chasedow

Hi to anyone reading this. I am a computer user for the last 8 years with my other interests being golf and travel.

I like to get the best performance from my computer and have the following queries:-

a) How can I get a boot floppy for Vista Home Premium which will allow me to start to upgrade my BIOS. I have downloaded Zipped BIOS software from tne manufacturers website. It will not unzip on to a 1.4MB floppy as it unzips to over 1.4MB. Is it necessary to unzip, as I beleive it has to go on to the same floppy as the boot software?

b) I have tried to instal a 1GB RAM unit in the second slot of my motherboard to increse the RAM capacity to 2GB. I did get it to work for a period until my computer crashed for a reason still unknown. Since then, despite trying all existing BIOS alternatives I have had no success reinstating it. The chip is of the same specification as the one fitted when I bought the computer. When I attempt to reinstall, all I get is a bleeping soumd from the computer and when I remove it my computer returns to its' original state. I have been careful to prevent static and other contamination of the chips.

Help!!!

temeteus82

Hi there and welcome to DriverHeaven!

I moved your reply to new thread since you had some questions in it. And I don't like that thread to be "thread jacked".

a) The BIOS files today are so large that floppy drives can really be used for the update. What I recomend you to do is to get UBCD and use it to boot in DOS. It has some different DOS versions. Then goto the floppy drive where you have the new BIOS rom file and the flashing software and flash the BIOS.

b) What kind of RAM sticks you have there? In order to get them to work properly you should have all BIOS RAM settings as "AUTO" or "System default". Since the RAM sticks should have the same specifications, I usually recommend people to get the same stick of ram that they have already in their PC. If they can't get the same stick then the safest way is to get new memory kit (two identical sticks).

__________________

OldBuzzard

Assuming that your MB allows for booting from a USB drive...there's no reason that you shouldn't be able to update the BIOS using a USB Flash drive.

I install VISTA using a bootable USB Flash Drive, using the directions from here:
Kurt Shintaku's Blog: HOWTO: Install Windows Vista from a high speed USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Follow steps 1 & 2, and then in step 3, copy the BIOS information instead of Vista.

__________________
When looking for a reason as to why things go wrong, never rule out sheer STUPIDITY

cozumel

Hi chasdow! Welcome aboard.

a) Same As temeteus or OldBuzzard solutions.
Floppys are almost obsolete. I have one drive I share beween two rigs and I only use it once every six months or so!

b) Does the new stick work when installed on its own with the BIOS settings at default? (You might want to save all your BIOS settings or write them down if you revert to defaults or safe settings so you can remember what settings need to be returned for your system config.) Like temeteus said, could you provide us with the make and model of your RAM and mobo please.

__________________

chasedow

To those of you who have given me the benefit of their advice. Thanks! I have a number of things occupying me now and will have to put my problem on hold. However, as soon as I have tried the alternatives suggested I will post the results. If you hear nothing from me again, it may be I will have to replace my motherboard!!!!!