Using a PC motherboard as a flash eprom programmer?
Arcadio Sincero
plan on doing is remove the flash BIOS chip from the motherboard while it is
still on, and replace it with a blank flash eprom chip. Then use the
manufacturer's BIOS flash utility to program whatever I want into the chip.
Would this work or is this a completely insane idea?
- Arcadio
Rick Baker
hot(powered on). However others have succesfully done this to emergency
recover dead m/bs that had something go wrong during a BIOS update.
Notice the term "emergency recovery", in other words, the only way to
get the m/b working again besides returning it for RMA.
This was done with identical m/bs, so if you try with different m/bs
or EEPROMS then YMMV.
raven
>It is generally NOT a good idea to connect/disconnect components while
>hot(powered on). However others have succesfully done this to emergency
>recover dead m/bs that had something go wrong during a BIOS update.
>Notice the term "emergency recovery", in other words, the only way to
>get the m/b working again besides returning it for RMA.
>This was done with identical m/bs, so if you try with different m/bs
>or EEPROMS then YMMV.
>
Yes, for different mb's I have heard of error message and no result.
John
John Howland
--
---------------
Specialty Tech - Main Boards, CPU, Memory and more...
Lake Forest, Calif. (949) 951-7067
www.specialtytech.com
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Arcadio Sincero <asi...@linux3.gl.umbc.edu> wrote in message
news:9lcr2j$jo4$1...@news.umbc.edu...
Ralph Wade Phillips
"Arcadio Sincero" <asi...@linux3.gl.umbc.edu> wrote in message
news:9lcr2j$jo4$1...@news.umbc.edu...
I'd rank it as completely insane.
You can purchase a EPROM/EEPROM/Flash ROM programmer for under $160
that requires a PC to run, but since the software is DOS or Windows based,
an old 386 with DOS 6.x will do fine. Total outlay, including a new monitor
for grins, would press less than $350 for VGA, and you'd even have a hard
disk with the flash images on it.
Screw up three times hot swapping like that, and presto! You've
easily spend $300 on replacement motherboards, plus time and troubles to do
the swap. On top of which, you couldn't use the computer while you were
fixing it ...
RwP
S
Insane is a bit strong but pointless might fit.
Look here, I don't know much about Eprom's but there has to be a sane and cheap
solution for you .
http://www.epanorama.net/computerbuild.html
Regards
Stuart
Roger Hunt
<asi...@linux3.gl.umbc.edu> writes
dissimilar chipset motherboards. The main thing is to make sure that the
flash BIOS chips are compatible, voltage and all.
Silicon Storage Technologies Inc, should still have their Flash Chip
cross-reference guide at their website - that was very useful for my
purposes.
http:\\www.ssti.com
I used Uniflash, it will do the Boot Block Sector no problem, no URL
handy but there's a link from the utilities page at
http:\\www.wimsbios.com
Good luck
--
Roger Hunt
John Howland
failed flash by MoBo manufactures...
--
---------------
Specialty Tech - Main Boards, CPU, Memory and more...
Lake Forest, Calif. (949) 951-7067
www.specialtytech.com
---------------
Roger Hunt <ro...@carewg.demon.co.uk> wrote in message
news:8jHAO4AM...@carewg.demon.co.uk...
Arcadio Sincero
Well, I went ahead and tried it. I used a cheap and old PCChips socket 7
motherboard, so if I screwed up it would've been no big deal. And it
worked! Hehe! The whole point of me trying this was to make boot roms for
my nics which took flash eproms. Since this would've been a one (or two,
maybe three) time thing, it wouldn't make that much sense for me to pony up
the dough for a real programmer. Besides, I just *had* to know if it would
work.
For those interested, I had to use the UNIFLASH utility thats available from
www.wimsbios.com. I couldn't use the AMIBIOS flash upgrade utility from the
PCChips web site because I wasn't using the exact same Flash EPROM chip that
was already in the motherboard. That UNIFLASH utility is pretty nifty.
Lets you use flash an eprom using a wide combination of motherboards and
flash eprom parts.
Anyway, thanks to all who responded to my original post!
- Arcadio
Franc Zabkar
<asi...@linux3.gl.umbc.edu> put finger to keyboard and composed:
>Well, I went ahead and tried it. I used a cheap and old PCChips socket 7
>motherboard, so if I screwed up it would've been no big deal. And it
>worked! Hehe! The whole point of me trying this was to make boot roms for
>my nics which took flash eproms. Since this would've been a one (or two,
>maybe three) time thing, it wouldn't make that much sense for me to pony up
>the dough for a real programmer. Besides, I just *had* to know if it would
>work.
Hot swapping CMOS ICs makes me shudder. This is because CMOS ICs can
be damaged by latch-up which sometimes occurs when input voltages
exceed the supply rail. I know this used to be a problem in older ICs,
but I don't know if newer chips are still susceptible.
In any case, for anyone intending to use this technique on a regular
basis, I would suggest making a little daughter PCB with two 32-pin
ZIF sockets which could be plugged into the motherboard. One socket
would hold the working device, and the second would hold the device to
be programmed. Each device's OE* and CE* pins could be wired to a DPDT
selector switch. You would also need to ensure that each device had
the correct programming voltage on pin 1, if required.
>For those interested, I had to use the UNIFLASH utility thats available from
>www.wimsbios.com. I couldn't use the AMIBIOS flash upgrade utility from the
>PCChips web site because I wasn't using the exact same Flash EPROM chip that
>was already in the motherboard.
Did you swap flash devices before or after launching your AMIBIOS
flasher? If after, then it may be that your flasher first detects
EEPROM type A and then attempts to program EEPROM type B using
algorithm A.
Just to be sure, I would swap flash chips immediately after booting,
before running your flasher.
-- Franc Zabkar
Please remove one 'g' from my address when replying by email.