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Crossflash from AMI to AWARD for MS-6119

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 1:29 pm
by whizkid
I have an MS-6119 motherboard with AMI BIOS A611901 V1.0B3 063098.
I am having problem installing a maxtor 40GB HDD. The system hangs when I do auto HDD detect.
The manufacturer has an AWARD BIOS upgrade for this board. Can I use this bios to replace the AMI and how can I do that. Any risk of my board going dead?.

The full BIOS string is:

61-0721-001169-00111111-071595-440LX-1440L000-H

Thanks for your help.

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 2:52 pm
by ajzchips
Crossflash if you really must. Your 6/1998 AMI BIOS should be able to support large HDDs, although Autodetect can fail. It will most probably work if you enter the HDD parameters manually.

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 4:40 pm
by whizkid
I entered the HDD parameters manually and all I got was 32GB. I am not sure if Windows is using all the 40GB despite the BIOS problem. I found out that the motherboard even has MS6132 written on it despte the BIOS indicating that it is MS6119.

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 6:15 pm
by NickS
I don't mean to be insulting, but have you removed the 32GB limit jumper from the drive ?

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 6:59 pm
by whizkid
I did not know about this jumper. Do you know where this is likely to be on the motherboard.? Since I bougth the PC a long while ago, I no longer have the manual.

Thanks for your help.

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 9:20 pm
by Ger@ld
Halo,

do it! Some years before I did crossflash my MS 6117 from AMI to Award and its working fine :D
I suggest, take the last aviable Award BIOS, maybe a beta and if you also have the 32 Gb limitation, look for a patched BIOS. I did use the BIOSpatcher from http://rom.by/articles/BP/index_english.htm
this is an wonderful tool :wink: and it didn't made trouble - never and i used it over a dozen times!
with a patched BIOS you can use up to 120 Gb HDDs

Bye, Gerald

Re: jumpers

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 9:35 pm
by georgep
whizkid wrote:I did not know about this jumper. Do you know where this is likely to be on the motherboard.? Since I bougth the PC a long while ago, I no longer have the manual.

Thanks for your help.
The jumper NickS is talking about would be on the back of the hard drive. Description of jumper settings would be printed on the hard drive, or in the support section at Maxtor.

Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2003 10:23 pm
by whizkid
The capacity Limiting jumper on the drive is not ON. So that cannot be the problem. Thanks to everyone for your help.

I am unable to download the patcher from the web site mentioned.

Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2003 2:50 am
by Denniss
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/b ... 105&kind=1

Crossflashing to Retail Award Bios is possible but there's no guarantee it will work flawless .
Make sure you pick the right Bios depending on whether your Board has CPU PnP(configuration in Bios) oder Jumpers !

Posted: Mon Dec 08, 2003 4:02 pm
by NickS
Ger@ld wrote:I did use the BIOSpatcher from http://rom.by/articles/BP/index_english.htm
this is an wonderful tool :wink: and it didn't made trouble - never and i used it over a dozen times!
with a patched BIOS you can use up to 120 Gb HDDs
It is good, but it isn't 100% - you will find the odd BIOS which does not work afterwards. Either patch will take you up to 137GB - if anyone made a 137GB drive. :wink:
MSI 6119 BIOSes which should support up to 64GB can be found at:
1.1 (DIP switch/jumper CPU selection) board
1.2 (P'n'P CPU selection) board.
The 1.2 board BIOS patched for 128GB with Rainbow's utility can be found at the "untested" link in my signature.

If you have a MS-6132 like it says on the board:
http://www.msi.com.tw/program/support/d ... 254&kind=1 has an Award BIOS.
BIOS ID string: 02/12/98-i440EX-W977-2A69JM49C-00
BIOS OEM string: W6132MS V1.1 062998

which does not support HDD > 32GB but is patchable...done.