README.TXT File for BIOS Flash Updating Bios filename: vca20a03.bin Bios date: 10/03/2000 Bios size: 256 KB (For 2Mb BIOS EEPROM) Bios checksum: n/a Model support: EP-3VCA2, EP-3VCA2+ !!!WARNING!!! Never attempt to Flash your BIOS from a hard disk, DOS Window, DOS shell, or in Windows NT. If your system is working without problems or conflicts, then it is not recommended that you flash your BIOS. Improper flashing procedures may result in a dead system! Follow the these instructions carefully. Files included in this download: README.TXT Text file with BIOS Release & Application Notes. UPDATE.BAT Batch file for the Flash BIOS update process. RESTORE.BAT Batch file for the Flash BIOS restore process. xxxxxxxx.BIN BIOS binary file used by UPDATE.BAT. AWDFLASH.EXE Program used to Flash BIOS code to the EEPROM. Enhancements & Fixes for this BIOS release: Added BIOS support for VIA Cyrix III CPU. Fixed Celeron 766 CPU BIOS detection. Fixed ATA100 HDD support (EP-3VCA2+ only). ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BIOS Download Instructions Download the xxxxxxxx.EXE file corresponding to your model from the EPoX website to an empty directory on your hard disk or floppy. Run the downloaded xxxxxxxx.EXE file and it will self extract into the above listed files. Copy these extracted files to a bootable DOS floppy disk. Note: the DOS floppy disk should contain NO device drivers or other programs that load during the boot other than the operating system itself. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BIOS Update Instructions Boot using your DOS floppy disk to the ‘A:\>’ command prompt. At the DOS command prompt type: UPDATE When the Flash program completes restart the computer, remove the DOS floppy disk, and enter your CMOS setup by pressing the key immediately. Using the arrow keys select ‘LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS’ and when prompt to confirm press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. Press ‘F10’ to Save & Exit the BIOS. When prompted to confirm again press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. The system flash is now completed. Note: During the use of UPDATE a backup of your original BIOS date/code will be saved in the same directory as the UPDATE file. It will be called ‘OLD.BIN’ and can be used with the restore instructions below in case you need to revert back to the original BIOS date/code. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BIOS Restore Instructions Use of the restore procedure requires the OLD.BIN file created in the update procedure above! Boot using your DOS floppy disk to the ‘A:\>’ command prompt. At the DOS command prompt type: RESTORE When the Flash program completes restart the computer, remove the DOS floppy disk, and enter your CMOS setup by pressing the key immediately. Using the arrow keys select ‘LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS’ and when prompt to confirm press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. Press ‘F10’ to Save & Exit the BIOS. When prompted to confirm again press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. The system flash is now completed and should now be reverted back to the original BIOS date/code. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- BIOS flash failed If you have access to an old un-accelerated ISA video card, you might be able to recover your BIOS. Remove all cards and drives from your system, except for the ISA video card and the floppy drive. Then try to boot from a system disk (a bootable floppy with only the flash programs and corresponding BIOS binary). If you are able to boot to the floppy, flash your BIOS according to the directions above. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I get out of memory errors when I flash my BIOS! On some system configurations, even with a clean boot disk, you will get an out of memory error (insufficient memory) when you try to flash your BIOS. The solution is simple: Try bypassing the startup files by pressing the following keys during startup using you bootable floppy disk. Attempt the FLASH again. DOS 6.2x boot disks - press F5 to bypass. WINDOWS 95/98 boot disks - press F8 and select "Safe command prompt." Lastly try using a MS-DOS 6.x boot disk. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Manual use of the AWDFLASH Utility Most users will find that our UPDATE and RESTORE batch files can accomplish the BIOS flash with the majority of configurations. But if you wish to manually use the AWDFLASH utility, below are the most common command line usages and parameters. Awdflash 7.33 (C)Award Software 1999 All Rights Reserved Usage: AWDFLASH [FileName1] [FileName2] [/[/...]] FileName1 : New BIOS Name For Flash Programming FileName2 : BIOS File For Backing-up the Original BIOS ?: Show Help Messages py: Program Flash Memory pn: No Flash Programming sy: Backup Original BIOS To Disk File sn: No Original BIOS Backup Sb: Skip BootBlock programming sd: Save DMI data to file cp: Clear PnP(ESCD) Data After Programming cd: Clear DMI Data After Programming cc: Clear CMOS Data After Programming R: RESET System After Programming cks: Show update Binfile checksum Tiny: Occupy lesser memory E: Return to DOS When Programming is done F: Use Flash Routines in Original BIOS For Flash Programming LD: Destroy CMOS Checksum And No System Halt For First Reboot After Programming cksXXXX: Compare Binfile CheckSum with XXXX Example: AWDFLASH 2a59i000.bin /py/sn/cd/cp/cks2635 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER THE SOFTWARE AND BIOS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY OF ANY KIND INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL EPOX OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF INFORMATION) ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE AND BIOS, EVEN IF EPOX HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. BECAUSE SOME JURISDICTIONS PROHIBIT THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. EPoX and its suppliers further do not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, graphics, links or other items contained within these materials. EPoX reserves the right to change specifications or discontinue products at any time with no prior warning. EPoX makes no commitment to update any BIOS. v1.0 091699 JRH