A CF memory card arrived today, the capacity is 4GB, more than enough for an installation of DOS and Windows 9X, if you want you could also use it for XP, but for what I have in mind, that is DOS+W9X, that's fine.

At this point 🧵 I can start installing Windows, the MB I use is the M550, currently it has only 32 MB of RAM, and an AMD K6 233 CPU, I would like to reach 128 MB of RAM and 400 MHz (with a K6-2), I have to add some things, one or two serial ports, and if I can also that PS/2 (mouse), and also an ASUS MIR card for USB ports.

Then I would change the VGA and add a sound card, initially I thought an SB16 ISA with a vibra chip, but alternatively I could use a PCI, for example an SB Live! It seems to me maybe 🤔 a bit excessive, then of course 👌 if there are no big problems with the drivers, all in all it could be there, because a K6-2-400 is not too slower than 🫡 the PII-400.

As for the MB, Olidata OLI-BX (aka ASUS P2B), I gave a ☝️ look 👀, to see if there is something missing, so in addition to the BIOS chip and the battery holder 🪫, a couple of jumpers are missing, and I think that if the card is tested without those two jumpers, it could give some problem (or not start), and so I have to put a couple, recovering them somewhere.

But looking closer, I notice some pins of the ASUS chip, bent and one ☝️ I think it's touching the nearby one, I try to put them back in place 💺, with the help of a (magnifying glass), but it's not possible because I don't have enough space 🚀, so I have to do everything with the naked eye 👁.

I can create enough space 🚀, they are not perfectly aligned, but now no pin touches the nearby one.

I check the inside of the slots, to see if there is any problem, they all seemed to be fine, I will still try to clean them, to remove dirt or oxide, in short, everything should be in excellent condition.

With the AMD K6 233 PC (PCCHIPS M550), I ran almost all the DOS bench, actually there would be others, but I already have a fairly precise picture 🖼 with those of Phil's, and I ran several diagnostic programs, which inform me about what I have between my paws .

However, there was ASTRA that didn't work, and the answer was, try a later beta version of the program, it took me a while but today I downloaded and ran ASTRA 7.11 beta, which would be the latest version of this DOS program.

Since this is a beta version, in the future there will be a definitive version based on this, with the necessary corrections of any problems.

The info shows in detail the configuration of the PC, which is currently quite sparse, indeed in the short term RAM and VGA change, I add memory to get to 64 or 128 MB, I add a sound card, maybe the PS/2 port, or the serials, to connect a mouse, and finally CF change, to load Windows 98 SE.

When I'm done, I'll be able to do other bench and diagnostics, at least the usual ones, then let's see later, to make a CPU change, I think an AMD K6-2 with 400 MHz or more.

I'm slowly modifying the configuration of the M550 PC with AMD K6 233, actually by diagnostic programs it is recognized as 586TX, which is written in a label 🏷 on the MB, I think that's the real name, and that there are identical MBs called M550.

First I tried 128 and 64 MB RAM modules, unfortunately none of them worked, but this does not exclude that there are modules that work instead, unfortunately not having much time available, I simply found another 32 MB module and I added it, in total I now have 64 MB, a little few for my tastes but enough for Windows 98SE, to run quite well

Another upgrade, the PCI video card, I put a 2 MB PCI S3 expandable to 4 MB, the chip is S3 Virge 86C325, I think it is adequate for a similar PC, however later if needed, since I will switch to a K6-2 of 400 MHz or more, I could expand the RAM or change again ️ video card.

During the RAM test, I saw in one case, that the PC started but the 64 MB RAM was recognized as 16 MB, while with a 128 MB one, the PC does not start, it gets stuck at the post codes in the photo.

I currently have two SDRAM modules with GM72VXXXX chip, I don't know if they are both PC100, or not, but I think both work at 66, which I understand no S.7 card works at a different speed than the FSB, that is, if the CPU goes to 66 the RAM does not go to 100

Unlike what I detected, the PC can be expanded to 128 MB, and even beyond, to have 128 MB I would have to find two 64 MB modules with GM72VXXXX chip, I definitely have some, but then you have to see if it reads them in full, in case I try to change one of those 32 MB, if it goes well it detects 96 MB, and at that point I also change the other 32 MB, so I should get to 128 MB.

Still regarding the S.7 M550 with K6 233, now that I have a more than enough quantity for Windows 98SE, I should connect the CF or SD card, via IDE 40PIN adapter, and a CD player, the latter to avoid loading it from floppy, however, there is a problem, the back compatibility with software that works with Windows 3 is lost. X, normally it wouldn't be a problem at all, in fact if you want a PC that works with previous programs, the problem is there, but there is also a solution.!!!

Through a modified boot file, you can make both Windows 98SE and Windows 3 coexist. X

I haven't tried ️ yet, but it would be very useful, because this way we don't need a second memory card, or an old HD, in which to keep the 3. X, just install everything in a directory like WIN3X, and at any time start the old Windows, in short everything is very simple, but I don't think you can have the two Windows available at the same time.

A description in Italian can be found here:

Https://backlab.wordpress.com/2013/02/1 ... indows-98/

I continue with the upgrades, unfortunately at the moment I can't put more RAM than 64 MB, the 64 MB modules are read as 16 MB, I tried a couple, but I should have others in the PC, or I should change both with others that the PC recognizes, and then try the 64 MB ones, in short it's a bit laborious but for now, having enough RAM for Windows 98SE, the ⏱ free time I can dedicate to this PC, I would use it to do something else.

On Phil's website, I saw in his latest YouTube video, a PCI sound card, which fits well (if I didn't get it wrong?) To any old game, and the audio quality is good, shows how to configure, install drivers, and some tests with various Games.

Of course, I have one that I have already put in the PC, actually I have other (at least three) broken, the one I put should be ok.

Here is the last batch of motherboards I took, recently I had taken others, including an Olidata OLI-BX (ASUS P2B), well here there is the same one, but in better conditions, besides this there are two MB S.478, an unidentified ATX (for the moment), it is a Gigabyte uATX, both have on a 2.66 GHz Celeron D, maybe they were not the original CPUs, but I have never tried this Celeron D, so I think that at least for now, they will stay there for a while, in the ATX there is also a 256 MB DDR 333 RAM, momentarily it is fine , later if it works, I will switch to the expansion to at least 1 GB .

But I think I'll overclock it, point to 3.33 GHz which wouldn't be bad at all!

So, I identified the ATX motherboard, it is in short a DFI model NB78-BL, i845PE chipset and supports CPUs with FSB up to 533, in short all it could be a nice card, and there is even a high number of PCI slots, well six plus the AGP, this allows you to add cards for upgrade, for example a SATA controller card, at the time you could put two Voodoo 2 cards, TV card, FireWire card, in short, it was difficult to fill all six, but it was not impossible.

The one of the lot of three motherboards, quite interesting, is in my opinion the Gigabyte Titan GA-8I848PM, first of all it is uATX, from memory I don't think I have MB S.478 of that format, this limits the possibility of adding cards a bit, but having both the audio and the integrated LAN, it is not necessary to use PCI cards (for this), it has support for all 478 CPUs, including the Pentium HT (Prescott), unfortunately it suffers from the problem with the capacitors, a very common problem in the MB of this period, it can be solved by changing the electrolytic capacitors, in this case there are Those of 3300uF 6.3V bulging, in total there are five!

Among the interesting things, the BIOS chip soldered (!!!), but there is however a jumper for BIOS checksum error, in practice it should serve to force the rewriting of the BIOS from floppy, a practice that I had recently discovered, very useful when it is not possible to remove the chip, obviously it is assumed that the BIOS chip works, and that the problem is due to an incorrect reprogramming.

I'm starting to prepare one of the two Olidata OLI-BX (ASUS P2B), today the BIOS chips to be reprogrammed arrived, on the original chip of one of the two MB, it says ATMEL AT49F002NT, on the chips I ordered Winbond W29C020C-90Z, I assume they are equivalent, that is, that there are no differences with the PINs, if not, let me know which one is good.

To start the tests, however, I will use the MB with the BIOS chip (ATMEL), the appearance is excellent, there is some dust in some hidden corner, it seems to have been preserved very well, considering the age I would have expected worse, it only has a small and insignificant defect, a small piece of plastic is missing in the socket of the floppy, maybe it was broken by disassembling the cable, but this does not cause any operating problem.

The first job to do is to clean the Slot1 contacts, check the jumpers and gather everything you need for a first start, before connecting the 20 PIN socket of the ATX power supply, I will look for any short in the lines, they are usually ok, if there is a short line, you have to solve the problem, however I imagine that the card will not need it.

From a further check of the MB Olidata OLI-BX with BIOS chip, I found a potential problem, right at the BIOS chip, a pin is bent, if the contact is not there, it could cause some problem, or even prevent the MB from starting.

Removing the chip and straightening the PIN, it's not complicated, but the PIN could be delicate, and you don't have to break it, they probably disconnected that chip, and when putting it back they didn't pay attention, of course alternatively I would have one of the new chips, which I could reprogram, but it shouldn't be necessary, if I manage to straighten it, and I reinsert the chip with all the contacts in place.

I finished the work on the Olidata OLI-BX REV BIOS chip. 1.10., removing the chip was quite simple, as you can see from the highlighted in yellow, a pin is crooked up, most likely there was no contact, the card was sold as not working, could it be that pin that didn't work??? I really hope so, we'll see when I start with the boot test, luckily I straightened it and it didn't break, then I put it back in its socket, this board is from 6-7 1999, so it's marked on the warranty sticker, so probably looking at the jumpers, it was on a PII 450, or maybe one of the first P!!! 450, honestly I wouldn't know when they came out, if they came out later towards the end of 1999, then it was definitely a PII.

The next step is cleaning Slot1, if I wanted I could do it later if necessary, but I prefer to do it now.

I finished cleaning Slot1, there wasn't much dirt, and I think it was probably fine, however having it clean should improve contacts with the CPU board, we'll see this tomorrow (I hope), the motherboard is almost ready for the first boot, after a hibernation of I don't know how long ⏱

Unfortunately among the available CPUs I don't have a 450, only 400 or more, choosing a 400 among those available, I have to put the multi on 4X, there is a block of four jumpers, called BF0 BF1 BF2 BF3, I have to move the BF0 to position 2-3 (before it was 1-2), the rest is fine, the other block of four jumpers, it is already correct, there is set FSB 100.3 and PCI 33.43, if you want here are various options, which can be selected for overclocking more or less light.

I put a 64 MB RAM, but the real capacity is not written on it, it may not be that capacity, at the moment, it is not important, it only interests that it works, as a VGA I start with an 8 MB ATI Rage XL PCI, which I later exchange with a different AGP, and finally I added a new CR2032 battery.

I imagined that this Olidata OLI-BX motherboard had no major problems, that is, irremediable failures, at least from what you can see, the card is visually in excellent condition.

So I decide to put only the indispensable, that is, the minimum number of cards and try to start.

By chance I have an Olidata PC power supply available, it's more recent but it's fine, at least for the moment.

There are signs of life, but there is a problem with the VGA PCI ATI Rage XL PCI, unfortunately this card does not work in the older MB, because it has a factory defect, it does not work in the MB with PCI without the 3.3V, at least that's how I think I understood, for this reason I change the card and put the SIS that I use on the S.7, I borrow it, it will only be used temporarily anyway.

With the VGA SIS PCI instead, everything seems fine, moving your gaze to the monitor, there is the BIOS screen!!!!!!

So there is a very good chance that it will work 100%

The next step is to enter the BIOS, to correct the error visible on the screen, or press F1 and continue, I go inside the BIOS to see the various screens, then exiting the PC restarts, and starts normally, not having connected a drive, the message of failure to start comes out.

Upgrade shortly, first I should choose a VGA AGP, the advice they gave me is something like GFMX or alternatively a G400, I should have both, but they are the normal models, not the top of that kind of video card, however it will not be complicated to choose, or one or the other, also because at the moment it is only a 400 MHz, later I will decide whether to change CPU, and switch via adapter to a Coppermine or a modified Tualatin (S.370).

I will add a second twin RAM module, I thought it was 64 MB, in reality it is 128, so with the second module I arrive at 256 MB, with the possibility of adding the third module later.

As a sound card, I would start with an SB PCI, I have one between my legs very similar to the one I have on the M550, I think it's an SB128, or I could opt for a Live!

Initially I put a CF memory card with DOS, I will do the bench of Phil's, and then I think of installing Windows 98SE a card of 8 or more GB, we will see if the BIOS has any capacity limit (?).

Update, on the OLI-BX with PII-400, the VGA has been changed with a 32 MB Gigabyte GF2 MX AGP, this is also a little more recent than the MB, from what I see it comes from an Olidata PC of 10/2001, but all in all it can also go well in this PC with PII-400, I would say that this would be its final card, except that operating problems arise, and in this regard, the motherboard from what I have seen, is working, you can see that the problem of the crooked pin, had escaped the seller.

I connected the CF with DOS and various bench and diagnostic programs, I now use those of Phil's for convenience, and I wrote down the resulting values, some are addressed to the CPU, and remain the same, others instead by changing VGA, improve the scores.

Finally, I added a second RAM module, identical to the other, even if the extra RAM doesn't give any advantage at the moment, the PC goes the same.

I noticed something I hadn't noticed before, a message on the first page of the BIOS, a line of an active antivirus, honestly I don't know the usefulness of this antivirus, and I don't know if it slows down the system, or the start of the PC, or somehow disturbs access to the drives, because I imagine first check that there is no harmful sw.

Normally in non-connected PCs, I don't use antivirus programs, because they tend to slow down processing, then of course it will also depend on the PC, that is, on a normal Pentium it can be too heavy, while on a P4 it can affect marginally.

If you advise me to deactivate the antivirus, I look in the BIOS for what activates that program, and I deactivate it, in memory on other PCs like that, in some I deactivated it, because it gave problems.

Looking for the screen in the BIOS, which can enable or disable virus protection , I found the screen and the line, where you can disable (currently active), this virus protection.

The BIOS doesn't have many screens, but anyway I think it's normal, because back then the tabs were quite simple, but I point out that inside each menu item, there are several options available, maybe you can make small adjustments, manually changing the values, but usually I don't think you can make the card go much faster, if you can I'm interested in which items are important.

Last HW update of the Olidata OLI-BX motherboard, together with the sound card, there was a PCI LAN with Intel chip, and rather than keeping it around, I put it in a free PCI slot, unlike the sound card, when starting the PC in the BIOS screens, you can see lines with the type of card, I know very well that to make it work you need the drivers, which I still have to look for, for the moment it seems that it does not create problems, using ASTRA it is also seen there.

If I find difficulties with the drivers, or I can't make it work, I can possibly change it with other LAN cards, mostly they are 10/100 or 100 cards (only), the 1000 ones I don't know if they can be used in this PC, probably yes, but it's not said that you can transfer at maximum speed, maybe if it were a P3 1000 (or more, or less), there would be no problem.

Since one of the two Olidata OLI-BX works, I start working on the card without a BIOS chip, first I have to sold the missing battery holder, or rather having a recovery one, I'll pay for that.

The previous owner, did not do a good job, in removing it he ruined the rear tracks, luckily the upper ones are in place, I do some tests, and I manage to clear the holes, to insert the battery holder, soldering is very simple, the result is not the best visually, but it is relatively interesting, as long as it works.

Regarding the BIOS chip to be programmed, I have to choose which version to write, or I make a duplicate of the one on the working card, or I put a more recent one, probably that using this I would lose the wording OLI-BX, it's not a drama, but who knows if it's possible to keep it, I imagine that a change to some line is needed, starting from the ASUS BIOS, something easy in words, but I think it's not as easy to do.