awdflash.exe /Pn filename.bin /Sy

will save current BIOS as filename.bin but not program a new file. The order of the switches and the filename is important (/Pn before filename and /Sy at the end)

OTOH... that chip is not a plain flash chip but an Intel "firmware hub" which means it may be write protected, or maybe even secured from reading... I haven't had much luck with awdflash flashing that type of chip, and most of the times even reading it.
https://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/do … EL/82802AB.html

Try mode con lines=25 to try get it in 320x200x60hz resolution

DOS command line resolution

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/VGA_text_mode

Yeah, the mode con lines=25 didn't seem to help. Also seems like once the boot disk loads, I can't do anything. At least I can't see the screen changing and type 'dir' doesn't actually spin up the floppy.

Though, I might be able to create a boot floppy that does the AWDFLASH commands, since it does seem to run through whatever is in autoexec.bat.

Interesting. Created a dummy boot disk, and tossed awdflash 5.6 on it and added "awdflash.exe /Pn musbios.bin /Sy" into autoexec.bat.

It booted into awdflash and I can actually see the screen/text like normal. I don't hear the floppy spinning, but it's giving me a flashing 'Please Wait !' in the Error Message box. No idea if it's actually doing it though.

Ah well, maybe I need to try other versions of AWDFlash.

Try adding the /f switch. It forces the file to flash regardless.

MeatballB wrote on 2024-10-05, 19:47:

Interesting. Created a dummy boot disk, and tossed awdflash 5.6 on it and added "awdflash.exe /Pn musbios.bin /Sy" into autoexec.bat.

It booted into awdflash and I can actually see the screen/text like normal. I don't hear the floppy spinning, but it's giving me a flashing 'Please Wait !' in the Error Message box. No idea if it's actually doing it though.

The attachment awd1.jpg is no longer available

You needed 2 file names.
One to save, one to write.

myne wrote on 2024-10-05, 20:11:

You needed 2 file names.
One to save, one to write.

No, with /Pn you don't need to give it a filename to write

Yeah, I've tried a few different ways and versions of awdflash (5.34, 5.6, 8.99) at this point. I'm assuming the way this motherboard is setup has some sort of BIOS protection I can't get past to try to update it. At least not with the 810DTC BIOS. I'm either getting a 'System was not new AWARD BIOS version! Please updata ROM BIOS first ....' (5.34/5.6) or 'The program's file's part number does not match with your system!' (8.99).

Edit: DOH! I might have it working with 7.08. Just saved the old BIOS and in process of flashing the new...

BIOS Flash Hell - Please Assist

Uniflash
https://theretroweb.com/drivers/75

stamasd wrote on 2024-10-05, 20:17:

myne wrote on 2024-10-05, 20:11:

You needed 2 file names.
One to save, one to write.

No, with /Pn you don't need to give it a filename to write

https://forums.anandtech.com/threads/help-wha … t-uh-oh.620035/
Yeah you do

MeatballB wrote on 2024-10-05, 20:22:

Edit: DOH! I might have it working with 7.08. Just saved the old BIOS and in process of flashing the new...

And...?

Holy bananas...I got it working, sorta. It's got the 810DTC/810DTC+ BIOS on it and I'm able to see everything on screen (using either onboard or the TNT2), and get into BIOS or boot to a floppy boot disk and drop to a command prompt. I'm sure using the wrong BIOS is going to bite me somewhere, and I'm already seeing a few weird things, like the AT keyboard isn't working (it's a PS2 KB with a AT/PS2 adapter that I do know works on another machine) so I have to use a USB keyboard. That and I'm still getting a continual super fast beep from the PC speaker after it goes through the Memory test. But progress is progress I guess. 😀

Thanks everyone for the help so far!

Hmm, so no good deed goes unpunished. Still can't get the AT keyboard working, and now having some issues with the USB keyboard. I'm thinking the USB header/plate I have is just wired wrong. Has anyone seen a block like the one below? It's 10 full pins, and from the image, it looks like Pin 1 is on alternating sides for each USB port.

Yes, seen them and despaired.

Each side is pretty standard, but they're mirrored instead of being in the same orientation. Best quick course is to take a regular USB cable and fitting it to one of the two sides (so you don't accidentally fry anything in the other slot.

Yeah, I did a little bit of surgery and reversed the pinout on one side of the adapter I had, so it should match up fine. Problem is, I think you need to set something in BIOS to enable USB for the KB, and I can't do that without a USB KB or a working AT KB. 😀 Two steps forward, 3 steps back. I'll get there though.

MeatballB wrote on 2024-10-06, 01:11:

Yeah, I did a little bit of surgery and reversed the pinout on one side of the adapter I had, so it should match up fine. Problem is, I think you need to set something in BIOS to enable USB for the KB, and I can't do that without a USB KB or a working AT KB. 😀 Two steps forward, 3 steps back. I'll get there though.

Yes usually called "Legacy USB" or similar...added: I have some boards that just refuse to work in BIOS with USB and have to keep a At or PS/2 KB around just for them....

MeatballB wrote on 2024-10-06, 00:12:

Hmm, so no good deed goes unpunished. Still can't get the AT keyboard working, and now having some issues with the USB keyboard. I'm thinking the USB header/plate I have is just wired wrong. Has anyone seen a block like the one below? It's 10 full pins, and from the image, it looks like Pin 1 is on alternating sides for each USB port.

The attachment usbblock.jpg is no longer available

The joys of AT motherboards. That was one of several prior to finally settling on the nine pin one that we all know. This is probably it, but verify it with your meter.

Yeah I have a s7 motherboard (PCChips something-or-other can't remember the model) with that kind of USB header. I ended up taking a standard 2xUSB bracket, and pulled the pins out of the plug on one side and inserted them in reverse order. It was pretty fiddly because they were hard to extract, but in the end it worked without breaking anything.
(... and once I had it working, I actually glued it in place to the motherboard so I'm not tempted to pull it out and reuse by accident in a standard pinout header 😀 )