********************CALIFORNIA GRAPHICS & PERIPHERALS SUPPORT**************************** -Before Updating the BIOS for your Motherboard If you are considering updating your BIOS, we strongly suggest that you first contact your dealer or system assembler. This On-line BIOS Guide contains only general information about the standard product, and as such, the information and files provided here may not, in some cases, work with your hardware. You should be aware that flashing a BIOS is not guaranteed to be successful. If your system is already running well, then even if there is a new version of the BIOS available, it may not be the best option to flash the new one. Your system may experience serious adverse side effects or even lower performance. If you decide to flash a new BIOS make sure that you have first made a copy of your present BIOS onto a bootable floppy. This way you can always flash back to your old setup if problems arise. -Flash EPROM provides better upgradeability and a convenient way to update system BIOS. Please follow the next procedures "How to update the BIOS" to do the correct setup. If your installation procedures is not completed or encounter unexpected error(s). The system will not boot anymore. Flash ROM: The purpose to have a flash ROM installed in the motherboard is to allow user updates. How to update the BIOS: 1. Check if you can update the BIOS - turn on your computer and you will see the following message shown on the screen. Award Modular BIOS V4.51PG, An Energy Star Ally Copyright (c) 1984-95, Award Software, Inc. ??/??/199? For ????? PCIset Compare the date shown in the above message with the date of the new BIOS file ??xxyyzz.bin you downloaded. If the BIOS file (??xxyyzz.bin) date is newer than the date shown on the screen, you can continue the updating process. Please do not update your BIOS with any other files or you may encounter unexpected error(s) in your computer system. ??xxxxxx.bin ?? --------.bin = a brief mainboard name xx --------.bin = month yy --------.bin = date zz --------.bin = year 2. Boot from a DOS diskette (command prompt only). Please note that you can not use any protect mode application or driver (such as EMM386, QEMM386) when updating BIOS. The AWDFLASH.EXE file can not work under protected mode. Type: c:\AWDFLASH (or path where is located) The Flash Memory Write Utility will ask for the filename of the new BIOS. Enter "??xxyyzz.bin" and press the [Enter] key. The utility will prompt you to save the ROM BIOS code as "BIOS.OLD". When the utility gives this message "Do You Want To Save BIOS (Y/N)" and press [Y]. Then type "bios.old", that file is a backup of your original BIOS for the motherboard. The next message will ask "Are you sure to program (Y/N)". If you press the [Y] key, the utility will load the new code into Falsh ROM. NOTE: DO NOT power off computer when updating flash ROM. This step may takes about 10 seconds to complete. Repeat step 3 if any abnormal symptom is observed. 4. When done loading the new BIOS, you must power off the system, and enter the CMOS Setup Utility before going any further by pressing [DEL] key. In the Setup Utility, choose "LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS" option and respond "Y(es)" to load the hardware default value for proper initialization. 5. Call your dealer (or send a mail) if you have any problem when updating. ******** DEATILED INSTRUCTIONS ************ BIOS Upgrade Instructions FLASH Memory provides a convenient way to update a system BIOS. When a manufacturer of a system updates the BIOS for a particular class of systems, a floppy disk can be obtained containing the source code for this new BIOS as well as a utility that will upgrade the ROM chip to this new BIOS. IMPORTANT! Extreme care must be taken when updating the system BIOS. If an incorrect BIOS source code is used to update the ROM chip, the system may refuse to boot. Please follow carefully the procedures outlined below. If in doubt, consult a qualified technnician or call your local vendor. NOTE: If you use AMI BIOS, you must use the "AMIFLASH.COM" Setup utility to update your FLASH Memory, otherwise it will not work. If you use AWARD BIOS, you must use the "AWDFLASH.EXE" Setup utility to update your FLASH Memory. You can not mix these two utilities together, otherwise you will get an error message. The following outlines the AWARD BIOS FLASH Memory updating procedure: Make sure that memory managers such as QEMM386, EMM386 OR 386MAX are not loaded. Flash Memory utilities do not work under protected or virtual mode. From the C:\ prompt, type "A:" to change to the A drive. Type "AWDFLASH" and then press ENTER. The Award Flash Memory Writer Screen will now appear. A prompt will be given to type in a file name. Type in the new BIOS source code's full file name, including the file extension. You will be prompted with the message, "Do you want to save BIOS?" To save the existing BIOS, type "Y" for yes and enter a file name to save the BIOS to. Otherwise type "N" for no. Next, you will be prompted with the message, "Are you sure to program?" Type in "Y" to begin the BIOS updating process. When the updating process has finished, there will be a prompt to reset the system, otherwise type "N". The Flash Utility will automatically terminate. The following outlines the AMI BIOS FLASH Memory updating procedure: Make sure that memory managers such as QEMM386, EMM386 OR 386MAX are not loaded. Flash Memory utilities do not work under protected or virtual mode. From the C:\ prompt, type "A:" to change to the A drive. Type "AMIFLASH" and then press ENTER. The AMI Flash Memory Writer Screen will now appear. A prompt will be given to type in a file name. Type in the new BIOS source code's full file name, including the file extension. You will be prompted with the message, "Do you want to save BIOS?" To save the existing BIOS, type "Y" for yes and enter a file name to save the BIOS to. Otherwise type "N" for no. Next, you will be prompted with the message, "Are you sure to program?" Type in "Y" to begin the BIOS updating process. When the updating process has finished, there will be a prompt to reset the system, otherwise type "N". The Flash Utility will automatically terminate. Caution!!! After upgrading the BIOS and entering the BIOS Utility Setup you may be prompted to enter a password. If this occurs the following procedure should be followed. Turn-off your computer. Locate the jumper on the motherboard labeled "CLR CMOS". (Refer to the manual if necessary) Place the jumper-block, so that it shorts the two-pins. Turn-on your computer for approximately two to five seconds then turn-off your computer. Place the jumper-block to normal operation then reboot your computer.