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Yoda Knight
April 22nd, 2001, 01:29 AM
I get a message saying "unknown flash type" when I boot-up. It doesn't seem to affect the machine, but it iratates me ! The shop I bought it from suggested a bios upgrade, but when I try to flash it I get the same error message. Any ideas ???
Thanx in advance.

Yoda Knight
SHEEP100
April 22nd, 2001, 05:14 AM
Have you tried www.abios.com (http://www.abios.com) This worked fine for all my BIOS enquiries.
i found it had all the information and more that i required.
Hope this has been of assistance.
Darren Wilson
April 22nd, 2001, 06:52 AM
What motherbopard is this? I have seen this a lot on Gigabyte Dual Bios boards, when the Primary BIOS has failed. Changed to the Secondary BIOS as default and problem went away.
Ruslan
April 22nd, 2001, 10:09 AM
Originally posted by Yoda Knight:
I get a message saying "unknown flash type" when I boot-up. It doesn't seem to affect the machine, but it iratates me ! The shop I bought it from suggested a bios upgrade, but when I try to flash it I get the same error message.

It's a quite common problem. There are two possible case:
1. Fisrt of all, are You sure what BIOS chip Your motherboard uses is in fact FLASH chip (not ultraviolet erasable or even completely unerasable chip 27Cxxxx series). Check it.
If it really 27Cxxxx type IC, You're been cheated by shop! BIOS chip Your motherboard currently uses isn't FLASH chip! Flash IC beginning from 28, or 29,39,49 but not 27 in anyway! That BIOS can be used,though, but You'll be unable to reflash that chip using
Your MoBo and Awardflash util.

2. If it really flash chip - You're really have problem with BIOS chip. Your chip have lost manufacturer's info byte at A9 adress line. This byte can be restored only by using
stand-alone EEPROM-Flash programmer with special soft,what support that function.
But BIOS chips itself can be reflashed using some BIOS reflashing tips I have posted here: http://forums.windrivers.com/cgi-bin/forum3/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=000976

But, unfortunatly, it's may be fried chip as well.
What chip,by the way? (chip numbers are under Award(AMI) logo sticker).
Good luck!