Interesting NFORCE problem

Nacht · Jul 5, 2004, 08:05 AM

I have the following motherboard:

A7N266VX, REV 1.xx
nVidia nForce rev. B2

and have run into several problems with it. This doesnt matter to me, as I am building a new one soon anyway, but my brother will want to get the most he can out of it. the problem started when i was trying to update the nforce drivers...the nvidia installer tactfully informed me that i was not using an nforce board. strange eh? also, in the bios, i was wondering what I could do to actually unlock some commands. it has some vaio bios on it...i cant disable the onboard vga, or even set the agp apeture size, among various other annoyances. is there any way to fix these problems?

Logla · Jul 5, 2004, 09:34 AM

have you tried a BIOS flash to a newer, or older, version?

Nacht · Jul 5, 2004, 04:59 PM

no, because i'm not sure where to obtain a rom.

No_Style · Jul 5, 2004, 05:30 PM

ASUS Update Utility

This program will find the latest BIOS for you. And you can also flash the BIOS through it. It's Windows based and works fine. You can try to see if it will allow flashing.

You can also try the manual method. Here's the site to the A7N266-VM. You can try to see if they're the same board. Essentially, they should be similar if not the same and a BIOS flash could go through without a hitch.

BTW, does it have an AGP slot? When you plug in a card to the AGP slot doesn't it automatically use the AGP card?

Vampyromaniac · Jul 6, 2004, 08:08 AM

I'm not sure if an Asus BIOS will work on a Sony computer, so be careful.
As far as the driver issue, did you remove the previous drivers before trying the newer ones?

Nacht · Jul 7, 2004, 12:37 AM

well..it is an asus board, but it's not listed on asus's website. in cpu-z it calls in a -vx, whereas asus only lists the regular, e, m, and vm. (or something like that).

ill try it anyways

No_Style · Jul 7, 2004, 02:28 AM

I want to know how it goes

Nacht · Jul 7, 2004, 03:44 AM

well, I got the drivers installed. (I honestly have NO CLUE why they decided to work now...Before I had tried with the audio disabled, then read that that might affect it, so i enabled it, and still no dice. Today, audio is disabled, and it worked. amazing how that works.)

I'm worried about the bios though, I am getting those new parts, so you could say it doesnt matter if i mess this one...but im selling lol...and ill loose 400 bucks if it doesnt work! Im gonna let it scan...then maybe update the bios tommorow.

Nacht · Jul 7, 2004, 03:49 AM

[COLOR=red]"Sorry, there is no compatible BIOS on the specified server."[/COLOR]

No_Style · Jul 7, 2004, 04:14 AM

Shame.. Sorry to hear that. I would suggest manual flashing, but that's risky and unproven and I don't think you want to be a guinea pig.

nobie · Jul 7, 2004, 04:47 AM

http://ciscdb.sel.sony.com/perl/swu-...&mdl=PCVRXA842

per the website that is the version you already have, so there is no update available for you it seems

Nacht · Jul 8, 2004, 12:40 AM

nah, it wont be mine for much longer...my bro can worry about it

thanks for the help anyways

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jul 10, 2004, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Nacht
nah, it wont be mine for much longer...my bro can worry about it

thanks for the help anyways

The oem's use a custom bios, it's the useally exact same board from asus! The bios from thier website will work, the sony OEM bios is has option removed and useally an added logo...

I would flash useing:
http://www.asus.com/support/download...Name=A7N266-VM

make sure that is your baord tho, just open it up and take a look a visually verify:
http://usa.asus.com/products/mb/sock...M/overview.htm

There is allways some risk in flashing but wost case it'll cost you a $20 bios chip

Jul 5, 2004, 08:05 AM	#1
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	Interesting NFORCE problem I have the following motherboard: A7N266VX, REV 1.xx nVidia nForce rev. B2 and have run into several problems with it. This doesnt matter to me, as I am building a new one soon anyway, but my brother will want to get the most he can out of it. the problem started when i was trying to update the nforce drivers...the nvidia installer tactfully informed me that i was not using an nforce board. strange eh? also, in the bios, i was wondering what I could do to actually unlock some commands. it has some vaio bios on it...i cant disable the onboard vga, or even set the agp apeture size, among various other annoyances. is there any way to fix these problems?

Jul 5, 2004, 05:30 PM	#4
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	ASUS Update Utility This program will find the latest BIOS for you. And you can also flash the BIOS through it. It's Windows based and works fine. You can try to see if it will allow flashing. You can also try the manual method. Here's the site to the A7N266-VM. You can try to see if they're the same board. Essentially, they should be similar if not the same and a BIOS flash could go through without a hitch. BTW, does it have an AGP slot? When you plug in a card to the AGP slot doesn't it automatically use the AGP card? __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here Last edited by No_Style; Jul 5, 2004 at 05:36 PM.

Jul 6, 2004, 08:08 AM	#5
Vampyromaniac confutatis maledictis Join Date: May 2002 Location: somewhere dark Posts: 5,974 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	I'm not sure if an Asus BIOS will work on a Sony computer, so be careful. As far as the driver issue, did you remove the previous drivers before trying the newer ones? __________________ *Digitalis 3.3* Athlon 64 3000 // ASUS K8V SE Deluxe // 1024MB PC3200 (2-2-2-10 1T) ATI All-In-Wonder 9700 Pro // 20" Dell 2005FPW (DVI) M-Audio Revo 7.1 + Philips Acoustic Edge // Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 320/16 Western Digital WD3200KS + 120/8 Seagate 7200.7 NEC ND-3550A 16x DVD±RW + Lite-On 52x24x CD-RW Antec Sonata case // 480W Antec TruePower personal bests \|\| Aq'3: 46796 \| 3D'01: 20461 \| 3D'03: 6336 \| 3D'05: 2677 \| PC'04: 4605 \| PC'02: 7691,9092,1250

Jul 7, 2004, 02:28 AM	#7
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Keep us posted I want to know how it goes __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Jul 7, 2004, 04:14 AM	#10
No_Style Styleless Wonder Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 6,034 Rep Power: 0	Aww.. Shame.. Sorry to hear that. I would suggest manual flashing, but that's risky and unproven and I don't think you want to be a guinea pig. __________________ "The Best Style Is No Style" Specifications Here

Jul 5, 2004, 09:34 AM	#2
Logla HardwareHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 3,311 Rep Power: 0	have you tried a BIOS flash to a newer, or older, version?

Jul 5, 2004, 04:59 PM	Thread Starter #3
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	no, because i'm not sure where to obtain a rom.

Jul 7, 2004, 12:37 AM	Thread Starter #6
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	well..it is an asus board, but it's not listed on asus's website. in cpu-z it calls in a -vx, whereas asus only lists the regular, e, m, and vm. (or something like that). ill try it anyways

Jul 7, 2004, 03:44 AM	Thread Starter #8
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	well, I got the drivers installed. (I honestly have NO CLUE why they decided to work now...Before I had tried with the audio disabled, then read that that might affect it, so i enabled it, and still no dice. Today, audio is disabled, and it worked. amazing how that works.) I'm worried about the bios though, I am getting those new parts, so you could say it doesnt matter if i mess this one...but im selling lol...and ill loose 400 bucks if it doesnt work! Im gonna let it scan...then maybe update the bios tommorow.

Jul 7, 2004, 03:49 AM	Thread Starter #9
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	[COLOR=red]"Sorry, there is no compatible BIOS on the specified server."[/COLOR]

Jul 7, 2004, 04:47 AM	#11
nobie DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	bios link http://ciscdb.sel.sony.com/perl/swu-...&mdl=PCVRXA842 per the website that is the version you already have, so there is no update available for you it seems Last edited by nobie; Jul 7, 2004 at 04:54 AM.

Jul 8, 2004, 12:40 AM	Thread Starter #12
Nacht ein Krieger Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Clemson Uni Posts: 3,127 Rep Power: 0	nah, it wont be mine for much longer...my bro can worry about it thanks for the help anyways