Unable to update bios on G400

[Harry Callahan]

I’m unable to update the Bios on my G400 DH to newest version. Every attempt ends in a corrupted bios - blank screen.

This is what I did:
Downloaded setup203.exe, extracted it to default path, double-clicked PbiosWin.exe. Choose Update the bios, choose update Matrox graphics bios (first option). The card is correctly identified in this screen. It tried to update three times and gave the error message “Unable to update the graphics bios”. Next boot – all blank, but luckily I had made a recovery diskette, so now the bios is 1.5-22.

Tried again, starting with a fresh download of the file setup203. No avail, same message, recovery needed.

Please help, what is wrong ?

System:
G400 DH (AGP 32 MB SGRAM, 300 Mhz RAMDAC)
ABIT KA7-100, Athlon 800, newest VIA drivers installed
Windows 2000 running


Harry


[This message has been edited by Harry Callahan (edited 07 March 2001).]

[Jorden]

Harry, I don't know yet what could be the problem, but if I were you I'd edit the post above and take out the serial number !!

Edit: What you could try is start up the PC with a Win9x startup floppy and end up in DOS, then program it from there. You'll need to use the UBIOSDOS.EXE to do that then.

Jord.

[This message has been edited by Jorden (edited 07 March 2001).]

[gbm]

The version of PBIOSWIN has some problems. Update the BIOS under DOS using PROGBIOS or (easier) UBIOSDOS.

[Harry Callahan]

Great advice GBM, worked like a charm !

Thanks,

Harry

[SCompRacer]

Very good of you to warn him about the serial number Jorden!

[MK]

Where is the problem if I publish my serial number ??

MK

------------------
Celeron II 860 MHz + Golden Orb
256 MB PC133 Crucial (2-2-2)
G400 16MB @ PD 5.52 + TGL
20 GB IBM on HPT U-ATA100 RAID
Iiyama Vision Master Pro 400

[ayoub_ibrahim]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">Originally posted by MK:
Where is the problem if I publish my serial number ??</font>

probably warranty issues if he thrashed the card updating the bios. people from matrox must read this forum sometimes!

[mynx]

I have had similar problems upgrading the bios. Flashing the bios in safe mode worked perfectly. I do all of my bios updates that way now.