Acmlm's Board - I2 Archive - Hardware/Software - How Do I Change The Bios?
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BMF98567
Posts: 383/1261 |
I remember working on some proprietary Compaq or Packard Bell mini-tower a few years ago...it had boards in both the bottom and the side of the case (the side board was plugged into a slot on the narrow board at the bottom). A two-piece motherboard. WTF was that all about?
I currently have an ancient desktop-case Compaq that's kind of similar, with a riser card sticking out of the motherboard that the PCI devices plug into (you can only have two or three cards installed at once). The card is fastened to a metal "wall" that separates the hinged drive bay and power supply from the rest of the case. The cables to the drives are all stuffed into this little conduit running under the wall, which is impossible to work with unless you pull the entire case apart...ugh...  |
kitty
Posts: 1224/2449 |
Example: Dell's fan (plugs), Dell's power supplies and cables/connectors, Dell's cases, Dell's system format (I call it "fuATX" for "Fucked-up ATX"). Their motherboards are usually proprietary to fit these absurd, custom systems. |
BMF98567
Posts: 382/1261 |
Proprietary = non-standard. Generally developed and used by only the originating company. Example: the GameCube's disc format is proprietary--no other console or [publically available] drive can read it. |
Nebetsu
Posts: 327/1574 |
Originally posted by Tomguy
I did this with an older Compaq, I found the actual MFG's name and model on the mobo and went to their (Gigabyte) website. I was able to sucessfully flash it to a newer, non shitty BIOS.
I was hoping to be able to adjust ti to always turn on after a power failure, but no such luck. The bios had SOME options for memory timing, but naturally, no overclocking options whatsoever (these were done by jumpers on the mobo, and the mobo max was 500MHz, the proc was a 475 - you do the math xD)
However, ALL NEW DELL STUFF is proprietary. I would imagine most, if not all the old stuff is as well. You need to check to see if you can find a mobo MFG/model #, it MAY be covered with a Dell sticker.
Define proprietary. |
kitty
Posts: 1222/2449 |
I did this with an older Compaq, I found the actual MFG's name and model on the mobo and went to their (Gigabyte) website. I was able to sucessfully flash it to a newer, non shitty BIOS.
I was hoping to be able to adjust ti to always turn on after a power failure, but no such luck. The bios had SOME options for memory timing, but naturally, no overclocking options whatsoever (these were done by jumpers on the mobo, and the mobo max was 500MHz, the proc was a 475 - you do the math xD)
However, ALL NEW DELL STUFF is proprietary. I would imagine most, if not all the old stuff is as well. You need to check to see if you can find a mobo MFG/model #, it MAY be covered with a Dell sticker. |
HyperLamer
Posts: 1678/8210 |
Whenever I work with Dells I generally remove the switch to detect the case being opened, and just bend the pins together. Shuts up that annoying alarm pretty good.  |
Tarale
Posts: 370/2720 |
I wish I lived wherever you live.
Dont' worry, I'm sure there are idiots where you live too  You just need to find them....  |
neotransotaku
Posts: 1446/4016 |
they put business stuff inside home computers? I mean, if i was working at a company, that is when I would care about that... say a small business with sensitive data on the HD...
but anyways, that feature can be disabled in a Dell (yeah, i got annoyed of that)... |
drjayphd
Posts: 671/1477 |
Originally posted by ChibiTaryn
I tend to avoid DELL computers, because amongst other things, they are restrictive.
"Warning! Case has been opened!"
(STAB STAB STAB)
No one gives a crap if the case got opened. Especially when it starts doing that after the comp hangs, and I NEVER opened it up.  Good thing Dell doesn't seem to do that anymore. |
Nebetsu
Posts: 297/1574 |
Originally posted by ChibiTaryn
I wouldn't even pay the $10. I can get comparable hardware anytime I like for free -- and it won't be a Dell.
I've managed to get my hands on hardware ranging from 386's to Pentium 3's for free. It's amazing the kind of things that idiots just give away. 
I wish I lived wherever you live. |
Tarale
Posts: 369/2720 |
I wouldn't even pay the $10. I can get comparable hardware anytime I like for free -- and it won't be a Dell.
I've managed to get my hands on hardware ranging from 386's to Pentium 3's for free. It's amazing the kind of things that idiots just give away. |
Nebetsu
Posts: 288/1574 |
Originally posted by ChibiTaryn
I tend to avoid DELL computers, because amongst other things, they are restrictive.
The DEL key is standard for most BIOSes, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to hear that DELL have, in their infinite wisdom  come up with a different way of doing things.
In the first seconds of booting, does it give you any indications of what you should be doing? Pressing F1, perhaps, or anything weird like that? They might refer to 'Setup' as something else... who knows with a DELL....
You might need to consult a DELL manual, or ask another unlucky sod with a DELL.
Come to think of it, the only thing I can really help you with that's DELL specific is advice on how big a sledgehammer to use when destroying the thing and sending it back to the hell from whence it came! 
*loves her slightly outdated, but custom PC*
166MHz computer that came with a 16 inch moniter for 10 bucks. I'm not going to pass that kind of opportunity up even if it is a DELL! |
neotransotaku
Posts: 1442/4016 |
it is F2 for a dell...at least on my dell, it posts something in the top left corner to say whether you still want to enter BIOS or not |
Tarale
Posts: 367/2720 |
I tend to avoid DELL computers, because amongst other things, they are restrictive.
The DEL key is standard for most BIOSes, but it wouldn't surprise me at all to hear that DELL have, in their infinite wisdom come up with a different way of doing things.
In the first seconds of booting, does it give you any indications of what you should be doing? Pressing F1, perhaps, or anything weird like that? They might refer to 'Setup' as something else... who knows with a DELL....
You might need to consult a DELL manual, or ask another unlucky sod with a DELL.
Come to think of it, the only thing I can really help you with that's DELL specific is advice on how big a sledgehammer to use when destroying the thing and sending it back to the hell from whence it came!
*loves her slightly outdated, but custom PC* |
Nebetsu
Posts: 287/1574 |
Hey, another thing: How do you get into the BIOS on a DELL? It's really annoying. So far the only way that I've been able to figure out is causing some sort of hard drive error that will make the DELL hard drive protection thing say there's something wrong. It would then give me an option to continue or go into BIOS. What I've been doing is setting the jumper on my hard drive to slave whenever I need to go into BIOS, but that's really getting annoying. Anyone know the propur way? (If you say "DEL", I'll slap you) |
Tarale
Posts: 350/2720 |
Yeah, what was said above.
Course, just cause it's a BIOS update doesn't mean the updated BIOS will necessarily suck any less than the current one. It will just be newer
But yeah, BIOS software is VERY specific. I don't think the hacking thing would work either, to tell the truth.
Course, it would be kinda nice if you COULD change some BIOS'es. I worked with one yesterday that insisted on TALKING on boot up (A voice would boom that the PC is now starting from Operating System) and try as I might, I could not disable the stupid fucking thing....grrr... |
neotransotaku
Posts: 1434/4016 |
Only 1 BIOS works on a dell and that is a BIOS made by dell. If you can figure out the type of system this Dell is, you can go to support.dell.com, lookup the system, and find the downloads of that system. One of the available downloads is bound to be a BIOS update. |
Ailure
Posts: 5178/11162 |
Overclocking maybe?I have seen a few BIOS's where it's not possible.
You never know, the newer version of that BIOS maybe have some things you want, but I never flashed a BIOS. Why would I risc getting it damaged? |
HyperLamer
Posts: 1644/8210 |
Hmm... I assume you could hack a BIOS? Just dump it, hack it like any other ROM (could even use an x86 emu to test), then flash it back. They don't have checksums or anything do they?
Anyone know if the HP Pavillion XG843 BIOS supports boot passwords? I don't see an option, but on the motherboard there is a spot for a jumper labelled Password, that if you were to short it it would enable a password. There isn't an actual jumper, but I could solder it... |
Legion
Posts: 2457/5657 |
What exactly makes it so "crappy"? And what exactly are you trying to do with it that you can't? |
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