Old Motherboard BIOS update? \ VOGONS

Old Motherboard BIOS update?

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First post, by Staticblast

Posted on 2017-08-27, 11:29

Staticblast Offline

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I've got an old Soyo 5EMA+ motherboard, currently flashed to BIOS version 1DA1. I know there's a newer version out, and I have the file, but I can't make head or tail of how to flash it. Do I have to use awdflash.exe, or is there a Windows alternative for this board?

If I have to use awdflash, how do I use it? I've never had to before, and I don't understand which flags to use, either.

4-in-1 build (thanks Phil!): AMD K6-III+ 450 / SOYO 5EMA+ / 128MB SDRAM / 80GB Seagate HDD / Voodoo 3 3000 / Orchid Righteous 3D / Sound Blaster CT2960 / MPU-401 PCMIDI Clone / HxC Floppy Emulator / 15" CRT monitor

Reply 1 of 6, by the Goat

Posted on 2017-08-27, 11:59

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I recommend using a dedicated flasher (ie https://www.amazon.com/High-speed-TL866CS-Uni … g/dp/B00AWJ7SA4) to flash a separate chip instead of trying to overwrite your currently working bios in the board.

Reply 2 of 6, by cj_reha

Posted on 2017-08-27, 12:24

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To use awdflash, boot the system using a Windows 98 boot floppy (or similar). Run the program, which should be on a separate floppy with the BIOS file. It should ask what file to program, so type "(name).bin" (keep in mind all files should be in same directory for this to work. If it asks to backup the old BIOS, I suggest doing it. Type in a name for it and press enter, and continue following instructions on screen. It should flash the BIOS, and restart the PC. If all went well it should display the new BIOS at boot.

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Reply 3 of 6, by Staticblast

Posted on 2017-08-27, 19:15

Staticblast Offline

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the Goat wrote:
I recommend using a dedicated flasher (ie https://www.amazon.com/High-speed-TL866CS-Uni … g/dp/B00AWJ7SA4) to flash a separate chip instead of trying to overwrite your currently working bios in the board.

You mean buy a completely separate bios chip, flash that and then swap the two out?

cj_reha wrote:
To use awdflash, boot the system using a Windows 98 boot floppy (or similar). Run the program, which should be on a separate floppy with the BIOS file. It should ask what file to program, so type "(name).bin" (keep in mind all files should be in same directory for this to work. If it asks to backup the old BIOS, I suggest doing it. Type in a name for it and press enter, and continue following instructions on screen. It should flash the BIOS, and restart the PC. If all went well it should display the new BIOS at boot.

So, no need to worry about command-line flags, just run the program and follow the prompts?

Reply 4 of 6, by lazibayer

Posted on 2017-08-27, 19:25

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Staticblast wrote:
the Goat wrote:
I recommend using a dedicated flasher (ie https://www.amazon.com/High-speed-TL866CS-Uni … g/dp/B00AWJ7SA4) to flash a separate chip instead of trying to overwrite your currently working bios in the board.

You mean buy a completely separate bios chip, flash that and then swap the two out?

Why not?

Reply 5 of 6, by Staticblast

Posted on 2017-08-27, 20:29

Staticblast Offline

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lazibayer wrote:
Staticblast wrote:
the Goat wrote:
I recommend using a dedicated flasher (ie https://www.amazon.com/High-speed-TL866CS-Uni … g/dp/B00AWJ7SA4) to flash a separate chip instead of trying to overwrite your currently working bios in the board.

You mean buy a completely separate bios chip, flash that and then swap the two out?

Why not?

Not saying it's a bad idea, just wanted to make sure I understood correctly.

That said, paying $60+ for the chip programmer, and the cost for a chip, when I only plan on doing it once seems a little excessive.

Reply 6 of 6, by the Goat

Posted on 2017-08-28, 00:15

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Staticblast wrote:
the Goat wrote:
I recommend using a dedicated flasher (ie https://www.amazon.com/High-speed-TL866CS-Uni … g/dp/B00AWJ7SA4) to flash a separate chip instead of trying to overwrite your currently working bios in the board.

You mean buy a completely separate bios chip, flash that and then swap the two out?

Yes. That is the safest and most flexible way to do it.

Staticblast wrote:
Not saying it's a bad idea, just wanted to make sure I understood correctly.

That said, paying $60+ for the chip programmer, and the cost for a chip, when I only plan on doing it once seems a little excessive.

Yup, it is not the cheapest solution if you will only ever flash one chip one time. It is up to you whether or not buying the programmer would be a useful investment.

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