BIOS setup for an old IBM 286.
BONNEFILLE Guilhem
Hi,
My post doesn't concern MINIX directly, but as it concern an old PC, I think it
as better chance to find a response in this group.
I've got an old IBM 286. I've just get a ST 225 HD, but I need to update my bios
configuration. When I boot with my HD connected, it says "Run SETUP". My
question is "where can found this setup program, or how configure my bios under
MINIX ??"
Thanks,
--
BONNEFILLE Guilhem | Eleve Ingenieur IIE | Stagiaire LAAS-CNRS
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | 3eme annee | Groupe TSF
-=- mailto:guilhem.b...@mail.dotcom.fr
-=- http://www.mygale.org/~bonnefil/
BONNEFILLE Guilhem
Albert S Woodhull
BONNEFILLE Guilhem (bonn...@laas.fr) wrote:
> I've got an old IBM 286. I've just get a ST 225 HD, but I need to update
> my bios configuration. When I boot with my HD connected, it says "Run
> SETUP". My question is "where can found this setup program, or how
> configure my bios under MINIX ??"
Minix doesn't provide any facility for tinkering with the CMOS
configuration. However, if one of the Minix hard disk drivers will work,
Minix may be able to identify the hard disk correctly even if the BIOS
information is incorrect. This won't work with the Minix hd=bios option,
of course.
Probably when the machine was new there was a SETUP utility supplied with
it. If the system will boot, look around on the hard disk for such a
program. If you can find the original floppies that came with the system
there may be a SETUP program there. You might check with a store that
sells used computers, if it is a common model they may have some of the
original disks.
It is possible the setup program is in ROM, as it is on most 386 and newer
systems. Often when this is the case the BIOS will give you a message
during system initialization like "Press DEL for SETUP". Unfortunately
many systems don't give such a message, and different ROM manufacturers
choose different magic keys to invoke it. I have seen DEL, ESC,
Ctrl-Alt-ESC, and probably others....
There are also generic 286 setup programs on the net. How much good they
will do, I don't know. I found one a few years ago when I was struggling
with an old Wang 286. It didn't help me much with what I was trying to do
(make the top 384K of 1024K memory visible). Whether that is because the
Wang doesn't work like a generic system, or what I wanted to do was
impossible, I don't know. I'm sorry I don't remember where I found that
generic setup program. If you want I can mail it or post it for ftp for
you.
Another possibility is to contact the manufacturer. In my case I found
that Wang could supply their custom setup disk for US$25, even though
they were long out of the PC business. I decided it wasn't worth it to me
at that price, which is more than I paid for the computer.
I hope this helps,
Al
+----------------------------------+
| Albert S. Woodhull |
| Hampshire College, Amherst, MA |
| awoo...@hampshire.edu |
| http://minix1.hampshire.edu/asw/ |
| (posting from UMass while usual |
| news server is down) |
+----------------------------------+
Marten Kemp
BONNEFILLE Guilhem wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> My post doesn't concern MINIX directly, but as it concern an old PC, I think it
> as better chance to find a response in this group.
>
> configuration. When I boot with my HD connected, it says "Run SETUP". My
> question is "where can found this setup program, or how configure my bios under
> MINIX ??"
>
> --
> BONNEFILLE Guilhem | Eleve Ingenieur IIE | Stagiaire LAAS-CNRS
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | 3eme annee | Groupe TSF
> -=- mailto:guilhem.b...@mail.dotcom.fr
> -=- http://www.mygale.org/~bonnefil/
Try starting with "www.pcco.ibm.com". The probably have the setup
diskette image that you need.
--Marten Kemp
Haka Hakkinen
:
: I've got an old IBM 286. I've just get a ST 225 HD, but I need to update my bios
: configuration. When I boot with my HD connected, it says "Run SETUP". My
: question is "where can found this setup program, or how configure my bios under
: MINIX ??"
If you cannot find any setup programs, search the net for the free
cmoser.exe. With it you can modify the cmos settings and by gessing
around you might find the correct setting for the hd - in old computers
you often just had to give the number code for that hard disk size - and
as it is different for different computers, the program can not know them.
If you still cannot find the cmoser.exe (one good bet would be
garbo.uwasa.fi or nic.funet.fi) I have a home made program which you
can use for the same purpose - but is it even harder to use.
hannu
FoulDragon
>I've got an old IBM 286. I've just get a ST 225 HD, but I need to update my
>bios
>configuration. When I boot with my HD connected, it says "Run SETUP". My
>question is "where can found this setup program, or how configure my bios
>under
>MINIX ??"
Good news: The ST-225 is pretty generic... it's 20Mb, I think type 2 in most
setups.
Bad news: You need a setup disc if there isn't one in ROM.... assuming it's an
XT-286 or AT, a generic one should work and be readily downloadable.
Marada Coeurfuege Shra'drakaii [~73% dragon pure!] (Clan Nightwings)
members.xoom.com/marada
'In life, as in writing, the best you can aim for is that your character acts
realistically considering the given circumstances.'
Keith Barrette
BONNEFILLE Guilhem wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> My post doesn't concern MINIX directly, but as it concern an old PC, I think it
> as better chance to find a response in this group.
>
> configuration. When I boot with my HD connected, it says "Run SETUP". My
> question is "where can found this setup program, or how configure my bios under
> MINIX ??"
>
> --
> BONNEFILLE Guilhem | Eleve Ingenieur IIE | Stagiaire LAAS-CNRS
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= | 3eme annee | Groupe TSF
> -=- mailto:guilhem.b...@mail.dotcom.fr
> -=- http://www.mygale.org/~bonnefil/
Hunt around at http://www.us.pc.ibm.com/listfiles.html
If you can't find it there, post to comp.sys.ibm or something and ask
for it.
I had the same problem w/ my PS/2 286, once I found the setup disk, it
worked great.
--- Keith