Please help with BIOS upgrade for ASUS P5A! ! !

[WJB05]

<DIV>I am trying to upgrade the BIOS on an ASUS P5A w\onboard sound. Im adoing this in an attempt to successfully install Wn-XP. I downloaded what I believe to be the correct BIOS file from ASUS - ab5i1010.zip. However, when I run the BIOS install utility I receive a message that the checksum is equal to 0000 andthe BIOS upgrade does not match the one currently installed. The current BIOS information is:
ASUS P5A ACPI BIOS 1007.A
Award Modular BIOS v. 4.51PG

Does anyone know which BIOS upgrade is correct and if it will fix the problem I'm having installing Win-XP.

Thanks. </DIV>

 

[AndyHui]

The latest BIOS for the ASUS P5A is Version 1011 Beta 004.

The file that you have listed above appears to be a BIOS for the P5A-B, not the P5A.

I suggest you download a Win9x bootdisk from www.BootDisk.com and flash from the DOS Prompt using AFLASH.EXE.

 

[WJB05]

After flashing the BIOS with 1011 Beta 004 and receiving a "successful flash" message I powered off and rebooted loading the Default Setup. The computer then appeared to be booting successfully when I received the message "PRESS A KEY TO REBOOT." I then reboot and continue to receive the same message. Should I clear the CMOS and make other adjustments in the BIOS setup? Thanks for your assistance!

 

[GonzoDaGr8]

Can you get into the BIOS again? Are your drives being detected? when you get the error, is it saying no os found, please reboot?

 

[PoGo456]

 

[PoGo456]

It is correct that the BIOS you are trying to use is for the A/B, not the P5A ... two different animals.

I have been running the 1010 bios on a P5A rev: 1.04 for over a year with no problems. I have seen reports of the 1101 Beta being unstable on some machines, but I cannot personally verify this.

When you run the Award Flash, you are given the option of backing up your old bios. This is HIGHLY recommended. If you sis this, I would suggest you go back to the 1007 Bios ... reboot to Windows, then reboot to DOS and first, update to the 1010 bios.

Run that for a day or so to check that it's stable on your machine. If so, then try updating to the 1101 Beta ... having, again, backed up the previous bios.

I have installed XP on three P5A (AMD K6-2-500) machines running the 1010 bios and have had no problems. Just make sure you have all the latest ALI drivers available. XP (as usual) expects you to have all the very latest hardware ... the P5A is not in that category.

Good Luck ...

 

[WJB05]

Can you please tell me where I can find the 1010 BIOS upgrade? I found the 1007A on the USA ASUS site and the 1101 on the German site. Also, when you recommend that I upgrade all drivers, are you referring to the v3.40 ALi M1541 IDE BusMaster, ESS Solo 1 for Windows NT4, ESS Solo 1 Wavetable, ESS Solo 1 Audiorack 32 Audi Driver, and the Ali AGP driver? Are these installed from DOS before WIN-XP is installed?

Thanks for your assistance!

 

[PoGo456]

I'm referring primarily to the ALi 1541 Buss and AGP Drivers. After installing, and maybe during, your hardware setup will be "found". When the system tries to find a driver, supply it with the ALI drivers. Failing that, you can go in and install them after XP is all finished loading.

The onboard sound is a whole other matter, but, though it works, you'll get a lot better system and sound performance by disabling the onboard sound and installing an after market card in a PCI slot, either slot 3 or 5. Again ... Win XP will ask for the drivers at install or find it's own off the embedded peripheral list.

The file you want for the 1010 bios is ali10101.zip (124k) I don't remember whether I found it on the US or German site, but even a Google search should turn it up. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll figure a way to get it to you.

Before you start all this, make sure you have a GOOD boot disk, not one made from within Windows, but one with all the necessary startup files (plus, I like to put edit.com on the disk ... comes in handy). There are lots of places to find help making a disk if you don't have one.

I've found it also helpful to reset the bios to "System Defaults" while doing any tuning. That puts all the parameters in the middle of the road and allows the greatest lattitude. You can tune the bios later, after everything is working properly.

Hope this helps some ... good luck ...