Commate K7TA Motherboard ! Help update Bios

Questions that don't belong in the other forums.
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sam
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I have a
Bios type: Award Modular Bios v6.00PGN
Bios ID: 08/04/2000-8363-686A-6A6LMTP9C
OEM Sign-on: K7TA VER:1.1
OS: WinXP Ver: 5.1.2600 Service Pack 2
CPU: AMD Athlon Processor 999MHz

Can anybody tell me if i need to upgrade this Bios to run it correctly on XP. If so any info would be great. Cheers Sam 8O
KURIAKI
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Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:37 pm
Location: Cancun, Mexico

Tcommate (Taiwan Commate) K7TA.
You don't need a BIOS update to run Windows XP.
But if you want to flash it, the latest BIOS was ver. 1.5:
http://web.archive.org/web/200310111006 ... K7TA15.BIN
More than 100,000 BIOS strings in my database just now!
http:/ /www.kuriaki.has.it/
http:/ /www.supportbios.info
------------------------------------------
Saludos desde Cancun, Mexico
KURIAKI
sam
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Joined: Sat Jan 07, 2006 10:55 pm

Haven't got a clue how to use it LOL :? or how to open it 8O Any advise PLEASE.
scoutdad
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KURIAKI -- you wrote "You don't need a BIOS update to run Windows XP. "

Wondering if you would mind elaborating on that point, please?

I am a mainframe programmer with just a little experience working with PC hardware and software upgrades. I have been Googling my problem for several days now and your post appears to be the most informed I have found.

I have almost the same setup as sam -- except 700Mhz Celeron on a boistar motherboard.

Here's my problem: I attempted to upgrade from Win98se to XP. After the XP files were copied to my system, the automatic reboot failed with a messages along the lines of "no operating system found" and "error loading operating system".

I called Miscosoft "support" and we went through several rounds of repartitioning and reformatting -- with the same results.

My 40G hard drive is clean, but fdisk only recognizes 6G. SCANDISK and DOS see the whole 40. It's less than three years old, so I doubt the disk is really an issue.

I have also tried to re-install 98SE, but I get the same results.
Have I hosed my drive? the BIOS? something else?

I would appreciate any ideas, suggestions or information you can provide, at your convenience. I just need an operational system as soon as possible, even if it's 98SE again, at least for now.

Please let me know if I can provide any other information.

Thanks for your help in making life better for the computing community!
KURIAKI
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Posts: 1037
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:37 pm
Location: Cancun, Mexico

sam wrote:Haven't got a clue how to use it LOL :? or how to open it 8O Any advise PLEASE.
Instructions:
http://web.archive.org/web/200001200154 ... os.htm/map
Flash:
http://web.archive.org/web/200003042008 ... dflash.exe
More than 100,000 BIOS strings in my database just now!
http:/ /www.kuriaki.has.it/
http:/ /www.supportbios.info
------------------------------------------
Saludos desde Cancun, Mexico
KURIAKI
KURIAKI
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Posts: 1037
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:37 pm
Location: Cancun, Mexico

scoutdad wrote:KURIAKI -- you wrote "You don't need a BIOS update to run Windows XP. "

Wondering if you would mind elaborating on that point, please?
Sam's motherboard is not very old, so I don't think it's a compatibility issue with Windows XP setup.
And what about your Biostar motherboard? Run BIOS Agent and post back your results:
http://www.unicore.com/biosagent/index.cfm
(you don't need to pick up "Submit Request", choose "Save Report" only)
More than 100,000 BIOS strings in my database just now!
http:/ /www.kuriaki.has.it/
http:/ /www.supportbios.info
------------------------------------------
Saludos desde Cancun, Mexico
KURIAKI
scoutdad
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Posts: 4
Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:45 pm

Thanks for your speedy reply!

Program: eSupport.com BIOS Detect v1.2 July 21, 2003
BIOS Date: 10/06/00
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PGN
BIOS ID: 10/06/2000-8363-686A-6A6LMB09C-00
OEM Sign-On: VKB1006B
Chipset: VIA 82C305 rev 2
Superio: VIA 686 rev 34 found at port 7h
CPU Type: AMD K5
CPU Speed: 700 Mhz
CPU Max: 1000 Mhz
BIOS ROM In Socket: Yes
BIOS ROM Size: 256K
Memory Installed: 256 MB
Memory Maximum: 512 MB
KURIAKI
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Posts: 1037
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:37 pm
Location: Cancun, Mexico

Biostar M7VKA
Latest BIOS update:
http://www.biostar-usa.com/mbdownloads.asp?model=m7vka
From Biostar FAQ's
Q 1 : Can my M6TWx/M7VKx series motherboard support the new Windows XP system?
Ans : Biostar have updated the entire necessary driver for all devices used on M6TWx series and M7VKx series motherboards. With the latest released updated driver, M6TWx and M7VKx series motherboards are able to support Windows XP system.
Via 4in1 drivers:
ftp://ftp.biostar-usa.com/drivers/Chips ... 1_456V.EXE
More than 100,000 BIOS strings in my database just now!
http:/ /www.kuriaki.has.it/
http:/ /www.supportbios.info
------------------------------------------
Saludos desde Cancun, Mexico
KURIAKI
scoutdad
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Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:45 pm

Wonderful! Thank you for your assistance! I'll attempt to update the BIOS tonight and then load XP. Here's hoping...
scoutdad
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Joined: Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:45 pm

Well -- THAT didn't go as planned.
I couldn't run the "Via 4in1 drivers" executable.
It didn't fit on a floppy and I could not access it on my ZIP drive.

I needed to get the system up ASAP, so I decided to try to reload WIN98se, which was also giving me a hard time.
I thought updating the BIOS to the newer version, 1.5, would help.

I ran the update, but must have done something wrong.
When I power up the system, the HD and fan start up, but that's IT -- NO other sign of life that I can see.

I went out and bought the new system I probably needed anyway, so my immediate need was satisfied. I can connect to my work system with no problems.

Now that I have more time to work with the old system, I want to fix it for the kids to use for homework.

So -- does it sound like I'm missing something in completing the BIOS update, or did I really kill it?

If it is dead, how do I bring it back to life?
Can I just replace the motherboard?

Thank you for your help and patience!
KURIAKI
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Posts: 1037
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2004 9:37 pm
Location: Cancun, Mexico

Are you followed the instructions?
1. Download the BIOS file VKA1031B.BIN
2. Make a bootable floppy disk with Windows 95/98/98SE/ME. Windows NT/2000/XP WILL NOT work.
3. Copy the BIOS file and AWD826g.EXE to the floppy disk.
4. Restart the computer and boot from that floppy disk.
5. Enter "AWD826g.EXE VKA1031B.BIN" at the DOS prompt.
6. When the flashing utility prompts you "Do you want to save BIOS (Y/N)?", enter "Y" if you wish to save the original BIOS for backup purpose. Otherwise enter "N".
7. When the flashing utility prompts you "Are you sure to program?", answer "Y".
8. Reset the computer when flashing is complete.
9. During bootup, press <DELETE> to enter CMOS setup.
10. At the CMOS setup main menu, choose "Load Optimized Defaults" and press "Y" to confirm.
11. Finally, press <F10> to save and exit.
12. BIOS update is complete.
More than 100,000 BIOS strings in my database just now!
http:/ /www.kuriaki.has.it/
http:/ /www.supportbios.info
------------------------------------------
Saludos desde Cancun, Mexico
KURIAKI
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