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UPGRADE.DOC
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1991-09-07
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Micro Firmware, Incorporated
1430 W. Lindsey St.
Norman, OK 83069-4314
405-321-8333 FAX: 405-321-8342
BBS: 405-321-2616
Micro Firmware, Inc. develops ROM BIOS Upgrades based on the proven BIOS
technology from Phoenix Technologies Ltd. Phoenix pioneered the compatible
yet non-infringing BIOS, and is still the leader, with over 11 million
computers with Phoenix BIOS sold last year... more than any other BIOS brand.
Micro Firmware is the leader in BIOS Upgrades, developing upgrades for more
types of machines than any other company. In fact, the leading distrubutors
of competing BIOS brands also sell many of our products for those systems
that are not covered by the "generic" BIOS builds issued by their respective
BIOS software houses.
A BIOS Upgrade facilitates the installation of today's newer IDE hard drives
and 1.44 meg floppy drives in older machines. Even some machines still being
sold today have an older revision BIOS that does not support the user
definable drive type feature required for the easy installation of an IDE
drive.
WHAT IS THE BIOS?
==== == === =====
BIOS Stands for Basic Input Output System. It is the core of the operating
system in an IBM PC/XT/AT compatible computer system. One can think of the
BIOS as the DEVICE DRIVERS for the motherboard hardware and standard
peripheral devices, such as the disk drives, keyboard, and video display
adapters. The BIOS almost always resides on Read Only Memory (ROM) chips
located on the motherboard.
The BIOS is responsible for dealing with system-specific hardware, and
providing a standard interface to the operating system and applications.
This is why plain-vanilla DOS will boot up and run just fine on most any "IBM
compatible" even though there are dozens of different ways that computer
manufacturers implement an "IBM compatible" computer system.
However, what this does mean is that upgrading a BIOS is not a matter of
picking up an off-the-shelf set of ROM chips. There are dozens of different
popular hardware implementations, plus myriad proprietary schemes. A BIOS
with the correct programming to match the hardware must be chosen. To
complicate things further, there are a number of possibilities for the way
the BIOS code is configured on the ROM chip(s).
HOW IS A BIOS DEVELOPED?
=== == = ==== ==========
When a hardware manufacturer seeks to license a BIOS, a lengthy process is
undertaken by the manufacturer and BIOS software house to tailor the BIOS
code to the hardware. Literally hundreds of factors must be considered to
ensure compatibility and maximum performance.
This is what makes upgrading the BIOS tricky. Because most manufacturers do
not go through the time and expense to provide a BIOS upgrade for their
older (usually discontinued) models, the customers are left in the lurch.
The people at Micro Firmware began providing BIOS upgrades in 1988. Our
product line has grown to over 50 common 8088, 80286, and 80386 builds, plus
an infinite number of possible custom configurations. We are currently
developing upgrade products for a number of relatively new popular platforms.
Although there are now several firms selling generic BIOS ROMs, we know
of no other company that actually develops BIOS upgrades for specific
hardware platforms.
COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS ABOUT BIOS UPGRADES
====== ============== ===== ==== ========
PCs, XTs, and High Density Floppy Drives
----------------------------------------
We receive many requests for a BIOS upgrade in order to support a high
density (i.e. 1.2 meg or 1.44 meg) floppy drive on an XT-class (8088)
machine. While a BIOS upgrade is necessary for proper support of these
drives on an older AT-class machine, the XT hardware itself does not support
high density operation.
There are special high-density floppy controllers for XTs, but these
controllers include their own ROM BIOS EXTENSION that provides the BIOS-level
support that is tailored for their particular controller. The main BIOS
itself has nothing to do with the actual support of a high density drive on
an XT.
It is important to note that in some cases, the BIOS extension on an XT high
density controller may not work properly with some BIOS versions. If this is
the case, the controller's manufacturer should be able to verify this. Only
in these cases is a BIOS upgrade needed, and even then, the main BIOS in and
of itself has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual support for the high
density floppies.
Keyboard Controllers
--------------------
In addition to the BIOS ROMs, AT-class computers include a keyboard controller
which contains a program in its built-in ROM. The keyboard controller is
an Intel (or compatible) 8042 microcontroller, which incorporates a
microprocessor, RAM, ROM, and I/O ports. It usually appears as a 40-pin
chip, and often has a label on it with a copyright notice identifying the
"BIOS" code programmed onto the chip.
In addition to deciphering the keyboard scan codes, the keyboard controller
is also responsible for asserting the reset line and the A20 line, which is
heavily involved in extended memory and other protected-mode operations. On
many systems, one of the unused ports is also utilized to select the CPU clock
speed.
Unless there is a known problem with a keyboard controller, there is no need
to upgrade it along with the BIOS. (Some vendors convince customers
otherwise in order to tack on an extra $30 or $40 to their order.)
While there are cases where the keyboard controller needs to be replaced,
there are even more cases where replacing the keyboard controller will cause
problems. Indeed, most of our upgrades that are developed for specific
systems actually depend on the original keyboard controller to be in place.
Sudden Strange Operation and System Error Messages
--------------------------------------------------
The BIOS is often blamed for problems that suddenly crop up, sometimes after
years of use. Memory parity errors, beep codes at power-on, unexpected
interrupt messages, and the like are usually just a case of the BIOS doing
its job detecting and reporting problems within the hardware. Even in cases
where the system appears to be "dead," the problem is almost never the BIOS
ROM itself.
SITUATIONS WHERE A BIOS UPGRADE IS WARRANTED
========== ===== = ==== ======= == =========
* 1.44 Megabyte 3.5" floppy drive support on older '286 and '386 systems
* Installation of IDE hard drives via user definable hard drive types
* Eliminating controller or driver translation for MFM, RLL, or ESDI drives
with 1024 or fewer cylinders via user definable hard drive types
* Compatibility issues with certain hardware and software. In these cases,
the hardware or software vendor's technical support should be able to
verify that there is an incompatibility with the particular BIOS brand
and revision in question.
UPGRADING THE BIOS: INFORMATION NEEDED
========= === ===== =========== ======
1. Brand and model of system. On some popular systems, this is all we will
need. For most clones, however, this will not help.
2. Type of CPU (i.e. 80286, 80386, 80386SX, etc.)
3. Check for an integrated chip set. A chip set will consist of any number
of square, flat, large scale integration chips with pins around all four
sides. The chips can either be sitting in special square sockets, or
soldered directly to the board. These chips will usually have a
manufacturer's name and/or logo, along with a series of numbers printed on
them. Many chip sets will have CHIPS, SUNTAC, VLSI, OPTI, or other
names printed on them.
4. If a chip set is present, look for the part number on each chip. The part
numbers often look like 82C100 or 62C200. A letter may be in front of
the part number, as in P82C100. The other numbers are the manufacturer's
date code, lot number, and other data that is usually not important to us.
5. The brand and revision of the existing BIOS. This is not useful in itself
for determining what replacement BIOS you need, but some revisions of some
BIOS brands will indicate that the keyboard controller may also need to be
replaced.
6. The type and number of the existing BIOS ROMs. (Locate the part
number on one of the ROM chips. You may have to peel back a label. The
part number will usually start with a 27, such as 27C256 or 27128.)
7. If you have run the ShowSet program, make a note of what ShowSet found.
8. Armed with this information, call our Order Desk at (800) 767-5465 if
you are ready to place an order, or call (405) 321-8333 if you need
technical support.
This may seem like a lot of trouble, but it really only takes two or three
minutes. These steps greatly enhance the chances of getting the right BIOS
set.
============================================================================
Revised September 5, 1991
(C) 1991 Micro Firmware, Inc.
1430 W. Lindsey St. - Norman, OK 73069-4314 405-321-8333 FAX: 405-321-8342