Can a AWARD bios be flashed if computer has no floppy?
Posted: Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:57 pm
Hello,
I just purchased 3 industrial computer boards that were modified slightly from the regular production line for an original commercial customer.
On board is an AWARD 4.51PG bios customized to have a setup password built into the firmware and not the CMOS. For his unique application, he had the PS/2 mouse and floppy disk controller switched off in the bios before locking it down with the password protection.
I would like to flash this bios with the generic bios rom code available from the manufacturer for users who bought the regular production line version.
In spite of being locked, the BIOS will detect my hard disk and boot up Windows 98 on it, where the Windows was built on another system before hand. The keyboard and serial mouse also function. I use a video controller card.
If I temporarily move this hard disk to another system, I can add software as needed.
I am asking if it is possible to create a hard disk, with a minimum DOS or Windows on it, that when booted by my industrial computer, would allow me to flash the BIOS?
I understand there is a requirement for low level memory mapping, which a bootable diskette achieves.
Could a hard drive be made to look like a cloned version of such a bootable standalone diskette?
P.S. I created a boot disk on a CD from PCDOS700-nrg.zip and unfortunately, this CD would not boot after I disconnected the hard disk from the ide cable. It seems that my current BIOS will only boot from a hard disk.
Thanks
I just purchased 3 industrial computer boards that were modified slightly from the regular production line for an original commercial customer.
On board is an AWARD 4.51PG bios customized to have a setup password built into the firmware and not the CMOS. For his unique application, he had the PS/2 mouse and floppy disk controller switched off in the bios before locking it down with the password protection.
I would like to flash this bios with the generic bios rom code available from the manufacturer for users who bought the regular production line version.
In spite of being locked, the BIOS will detect my hard disk and boot up Windows 98 on it, where the Windows was built on another system before hand. The keyboard and serial mouse also function. I use a video controller card.
If I temporarily move this hard disk to another system, I can add software as needed.
I am asking if it is possible to create a hard disk, with a minimum DOS or Windows on it, that when booted by my industrial computer, would allow me to flash the BIOS?
I understand there is a requirement for low level memory mapping, which a bootable diskette achieves.
Could a hard drive be made to look like a cloned version of such a bootable standalone diskette?
P.S. I created a boot disk on a CD from PCDOS700-nrg.zip and unfortunately, this CD would not boot after I disconnected the hard disk from the ide cable. It seems that my current BIOS will only boot from a hard disk.
Thanks