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.
Do I need an update?
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 (before flashing, use your flash utility to back up your current BIOS onto a floppy). This way you can always flash back to your old setup if problems arise.
BIOS Update Procedure
All newer 486/ Pentium / Pentium Pro FIC motherboards ensure that upgrades are easily obtained by incorporating the system BIOS in a FLASH Memory component. With 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 (AMI BIOS excluded), verify and update the system BIOS. A hard drive or a network drive can both be used to run the upgrade utility. However, memory managers can not be installed while upgrading.
Most pre-Pentium FIC motherboards do not have a Flash BIOS. The following instructions therefore do not apply to these boards except for PN-2000. If your motherboard does not have a Flash BIOS (EEPROM) you will need to use an EPROM programmer to re-program the BIOS chip. See your dealer for more information about this. FIC does not provide a service to end-users for upgrading non-flashable BIOS.
Please read the following instructions in full before starting a Flash BIOS upgrade:
A. Create a Bootable Floppy (in DOS)
?With a non-formatted disk, type the following:
format a: /s (note that there is a space between the ""a:"" and ""/s"")
?If using a formatted disk, type:
sys a:
This procedure will insure a clean boot when you are flashing the new BIOS.
B. Download the BIOS file
?Download the correct BIOS file via FTP, by clicking on the file name of the BIOS you wish to download.
?Save the BIOS file and the Flash Utility file in the boot disk you have created. Unzip the BIOS file and the Flash Utility file. (If you don't have a ""unzip"" utility, click here to download the WinZip for Windows 95 shareware/ evaluation copy.)
?You should have extracted two files:
Flash BIOS utility eg: flash531.exe
BIOS eg: 615J900.bin
Use the standard Flash BIOS utility (flash531.exe), unless otherwise specified.
C. Upgrade the System BIOS
?Place the bootable floppy disk containing the BIOS file and the Flash Utility in drive a, and reboot the system in MS-DOS, preferably Version 6.22
?At the A:> prompt, type the corresponding Flash BIOS utility and the BIOS file with its extension.
For example:
flash531 615j900.bin
?From the Flash Memory Writer menu, select ""Y"" to ""Do you want to save BIOS?"" if you want to save (back up) your current BIOS (strongly recommended), then type the name of your current BIOS and it's extension after FILE NAME TO SAVE: eg: a:\613J900.bin
Alternatively select ""N"" if you don't want to save your current BIOS.
?Select ""Y"" to ""Are you sure to program?""
?Wait until it displays ""Message: Power Off or Reset the system""
Once the BIOS has been successfully loaded, remove the floppy disk and reboot the system. If you write to BIOS but cannot complete the procedure, do not switch off, because the computer will not be able to boo, and you will not be given another chance to flash. In this case leave your system on until you resolve the problem (flashing BIOS with old file is a possible solution, provided you've made a backup before)
Make sure the new BIOS version has been loaded properly by taking note of the BIOS identifier as the system is rebooting.
For AMI BIOS
Once the BIOS has been successfully loaded, remove the floppy disk and reboot the system holding the ""END"" key prior to power on until you enter CMOS setup. If you do not do this the first time booting up after upgrading the BIOS, the system will hang.
BIOS Update Tips
1.Make sure never to turn off or reset your computer during the flash process. This will corrupt the BIOS data. We also recommend that you make a copy of your current BIOS on the bootable floppy so you can reflash it if you need to. (This option is not available when flashing an AMI BIOS).
2. If you have problems installing your new BIOS please check the following:
?Have you done a clean boot?
In other words did you follow the above procedure for making a bootable floppy. This ensures that when booting from ""A"" there are no device drivers on the diskette. Failing to do a clean boot is the most common cause for getting a ""Memory Insufficient"" error message when attempting to flash a BIOS.
If you have not used a bootable floppy, insure a clean boot either by
a) pressing F5 during bootup
b) by removing all device drivers on the CONFIG.SYS including the HIMEM.SYS. Do this by using the EDIT command.
?Have you booted up under DOS?
Booting in Windows is another common cause for getting a ""Memory Insufficient"" error message when attempting to flash a BIOS Make sure to boot up to DOS with a minimum set of drivers. Important: Booting in DOS does not mean selecting ""Restart computer in MS-DOS Mode"" from Windows95 shutdown menu, but rather following the above procedure (format a: /s).
?Have you entered the full file name of the flash Utility and the BIOS plus it's extension?
Do not forget that often you will need to add drive letter (a:\) before flashing the BIOS. Example: when asked for file name of new BIOS file which is on your floppy disk, your will need to type a:\615j900.bin, rather than 615j900.bin only.
Have the BIOS file and the Flash Utility file in the boot disk you have created. Unzip the BIOS file and
the Flash Utility file. (If you don't have a ""unzip"" utility, click here to download the WinZip for Windows
95 shareware/ evaluation copy.)
You should have extracted two files:
Flash BIOS utility eg: flash531.exe
BIOS eg: 615J900.bin
Use the standard Flash BIOS utility (flash531.exe), unless otherwise specified.
C. Upgrade the System BIOS
Place the bootable floppy disk containing the BIOS file and the Flash Utility in drive a, and reboot the
system in MS-DOS, preferably Version 6.22
the A:> prompt, type the corresponding Flash BIOS utility and the BIOS file with its extension.
For example:
flash531 615j900.bin
From the Flash Memory Writer menu, select ""Y"" to ""Do you want to save BIOS?"" if you want to save
(back up) your current BIOS (strongly recommended), then type the name of your current BIOS and
it's extension after FILE NAME TO SAVE: eg: a:\613J900.bin
Alternatively select ""N"" if you don't want to save your current BIOS.
Select ""Y"" to ""Are you sure to program?""
Wait until it displays ""Message: Power Off or Reset the system""
Once the BIOS has been successfully loaded, remove the floppy disk and reboot the system. If you
write to BIOS but cannot complete the procedure, do not switch off, because the computer will not be
able to boo, and you will not be given another chance to flash. In this case leave your system on until
you resolve the problem (flashing BIOS with old file is a possible solution, provided you've made a
backup before)
Make sure the new BIOS version has been loaded properly by taking note of the BIOS identifier as the
system is rebooting.
For AMI BIOS
Once the BIOS has been successfully loaded, remove the floppy disk and reboot the system holding the
""END"" key prior to power on until you enter CMOS setup. If you do not do this the first time booting up
after upgrading the BIOS, the system will hang.
BIOS Update Tips
1.Make sure never to turn off or reset your computer during the flash process. This will corrupt the
BIOS data. We also recommend that you make a copy of your current BIOS on the bootable floppy so
you can reflash it if you need to. (This option is not available when flashing an AMI BIOS).
2. If you have problems installing your new BIOS please check the following:
Have you done a clean boot?
In other words did you follow the above procedure for making a bootable floppy. This ensures that when
booting from ""A"" there are no device drivers on the diskette. Failing to do a clean boot is the most
common cause for getting a ""Memory Insufficient"" error message when attempting to flash a BIOS.
If you have not used a bootable floppy, insure a clean boot either by
a) pressing F5 during bootup
b) by removing all device drivers on the CONFIG.SYS including the HIMEM.SYS. Do this by using the
EDIT command.
Have you booted up under DOS?
Booting in Windows is another common cause for getting a ""Memory Insufficient"" error message when
attempting to flash a BIOS Make sure to boot up to DOS with a minimum set of drivers. Important:
Booting in DOS does not mean selecting ""Restart computer in MS-DOS Mode"" from
Windows95 shutdown menu, but rather following the above procedure (format a: /s).
Have you entered the full file name of the flash Utility and the BIOS plus it's extension?
Do not forget that often you will need to add drive letter (a:\) before flashing the BIOS. Example: when asked for file name of new BIOS file which is on your floppy disk, your will need to type a:\615j900.bin,rather than 615j900.bin only
