BIOS update not possible?

[ErikX]

Tried to update this older BIOS (Award 4.51PG, 01-01-00) in my Fujitsu
Siemens computer to a newer one, but then I could no longer use the Win98SE
Recovery-CD to reinstall the operating system (which was necessary then).
Obviously, the installation program on the CD 'reads' the BIOS in oreder to
determine if it is a 'valid' computer, and denies installation if the BIOS
version is changed/updated. The computer, including the bundled OS and the
CD, ware legally bought from a dealer here in Sweden for several years ago.

Siemens Fujitsu model: Scaleo P80-51
Chipset: VIA 82C691 rev.68
MBoard: Biostar M6VCG
CPU: Intel Pentium III 800MHz

Fortunatelly, I could reinstall the old BIOS and make it work again, but I
wonder what featurs and improvments I miss by not being able to update.
Appreciate any advise.

Erik

 

[Apollo]

Tried to update this older BIOS (Award 4.51PG, 01-01-00) in my Fujitsu
Siemens computer to a newer one, but then I could no longer use the
Win98SE
Recovery-CD to reinstall the operating system (which was necessary
then).
Obviously, the installation program on the CD 'reads' the BIOS in
oreder to
determine if it is a 'valid' computer, and denies installation if the
BIOS
version is changed/updated. The computer, including the bundled OS and
the
CD, ware legally bought from a dealer here in Sweden for several years
ago.

Siemens Fujitsu model: Scaleo P80-51
Chipset: VIA 82C691 rev.68
MBoard: Biostar M6VCG
CPU: Intel Pentium III 800MHz

Fortunatelly, I could reinstall the old BIOS and make it work again,
but I
wonder what featurs and improvments I miss by not being able to
update.
Appreciate any advise.

Install from the 'recovery cd', and then update the bios, make a ghost
image of the install including all updated drivers and any stuff you use
on a regular basis and use that to re-install in the future.

 

[ErikX]

Install from the 'recovery cd', and then update the bios, make a ghost
image of the install including all updated drivers and any stuff you use
on a regular basis and use that to re-install in the future.

I not sure that would be enough if Windows itself goes down. Reinstalling
updated drivers and other 'stuff' is not a problem since I have those backed
up or on original CD's. I suspect that reinstalling Windows from a ghost
image (if that is what you've meant) onto a computer with changed BIOS may
not work, since even that installation will check the BIOS before it allows
install. By then it will be another BIOS responding.

After reverting to the old BIOS, I managed to reinstall Windows from the
Recovery-CD, so as long as I keep the backup floppy for the old BIOS,
produced under the update process, I may be able to repeat that "REVERT TO
THE OLD BIOS -- INSTALL WINDOWS -- UPDATE THE BIOS" procedure before each
Windows install. But it's annoying.

But thanks for the input, Apollo.


Erik