Help in updating BIOS of L7VMM2 (branded with "emachine" logo on POST)

[Battousai001]

Hi, I would like to ask if it is possible to update the BIOS of this second hand motherboard? this is an L7VMM2 board (made by ECS). I bought this on a local shop here expecting that this is not a branded mobo, I was surprised when I installed and boot, an "e Machine" logo on the POST showed up. I dont know what do you call this type of motherboard but is it an "OEM board"? and is it possible to update the BIOS using the BIOS made by ECS and get rid of the logo on the POST?

What does this mean? does this mean that "e Machine" labelled this board for their use on their CPU packages?

heres more information:

The board has a label: L7VMM2 V1.0A
But when I try to check for the BIOS version on the software BIOS agent heres the info:

BIOS Type: Phoenix-Award BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS Date: 07/17/02
BIOS ID: 07/17/2002-KM266-8235-6A6LVE1BC-00
"OEM Sign-on": L7VMM2 0.9A(E) 07/17/2002
Super I/O: ITE 8705/SiS 950 rev 2 found at port 2Eh
Chipset: VIA 82C3116 rev 0

BIOS ROM In socket and size: Unknown

I also checked the info on Winflash:

BIOS ID: KM266-8235-6A6LVE1BC-00
Flash Type: Unknown Flash Type

Moreover on the boot up before windows it is always noted as: "Unknown Flash Type"

 

[Peter]

The "unknown flash type" would be because you either used the wrong software, or started it in Windows although it's a DOS program.

As for the OEM logo: It might be that eMachines just put their logo image into the plain BIOS. ECS's original BIOSes are at www.ecs.com.tw - Downloads - Mainboards - Archive. Mind the board revisions; get the latest BIOS for yours (v1.0A).

 

[Battousai001]

Originally posted by: Peter
The "unknown flash type" would be because you either used the wrong software, or started it in Windows although it's a DOS program.

As for the OEM logo: It might be that eMachines just put their logo image into the plain BIOS. ECS's original BIOSes are at www.ecs.com.tw - Downloads - Mainboards - Archive. Mind the board revisions; get the latest BIOS for yours (v1.0A).

Hi! I tried updating the bios in two ways: one is through "WinFlash" on windows, when I tried to update the BIOS a message appears saying: "flash block erase failure"

the other way is I used a flopyy disk, formatted it as "MS-DOS startup disk" then copied the Award flash utility and the BIOS then boot it up. When the flash utility is about to program the BIOS it says "Checksum: 7BDFH" and then after a few seconds a message says: "Unknown Flash Type"

Actually I already tried the two BIOS version that I downloaded from ECS's website but still the same messages appear and can't update the BIOS.

Is it possible to update this boards BIOS? Or "e Machine" locked the BIOS and prevents you to update it? and do you call this type of motherboard as "OEM boards"?

 

[Peter]

One other possibility (that is rarely found on desktop boards) is a "BIOS write protect" _jumper_ on the board. If that is set, then software can't even detect the type of FlashROM chip (because the ID sequence involves writing to the chip).

 

[Battousai001]

Originally posted by: Peter
One other possibility (that is rarely found on desktop boards) is a "BIOS write protect" _jumper_ on the board. If that is set, then software can't even detect the type of FlashROM chip (because the ID sequence involves writing to the chip).

I have downloaded the manual of this motherboard on ECS's website and have read that on the manual, the manual simply describes the topic on "updating the bios" it mentioned about the jumper on write protect of the bios and also menitioned if ever there is a firmware write protect menu on the bios setup but it doesnt mentioned if that there is such things on the motherboard. And what boot disk should I use? cn I use the boot disk I made from win xp (My Computer> format drive A> create MS Dos system disk)?

Im not sure if this is still possible to update the BIOS of this type of board, is it possible that the vendor "e Machine" locked the BIOS and used a custom made chip? But I cant find any clues on that. Im not even sure why the board has a label of "L7VMM2 1.0A" on the PCB while when I tried to detect the bios version via software it detects as "L7VMM2 0.9A" what does this mean? and why is it says that "unknown flash type" or "flash block erase failure"? it also says "unknown flash type" on the screen where "ESCD Update" should be. I hope I can still update the BIOS of this board....

 

[Battousai001]

anyone?

 

[DJMiX]

you can use the ecs bios but make sure you download the correct version 3.0 will not work...

as for the nvram error either bios is protected or possible boot lock problem.

and extremely rare that maybe the physical bios chip is not supported from the bios update.

 

[Peter]

... and if the board OEM (emachines or their actual supplier) was a particularly cheap barsteward and ordered the boards from ECS with non-flash ROM chips, then it's impossible anyway.

 

[Battousai001]

Originally posted by: DJMiX
you can use the ecs bios but make sure you download the correct version 3.0 will not work...

as for the nvram error either bios is protected or possible boot lock problem.

and extremely rare that maybe the physical bios chip is not supported from the bios update.

does that mean theres no way I can flash the bios? Im not sure if there is a jumper to or a setting to disable write protect of the bios....

 

[DJMiX]

post the bios chip numbers
might be SST39SF020A, or a atmel or winbond chip.

I had alot of customers order a new chip or get there existing chip reflash from a emachine to a retail ecs bios.

maybe it might be easier to order a new chip or get the old chip reflashed.

I'm sure somebody might know how to force the bios flash I don't know since I use a standalone programmer...
check my sig if you decide to order a new chip or reflash your existing if everything else fails.

 

[Peter]

First thing you should be doing is figure out whether or not there is a hard BIOS write protect via jumper. RTFM, M available from the ECS website, right next to the BIOS files.

 

[Battousai001]

Originally posted by: DJMiX
post the bios chip numbers
might be SST39SF020A, or a atmel or winbond chip.

I had alot of customers order a new chip or get there existing chip reflash from a emachine to a retail ecs bios.

maybe it might be easier to order a new chip or get the old chip reflashed.

I'm sure somebody might know how to force the bios flash I don't know since I use a standalone programmer...
check my sig if you decide to order a new chip or reflash your existing if everything else fails.

What exactly if "Reflashing" the BIOS? and how does that work? and anyone here knows exactly how? how can a bios be "forced" flashed?

 

[Peter]

You can't force something that doesn't work per se. Read the manual already. Please.

 

[FirNaTine]

I had this exact motherbaord in an eMachine T2200. I flashed to a newer BIOS (3.0a) and killed the motherboard. Make special note of the difference in the clock generator before you choose a BIOS for the board. Mine was realtek clock generator and needed BIOS 1.1a I was able to send for a new chip (luckily they are socketed) so you should be able to send your chip out to be flashed. As far as I can recall it did not have a BIOS write protect jumper. I am looking around to see if i still have the chip model number if you need to order a new chip. (It was a square socketed chip, I believe it was labeled with an SST.)