Author Topic: Bios update on Win2000...how? (Read 4648 times)

Threesixty · « **on:** 2003-02-04 21:48:52 »

How do you update the bios in windows 2000?

The instructions that the update came with says to go into real MsDos mode. I don't know how to in Win2000.

any suggestions?

This is for a computer at my work/office. My experience is with Win9x. I still haven't upgraded.

Aaron · « **Reply #1 on:** 2003-02-04 22:47:30 »

Go to any computer running Windows 95/98, and make an MS-DOS startup disk.

You can do this by formatting a disk, sticking it in the floppy drive, going to a command prompt and typing

sys A:

This will make a basic MS-DOS startup disk. Now, take it to your Windows 2000 machine, dump the BIOS update program and BIN file onto the floppy, boot off it and update the BIOS.

[Windows XP can also make an MS-DOS startup disk, to do it, right-click on the floppy drive and select "Format," and then check the "Create a MS-DOS Boot Disk" box.]

You can use the WinFlash BIOS Update Utility if your BIOS supports it. This nifty utility lets you update the BIOS from Windows. They'd say something about that on the board manufacturer's web site, probably, if it was compatible.

Rubicant · « **Reply #2 on:** 2003-02-05 07:17:34 »

This is why I don't like Windows ME and above. Why the hell would anyone want to get rid of the MS-DOS prompt? Just because the average computer newb (dumbasses) doesn't know DOS doesn't mean that you just get rid of it. Just because you can run the stupid MS-DOS "console" in win2k doesn't mean you're in DOS. To me, DOS is my only refuge from the hell that windows creates for itself.

Sephiroth 3D · « **Reply #3 on:** 2003-02-05 07:29:52 »

If you have those kind of problems with Windows, why not use Linux or something?

Rubicant · « **Reply #4 on:** 2003-02-05 07:56:59 »

..Only reason why I would use Linux is for a server..which I used to do. I don't find it very practical to use linux only when in fact most of the programs I do use are for windows. Besides, Windows ME wasn't the first version of windows, in case you didn't know. Windows 9x can slip into MS-DOS 7.0, or whichever it is, and use most MS-DOS programs. Not to mention that you can also change around files that windows normally wouldn't let you do because of the "sharing violation". That "sharing" crap that windows endorses really reminds me of communism...

Yes, it almost seems logical to use Linux fully, but I honestly prefer windows, but that is only because more software for it. Now that they have X and crap for Linux, it's starting to become more and more like windows. And yet it isn't windows. Damn, I love the linux console, reminds me of the DOS days..

Aaron · « **Reply #5 on:** 2003-02-05 12:26:50 »

Windows 9x run on top of DOS 7.0, more or less. ME does too, but they made it really hard for you to get to a true DOS prompt.

However, Windows 2000 and XP use the Windows NT kernel which does not rely on DOS. Because they don't have to rely on DOS, they can do some fancier things with the core of the OS and make it more stable. The bad thing about this is the lack of compatibility with some old DOS programs. But, in Windows XP, you can still create a DOS boot disk to do things like update your BIOS.

Threesixty · « **Reply #6 on:** 2003-02-05 15:21:57 »

Thanks, guys....

Now all go tell our Administrator what to do

edit:
Hmm...I don't see any option for System disk inside Windows 2000 or XP. And we don't have any Win9x OS systems in the office..... Guess, I'll just have to bring a disk from home with Win98, tomorrow. Although, I have my doubts that it's going to work.

Aaron · « **Reply #7 on:** 2003-02-06 02:08:58 »

In XP, to create a boot disk, right-click on the floppy drive and select "format..."

Anyway, once you boot to DOS from a floppy, it should work reguardless of what OS is installed on the hard drive.

Threesixty · « **Reply #8 on:** 2003-02-06 14:34:57 »

...well I don't know why but none of the OS's here have that last option....hmmm......I wonder if you have to be logged in as Administrator. I bet you that's the problem.

Nevermind, I was on a Win2000 machine. I know we have one XP machine in this office, but the one I was on isn't one of them.

Thanks for your help.