Please Help, Bios Update

How-to identify your motherboard ?
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Analyzer
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Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:24 pm

Hi,

Here are the Full details of my PC please help me to find the right
bios upgrade before I kill my motherboard.

IBM Aptiva 2164-73A P III 500 MG HZ, 256 MG RAM

Program: Unicore BIOS Wizard Version 1.5

BIOS Date : 07/07/99
Bios Version: v3.2 66MEN4Q <---- my current bios version
BIOS Type : Acer OEM
BIOS ID : IBM8E000-I0C-990707-R04-Q0 EN
Chipset : Intel 440BX/ZX rev 3
Superio : SMC 70x or 80x rev 0 found at port 3F0h

From the above I've gathered that its an Intel motherboard with an
Acer Bios..

V66M is written on my motherboard's Bios

I am confused should I look for a bios upgrade for Intel 440BX/ZX rev 3 or V66M?

I know of one correct update that is from IBM aptiva support:-

Version 66MEN4Q Release Date 2000/04/24

I just applied this bios update but my bios remained the same :-

v3.2 66MEN4Q Release Date 07/07/99

How come after I applied the above bios update which was released on 2000/04/24 it did not change at least the release date of the bios?? is this right?

Here is where I got it from:-
http://www-1.ibm.com/support/docview.ws ... us&lang=en

Please let me know if you know of the correct bios update for this motherboard and save me time from looking, I already wasted 2 days.

Thanks
Analyzer
New visitors - please read the rules.
Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:24 pm

Anyone !!!
ajzchips
El cheapo dude
Posts: 3048
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2002 12:41 pm
Location: Madrid, Spain

I recently flashed and built system based on that board. The latest version is that which you already have, IIRC. BTW, that BIOS correctly supported a 60GB HDD.

The release date should never be trusted. It could have perfectly been the date IBM decided to put it up for public downloading.
Analyzer
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Posts: 3
Joined: Tue Feb 24, 2004 6:24 pm

Do you think I can use these 2 bios updates from this link

I am thinking since my Bios is V66M then I can use the bios update
for Acer Aspire 6100 motherboard...

http://support.acer-euro.com/drivers/de ... _6100.html

There is also this one:-

http://www.bios-drivers.com/drivers/67/67630.htm

the reason I need an update is because :

1- I have now a 160GB Drive but only 137GB is recognized.

2- I am running Win2K3 Server and doesn't recognize Slave Drives...
Windows XP does but not Server 2003.

please let me know if you think I could use these updates for my motherboard or if there are others..

Also do you know if my motherboard supports Boot block so in case I stuff up and flash the wrong file I can revert to my old bios??

Thanks.
ajzchips
El cheapo dude
Posts: 3048
Joined: Sat Mar 23, 2002 12:41 pm
Location: Madrid, Spain

The ACER version of the BIOS will hang at POST. You need the IBM version. Your board did come in an APTIVA as you mentioned.
Maximum native HDD support was only tested upto 60GB. The chipset won't support HDDs over 120GB. It's a chipset limitation, but the BIOS has to support upto 120GB which I have never tested.
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