PC Pals Forum

Technical Help & Discussion => Self Building, Upgrading & General Hardware Help => Topic started by: WhiteDevil on October 19, 2003, 22:08

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: WhiteDevil on October 19, 2003, 22:08

Hiya -
Ive been looking for a BIOS update for my system so it can take my new hard drive, ive been on the Gigabyte website but i cant find anything...

Manufacturer: Gigabyte
Model: Intel 440LX AGP-PCI BIOS for Pentium 2 Processor
Revision: v.1.12 (unsure of this)

i would appreciate if someone would help me look  ;D

Adam

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: Simon on October 19, 2003, 22:15

All I would say Adam, is be very careful, and absolutely certain you have the right one, before trying to upgrade your BIOS.  A mistake could well cost you a new Motherboard.  Ask Serenity.   ;)

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: Dack on October 19, 2003, 23:20

Problem here is you don't actually say what motherboard you have as Gigabyte produced 8 boards using the LX chipset.
http://uk.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_Intel+440LX.htm (http://uk.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_Intel+440LX.htm)

The usual way of telling is noting down the bios string that appears at the bottom of the screen during bootup. This can then be checked over at wims bios page.

Alternatively checking the motherboard for the model number :)

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: WhiteDevil on October 20, 2003, 14:12

Cant NTFS support 80GB drives anyway? I thought it was only FAT32 that didnt..

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: Sandra on October 20, 2003, 16:29

I think that you are confusing XP with the BIOS WD.
XP can format a drive as part of its installation procedure in either FAT 32 or NTFS but has a 32 gig limit if it is done in FAT 32.
If the BIOS cant detect the full size of the drive then it wont allow XP to format the extra no matter which file system it is going to use  :)

Post the chipset number that you told me last night WD, I forgot which it was, then someone (Dack) may be able to find the right BIOS update for you  :)

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: WhiteDevil on October 20, 2003, 16:45

SiSoftware Sandra gave me this:

System Mainboard
Manufacturer : Giga-Byte
MP Support : No
Model : Intel 440LX AGP-PCI BIOS for Pentium(R)II Processor V.1.12
BIOS ID : 05/29/98-i440LX-W977-2A69JG0FC-00
System Chipset : Intel 440LX/EX Chipset

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: Dack on October 20, 2003, 17:44

According to Wimsbios.com the motherboard is then a:
Gigabyte GA-686LX3

And the bios files are located at:
http://uk.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_GA-686LX3.htm (http://uk.giga-byte.com/Motherboard/Support/BIOS/BIOS_GA-686LX3.htm)

However the latest Bios on there is 22nd December 1999 and makes mention of support for 40G drive. You may still have a problem even after updating but it's got to be worth a try.

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: WhiteDevil on October 20, 2003, 19:10

ok, have just downloaded it, ill give it a go...

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: Simon on October 20, 2003, 23:21

Ever so slightly worrying that we haven't heard from WD since 7:10 this evening!   :o :-\ ;D

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: Dack on October 21, 2003, 20:46

It wasn't me - you can't prove anything.

(Now where are those self destructing postings)

 ::)

He really should have got back on by now though shouldn't he.....

Title: Re:BIOS Update
Post by: Sandra on October 21, 2003, 21:07

I think hes ok, he was chatting on MSN to me last night and as it would only give him 40 gig  support I think hes decided to leave it with the 32 gig limiter on until he can get a board that supports the full 80 gig  :)