D850EMV2 BIOS Upgrade

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)

bwarnock@gtemail.net (bwarnock@gtemail.net) wrote in message news:<9d72596d.0312161825.5b69293e@posting.google. com>...
> While upgrading from MV85010A.86A.0025.P10 to MV85010A.86A.0069.P25:

I was able to grab a copy of the original BIOS out of Intel's
archives, write it to floppy, and recover successfully from it,
restoring the machine to its original state.

I've since discovered that this behavior with the P25 rev is
not-too-infrequently encountered. Any ideas why?

--
BCWarnock
bwarnock@(gtemail.net|raba.com)

Buggy release. It happens sometimes. If there is a previous more recent bios
you have access to, try that one.

<bwarnock@gtemail.net> wrote in message
news:9d72596d.0312170441.176755cc@posting.google.c om...
> bwarnock@gtemail.net (bwarnock@gtemail.net) wrote in message
news:<9d72596d.0312161825.5b69293e@posting.google. com>...
> > While upgrading from MV85010A.86A.0025.P10 to MV85010A.86A.0069.P25:
>
> I was able to grab a copy of the original BIOS out of Intel's
> archives, write it to floppy, and recover successfully from it,
> restoring the machine to its original state.
>
> I've since discovered that this behavior with the P25 rev is
> not-too-infrequently encountered. Any ideas why?
>
> --
> BCWarnock
> bwarnock@(gtemail.net|raba.com)


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.555 / Virus Database: 347 - Release Date: 12/23/2003

I had a similar problem on one of the EMVR sku boards.

When I upgraded and rebooted, it wouldnt get past the post screen. Just
froze up completely.

Through some trial and error I found something out - if I re-flash and reset
CMOS it will boot. If I go into the bios settings and try to turn quiet
boot off (the option to get rid of the intel logo screen) then it will
freeze up everytime.

This really sucks because the last BIOS revision is from May 2003 -
something tells me a new revision isnt in the works...

"Edwin van Boven" <elhvb@xs4all.nl> wrote in message
news:3fec1f84$0$330$e4fe514c@news.xs4all.nl...
> Buggy release. It happens sometimes. If there is a previous more recent
> bios
> you have access to, try that one.
>
> <bwarnock@gtemail.net> wrote in message
> news:9d72596d.0312170441.176755cc@posting.google.c om...
>> bwarnock@gtemail.net (bwarnock@gtemail.net) wrote in message
> news:<9d72596d.0312161825.5b69293e@posting.google. com>...
>> > While upgrading from MV85010A.86A.0025.P10 to MV85010A.86A.0069.P25:
>>
>> I was able to grab a copy of the original BIOS out of Intel's
>> archives, write it to floppy, and recover successfully from it,
>> restoring the machine to its original state.
>>
>> I've since discovered that this behavior with the P25 rev is
>> not-too-infrequently encountered. Any ideas why?
>>
>> --
>> BCWarnock
>> bwarnock@(gtemail.net|raba.com)
>
>
> ---
> Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
> Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
> Version: 6.0.555 / Virus Database: 347 - Release Date: 12/23/2003
>
>