Status of my BIOS?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Craig
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Craig

Because of my frequent problems with my WinXP computer, I looked at BIOS of
my computer. The name of BIOS is as follows:

Award Modular BIOS v 6.0 00PG (or PC; I cannot tell G from C from the
screen).

I have no idea whether this chip is outdate or current.
Could someone tell me whether I should upgrade further for WinXP.

craig
 
Thanks.
I misplaced the sheet on my computer spec. I wonder how to figure out the
name of the motherboard manufacturer.

craig.
 
Craig said:
Because of my frequent problems with my WinXP computer, I looked at
BIOS of my computer. The name of BIOS is as follows:

Award Modular BIOS v 6.0 00PG (or PC; I cannot tell G from C from the
screen).

I have no idea whether this chip is outdate or current.
Could someone tell me whether I should upgrade further for WinXP.

craig
Click to expand...

Download and run BIOS Agent from the top of the following page:
http://www.unicore.com/biosagent/index.cfm

Save your report and post back with it. You should find it in C:\bios.txt
 
Thank you S.Heenan,

Here is the report after running the BiosAgen::

Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.21
BIOS Date: 01/02/01
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS ID: 01/02/2001-8363-686B-JA6LMC0CC
OEM Sign-On: 01/02/2001
Chipset: VIA 82C305 rev 3
Superio: VIA 686 rev 64 found at port 7h
OS: WinXP
CPU: AMD Duron(TM) 800 Mhz MAX: 500 Mhz
BIOS ROM In Socket: Yes
BIOS ROM Size: 256K
Memory Installed: 512 MB
Memory Maximum: 512 MB
Memory Slot 01: 256 MB
Memory Slot 02: 256 MB
Memory Slot 03: 0 MB
Memory Slot 04: 0 MB

eSupport.com, Inc.
1-800-800-BIOS (2467)

Your advise would be appreciated. Regards,

craig
 
Craig,
That gives a lot of info, but I can't see the actual manufacturer in there.
Download the shareware /standard version of SiSoft Sandra from
http://www.sisoftware.net/index.html?dir=dload&location=sware_dl_x86&langx=en&a=
It has a module that will gave' mainboard info' including manufacturer and
model number.
You can then check for/download an update from their website.
Hope this helps.
Chek



Craig said:
Thank you S.Heenan,

Here is the report after running the BiosAgen::

Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.21
BIOS Date: 01/02/01
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS ID: 01/02/2001-8363-686B-JA6LMC0CC
OEM Sign-On: 01/02/2001
Chipset: VIA 82C305 rev 3
Superio: VIA 686 rev 64 found at port 7h
OS: WinXP
CPU: AMD Duron(TM) 800 Mhz MAX: 500 Mhz
BIOS ROM In Socket: Yes
BIOS ROM Size: 256K
Memory Installed: 512 MB
Memory Maximum: 512 MB
Memory Slot 01: 256 MB
Memory Slot 02: 256 MB
Memory Slot 03: 0 MB
Memory Slot 04: 0 MB

eSupport.com, Inc.
1-800-800-BIOS (2467)

Your advise would be appreciated. Regards,

craig
Click to expand...
 
Craig said:
Thank you S.Heenan,

Here is the report after running the BiosAgen::

Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.21
BIOS Date: 01/02/01
BIOS Type: Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
BIOS ID: 01/02/2001-8363-686B-JA6LMC0CC
OEM Sign-On: 01/02/2001
Chipset: VIA 82C305 rev 3
Superio: VIA 686 rev 64 found at port 7h
OS: WinXP
CPU: AMD Duron(TM) 800 Mhz MAX: 500 Mhz
BIOS ROM In Socket: Yes
BIOS ROM Size: 256K
Memory Installed: 512 MB
Memory Maximum: 512 MB
Memory Slot 01: 256 MB
Memory Slot 02: 256 MB
Memory Slot 03: 0 MB
Memory Slot 04: 0 MB

eSupport.com, Inc.
1-800-800-BIOS (2467)

Your advise would be appreciated. Regards,
Click to expand...

It appears to be a Matsonic motherboard.
http://www.matsonic.com
 
S.Heenan said:
It appears to be a Matsonic motherboard.
http://www.matsonic.com
Click to expand...


It uses the VIA KT133 Northbridge which means upgrading the processor to an
Athlon is likely possible. From what I can see, upgrading the BIOS does not
seem like an option since Matsonic does not seem to have written a new one
than the one you have.

When you replace the battery, be certain to both turn off the power supply
and unplug the cord from the back of the PC. Touch both hands to the bare
metal chassis and replace the battery, noting the correct orientation of +
and -'ve. It should be fine after the battery swap.
 
I checked information on the mainboard using SiSoft Sandra. This is what I
got:

Mainboard:
MP Support No.
Model 8363-686A
System BIOS 01/02/2001-8363-686B-JAGLMC0CC-00
Chipset VIA KT133/A

From your posting, it seems that BIOS upgrade is not feasible. The reason
why I am concerned about the BIOS is that my computer freezes once in a
while. So I thought that there could be a conflict between BIOS and WinXP.
The cause of the freezing was due to the following critical update.

811493: Security Update (Window XP)

Whenever this update is installed, my computer freezes. Your comment would
be appreciated.

Craig
 
Craig said:
I checked information on the mainboard using SiSoft Sandra. This is
what I got:

Mainboard:
MP Support No.
Model 8363-686A
System BIOS 01/02/2001-8363-686B-JAGLMC0CC-00
Chipset VIA KT133/A

From your posting, it seems that BIOS upgrade is not feasible. The
reason why I am concerned about the BIOS is that my computer freezes
once in a while. So I thought that there could be a conflict between
BIOS and WinXP. The cause of the freezing was due to the following
critical update.

811493: Security Update (Window XP)

Whenever this update is installed, my computer freezes. Your comment
would be appreciated.

Craig
Click to expand...

Without combing the furthest reaches of the internet, it doesn't look as
though a more recent BIOS exists for your motherboard. A BIOS update is
probably not strictly necessary.
As for Windows Update 811493, the older version was well known to cause
problems. Go to Add/Remove programs in the Control panel. Scroll down to
811493 and uninstall it. Reboot. Visit the Windows Update site and download
the newer version which hopefully will not cause you problems.If it does
cause problems, uninstall it as well. You can get away without it.
This article explains a little about Q811493.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?kbid=819634
 
Craig,
Your motherboard/CPU/Memory are certainly comfortably within the parameters
that XP requires.
If S.H.'s advice cures the prob completely, all well and good - but I'd
still be interested in the mechanics of why it would do that
I - and this is only because of personal experience - might suspect a
problem with one of the RAM sticks if the freezing problem is intermittent
but persistent.
Touchstone software did a 'stress tester' for memory in their 'Check It'
tool kit - there are probably free ones out there too.
I'd suggest reseating the RAM in its slots, trying it in different slots
(further away from any heat sources perhaps)
and checking the CPU temp regularly (if its supported in the BIOS, SiSoft
will report it).
Good luck.
Chek

Craig said:
I checked information on the mainboard using SiSoft Sandra. This is what I
got:

Mainboard:
MP Support No.
Model 8363-686A
System BIOS 01/02/2001-8363-686B-JAGLMC0CC-00
Chipset VIA KT133/A

From your posting, it seems that BIOS upgrade is not feasible. The reason
why I am concerned about the BIOS is that my computer freezes once in a
while. So I thought that there could be a conflict between BIOS and WinXP.
The cause of the freezing was due to the following critical update.

811493: Security Update (Window XP)

Whenever this update is installed, my computer freezes. Your comment would
be appreciated.

Craig
Click to expand...
 
I have a 10-month old DELL computer at home and uses a regular 53k modem..
That computer runs smoothly without any problem.

My office computer is connected to DSL via US Qwest. So I am wondering
whether "811493: Security Update" could cause a kind of conflict with the
software for DSL. craig.





Chek said:
Craig,
Your motherboard/CPU/Memory are certainly comfortably within the parameters
that XP requires.
If S.H.'s advice cures the prob completely, all well and good - but I'd
still be interested in the mechanics of why it would do that
I - and this is only because of personal experience - might suspect a
problem with one of the RAM sticks if the freezing problem is intermittent
but persistent.
Touchstone software did a 'stress tester' for memory in their 'Check It'
tool kit - there are probably free ones out there too.
I'd suggest reseating the RAM in its slots, trying it in different slots
(further away from any heat sources perhaps)
and checking the CPU temp regularly (if its supported in the BIOS, SiSoft
will report it).
Good luck.
Chek

Craig said:
I checked information on the mainboard using SiSoft Sandra. This is
Click to expand...
what
I
got:

Mainboard:
MP Support No.
Model 8363-686A
System BIOS 01/02/2001-8363-686B-JAGLMC0CC-00
Chipset VIA KT133/A

From your posting, it seems that BIOS upgrade is not feasible. The reason
why I am concerned about the BIOS is that my computer freezes once in a
while. So I thought that there could be a conflict between BIOS and WinXP.
The cause of the freezing was due to the following critical update.

811493: Security Update (Window XP)

Whenever this update is installed, my computer freezes. Your comment would
be appreciated.

Craig




to
an does
not
Click to expand...
of
Click to expand...
 
Craig said:
I have a 10-month old DELL computer at home and uses a regular 53k
modem.. That computer runs smoothly without any problem.

My office computer is connected to DSL via US Qwest. So I am
wondering whether "811493: Security Update" could cause a kind of
conflict with the software for DSL. craig.
Click to expand...

Could very well be. Strictly speaking, xDSL software is not usually
necessary when using Windows XP.
 
Craig,
There's a couple of concise articles here discussing how the (old version)
patch causes problems
with password protected networked PC's running Anti Virus software.
(i.e. your work computers. Hang on - isn't that every workplace??)
Just watch out for all the pop-ups though!
http://www.pcworld.com/news/article/0,aid,110385,00.asp
http://dbforums.com/arch/221/2003/4/762195
Sort of off-topic, but even allowing that the MS quotes used are
selective - doesn't it always seem that the
'official' responses are more concerned with playing down rather than
helping solve these type of issues?
Chek
 
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