How to update BIOS

No, just do it in one update. All of the enhancements are carried over in the latest version from the previous ones. The flash erases the previous settings and rewrites the new version, so sneaking up on it serves no useful purpose as long as the same company (Phoenix) wrote both versions, and without special instructions to the contrary. I used this particular type and version to flash a CPtV from A00 to A14, as it is sister machine and uses the exact same CPTX_A14 file. Use the Floppy Method.

Thanks for the info.  I downloaded the floppy version and tried to re-boot with it. The system booted fine but did not take the upgrade.  Any ideas?

Did you open the Downloaded Zip File and allow it to unzip to a floppy disk? Using the "Send To  3 1/2" Floppy (A)" will not work with that file. When you open the Zip File downloaded to your desktop, it opens a DOS Shell with instructions. The File you downloaded should have been the larger of the 2 for the Floppy; The other smaller one requires making a System Disk first and then downloading the Executable file with that System Floppy as the destination. It is useful for certain purposes, but not for what youare doing

IF your floppy does boot to an A: Prompt, type and enter CPTX_A14 for a Command. If you want to see what is on the disk before starting the Flash, type and enter   dir    for directory. You will see the file for which you are entering the Command. It is not necessary to add the .EXE when entering a Command

Message Edited by leduke30 on 06-04-2004 12:51 PM

Thanks for the information.  Unfortuately, I'm having problems with conflicting OS systems (Win 95 & Win 2k) I need to resolve before I try updating the bios again.  To let you know what's going on with the OS is that the lap top came with Win 95.  I tried to load Win 2000 over it but it didn't completely overwrite Win 95.  So now whenever I run an application I get error messages that don't let me utilize the full application.  Any help would be appreciated or if there's a better board for OS problems I should post on, let me know.

Thanks, Kat

Kat, perhaps you should Clean reinstall W2000. You can use your W95 CD as a "kicker" to prove eligibility for an upgrade without actually having W95 on the machine. The problem may stem from the fact that W95 normally uses FAT16 format and 2.1gb partitions, and neither is compatible with W2k. Delete the partitions on the Drive with a W98 Boot Disk , Reboot, answer the Large Disk Question with Y(YES)and create a Primary DOS Active  Partition for the whole drive. If you intend to use Suspend to Disk, run that program first after reboot; it makes a NonDOS Partition at the head of the drive which DOS perceives as a new drive head and will make a DOS Primary Partition for the rest of the drive. You do not need to format the partition; the W2000 CD will take care of that and give you a choice between FAT32 or NTFS. Just put the W2k CD in the Drive and reboot; you will be prompted to press any key to boot from the CD. During setup, you will be directed to put the older Windows version in the drive so Setup can scan it for eligibility(kicker in my venacular). It will be scanned and then you will be directed to put back your W2K CD and setup will continue. The W2000 upgrade CD has everything the so-called full set has, but it has this extra lock to open, so in fact it has a bit more.

I've been told that I need to update the BIOS before I can fix the Win2k issues. A little background: The system came with a CD, not a floppy.  My dad bought an external floppy for it though.  I downloaded the CPTX_A14 file using the FTP format (this was a guess as to which format to choose) and extracted and created the boot disk. I rebooted and "F2'd" to change the 1st boot device from the CD to the floppy. Win2k loaded but did not start the BIOS update.  I started DOS and manually started the CPTX_A14 file.  The "Flash Bios Update Program" starts but hangs with only the title showing. What am I doing wrong?

If your Dad bought a USB floppy drive, those are generally not DOS Bootable. You need a Dell Floppy Drive that plugs into the Media Bay and/or uses a Dell Floppy Only Cable that connects to the Parallel Port. In either configuration that floppy is DOS bootable and will do the Flash. You are not the first person to have this problem with a USB Floppy Drive. They work fine when you are up under Windows, but they will not work in DOS or Safe Mode. The same shortcoming is also true of USB Mice.

Thanks!  I don't think I'll tell him about the floppy drive!  My neighbor has a dell laptop with a floppy drive.  I don't know if its a Dell or not and unfortunately he's on vacation for a week.  Can I take the data from the floppy and use my Dad's computer to burn it to a CD, then try and boot off the CD?

Kat,

I have Flashed BIOS that way, but you will also need a Boot CDR made using Roxio or Nero software and your Dad's CDRW.  Before starting this project, make a tweak on your Dad's PC. If he is using W98, go to Start /Settings/Folder Options/ View Tab and Dotmark Show All Files. Some of the files you need to copy are hidden files, and this tweak makes them visible ,and thereby copyable. This CDR is a BootImage Copy of a W98 Boot Diskette and is made with an Application named Bootable CD with Roxio Easy CD Creator, which is accessed  by selecting  Make Data CD/Data CD Project/File/New CD Project/Bootable CD, then follow the directions.
To use this Boot CDR, you must have the CD Drive set ahead of the Harddrive in BIOS F2 Setup. To flash the BIOS, put in your Boot CDR and turn on the computer. Select "Start your Computer with CDROM Support" from the Startup menu in DOS, and at the A: prompt, if you will look a couple of lines above it, it will give you a new drive letter for the CDROM, which has been pushed up one letter by the MSRAMDRIVE. Type and enter that letter followed by a Colon and you will get a new prompt for the CDROM. Swap out the Boot CDR for the Flash CDR, type and enter CPTX_A14 at that new prompt; that should start your BIOS Flash. The Boot CDR can also be used for Drive Prep w/FDisk and Format; also it has all the DOS Tools available just like the Boot Diskette, can be used to boot the CDROM for W98/ME installation, and does all this on any computer.

 

Message Edited by leduke30 on 06-19-2004 04:25 PM

Thanks for the info. I won't be seeing my dad until the end of next week.  I'll send him an e-mail and ask him to make the bootable CDR.  I know he has Roxio software (even if he doesn't know how to use it)! I'll let you know how it turns out.

Kat

I talked with my dad and he's running WinMe on his system, and I'm trying to run Win2k on mine.  Can he still create a bootable disk for my computer using WinMe?

Thanks,  Kat

Have him try and if it does not work, contact me at padtea@msn.com . I'll make you a copy of mine and mail it to you.

I don't know where he got that. The application in Roxio I told you to use-Bootable CD- did not mention that when I used it.

A quick question. Dad wants to know if he should burn the CD with or without emulation.

Thanks, Kat

I just called him.  He says he's using Roxio disc creator classic. Now, I hope I get the rest of this right.  He says that he does the following steps:

1) File...new project, then  (2) bootable disc.  Then a window appears named "Choose type of bootable disc".  Then there's a window with a pull down menu named "bootable disc type".  The pull down has the following choices:

floppy disc emulation (1.44 MB)

floppy disc emulation (2.88 MB)

hard disc emulation                OR

no emulation.

Please go easy on him.  He's old.

Thanks, Kat