 486
PVT
- 486
PVT-IO
- 486
VIP-IO2
If
your 486 motherboard is not listed here it does not support a Flash
EPROM chip.
If
your motherboard has either an SST or Intel BIOS chip of the kind listed
below, it is an EEPROM and therefore flashable.
The
part numbers are listed below.
- SST 128*8
150ns DIP PH29EE010 03-10037-05
- Intel
128*8 150ns DIP P28f010 03-10037-00
If
your 486 motherboard does not have a Flash EPROM chip, it is not possible
to upgrade to one. To do this would require changing a resistor which
end users are not encouraged to do.
- How do I enter
CMOS setup?
Just press the "DELETE"
key prior to power on until you enter the Setup
- How do I know which BIOS
version I have?
The BIOS version is usually displayed as the
computer boots up after power on.
If your computer shows an FIC Logo on bootup, press the "TAB"
key to see the BIOS version.
If you don't notice the BIOS version, press the "Pause"
key during memory count.
- How do I upgrade my BIOS
if my motherboard doesn't have a Flash BIOS chip?
You will need to use an Eprom Programmer to update
the system BIOS.
1.) Download the BIOS File
2.) Remove the BIOS chip/or get a new BIOS Chip so you still have a
backup if in case you want to use the old one.
3.) Program the BIOS chip with the new BIOS file using an Eprom Programmer.
- What is the latest BIOS for
my motherboard?
The latest BIOS releases for FIC motherboards,
are all posted in our BIOS Update section
(select model name first). They are updated regularly.
The newest BIOS version includes all the improvements of the older BIOS
versions for the same BIOS type and PCB version of the motherboard.
Please read the BIOS Update Procedure
in full (including the tips at the bottom of the
page) before all BIOS upgrades. Please note that if your system is running
fine, FIC does not recommend a BIOS upgrade because of possible complications.
- Why doesn't my motherboard
boot after flashing a new BIOS (BIOS Recovery Procedure)?
Please read again the BIOS
Update Procedure, and check that you have
followed the steps outlined.
- If
you are using an AMI BIOS, make sure to reboot the system holding
the "END" key prior to power on until you enter CMOS
setup. Eg the PT-2200 has an AMI BIOS.
- If
you played with the Flash EPROM Type jumper setting, check
that it is set correctly for the EPROM chip installed on your board.
Proper settings for some models is given below.
If
you've damaged contents of your BIOS chip by using DMI Utility or performing
an incomplete BIOS upgrade, you can try the the Boot Block Feature
(it's a BIOS feature) to recover your system.
Try using an ISA VGA card and see whether that system will allow you
to perform a Boot Block. The boot Block feature allows you to boot at
least on Drive "A" for you to Re-program the BIOS using the
Flash Utility (use the flash utility for the original BIOS that you
want to restore, and not the utility supplied with the BIOS that
you unsuccessfully tried out). Download a BIOS and Flash Utility from
our Web Site and try programming your BIOS again.
Steps
to restore Boot Block BIOS:
1.
Have a bootable diskette (c:> format a:/s) with three files: flash
upgrade utility, a BIOS binary file, AUTOEXEC.BAT file containing a
line like <flashutility biosfile.ext /Py /Sn>
Example:
VL-603, Award BIOS v1.14in12 (FIC version v1.14in12, file name 114in12.bin),
flash utility flash613.exe:
Add the following line to autoexec.bat (note that /Py /Sn means Program=Yes,
Save=No, and it makes the procedure run without user intervention)
flash613 114in12.bin /Py /Sn
2.
Boot the system from the bootable diskette containing the three files
from Step 1. The system then runs flash utility according to the line
in AUTOEXEC.BAT. Note that because Boot Block BIOS is small, it does
not support PCI and AGP VGA graphics cards - it supports only ISA VGA
cards. If you cannot find an ISA card for this procedure, you'll still
be able to complete it, but without seeing anything on the screen.
You
can also try to reset the CMOS by removing the CMOS battery for at least
2 minutes and try to short the negative and positive side of the battery
socket by pressing it downward.
If
you still cannot recover the BIOS, try to find a computer or electronics
shop (or friend) who's got an EPROM programmer (EPROM
burner) that can burn-in a BIOS file into the Flash EPROM chip
for you. You will need to supply the old BIOS file (either get a backup
file from a floppy or download the last working BIOS from the FIC Web
site).
Finally,
if you still cannot recover your BIOS, you can try to purchase a new
Flash ROM chip (partially remove the sticker on your chip to find out
the type/specs and try to find (don't forget to check Internet search
engines like
Yahoo) a shop
that sells Flash ROM chips. After you've got a new chip, follow
the steps in the paragraph describing EPROM programming device (EPROM
programmer). The ultimate failure in BIOS update is when Flash
EPROM chip is soldered onto the board. In that case you will need to
de-solder the chip and solder the new (or recovered) chip onto the board
- note that this will definitively void the warranty so do not
attempt to do it unless you are ready to bear all consequences of such
action!
Table
below lists the Flash EPROM Type jumper settings for some older models.
For models not listed here, check the user's manual.
| Model |
Flash
EPROM Type |
SST
29EE010 |
Intel
28F010 |
Intel
28F001BX-T |
AMD |
| 486-PIO-3 |
J1=1-2 |
X |
J1=2-3 |
X |
| PA-2002 |
J2=1-2 |
X |
J2=2-3 |
X |
| PA-2005 |
MFG5=2-3 |
X |
MFG5=1-2 |
X |
| PAK-2110 |
MFG5=2-3 |
X |
MFG5=1-2 MFG6=2-3 |
X |
| PT-2003 |
J3=2-3 J4=2-3 |
J3=1-2 J4=2-3 |
J3=1-2 J4=1-2 |
X |
| PT-2006 |
EP1=2-3 EP2=2-3 |
EP1=1-2 EP2=1-2 |
X |
EP1=1-2 EP3=2-3 |
| PT-2010 |
EP1=1-2 EP2=2-3 |
X
|
EP1=1-2 EP2=1-2 |
X
|
| PT-2200 |
EP1=2-3 EP2=2-3 |
EP1=1-2 EP2=2-3 |
EP1=1-2 EP2=1-2 |
EP3=2-3 EP2=1-2 |
| PTK-2110 |
EP1=2-3 EP2=2-3 |
X
|
EP1=1-2 EP2=1-2 |
X
|
@
- How
do I clear the CMOS password on my Pentium motherboard?
@
- Turn
off the system, and remove the system unit cover.
- Locate
the specified jumper for you board (see below), and cap it.
- Turn
the system power back on. At this point , you will not be asked
for the password to enter setup.
Clear
CMOS Password Jumpers:
| PA-2000 |
JCP
|
| PA-2002 |
JCP
|
| PA-2005 |
CPW |
| PA-2010 |
CPW |
| PAC-2002 |
JCP1 |
| PAC-2003 |
CPW |
| PAK-2110 |
CPW |
| PDA-2000 |
JP2
|
| PT-2006 |
CPS
|
| PT-2010 |
CPW
|
| PT-2200 |
CPS
|
| PTK-2110 |
CPS |
| VA-501 |
CPW |
| VT-501 |
CPW |
For
other motherboards, consult user's
manual.
@
- What
is "Hardware-based intelligent virus protection"?
This is a new BIOS feature based on anti-virus
(AV) software that protects the system from boot-time viruses. It is
intelligent in the sense that it uses rules modeled after virus's
behavior. For example, it can tell the difference between normal writing
to HDD boot sector and virus-attempted writing. It unloads after boot-up
so it does not provide total protection and is not intended to serve
as replacement for regular anti-virus software.
This utility includes only Scan function and not Virus Delete function.
It is not necessary to "update" virus definition files because
there are none.
- My
system cannot boot, all I hear are beeps. What do they mean?
Nothing good - BIOS beep codes indicate an error.
Award BIOS has two basic code types (one long, two short and all the
other combinations indicate some sort of RAM error), while AMI has a
more elaborate scheme.
BIOS beep codes and suggestions on solving them can be viewed
here.
- When
I try to flash BIOS I get an error message saying about a wrong part
number. Why?
Flash EPROM ("BIOS") chips used on FIC
motherboards vary (Intel, AMD, Fujitsu, etc.). As far as this problem
is concerned, there are two possible reasons:
a) you may have used a wrong BIOS or flash utility. Verify that both
the BIOS file and the flash utility are the right versions.
b) the flash utility you used did not recognize the type of flash EPROM
installed on your motherboard. Verify that you have the right files
and if you're sure in that, ignore the warning.
- I updated my
BIOS and am not very much pleased with the result (slower performance,
new bugs, etc.). What now?
Restore the old BIOS or wait until a newer BIOS
is available. You should use the flash utility supplied with the
old BIOS and NOT the flash utility you got with the new BIOS.
If you do not know what flash utility it was, consult the Web support
pages or contact technical support.
