Am I in need of a BIOS upgrade?

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by vancity, Feb 22, 2006.

  1. vancity

    vancity Member

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    My computer is relatively 'old', it was bought in June of 2002 from MDG.

    I'm running Windows XP Pro on it, it has 512 MB of ram, 1.5GhzProcessor running on a P4.

    I recently bought " Maxtor DiamondMax 10 250GB IDE ATA133 7200RPM 16MB 9MS FDB RoHS Hard Drive", as the one that came with the computer was a 40GB Maxtor drive that simply wasn't large enough anymore, I was tired of having 5GB of hard drive space, and backing up my movies with that space, deleting the files, and starting over with the same process again.

    After 3 weeks use with this drive I received a 'read error' message upon powering on my system. After approximately 3 days of attempting to re-install windows which would allow it work temporarily, and then it would start up saying a certain system file was missing (mostly the ever important dll files) and I couldn't start it.

    I tried booting my system with my older 40GB drive as the master and the 250GB as a slave which seemed to work intermittently. Sometimes this newer (250GB) drive would show up on 'my computer' as unformatted, and the next time it would be read fine, with all my files intact.


    I took the drive back to NCIX (computer store where I purchased said drive) and the technician informed me the drive works perfectly fine, and that I must upgrade my BIOS.

    This is what I would like to do. I am just curious, because I was actually using the drive earlier yesterday until it decided to freeze while I was browsing through some of my recently copied over mp3 files, so I restarted and when I tried opening the drive to view my files it informed me it was unformatted, and when clicking on properties it says it is in RAW file format with 0 bytes available and 0 bytes free.


    This message has happened before and the drive ended up working as quickly as a few hours later.


    How do I find out if I can upgrade my motherboard BIOS? I don't even know how to figure out what kind of Motherboard it is, MDG hasn't answered any of my emails...I may have to take it in for them to figure it out, but the warranty is long gone.



    Any help on this matter would be greatly appreciated, whether there is some sort of application that can tell me what kind of BIOS I am using, or if someone knows how to get MDG to help, etc.. if updating the BIOS would solve anything? My understanding was that if my motherboard BIOS required upgrading; the drive would never have worked on it to begin with. Nevermind 3 weeks of perfect usage, followed by the most frustrating few weeks in recent memory.


    Thanks for your time, guys. I apologize for my lack of knowledge and
    also for my long-winded message, this is just incredibly frustrating.


    Cheers.
     
  2. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    moved
     
  3. Distorded

    Distorded Regular member

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    Last edited: Feb 22, 2006
  4. vancity

    vancity Member

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    I'm not sure if the 'mainboard' is the motherboard, but this is the information it gave me:


    SiSoftware Sandra

    Mainboard
    Manufacturer : Intel Corporation
    MP Support : No
    Model : D845HV
    Version : AAA68838-304
    Serial Number : IMHV13519049
    System BIOS : 51-2300-000000-00101111-030199-

    On-board Devices
    Intel ICH2 Audio Device : Sound Adapter (Enabled)

    System Memory Controller
    Location : Mainboard
    Error Correction Capability : None
    Number of Memory Slots : 3
    Maximum Installable Memory : 3GB
    DIMM0 - J6G1 : Empty
    DIMM1 - J6G2 : DIMM Synchronous SDRAM 256MB/64 @ 133Mt/s
    DIMM2 - J6H1 : DIMM Synchronous SDRAM 256MB/64 @ 133Mt/s

    Chipset 1
    Model : Intel Corporation 82845 Brookdale Host-Hub Interface Bridge (A3-step)
    Bus(es) : X-Bus AGP PCI IMB USB i2c/SMBus
    Front Side Bus Speed : 4x 100MHz (400MHz data rate)
    Maximum FSB Speed / Max Memory Speed : 4x 100MHz / 1x 133MHz
    Width : 64-bit
    IO Queue Depth : 12 request(s)

    Chipset 1 Hub Interface
    Type : Hub-Interface
    Version : 1.00
    Number of Ports : 1
    Width : 8-bit
    Full Duplex : Yes
    Multiplier : 2/1x
    Speed : 4x 66MHz (264MHz data rate)

    Logical/Chipset 1 Memory Banks
    Bank 2 : 128MB SDRAM 3-3-3-6
    Bank 3 : 128MB SDRAM 3-3-3-6
    Bank 4 : 128MB SDRAM 3-3-3-6
    Bank 5 : 128MB SDRAM 3-3-3-6
    Speed : 1x 133MHz (133MHz data rate)
    Multiplier : 4/3x
    Width : 64-bit
    Refresh Rate : 15.60µs
    Power Save Mode : No
    Fixed Hole Present : No

    APIC 1
    Version : 2.00
    Speed : 16MHz
    Multiplier : 1/2x
    Maximum Interrupts : 24
    IRQ Handler Engaged : Yes
    Enhanced Support : Yes

    Memory Module 1
    Manufacturer : SpecTek
    Serial Number : 09E8AF00
    Type : 256MB SDRAM
    Technology : 16x(16Mx8)
    Speed : PC133U 3-3-3-5
    Version : 1.2
    Date of Manufacture : July 30, 2001
    Set Timing @ 133MHz : 3-3-3-5
    Set Timing @ 83MHz : 2-2-2-9

    Memory Module 2
    Manufacturer : SpecTek
    Serial Number : 09EAAF00
    Type : 256MB SDRAM
    Technology : 16x(16Mx8)
    Speed : PC133U 3-3-3-5
    Version : 1.2
    Date of Manufacture : July 30, 2001
    Set Timing @ 133MHz : 3-3-3-5
    Set Timing @ 83MHz : 2-2-2-9

    Environment Monitor 1
    Model : SMSC M10x/14x LPC
    Mainboard Specific Support : No

    Environment Monitor 2
    Model : AD ADM1025(A) SMB
    Version : 0.09
    Mainboard Specific Support : No

    Cooling Device(s)
    Auto Fan Speed Control : No
    CPU Fan Speed : 2275rpm

    Voltage Sensor(s)
    CPU Voltage : 1.75V
    Aux Voltage : 1.49V
    -12V Voltage : -30.93V

    AGP Bus(es) on Hub 1
    Version : 2.00
    Speed : 4x 66MHz (264MHz data rate)
    Multiplier : 1/2x
    Fast-Writes Enabled : Yes
    Side Band Enabled : No
    Side Band Support : Yes
    Aperture Size : 64MB

    PCI Bus(es) on Hub 1
    Version : 2.20
    Number of Bridges : 2
    PCI Bus 0 : PCI (33MHz)
    PCI Bus 2 : PCI (33MHz)
    Multiplier : 1/3x

    LPC Hub Controller 1
    Model : Intel Corporation 82801BA (ICH2) LPC Interface Controller
    ACPI Power Management Enabled : Yes
    Random Number Generator Support : Yes
    Random Number Generator Enabled : No
    Delayed Transaction Enabled : Yes

    LPC Hub Controller 2
    Model : Intel Corporation 82801BA/BAM (ICH2/ICH2-M) SMBus Controller

    LPC Legacy Controller 1
    Type : SMSC LPC v1
    Version : 5F.00
    Number of Enabled Devices : 7

    USB Controller 1
    Model : Intel Corporation 82801BA/BAM (ICH2/ICH2-M) USB Universal Host Controller
    Version : 1.10
    Interface : UHCI
    Channels : 2
    Speed : 48MHz
    Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)
    Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

    USB Controller 2
    Model : Intel Corporation 82801BA/BAM (ICH2/ICH2-M) USB Universal Host Controller
    Version : 1.10
    Interface : UHCI
    Channels : 2
    Speed : 48MHz
    Supported Speed(s) : Low (1.5Mbps) Full (12Mbps)
    Legacy Emulation Enabled : No

    System SMBus Controller 1
    Model : Intel 801xx/63xx SMBus
    Version : 1.02
    Specification : 1.00
    Advanced TCO Mode Enabled : No
    Slave Device Enabled : No
    PEC Support : No
    Speed : 100kHz

    Expansion Slot(s)
    J7B1 (1h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V PME i2c/SMBus Full-Length Available (Intel Corporation 82845 Brookdale Host-AGP Bridge (A3-step))
    J8B2 (2h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V PME i2c/SMBus Full-Length Used
    J9B2 (3h) : PCI 32-bit +3.3V PME i2c/SMBus Full-Length Available
    J6C2 (7h) : AGP-4x 32-bit +5V Full-Length Used

    Port Connector
    J1A1 - PS2Mouse : Mouse - None / PS/2
    J1A1 - Keyboard : Keyboard - None / PS/2
    J2A2 - USB1 : USB - None / USB
    J2A2 - USB2 : USB - None / USB
    J4A1 - LPT 1 : Parallel Port ECP/EPP - None / DB-25 pin male
    J2A1 - COM A : Serial Port 16550A - None / DB-9 pin male
    J2H2 - COM B : Serial Port 16550A - 9 Pin Dual Inline / None
    J5A1 - USB3 : USB - None / USB
    J5A1 - USB4 : USB - None / USB
    J5A1 - LAN : Network - None / RJ-45
    J6A1 - Audio Mic In : Audio - None / Mini-jack
    J6A1 - Audio Line In : Audio - None / Mini-jack
    J6A1 - Audio Line Out : Audio - None / Mini-jack
    J8A1 - AUX IN : Audio - None / None
    J8B1 - CDIN : Audio - CD-ROM Sound Input / None
    J8B3 - TELEPHONY IN : Audio - None / None
    J1B1 - CHASSIS REAR FAN : None - None / None
    J2F1 - CPU FAN : None - None / None
    J9G1 - CONFIG : None - None / None
    J9G2 - FNT USB : None - None / None
    J9H1 - FNT PNL : None - None / None
    J2J1 - MAIN POWER : None - None / None
    J6J1 - SEC IDE : None - ATA / None
    J4J1 - FLOPPY : None - Floppy Disk / None
    J6J2 - PRI IDE : None - ATA / None
    J9J2 - INTRUDER : None - None / None
    J8J1 - SCSI LED : None - None / None

    Performance Tips
    Notice 224 : SMBIOS/DMI information may be inaccurate.
    Tip 2511 : Some memory slots are free so the memory can be easily upgraded.
    Tip 2546 : Large memory modules should be ECC/Parity.
    Notice 2539 : Disabled environment monitors have been enabled. Check readings.
    Tip 2 : Double-click tip or press Enter while a tip is selected for more information about the tip.




    Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thank you for the help finding a suitable application Distorded, this one looks like a gem.
     
  5. vancity

    vancity Member

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    I found another program "e-support bios agent 3.45" that included some BIOS information that I thought could also be useful in determining if I require an upgrade or not.

    Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.45
    BIOS Date: 07/30/01
    BIOS Type: American Megatrends licensed to Intel
    BIOS ID: 51-2300-000000-00101111-030199--HV845
    OEM Sign-On:
    Chipset: Intel 1A30 rev 3
    Superio: Unknown
    OS: WinXP
    CPU: Pentium(R) 4 1500 Mhz MAX: 1700 Mhz
    BIOS ROM In Socket: No
    BIOS ROM Size: 512K
    Memory Installed: 512 MB
    Memory Maximum: 3072 MB
    Memory Slot 01: 0 MB
    Memory Slot 02: 256 MB
    Memory Slot 03: 256 MB

    eSupport.com, Inc.
    1-800-800-BIOS (2467)
    www.esupport.com
     
  6. wdowsing

    wdowsing Regular member

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  7. philraz

    philraz Regular member

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    this needs to checked have you pqwer supply checked it may just be a faulty reading but it certainly isnt right

    Voltage Sensor(s)
    CPU Voltage : 1.75V
    Aux Voltage : 1.49V
    -12V Voltage : -30.93V
     

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