byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-17, 16:22:

I don't have an EPROM programmer (like the XGecu T48) and they seem to be quite pricy, so I'd prefer to avoid buying one at this time just to program one or two BIOS ROMS.

I do have a PIC K150 programmer.

Is it somehow possible to use this device to program a 32-pin motherboard EPROM chip?

Just looking at the schematic for the PIC K150 Programmer and the answer becomes clear.

The short answer is No.
No, you can't use a PIC K150 programmer to program an parallel eeprom that is most often used in old computers for the bios.

byte_76 wrote on 2025-03-17, 16:22:

... I do have a PIC K150 programmer.
Is it somehow possible to use this device to program a 32-pin motherboard EPROM chip?

There's virtually no chance that a PIC programmer would be able to program any kind of EPROM
let alone one "big enough" to use in a PC.

Since you have a PIC programmer, I' m assuming you are OK with/acceptably good at building little
special purpose gadgets... You could probably make your own programmer using a PIC ...
but the "big question" is "how much work do you want to do?"

Programming a device just involves controlling digital out bits.
but .. you have to do so in the correct way, which means reading
(and understanding) the manufacturers device programming
specifications and implementing the programming algorithms correctly!
This can be fairly "tricky".

Most of these digital bits are effectively direct connects to the device
(with suitable protection/level change as needed) ... but some devices
need very non-usual voltages ... for example, traditional EPROMs needed
(depending on the type) 27v, 25v, 21v, 12v etc. -- and for some devices
these need to be switched fast (like any other digital signal)!

Back in the 1990s I designed and built my own EPROM programmer (had an
internal 6809 processor and could do all the common EPROMs of the day)
I still have it, and still use it sometimes!

Another thing that can be a problem more with modern "big" devices, is
having enough I/O bits to be able to drive all the device address,
data and control signals.

Again, back in the 90s I built a "quick and dirty" EEPROM programmer
which I didn't make a microcontroller for .. it attached to a PC parallel
port (nowhere near enough address lines), so I used a chain of counters
which requires only two control lines:
RESET (set to 000000....) and STEP (advance count)

It worked for the particular device I was trying to rescue, and I don't
think I ever needed it again! (although I probably still have it somewhere
in my workshop/basement)

But ... that was many years ago, and device programmers were not at all
easy to get cheap ... there's lots of good/cheap stuff on the market
these days, and .. even though I've built such devices before, I'd strongly
consider "just picking one up" now!

Thanks, I’ll look for a cheap programmer to buy.

I’m aware of the TL866 but they aren’t exactly cheap, so any suggestions for a more affordable option would be welcomed.
It isn’t something I’ll be using regularly so I’d rather not waste money if there are more affordable alternatives.

I actually FOUND the thing! - I *thought* I had seen it a a box at the
back of the workshow a few months back, so I looked again and there it was!

Attached photo is of the parallel port EEPROM programmer, sitting on top
of my 6809 based EPROM programmer.

Sorry, it was quite dark, and I wanted to show that the EPROM programmer
still works ("Ready" on it's display) - totally wiped out if I used a flash
- I had to gamma-correct it a LOT.

If anyone is interested in finding out more about the EPROM programmer,
I did sell the design for a while (so there is documentation) and I did
publish all of it (schematics, source code etc.) as part of my "Retirement
Project - publish 40+ years worth of my source code" which you can access
on my site.