Page 1 of 1

40GB: 07/16/1999-i440BX/ZX-977-2A69KPABC-00

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 1:56 am
by swm
I have installed a new hard drive on my computer, replacing the old 6GB one with a 40GB one. The only problem is my computer is only a Pentium III 500MHz and the BIOS cannot detect the drive (I've heard they only detect to about 32GB).

I have it on auto detect now but it just hangs, but if I try to enter it manually it doesn't work either. :oops:

How do I find out how to update my BIOS so my hard drive can be found? I have no idea what I have on there now or what specific processor I have... How can I find these things out? :?:

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 2:06 am
by NickS
Read and obey:
http://www.wimsbios.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1255
When Soupy says "your make & model or BIOS id string" he means the motherboard.

When we know what your motherboard is we can tell you whether we can find a BIOS which will allow you to use the 40GB drive. :)

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:18 pm
by swm
I can't get into anything to run the program, all I can get from the computer is this when I start it up:

Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG, An Energy Star Ally
Copyright (c) 1984-98, Award Software, Inc.

07/16/1999 for i440BX/ZX AGPset

PENTIUM III-MMX CPU at 500(100#5)MHz
Memory Test : 131072K OK

Award Plug and Play BIOS Extension v1.0A
Copyright (c) 1998, Award Software, Inc.



and then at the very bottom of the screen:

07/16/1999-i440BX/ZX-977-2A69KPABC-00


I don't know if this is of any help... :?:

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 12:32 pm
by NickS
Just what we needed. And with a Google search we find:
motherboards.org wrote:One of these: EP-61BXA-M (2M) EP-6ZXB EP-6ZXM EP-BX2 EP-BX2P EP-BX3 EP-BXC-A EP-BXT EP-ZXA
Please check the board surface for an EP-xx part number printed on the board surface.
Toby
That's Epox
http://www.epox.nl/english/support/bios/slot1.htm may be the page you are looking for.

Posted: Wed Jan 14, 2004 10:08 pm
by swm
Okay, went and checked, it's EP-6ZXM...

Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2004 12:25 pm
by NickS
I can't find the EP-6ZXM referred to on the Epox corporate or .nl websites, but the BIOS ID matches with the BIOS for BXAM 2M / BXC / BX3 / BX5 / BXT at the link I gave you above and a BIOS of your date is listed under EP-6ZXM at motherboards.orgs' BIOS archive, http://www.motherboards.org/biosup/p/EP-6ZXM/3252.html - top of the list at bxc-09716.exe.

I suggest you update using bxc00920.exe from one of these two sites. You can email Epox support to confirm but you may have to wait a while for a reply.

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2004 3:57 am
by swm
I tried to use the file, extracted it onto a disk, but it came up with "Please remove all media and press any key to restart"...

Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2004 10:56 am
by edwin
make the disk bootable first, get the bios flash/no drivers disk here:
http://www.bootdisk.com

then extract the other files to it (flash utility and update file).

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 9:59 am
by swm
I managed to update, I think... I got to A:> and typed UPDATE, which ran the thing and then reloaded and said update sucessful, but it still has all my old BIOS information when I start up...

I used these instructions included with the BIOS update...

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 <DEL> 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.


I went into CMOS and chose LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS and confirmed it, but I saved and exited and nothing else came up...

Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2004 11:56 am
by Ritchie
Not to worry - You have followed the manufacturer's instructions and I would say you have sucessfully updated the BIOS.

Sometimes the difference between an old and new BIOS patch is difficult to notice, but you have ran the update, which apparently went through sucessfully, rebooted, and reset to defaults, which I always a good idea. Again, not much obvious happens after loading defaults, so you have probably done OK here also. If it were me I would be customising some BIOS settings now but as you may not have the knowledge or experience it may be best to accept the defaults. However, if the BIOS patch lifted the size hard disks supported, you should now be able to detect your new drive (providing the drive is cabled and setup correctly - but don't worry about this until you know whether you can detect or not).

Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2004 12:49 am
by swm
Thanks, I *think* it has updated... The computer is picking it up now :)