EEPROM Update (Flash BIOS) VP / PC 300/700, Server 315-8638

See > Current Available BIOS (FLASH) Diskette Versions

See > Flash Recovery Boot Block Jumper/switch for Series 300/700 / IntelliStation PCs

If a power failure occurs during a flash update, the system board may be unusable !

Be sure the FLASH-BIOS diskette has the WRITE PROTECT tab set to WRITE-PROTECT, before start flashing. (In some cases, WIN-95 is updating the Vendor-ID field of the flash diskette media, which is used by IBM for flashcode-ID-flags. If this happen you will see the message The diskette in drive A: is not a valid flash diskette)

For a BIOS PC 360-S150 Type 6598 update go to the (below) BIOS-Update PC 360-S150 Procedure
For Aptiva 2136 SL-A update see 2136 Flash BIOS update

It may be possible to install a FLASH BIOS for a specific machine type on a different machine type. e.g., it may be possible to install PC300-486 flash on a PC300 Pentium® system and vice versa or install PC700 flash on a 64xx. Once the incorrect flash BIOS is installed, and the system re - booted, the system board will no longer be functioning and there is no field procedure to reinstall the correct flash. The system board must be replaced !
If the flash diskette is not labeled, the most reliable method to determine what system it applies to, is to view the diskette volume label. The first two digits of the volume label define code's applicable machine type. Once you have determined first two digits on the diskette, compare it with the BIOS level reported in the Configuration/Setup utility before start with the flash install.

Source for obtaining the latest BIOS or FLASH available.

IBM PartnerInfo (Lotus Notes - GENIE data-base)
IBM PC Company Internet Home Page's
IBM PC WWW - ftp-SERVER (allfiles-list)
Local IBM Bulletin Board System (BBS)
HelpCenter
Levels 1 and 2 Support

See >

Current Available BIOS (FLASH) Diskette Versions

Decoding Flash Code titles

AABCDDE.xxx -+||-+| --+ ||| || + File ship format Diskette image EMT format (IMG) ||| || Diskette image EMT format (DTA) ||| || Diskette LOADDSKF/LOADDISK format (DSK) ||| || ||| |+ Build stage A - official build ||| | ||| + Level of Code ... includes all changes from prev.-levels ||| ||+ Reserved for development/engineering || |+ Release type ... B - OEM Flash/BIOS/POST update diskette | E - EPROM or early Flash BIOS update diskette | J - Flash POST/BIOS update diskette | K - Flash POST/BIOS update code | + Machine type or product code | |-- L6 - 6382/S all Models | 6384/D all Models except P60 | 6387/D all Models | |-- L8 - 6381/Si 486SX |-- L9 - 6381/Si 486DX |-- LA - 6384/D P60 Pentium® | |-- LD - ValuePoint Perform. Series | 6472/P 6482/P 6484/P | 6492/P 6494/P | |-- LE - PC300 - 486 | 6571 6573 6581 6583 | |-- LP - PC300 - Pentium® | 6576 6586 | |-- LQ - PC700 - Pentium® 166 MHz (TRIO64 / EDO-RAM) | 6877 6887 | |-- LT - PC360 - P6-150 / P6-200 | 6598 | |-- LU - PC365 | 6589 | |-- LV - PC330/350 Pentium® 100/133/166/200MHz | 6577 6587 | |-- LX - PC340 Pentium® 100/133 | 6560 | |-- LY - PC100 | 6260 | |-- LZ - PC340 Video-Driver Package | 6560 | |-- N1 - PC300 - Pentium® / PC700 PCI/ISA | 6575 6585 / 6875 6885 | |-- N2 - PC700 PCI/MicroChannel | 6876 all Models | 6886 all Models | |-- ND - PC300 GL | 6272 6282 | |-- NE - PC300 XL - IntelliStation M-Pro | 6588 6888 | |-- NG - IntelliStation | 6898 | |-- NK - IntelliStation Z-Pro | 6899 | |-- NM - PC300 - PC55 166/200/233MHz | 6562 6592 | |-- NN - 8644 NetFinity-3500 Server | |-- NU - IntelliStation | 6889 | |-- NV - 6862 6892 | +-- NZ - PC300 - Pentium® II 6561 6591 Security of EEPROM
The introduction of Flash EEPROM means that any software can potentially alter the microcode. Should this be an concern, then a physical jumper is available on the IBM PC 300/700 Series to disable the ability to write to the EEPROM.

When to Update
You should apply the latest EEPROM update to your machine if:

You have a compatibility or defect issue identified as being addressed by a code change.
You have an unidentified or intermittent problem that may be influenced by the BIOS.
You need scheduled/controlled maintenance.

How to Apply an EEPROM Update (Stand-Alone)

The following parameters are used when you want to update the Flash BIOS.
The default filenames are $IMAGES.US F for PC 300 Series systems and $IMAGEV.US F for PC 700 Series systems. The first two characters of the extension change for each country. The valid Countries are listed below: (The order of the parameters is NOT important).

/BR Brazil
/DK Denmark
/FR French
/GR German
/IT Italian
/NL Netherland
/NO Norway
/PO Portugal
/SP Spain
/SU Finland
/SV Sweden
/US US English
/BE Belgium
/CE Canadian English
/CF Canadian French
/LA Latin America
/UK UK English
/SF Swiss French
/SG Swiss German
/BF Belgian - French
/AU Australian

The following parameters are part of the utilities of the Flash:

/U Unattended mode - no output is displayed
/R Reboot machine when done flashing
/P Planar S/N (ignored on machines with EEPROMs)
/B Box S/N
/M Machine Type/Model
/I Directory/Filename of the Flash file
/N Update VPD but do not use Flash file

Procedure

Power-off the 300/700 Series computer.
Ensure that the Flash memory write protect jumper on the system board is set to the enable position.
Ensure that Diskette Drive 0 is listed as the First Start-up Device in the Start-up Options.
Insert Update diskette into Diskette Drive 0.
Power-On the 300/700 Series computer.
Select a country and Press Enter
The current Serial Number of the machine is displayed, with a prompt asking you would like to update it. If this is a new machine, or the Serial Number is incorrect, answer Y and enter the seven character Serial Number at the next prompt.
The current machine Type/Model of the machine is displayed, with a prompt asking if you would like to update it.
The Flash program in the computer, compares the current system board EEPROM level with that on the diskette. If the two match it is assumed that a language update is to be done. In this case proceed directly to step d below, otherwise continue at step a
1. Wait for the panel requesting confirmation that you wish to update the EEPROM code level. Below is an example of the message:
  IBM PC 300 and 700 POST/BIOS Update Utility The Current BIOS is a different level Planar Level = N1KT54AUS Disk Level = N1KT55AUS Do you wish to Update (Y/N)
2. Reply Y to this
3. The machine will display a message:
  Auto-Reboot ENABLED
  Shortly after this the machine will reset and proceed with the usual power-On sequence. The code update is complete. However the default language is US English. Should any other language be required, leave the diskette in the machine and proceed..
4. Wait for the message:
  IBM PC xxxx Language Update Utility
5. Enter the appropriate country code (listed above)
6. Wait as the update program proceeds with the update. Progress messages confirming the language selected and indicating that the update is in progress will be present for about 15 seconds at which stage the machine will reset and continue with a normal power-On sequence.
Successful completion is indicated by a code 00. If any other code is displayed or no code is seen at all after a couple of minutes, then refer to the Table below, for a Problem description.
Power-off and change the memory write protect jumper (system board) to the disable position
Power-On the machine

Flash Update Completion Codes

0 Successful Flash update
1 Machine type not recognized
2 Flash is write protected (jumper)
3 Unrecognized Flash type
4 Requested Flash image file not found (US or NLS)
5 Error reading the flash image
6 VPD structure not found in image file (only in PC 700 Series)
7 Error in image file - either the checksum is bad or the Build ID is invalid
8 Error reading the Flash when /N parameter used

BIOS-Update Procedure PC 360-S150 Type 6598 or Server 315-8638 only

Power-off the computer.
Insert the flash diskette into drive A.
Power-on the computer.
When the Update Utility appears, select your country/keyboard, then press Enter.
If the computer serial number was previously recorded, the serial number is displayed with the option to update it. Press Y to update the serial number.
Type the 7-digit serial number of the computer you are servicing, then press Enter
When prompted, press any key to reboot.
After you hear 1 long and 2 short beeps, power-off the computer.
Move the system board Flash/BIOS jumper from pins 17-18 to pins 16-17.
Remove the flash diskette from drive A.
Power-on the computer.
Wait for the 'POST Startup Error' screen to appear, then power-off the computer.
Move the system board Flash/BIOS jumper from pins 16-17 to pins 17-18.
Power-on the computer.
A 163 error code will appear and instructions to reset the time and date. Do so, then check the Product Data pull down and verify the BIOS has been updated to the latest level.
Press Esc and select Save to file the changes.
Follow the instructions to exit the program.

Flash Recovery Jumper PC 360-S150 Type 6598 only

If an interruption occurs during the Flash/BIOS upgrade process, the BIOS might be left in an unusable state. The Flash Recovery Jumper enables you to restart the system and recover the BIOS.

To perform a flash recovery:

Power-off the computer
Move the jumper from pins 23-24 to 22-23
Insert the Upgrade Diskette into the drive A
Power-on the computer and listen to the speaker. You should hear beeps in the following sequence.
(The monitor remains blank during this procedure.)
1. After the computer is powered-on, it beeps once. This beep marks the beginning of the POST.
2. After a short delay (less than 10 seconds), the computer beeps again. This marks the beginning of the recovery process. The recovery code is being copied into the flash component.
3. After about 30 seconds, the computer beeps twice, marking the end of the recovery process. Wait until the diskette drive in-use LED goes out.
Power-off the computer and move the jumper from pins 22-23 to 23-24
Leave the upgrade diskette in the diskette drive and power-on the computer.
Retry the original upgrade procedure.

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