While upgrading from MV85010A.86A.0025.P10 to MV85010A.86A.0069.P25:
Downloaded the Express BIOS Update from Windows XP Home (SP1), closed
the browser window, and executed the update. The computer shutdown,
rebooted, and flashed the board's banner, which indicated the proper
BIOS number. The system then completed a memory scan. After not
seeing any progress for 15 minutes, discovered the machine had locked
up (no keyboard light toggling, wouldn't respond to CTRL-ALT-DEL, and
the power switch wouldn't cut power.) Reset the machine, and the same
behavior appeared in each subsequent iteration. Attempting to enter
the BIOS or interrupt the memory scan also immediately locked up the
machine.
Downloaded the IFlash BIOS Update, followed the instructions to write
the BIOS onto a floppy, and pulled the BIOS Setup Configuration jumper
- no pins jumpered for recovery. Inserted the floppy, powered the
machine on, the floppy drive lit for a brief period of time. (I do
not recall a beep, as is mentioned in the instructions.) I let it sit
for another 5 minutes, removed the floppy, and attempted to power the
system down. The power button had no effect, so I cut power at the
power supply. I rejumpered pins 1 and 2 for normal BIOS operation,
powered the unit back up, the board banner appeared, but the end
result was exactly as it was above.
I had no catastrophic interruptions or other dire "unlikely events"
(that I should have been able to recover from). I've had no problems
with the board in the year and a half I've owned it. What should have
been a trivial update has rendered my most non-trivial system... well,
dead as a doornail. So now what? Any suggestions?
--
BCWarnock
bwarnock@(gtemail.net|raba.com)