What is Pure DOS mode and how do I get to it?

[SithSolo1]

Per the instructions for updating my BIOS.

How to update the BIOS (For Award BIOS)?

Step 1: Make sure the downloaded BIOS is applicable to your motherboard.
(Please check the model and the version of your motherboard.)

Step 2: Power on the system and enter the pure DOS Mode.

Warning: If you try to update BIOS under Windows DOS box Mode,
it will cause unexcpet damage for your system.

Step 3: Build a new temporary subdirectory, then copy the file to this
Subdirectory.

For example: copy the "AWDFLASH.EXE" and "DGL200.EXE" to the
directory.

Step 4: Go to the temporary subdirectory and run the downloaded file.
It is a self-exactor file, All you have to do is execute this
file. Please remember the full filename of "*.BIN" file, which
is one of these de-compressed files.

Step 5: Run "AWDFLASH.EXE /CC /CD /CP".

Notice: If your motherboard is based Intel 430VX or earilier,
please use AWDFLASH.EXE v5.34. Don't use AWDFLASH.EXE v.7.05
or later.

Step 6: Type the filename of the new BIOS according to the instruction.
(The filename is " *.BIN ")

Step 7: Press "Y" when AWDFLASH.EXE asks whether or not you are going to
save the old BIOS.

Step 8: Type a filename for the old BIOS. Then Press "Enter."

Step 9: Type "Y" when AWDFLASH.EXE asks if you are going to update the BIOS.
(NOTE: Don't power down the system or press <Alt+Ctrl+Del> before
you finish updating BIOS, or it will cause the system to hang
permanently.)

Step 10: Please reboot your computer after you finish updating the BIOS.

Step 11: Press <Del> to enter BIOS setup to execute "LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS."

Step 12: If your motherboard has built-in SCSI interface, press
<Crtl> + <A> enter SCSI BIOS setup to execute "LOAD DEFAULTS."

Notice: If your model is P55TV, please use 7860cfg.exe to setup
SCSI options due to we remove SCSI BIOS setup program
from system BIOS.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

pure dos mode means you make a boot floppy with only dos on it, i.e. not a windows rescue disc or rebooting into dos mode.

go to bootdisk.com, you should be able to get a dos 6.22 boot floppy there.

 

[Lord Evermore]

Just to be safe, you'd probably prefer to get a Windows98 boot disk instead of a DOS6.22 boot disk. DOS before version 7 (which is Win98) can't read FAT32. While you won't actually need to read your hard drive if you copy the flash updater to the floppy, it can't hurt to have a usable boot disk handy.

Of course, if you're running Win98 already, then you can make your own boot disk. Just go to a command prompt and type sys a: (with a floppy in the drive of course). Then copy the flash update files to the floppy.

I've also never had any problems just running the updater from the hard drive. Copy it to an easy to get to directory and then reboot, hit F8 to get the boot menu, and boot to safe-mode command prompt only. There's technically no reason this would be any less safe to do (the floppy controller would be just as effected by any failures as the hard drive controller would be) and it saves the floppy boot time.

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

<< Just to be safe, you'd probably prefer to get a Windows98 boot disk instead of a DOS6.22 boot disk. DOS before version 7 (which is Win98) can't read FAT32. While you won't actually need to read your hard drive if you copy the flash updater to the floppy, it can't hurt to have a usable boot disk handy.

Of course, if you're running Win98 already, then you can make your own boot disk. Just go to a command prompt and type sys a: (with a floppy in the drive of course). Then copy the flash update files to the floppy.

I've also never had any problems just running the updater from the hard drive. Copy it to an easy to get to directory and then reboot, hit F8 to get the boot menu, and boot to safe-mode command prompt only. There's technically no reason this would be any less safe to do (the floppy controller would be just as effected by any failures as the hard drive controller would be) and it saves the floppy boot time. >>


actually if you have a bad flash, theres some method where you can put in the boot floppy w/ the bios image on it, and it will flash it (something like that, been a while since i heard about it)

 

[Lord Evermore]

Actually I've...never heard of such a thing.

 

[SithSolo1]

Well i used DOS 6.22 and it worked just fine. Didn't help my problem, but then again it didn't add to it.

 

[CQuinn]

<< Actually I've...never heard of such a thing. >>



I think he is referring to an attempt at recovery if the BIOS is not completley trashed. On some bad flashes you may still
be able to see the floppy at bootup, or some CMOSes are designed to still allow booting from a floppy in case the
rest of the BIOS info is corrupted.

All that really is going on (AFAICT), is that you create a boot floppy that runs the BIOS flash program as the only step in
the Autoexec.bat file. So if the system can still boot, it automatically will try to reflash the BIOS as soon as the
floppy loads.

 

[CTho9305]

<<

<< Actually I've...never heard of such a thing. >>



I think he is referring to an attempt at recovery if the BIOS is not completley trashed. On some bad flashes you may still
be able to see the floppy at bootup, or some CMOSes are designed to still allow booting from a floppy in case the
rest of the BIOS info is corrupted.

All that really is going on (AFAICT), is that you create a boot floppy that runs the BIOS flash program as the only step in
the Autoexec.bat file. So if the system can still boot, it automatically will try to reflash the BIOS as soon as the
floppy loads. >>



note that you won't be able to see anything unless you've got an ISA video card... PCI/AGP haven't been initialized yet. anywya, the BIOS will seek to a floppy, look for an autoexec.bat and run it.