Pentium I BIOS trouble...
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:35 pm
The other day I was trying to get my old pentium I working as a router. I installed Linux and it went well. But then after a few reboots I started getting a message "Checksum error, defaults loaded". But this message wouldn't go away. So I thought may be the dust is interfering with the BIOS. So I tried to pull out the chip and unfortunately some of the legs just snapped off it. It was quite old... Anyway, now I am in a fix. I already spent a few hundred bucks in networking equipment and my router box won't work simply because the BIOS chip is busted. Here is the info I have got about the computer:
1. Pentium I 166MHz
2. VIA chipset. (I can see chips with numbers like VT82C586A, VT82C587VP and VT82C585VPX)
3. There is no motherboard model other than a 5SVA ver 1.3 written on it.
4. It's a socket 7 motherboard.
5. It's an Award BIOS (Award 1997 PCI/PNP 586 117256043)
I peeled off the label from the BIOS chip and I could see the following detail: Flash P28F001 BXT120 U74918J1 1990 1993
What do I do now? I heard from a friend that these are "EEPROM" chips which can be easily replaced. I just need to get the BIOS software and write it on a fresh EEPROM. But that is as far as he could tell me. So my questions are:
1. Is he right?
2. Which EEPROM should I use?
3. I dont have the BIOS string. How do I find the right software?
4. Where do I get the software for my CPU/Motherboard?
4. How do I program(flash?) the new chip?
5. How much will the chip cost me?
Please help me out. I am short on cash now so don't ask me to purchase a new machine
Thanks in advance!!!
1. Pentium I 166MHz
2. VIA chipset. (I can see chips with numbers like VT82C586A, VT82C587VP and VT82C585VPX)
3. There is no motherboard model other than a 5SVA ver 1.3 written on it.
4. It's a socket 7 motherboard.
5. It's an Award BIOS (Award 1997 PCI/PNP 586 117256043)
I peeled off the label from the BIOS chip and I could see the following detail: Flash P28F001 BXT120 U74918J1 1990 1993
What do I do now? I heard from a friend that these are "EEPROM" chips which can be easily replaced. I just need to get the BIOS software and write it on a fresh EEPROM. But that is as far as he could tell me. So my questions are:
1. Is he right?
2. Which EEPROM should I use?
3. I dont have the BIOS string. How do I find the right software?
4. Where do I get the software for my CPU/Motherboard?
4. How do I program(flash?) the new chip?
5. How much will the chip cost me?
Please help me out. I am short on cash now so don't ask me to purchase a new machine
Thanks in advance!!!