Re: [LinuxBIOS] Which BIOS Savior for VIA EPIA M-II?

[Coquelicot]

> > Dear LinuxBIOSers,
> >
> > I have a brand new VIA EPIA M-II (with 1 GHz CPU) motherboard that I
> > would like to boot faster than by factory default (carputer
> > projects). I have following purchased BIOS Savior from FrozenCPU :
> > RD1-PMC2 but it seems that it is the wrong one (I have installed the
> > BIOS Savior but the motherboard doesn't boot, I have tried both
> > positions of the switch). After replacing the original BIOS back on
> > the motherboard the boot works OK, so it seems that's definitely the
> > BIOS Savior chip that is not working.
> >
> > I am tempted to do the direct flashing (ie. without the BIOS Savior)
> > but I know that's pretty risky... especially that I want the
> > motherboard boot Linux from CF port (I read the howto and I think I
> > know what to do) which can be tricky.
> >
> > Greetings to all LinuxBIOS users & developers,
> If you don't have two left hands, i suggest this.
>
> Buy an second Flashchip, which same Pining.
> Bend out the Pins of this, so you can stack both Flashchips together.
> Bend the ChipSelect Pin seperate from both chips.
> Take an drilling tool and cut out the Chipselect in the socket.
> Take the CS from mainboard and search for an 3,3 or 5 V pin, depend on
> what is for the flashchip high.
> Buy an switch, 2 changer,
>          ___ Chip 1
>
> Mainboard -----/
>               ___ Chip 2
>           ___ Chip 2
>
> 3,3/5V --------/
>              ___ Chip 1
>
> For my it work perfect. The unused, saved, Chip have to see the high
> pegel, so it ignor everything.
>
> And sorry about my bad english.
>
> Greeding Markus

Dear Markus,

this is a challenging approach! I probably don't have 2 left hands but I
have really never worked with BIOS before :-). So I need more information:
where can I find ChipSelect signal on the motherboard/BIOS socket?

I assume that I can skip the whole procedure if I do a 'hot swap' of BIOS
chips on the motherboard? I am planning to use Linux to re-program the BIOS
so I assume that I can do the 'hot swap' of the chip with motherboard
powered on? or is it not advisable approach?

[LinuxBIOS] Which BIOS Savior for VIA EPIA M-II?

[Markus]

Am Mon, 29 Oct 2007 10:54:39 +0200
schrieb Coquelicot :
> > > Dear LinuxBIOSers,
> > >
> > > I have a brand new VIA EPIA M-II (with 1 GHz CPU) motherboard that
> > > I would like to boot faster than by factory default (carputer
> > > projects). I have following purchased BIOS Savior from FrozenCPU :
> > > RD1-PMC2 but it seems that it is the wrong one (I have installed
> > > the BIOS Savior but the motherboard doesn't boot, I have tried both
> > > positions of the switch). After replacing the original BIOS back on
> > > the motherboard the boot works OK, so it seems that's definitely
> > > the BIOS Savior chip that is not working.
> > >
> > > I am tempted to do the direct flashing (ie. without the BIOS
> > > Savior) but I know that's pretty risky... especially that I want
> > > the motherboard boot Linux from CF port (I read the howto and I
> > > think I know what to do) which can be tricky.
> > >
> > > Greetings to all LinuxBIOS users & developers,
> > If you don't have two left hands, i suggest this.
> >
> > Buy an second Flashchip, which same Pining.
> > Bend out the Pins of this, so you can stack both Flashchips together.
> > Bend the ChipSelect Pin seperate from both chips.
> > Take an drilling tool and cut out the Chipselect in the socket.
> > Take the CS from mainboard and search for an 3,3 or 5 V pin, depend
> > on what is for the flashchip high.
> > Buy an switch, 2 changer,
> >          ___ Chip 1
> >
> > Mainboard -----/
> >               ___ Chip 2
> >           ___ Chip 2
> >
> > 3,3/5V --------/
> >              ___ Chip 1
> >
> > For my it work perfect. The unused, saved, Chip have to see the high
> > pegel, so it ignor everything.
> >
> > And sorry about my bad english.
> >
> > Greeding Markus
>
> Dear Markus,
>
> this is a challenging approach! I probably don't have 2 left hands
> but I have really never worked with BIOS before :-). So I need more
> information: where can I find ChipSelect signal on the
> motherboard/BIOS socket?
>
> I assume that I can skip the whole procedure if I do a 'hot swap' of
> BIOS chips on the motherboard? I am planning to use Linux to
> re-program the BIOS so I assume that I can do the 'hot swap' of the
> chip with motherboard powered on? or is it not advisable approach?

You can hotswap afterwards. But hotswap is only to flipp a switch.
The CS you find simple. Search for the datasheed of your bioschips. In
the pin-table you found it.