Re: [flashrom] updating BIOS for Shuttle SN21G5

[Eduardo de Juan]

Hi Stefan

Thanks for your feedback.
Please see my extra questions within the mail body further down.

BR, Eduardo

On 12/24/2014 01:43 AM, Stefan Tauner wrote:
> On Mon, 22 Dec 2014 19:46:41 +0100
> Eduardo de Juan  wrote:
> > Hi Stefan
> >
> > Thanks for your reply.
> >
> > I've verified, as you stated, that the file I downloaded from Shuttle's
> > web page has the same size as the bios file I backed up, exactly the
> > same, 524.288 !
> >
> > I've also found that the versión from the web seems to be the same as I
> > already have installed,
> >  BIOS Information
> >           Vendor: Phoenix Technologies, LTD
> >           Version: 6.00 PG
> >           Release Date: 02/14/2006
> >           Address: 0xE0000
> >           Runtime Size: 128 kB
> >           ROM Size: 512 kB
> >
> >
> > Is it normal that the BIOS has not neede to be updated since 2006 ?
>
> It is normal that manufacturers do not provide updates very long due to
> economical reasons and because they simply don't care... (that's one
> the big advantages of coreboot ;)

You mean I could replace by present BIOS with coreboot ?
Would that provide me with a better (more functional) BIOS (firmware) ?
I.e. would it then be able to boot from USB ?

However I've checked the suported boards but I think mine is not there.

According to the dmidecode output my board is a

Base Board Information
         Manufacturer: Shuttle Inc
         Product Name: FN21V10
         Version:
         Serial Number:

............

Processor Information
         Socket Designation: Socket 939
         Type: Central Processor
         Family: Athlon 64
         Manufacturer: AMD

Output from flasrom

Found chipset "NVIDIA MCP51".
    This chipset is marked as untested. If you are using an up-to-date
    version
    of flashrom *and* were (not) able to successfully update your
    firmware with it,
    then please email a report to [e-mail] including a
    verbose (-V) log.
    Thank you!
    Enabling flash write... OK.
    Found SST flash chip "SST49LF004A/B" (512 kB, FWH) at physical
    address 0xfff80000.
    No operations were specified.
> > Can it be that my box is so old that it's not able to boot from a USB
> > stick ?
> > I've tried to boot my office laptop with the same USB and it booted.
>
> There are a number of ways to boot from USB devices and compatibility
> problems are (or at least were) quite common. The hardware is able to
> boot from USB for sure, but the firmware might have some quirks...