Solve : Regretful mistake??

1.	Solve : Regretful mistake??
Answer» I always check for available ROM chips before ANY flash...period.Quote from: jkolak on February 07, 2010, 08:26:51 AM I had thought that keeping the hardware firmware up-to-date was a important as keeping the OS, drivers, and software versions up-to-date. Depends what you mean by "up to date". A Windows software driver update is often a GOOD idea because code may be rewritten to be more efficient or to eliminate bugs but updating the BIOS firmware is something that may never need to be done during the lifetime of the hardware. One may find that a motherboard BIOS may need updating to cater for (say) a cpu model that was not released at the time the BIOS was written, but in general performing updates on a BIOS that is working fine, just for the sake of having the latest version number flash by at boot time, is not considered particularly wise, unless you have a backup chip around. I haven't flashed my DVD-RW drive since 2006. Quote from: Salmon Trout on February 07, 2010, 08:38:08 AM Depends what you mean by "up to date". A Windows software driver update is often a good idea because code may be rewritten to be more efficient or to eliminate bugs but updating the BIOS firmware is something that may never need to be done during the lifetime of the hardware. One may find that a motherboard BIOS may need updating to cater for (say) a cpu model that was not released at the time the BIOS was written, but in general performing updates on a BIOS that is working fine, just for the sake of having the latest version number flash by at boot time, is not considered particularly wise, unless you have a backup chip around. I can see the sense in this when weighing in the relative risk of bricking the computer. Mostly you WANT to update "just in case" there are bug fixes that you don't know about. But if there are no symptoms, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".Quote from: jkolak on February 07, 2010, 08:43:29 AM Mostly you want to update "just in case" there are bug fixes that you don't know about. Read the BIOS version release notes and see if they apply to you. If not, don't bother. I updated my Shuttle to version FT62S00N because I installed a Prescott, but I don't need any of the later versions because none of the ISSUES addressed apply to my case. I never had any problems with XP SP2 that needed version FT62S00V. Code: [Select]Bios: FT62S011 Fixed sometimes FSB run 166MHz Bios: FT62S00Z Fixed sometimes detect Fsb(front side bus) irregularly at boot up. Bios: FT62S00X Fixed smart fan function failed after resume from S3. Bios: FT62S00V 1. Add Celeron D and Prescott E0-Stepping micro code. 2. Fixed system become unstable when install Prescott CPU with Windows XP SP2. Bios: FT62S00P Fixed connect TV&CRT, signal always out to TV. Bios: FT62S00N Add Prescott CPU support. Bios: FT62S00M Initial release.Quote from: jkolak on February 07, 2010, 08:26:51 AM Thanks for your post. I know it took you some time and effort to dig up the clips you quoted. Oh yes... I forgot to mention the source. "Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 15th ANNIVERSARY Edition". An excellent book. Re: keeping the BIOS up to date; it's really not all that important, actually. usually the best results from an updated BIOS is support of more CPUs. The important thing to remember is that the BIOS is almost never used after the POST; This is why the "Shadow RAM" features are now obsolete; All Windows Operating systems (with a few EXCEPTIONS) replaced the BIOS drivers with 32-bit versions; ergo, the BIOS code was never executed and thus having it in RAM for quick access was not advantageous. Aside from CPU support, the only other reason I can think of probably only applies to older PCs; that is, BIOS updates to support larger hard drive sizes.Note of caution: not all BIOS chips are socketed. If a motherboard with a soldered BIOS chip is bricked by a bad flash, extraction of the board and return to the manufacturer or possibly a repair company is the only option.

Answer»

I always check for available ROM chips before ANY flash...period.Quote from: jkolak on February 07, 2010, 08:26:51 AM

I had thought that keeping the hardware firmware up-to-date was a important as keeping the OS, drivers, and software versions up-to-date.

Depends what you mean by "up to date". A Windows software driver update is often a GOOD idea because code may be rewritten to be more efficient or to eliminate bugs but updating the BIOS firmware is something that may never need to be done during the lifetime of the hardware. One may find that a motherboard BIOS may need updating to cater for (say) a cpu model that was not released at the time the BIOS was written, but in general performing updates on a BIOS that is working fine, just for the sake of having the latest version number flash by at boot time, is not considered particularly wise, unless you have a backup chip around. I haven't flashed my DVD-RW drive since 2006.

Quote from: Salmon Trout on February 07, 2010, 08:38:08 AM

Depends what you mean by "up to date". A Windows software driver update is often a good idea because code may be rewritten to be more efficient or to eliminate bugs but updating the BIOS firmware is something that may never need to be done during the lifetime of the hardware. One may find that a motherboard BIOS may need updating to cater for (say) a cpu model that was not released at the time the BIOS was written, but in general performing updates on a BIOS that is working fine, just for the sake of having the latest version number flash by at boot time, is not considered particularly wise, unless you have a backup chip around.

I can see the sense in this when weighing in the relative risk of bricking the computer. Mostly you WANT to update "just in case" there are bug fixes that you don't know about. But if there are no symptoms, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".Quote from: jkolak on February 07, 2010, 08:43:29 AM

Mostly you want to update "just in case" there are bug fixes that you don't know about.

Read the BIOS version release notes and see if they apply to you. If not, don't bother.

I updated my Shuttle to version FT62S00N because I installed a Prescott, but I don't need any of the later versions because none of the ISSUES addressed apply to my case. I never had any problems with XP SP2 that needed version FT62S00V.

Code: [Select]Bios: FT62S011
Fixed sometimes FSB run 166MHz

Bios: FT62S00Z
Fixed sometimes detect Fsb(front side bus) irregularly at boot up.

Bios: FT62S00X
Fixed smart fan function failed after resume from S3.

Bios: FT62S00V
1. Add Celeron D and Prescott E0-Stepping micro code.
2. Fixed system become unstable when install Prescott CPU with Windows XP SP2.

Bios: FT62S00P
Fixed connect TV&CRT, signal always out to TV.

Bios: FT62S00N
Add Prescott CPU support.

Bios: FT62S00M
Initial release.Quote from: jkolak on February 07, 2010, 08:26:51 AM

Thanks for your post. I know it took you some time and effort to dig up the clips you quoted.

Oh yes... I forgot to mention the source. "Upgrading and Repairing PCs, 15th ANNIVERSARY Edition". An excellent book.

Re: keeping the BIOS up to date; it's really not all that important, actually. usually the best results from an updated BIOS is support of more CPUs. The important thing to remember is that the BIOS is almost never used after the POST; This is why the "Shadow RAM" features are now obsolete; All Windows Operating systems (with a few EXCEPTIONS) replaced the BIOS drivers with 32-bit versions; ergo, the BIOS code was never executed and thus having it in RAM for quick access was not advantageous.

Aside from CPU support, the only other reason I can think of probably only applies to older PCs; that is, BIOS updates to support larger hard drive sizes.Note of caution: not all BIOS chips are socketed. If a motherboard with a soldered BIOS chip is bricked by a bad flash, extraction of the board and return to the manufacturer or possibly a repair company is the only option.

Solve : Regretful mistake??

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