Flashing a BIOS update - XP Pro PC

[BrianS]

After a few crashes and BLODs, I have run some diagnostics on my PC an was surprised to find that my old AmiBios doesn't recognise my Semeron 3000 CPU (thinks its an Athlon MP 1200). An updated BIOS provides for the new chip so I need to flash the BIOS.

I have downloaded the correct .exe program and BIOS file but the instructions say:

"For update BIOS, Please run AWDXX.EXE under real-mode DOS.
Don't run from Windows95 or WindowsNT simluated DOS."

Not sure what this means and had a look in the XP help files.

Would it be correct to create an MS-DOS startup disc which would apparently boot into an MS-DOS prompt - is that what the instruction means?

Advice will be appreciated!

 

[Womble]

Flashing the BIOS from a floppy is pretty much what they mean here.

You might be able to persuade the PC to boot from a USB stick as well, but if you have a floppy lying around, that's the simplest route.

Edit: An alternative would be to create a bootable CD with the files on it. For instance, I use Norton Ghost which creates DOS bootable CDs which would do the job a treat.

 

[BrianS]

Thanks for the response TW - much appreciated.

I set to and created the MS-DOS boot floppy disc, restarted the PC, went into the BIOS to change the settings so that the PC would boot from the floppy drive to test my new boot disc and............. when it restarted..... the bootup screen showed that I had a Semperon 3000 (spot on!) - how weird is that?????

I am delighted that I now don't have to attempt to flash the BIOS but I really don't understand what happened at all

Never mind - after a further reboot another issue arose but that's for a new thread