ux-3 wrote on 2024-08-14, 16:39:

Chkcpu wrote on 2024-08-02, 18:22:

Note that the latest 586ATX3 v4.0 BIOS is from July/1998 and therefore uses a mid-1998 core. Although the BIOS Patcher tool remo […]
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Note that the latest 586ATX3 v4.0 BIOS is from July/1998 and therefore uses a mid-1998 core. Although the BIOS Patcher tool removed several bugs and improved CPU and HDD support, your patched version v4.0 is still an 1998 BIOS at heart.
The 586ATX3 Unicore is almost 2 years younger, being from April 2000, so it has an updated core.

I’ve checked the Unicore BIOS for ACPI, and it has indeed both APM and ACPI support. The POWER MANAGEMENT menu allows to control both features.
So this Unicore BIOS may be worth a try when troubleshooting the Win98 shutdown issues on your ATX3 rig.
Maybe even the SanDisk 16GB issue will go away. 😉

I tried the unicore bios and it turned out to be a disaster. The board failed to recognize any IDE devices. After flashing back the 4.0 Bios, the board no longer posts a picture at all nor does it boot from even floppy.

I now need a way to flash the bios chip with the former 4.0 bios. What hardware do I need? Or in case it isn't economical to buy a programmer, is there a service for this?

Hi ux-3,

Strange that the GA-586ATX3 Unicore BIOS gave you troubles with IDE drives. I didn’t see any problems when I tested this BIOS earlier.

So flashing the official 4.0 BIOS back probably went bad and the BIOS is now corrupted.
Some questions:
- Which flasher did you use, Uniflash or Awdflash, and which version?
- Did you get any error message during the 4.0 BIOS flash?
- Did you flash including bootblock?
- Did you try clearing the CMOS?
- Do you have a POST analyzer card, so you can tell us at which POST code the BIOS hangs?

Hopefully the bootblock is still intact, so you can do a bootblock recovery from floppy.
Do you have an ISA videocard? The reason I ask is that the BIOS bootblock has only basic video support and can’t show any picture from a PCI videocard.
If you get a picture with an ISA videocard, the bootblock is probably okay and a BIOS bootblock recovery is possible.

Alternately you may have to re-program the BIOS flashchip in an EEPROM programmer like a TL866 or XGecu T48. Luckily your flashchip is in a socket so this is possible without any soldering. 😉

Jan

- Which flasher did you use, Uniflash or Awdflash, and which version?
Awdflash, the version that came with the bios I flashed respectively.
- Did you get any error message during the 4.0 BIOS flash?
No, the flash completed, showed F10 for exit but PC no longer responded to anything
- Did you flash including bootblock?
I don't think so. AWDflash Biosname.bin
- Did you try clearing the CMOS?
I took out the battery.
- Do you have a POST analyzer card, so you can tell us at which POST code the BIOS hangs?
no.

Machine does not attempt to boot from floppy. If IDE devices are connected, IDE light will go on solid for ~20 seconds then go off. No response.

Do you have an ISA videocard? The reason I ask is that the BIOS bootblock has only basic video support and can’t show any picture from a PCI videocard.

I do and I can try that. Edit: Still no picture and no boot attempt from floppy.

Alternately you may have to re-program the BIOS flashchip in an EEPROM programmer like a TL866 or XGecu T48. Luckily your flashchip is in a socket so this is possible without any soldering. 😉

I have already contacted a flash service, but the chip is still mounted.

ux-3 wrote on 2024-08-15, 05:18:

- Which flasher did you use, Uniflash or Awdflash, and which version? Awdflash, the version that came with the bios I flashed re […]
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- Which flasher did you use, Uniflash or Awdflash, and which version?
Awdflash, the version that came with the bios I flashed respectively.
- Did you get any error message during the 4.0 BIOS flash?
No, the flash completed, showed F10 for exit but PC no longer responded to anything
- Did you flash including bootblock?
I don't think so. AWDflash Biosname.bin
- Did you try clearing the CMOS?
I took out the battery.
- Do you have a POST analyzer card, so you can tell us at which POST code the BIOS hangs?
no.

Machine does not attempt to boot from floppy. If IDE devices are connected, IDE light will go on solid for ~20 seconds then go off. No response.

Do you have an ISA videocard? The reason I ask is that the BIOS bootblock has only basic video support and can’t show any picture from a PCI videocard.

I do and I can try that. Edit: Still no picture and no boot attempt from floppy.

Alternately you may have to re-program the BIOS flashchip in an EEPROM programmer like a TL866 or XGecu T48. Luckily your flashchip is in a socket so this is possible without any soldering. 😉

I have already contacted a flash service, but the chip is still mounted.

From your answers, I see no possibility for a BIOS bootblock recovery.
So re-programming the BIOS flashchip is needed.

This is getting a bit of-topic here, so its nice you started a separate topic Need help with reflashing a bricked bios

Cheers, Jan

Chip got reflashed, board is alive.

Hello, I had the same problem with DMA mode / Win98 - 430TX motherboard, Award BIOS. I fixed the problem easily using BIOS Patcher.