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Conference noted::ibmpc-95

Title:IBM PCs, clones, DOS, etc.
Notice:Intro in 1-11, Windows stuff in NOTED::MSWINDOWS please
Moderator:TARKIN::LINND
Created:Tue Jan 03 1995
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3023
Total number of notes:28404

2921.0. "Biostar motherboard MB-8433UUD problem" by SOLVIT::ALLEN_R (on the point) Fri Feb 14 1997 13:00

    I have a slight (?) problem with a motherboard I recently purchased and
    I am far beyond the support level of the supplier.  So I am on my own
    in very unfamiliar water. ;(  BTW, I never have liked PCs.

    The motherboard is a Biostar MB-8433UUD.  It has an Award BIOS with the
    ident of BI36094 on the foil cover.

    I was attempting to use an AHA1540 with my disk and PD/CD drive and
    something happened so the system would not boot but just beeped at me. 
    I took out the SCSI card and devices and it still beeped.  I tried to
    reset the BIOS by removing the ROM and now it does nothing.  I must
    have ruined the ROM.

    How would one go from here (getting another motherboard is not a viable
    option for me right now.)?

    Can I or should I try another BIOS ROM and how would one go about
    getting one?

    Since the original BIOS ROM was rewritable or upgradable with a
    floppy disk provided is there a way to recover the ROM that is with the
    motherboard now?

    Any idea what it might cost (estimate) to recover from this situation?

    And how would I get SCSI working again after I recover from this? I am
    considering getting a new motherboard.  And a new SCSI controller.


    rich
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2921.1URL poinerSTAR::DZIEDZICTony Dziedzic - DTN 381-2438Fri Feb 14 1997 13:266
    Start looking at http://slf.gweep.net/~sfoskett/hardware/mb8433uud.html
    for information on that motherboard.
    
    If you pulled the BIOS chip with power on you likely ruined the chip.
    Otherwise you MAY be able to recover the BIOS by reprogramming it;
    I believe it is a flash upgrade chip.
2921.2WBC::GOODENGene GoodenFri Feb 14 1997 14:1718
I have built four systems with this board using the AMD 133 chip. It has
a nasty habit of flashing its BIOS into oblivion, all by its self. Good
thing I have a programmer to rebuild the rom. On one friends machine I
have had to restore the rom three times, we leave the programming supply
voltage jumper off now. (Note: with it off you will not be able to update
the ESCD).

I have found if you put in a ISA video card it may tell you that you
have a corrupted BIOS. When the BIOS is toasted you will not get the
PCI configured (no PCI video). There seems to be enough smarts to output
a message about corrupted BIOS to a ISA video card.

If it is blown you probable will not be able to restore with the flash
utility. This requires pulling the rom out and dropping it into the black
box. Or take the board back to the vendor. (If need I can fix this.)

regards,
gene
2921.3SOLVIT::ALLEN_Ron the pointFri Feb 14 1997 15:3615
    I did not have it turned on when I took out the ROM.  Probably did
    something else.  And I did discover the gweep page yesterday and have 
    begun to look around. Attempted to connect to the Biostar page but did
    not have any luck with that.  They appear to be building it now.

    I have an AMD 133 installed too.  Nice when it runs.  Place I bought
    it all from has no love for SCSI so he won't touch it again.  This is
    the second time and he did fix it the first time.  I guess he feels I'm
    on my own since I use SCSI stuff.

    I use a PCI video card. I pulled all the ISA stuff and gave them along
    with the AHA-1540 to my son to use on his machine.  He is learning a
    lot starting with that.

    so am I. :(  maybe I will have to go with a PCI SCSI card??
2921.4possible scsi conflictCPEEDY::BRADLEYChuck BradleyFri Feb 14 1997 15:5310
re .0, this is no help on your current problem, but might
help when you get back to ground zero.

if your cdrom drive is scsi, the card that controls it and your new
scsi card are clashing.  take out the card that came with your cdrom
drive and hook the cdrom drive to the scsi card, taking care to obey
the termination and length rules.  you may also have to change a
jumper on the scsi adapter.  the details are in here somewhere.

2921.5BRITE::FYFEUse it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.Fri Feb 14 1997 16:589
Why not just get a replacement BIOS chip.

Shouldn't take but a week through the mail
or bring it to your vendor and have him swap it
out.

Once the new on is in and configured, pull the
flash power jumper and have fun.
2921.6SOLVIT::ALLEN_Ron the pointFri Feb 14 1997 17:043
    where and about how much?  I am considering doing that but I really
    don't have much money and I'm wondering if that will fix it.  .3 has
    set me thinking now.
2921.7BRITE::FYFEUse it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.Fri Feb 14 1997 17:218
Each board has it's own BIOS config. Ask the vendor if you can
swap and/or buy a BIOS chip. It is easy for him to ship back
boards with bad bios to his supplier.

You might try the Awards web page as well.

.
2921.8SOLVIT::ALLEN_Ron the pointFri Feb 14 1997 18:303
    it is back to beeping at me.  I'll try.
    
    darn pc.  good thing i don't have to have it.
2921.9Maybe?SSDEVO::ASTORSubsystems Engineering SupportTue Feb 18 1997 21:058
    .2 (Gene)
    
       Could you have a look at note 2879.  Could the jumper you mentioned
    be the cause of the problem described in this (my) note?
    
    I'd be greatful,
    
    Kurt
2921.10WBC::GOODENGene GoodenThu Feb 20 1997 19:1512
Kurt,

Every Biostar 8433 UUD motherboard I have built had Award BIOS not AMI. I have not seen any versions of
AMI BIOS for this board on any of the web sites, that support this board. I did have a PnP sound card in
one of the machines I built, but I had no problems with it except I could never keep the ide port on the
card from configuring. I have never had to run ICU, though I brought it down fron somewhere and played
with it a little once. 

As to your question in 2921.9 this is not the same problem. Rich's bios is shot, he is shipping it to me
and I am going to reprogram it for him.

gene
2921.11.10 within the linesSMURF::PBECKPaul BeckFri Feb 21 1997 12:4617
                <<< Note 2921.10 by WBC::GOODEN "Gene Gooden" >>>

Kurt,

Every Biostar 8433 UUD motherboard I have built had Award BIOS not AMI. I
have not seen any versions of AMI BIOS for this board on any of the web
sites, that support this board. I did have a PnP sound card in one of the
machines I built, but I had no problems with it except I could never keep
the ide port on the card from configuring. I have never had to run ICU,
though I brought it down fron somewhere and played with it a little once. 

As to your question in 2921.9 this is not the same problem. Rich's bios is
shot, he is shipping it to me and I am going to reprogram it for him.

gene