BIOS HOT SWAP

Actually you can burn BIOS chips yourself without an EPROM burner.

I use what's called a HOT SWAP. I've done quite a number of these over the years, for motherboards with bad or incorrectly flashed BIOSs.   Remember this is what works for me, and it may not work for you.  You do this at your own risk.  Now that the formality is finished.....

This is how it works:

1. I would recommend that you use a working "Shop Motherboard" with an easy to get to BIOS chip and a selectable 12 and 5V jumper capability.   Just in case something goes wrong, you don't want to toast your system.

2. Set the motherboard BIOS voltage to the value of the chip to be burned.

3. Note the orientation of the chip. There will be an indentation on one side and flat on the other. Remove the BIOS chip from the "Shop" motherboard. Note that the socket the chip was removed from will have an indentation in it that corresponds the the chips indention. When you refit the chip put it back in the same orientation.

4. Fasten a loop of duct tape around the chip. (See Figure)

or

5. Do the same for the chip you wish to program.

6. Test fit the EPROM you are going to flash into the socket to see if it will easily fit the socket. You don't have to press it in, just see if the pins align properly with the socket. Remember you don't want to man handle it during this operation. Adjust pins if necessary.

7. Reinsert your "shop" chip into the motherboard. Note the orientation and make sure you are putting it in correctly. Do not press it all the way in, just sufficient to make good contact on all pins. Remember you'll want it easy to remove.

8. Boot the motherboard up to DOS. Best to use a boot disk without any memory managers.

9. Once booted, run Flash utility. Best if Flash Utility is on Floppy with BIOS definitions.

(Note: I have only flashed AMI to AMI, Award to Award, 1MB to 1MB, etc. I do not know if you can cross flash bios types and size. In addition, different versions of Flash utilities are more tolerant of flashing BIOSs to boards that aren't suppose to have that particular BIOS. Usually if it is intolerant, it will just refuse to flash it. Get an older or different version of the utility. Once you've found one that works really well, stick with it.)

10. If you haven't already done it, make a BIOS backup of the "Shop" BIOS with your Flash Utility. Store on floppy. You'll be amazed how easily you can confuse chips. I keep a big RED round sticker on my Shop EPROM.  On most Award flash utilities, you'll have to enter in the bios to be flashed first, before you actually save the one you currently have.  

11. While still in the Flash Utility and after backup is made, jerk the EPROM out using the duct tape as a handle.

12. Place the one you want flashed into the EPROM socket. Make sure the orientation is correct. The duct tape is useful for getting into a tight spot and aligning pins. You can push it all the way in or sufficiently to make good contact with all pins.

13. From the Flash utility, select the BIOS you wish to flash from the floppy.

14. The system will tell you that the part numbers do not match and that it is the incorrect BIOS for your board. Ignore it and Flash it anyway.

15. Once Flashed you can turn off your system and remove the newly flashed BIOS EPROM. Return your original EPROM to the motherboard.

16. Place the Newly flashed EPROM in the motherboard of interest.

That's basically it.  If you have any comments or improvements to the above procedure (or just want to drop a line), pass them on to me and I'll update the procedure accordingly.

magusman@fcmail.com

Good Luck!