Dothan @ CT-479 - howto and fixes.

:google: for bios boot block first link returned

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/mbsys/bios/compBoot-c.html

The Boot Block

The preceding section discusses updating the program code in the system BIOS by flashing it (replacing it under software control). If the flash procedure is done improperly, the BIOS code can become corrupted, which will cause the system to go into an unbootable state. Many newer systems come with a feature where a 4 KB "boot block" program is included as part of the BIOS. This is a tiny piece of code whose job it is to recover from a situation where the BIOS code is incorrect or corrupted.

If your motherboard supports this feature, when the PC tries to boot and finds the BIOS code corrupted, the boot block will try to recover the BIOS code, usually by reading it from a specially-prepared floppy disk. You may have to change a jumper on the motherboard to enable this capability, and you may need to make use of a "plain vanilla" ISA video card. The boot block will load the BIOS code and then when you next reboot, the regular BIOS code should be in place and the problem resolved.

Hi guys, i just ordered ASUS adaptor and PentiumM 730 , i have P4C800-E DELUXE mobo... wich BIOS is the best for this moment to use? Thank you in advanced!
This tread is great idea ppl!!! 10X to all!

I am having problems flashing my p4p800 with the p4p800-e bios.

i flashed in the same way i did when using p4p800-vm bios on the p4p800

afudos /ibiosname /n /pbnc but with the 1007e.003 rom it gives me a romid error and wont let me flash it.

the /n /pbnc solved this with the p4p800-vm bios but not this time.


solved it i used an older version of afudos that let me overide.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Stilt

Tips:

After flashing P4P800-E bios to P4P800 and P4C800 series boards, you will get 4:5 and 3:4 dividers and adjustable Vcore. Remember also to program the bootblock, because if you dont you have a dead board.

All bios listed in here actually do work.

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hello guys!!!
this thread is the bestttt :p:

in 2 days i will get my dothan 740 1.73 (533mhz) 1.35v and this will work with :
p4c800e-deloxe ( vagp,vcore,vdrop moded).
gskill pc4800 600mhz tccd
and my vapo chill xe that moded too :clap:
now i need some help:
1. i flash the mobo with my prescot to bios 1021.007 and i want to know iff i need to do the boot block? and if yes what this will give me?
2. i want to put my vapo on this cpu! i must to put this shim to? if i must soo can some one give me some photo of this shim?
3. my memory do 320 mhz in 1:1 so i need to flash my p4c800e-deloxe bios to the p4p800 (not e) -deloxe bios? and this will work good or not?
4. if some one have idea that can help me get the best o.c with this cpu... i will be hapey to hear it...


thanks :toast:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Malachia

i will try, i only whant more infos on what the stilt said...

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New versions of Afudos can´t flash the bios in if the ROMID´s are different (ex. P4C800 & P4P800-E). Thats why you must use old Afudos version that allows flashing rom´s with different ID´s (get it here).

The only problem is that the older v1.16b version dont flash the bootblock automatically unlike the new versions, so you must flash the bios in with following command "afudos /iromname.rom /n /pbnc". If you don´t use the following command, your board won´t post after the update.

Thats it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Stilt

New versions of Afudos can´t flash the bios in if the ROMID´s are different (ex. P4C800 & P4P800-E). Thats why you must use old Afudos version that allows flashing rom´s with different ID´s (get it here).

The only problem is that the older v1.16b version dont flash the bootblock automatically unlike the new versions, so you must flash the bios in with following command "afudos /iromname.rom /n /pbnc". If you don´t use the following command, your board won´t post after the update.

Thats it.

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Which boards does this concern? Only the non-official supported ones?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stryg

Which boards does this concern? Only the non-official supported ones?

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All.

Thanks a lot.

I have p4p800-e bios 1007e.003 runnig on a p4p800 (none e)

no problems everything works as it should.

bios gives same as p4p800 plus

vcore auto 1.5v> 1.6v
adjust cpu vid settings default [62]
when at 133 with turbo enabled agp/pci lock works ok

This thread is very helpful. Glad I read it before I get my Dothan (probably not for a while though) or I wouldn'tve known to do the bootblock!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Stilt

New versions of Afudos can´t flash the bios in if the ROMID´s are different (ex. P4C800 & P4P800-E). Thats why you must use old Afudos version that allows flashing rom´s with different ID´s (get it here).

The only problem is that the older v1.16b version dont flash the bootblock automatically unlike the new versions, so you must flash the bios in with following command "afudos /iromname.rom /n /pbnc". If you don´t use the following command, your board won´t post after the update.

Thats it.

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are you sure about what you said?? i mean i always programmed p4c800 eeproms with p4c-e and had never problem, i think i i use on a p4c800 dlx a -e bio there will be no problem...

but, i will try like you said...than

for newbies

1) place on a bootable floppy afudos and the bios you whant to flash
2) when the program start tape :

afudos / iromname.rom /n /pbnc

examble, if my bios is 1021.003.bin you have to tape:

afudos / i1021.003.bin /n /pbnc

correct me if i am in fault somewhere :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Malachia

are you sure about what you said?? i mean i always programmed p4c800 eeproms with p4c-e and had never problem, i think i i use on a p4c800 dlx a -e bio there will be no problem...

but, i will try like you said...than

for newbies

1) place on a bootable floppy afudos and the bios you whant to flash
2) when the program start tape :

afudos / iromname.rom /n /pbnc

examble, if my bios is 1021.003.bin you have to tape:

afudos / i1021.003.bin /n /pbnc

correct me if i am in fault somewhere :)

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You haven´t used Afudos v1.16b before, right?
It´s the only version that leaves bootblock INTACT unless there is a bootblock program command given while flashing.

All other versions program bootblock automatically, even without giving a specific command. Thats why you don´t have to worry about programming bootblock, if you are flashing your P4x800 board with P4P800-E bios... But there is only one problem: Any versions newer than v1.16b can´t be forced to program different bios to different board because the romid´s do not match.

That´s why you need v1.16b from afudos, and to remember to program the bootblock :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Stilt

You haven´t used Afudos v1.16b before, right?
It´s the only version that leaves bootblock INTACT unless there is a bootblock program command given while flashing.

All other versions program bootblock automatically, even without giving a specific command. Thats why you don´t have to worry about programming bootblock, if you are flashing your P4x800 board with P4P800-E bios... But there is only one problem: Any versions newer than v1.16b can´t be forced to program different bios to different board because the romid´s do not match.

That´s why you need v1.16b from afudos, and to remember to program the bootblock :)

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ok, but is right my "process to program bios"?
yes i never used this utility, i always used awdflash or integrated functions...

but if i flash with awd the p4p800-e bios on p4p800 dlx i will have problems???

Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Stilt

New versions of Afudos can´t flash the bios in if the ROMID´s are different (ex. P4C800 & P4P800-E). |cut| If you don´t use the following command, your board won´t post after the update.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by strig

Which boards does this concern? Only the non-official supported ones?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by The Stilt

All.

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The boot block programming issue does only concern those that want to program a bios into a motherboard that the bios was not originally designed for, correct? So everybody else should not worry about this at all, correct?

This has confused the heck out of me! :slobber: I think your introductory post is a bit confusing on this matter, stryg! Besides that, thank you very much for your effort of creating this nice thread! :toast:

Edit: Someone should ask tictac or someone else to take a look at these bioses.. multiplier changing would be greatly appreciated! (the bios on the DFI 855GME can do it.. maby whoever tries can get some clues there?)

Also do you think the Antarctica will be mountable? :)

WRT boot block, this does not affect those that use the bios flash utility in Windows, right (or wrong)? :confused: :confused: :confused:

yeah, so does winflash work if you choose "WRITE TO ALL BLOCKS" including boot block?

C

when ever using afudos allways use the following command line to program a bios for example 1021.003

afudos /i1021.003 /n /pbnc

if you allways use the options then you will never have to worry about the boot block.

then remember to reset your cmos after flashing.

if you want to program a bios that was not designed for the motherboard you are going to flash on then you will need to use version 1.16b as a new version will not allow you to do this due to romid conflicts.

so allways use /n /pbnc and you dont have to worry about the boot block anymore.

if you flash a bios and the system wont boot after you can try hot flashing the bios chip in another board with the same bios type.

to hot flash boot to floppy disk with the original bios chip then using a chip remover while the system is still on remove the original bios chip and insert the chip you want to flash. flash the chip using afudos /i /n /pbnc and then power down.
remove the chip and put it back to the board that stopped booting clear cmos and it will boot again.

just be careful when removing the chip while power is on.

I sorry if the matter of the falshing is a bit unclear. I have reformulated the part about flashing, trying not to give people the impression, that it is totally secure and confirmed info.

I am only condensing info here, and I seem to be as confused as you are. There are a lot of questions with too few answers :(

The Stilt, you seem to be the one "most down with this" - maybe you could write a small guide regarding the flash procedure on the different boards. Could be a blast.

As far as i understand it, logically this only concerns the situation where you wanna flash your board with "another boards bios". But I am a bit thrown off by the "All." reply...

I guess flashing your board with the newest bios supplied by asus for that particular board would be done the same way as always. When i get my P4P800SE i plan on installing an os, flashing to 1008 with the windows flash-tool, maybe later on to 1009 from within windows. That seems pretty safe.

I could imagine the process is a bit more complicated when forcing a bios to be flashed, that the board doesn't like (unmatching id's).

Could you clear it up, Stilt? :)

Whats the deal with the low fsb limit of the p4p800-vm? By lacking fsb adjustment in the bios, it can't get good fsb overclocks through windows? I really want a matx board and that's the only one that supports the adapter right now, when is asus going to make all the bioses have all the adjustments?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ye_3333

hello guys!!!
this thread is the bestttt

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Hello you! :)

As far as I know, these are the answers you want:

1. No, you don't need to worry about the boot block thing.
2. You don't have to, but it could be smart to have a shim, yes. But there isn't any made, so you must make one yourself like they talk about in this thread.
3. No, you don't need to do that. The newest P4C800E-Deluxe bios (1021.007) should be just fine.
4. You might want to do the VID mod (link) to get more voltage, start with 200 MHz fsb so you can adjust multi and fsb from windows, then clock till you drop! :banana:

Someone correct me if any of this is not correct :)

guys what about p4c800 deluxe with no -e? will work without problem or i need boot block trick??? because i have found a p4c800 deluxe and a gold one for really cheap...

MACCI used P4C800 DLX nn -E than i will send PM to him...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Malachia

guys what about p4c800 deluxe with no -e? will work without problem or i need boot block trick??? because i have found a p4c800 deluxe and a gold one for really cheap...

MACCI used P4C800 DLX nn -E than i will send PM to him...

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Please let us know what Macci tells you...

Quote:

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Originally Posted by uclajd

Please let us know what Macci tells you...

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for sure! pm sent, whaiting for his reply :)

Basically every P4C800 (-E, DLX etc) works in every P4C800 board without bootblock "trick". P4P800 series might be little more picky, since there are certain differences in memory dividers etc.

Which boards with which BIOSes need bootblock programming?