Re: [OpenBIOS] Intel holding back information

[Brian Smith]

Hi all,

I am new at bios programming.  I have written several asm
programs that use int 13 and other bios and dos functions.  I am really
interested in writting my own bios.  I was wondering if anybody had any
documentation or instructions on how to get all the code from your bios.  I
know about the cmos chip, but can you get all the information from cmos or
do you have to get it from somewhere else.  I know a little about low level
functions and port i/o but i need some help.

Thanks
Brian Smith
-----Original Message-----
From: David J. Coffin 
To: Niklas Ekström 
Cc: [e-mail]

Date: Saturday, August 07, 1999 5:06 PM
Subject: Re: [OpenBIOS] Intel holding back information
> Niklas,
> You cannot get a DRAM-sizing algorithm from Intel with-
>
> out signing an NDA, and the NDA forbids you to share your
> source code without Intel's written permission.
> This is necessary to protect Intel's "competitive ad-
>
> vantage", even for a chipset that was discontinued two years
> ago.
> VIA Technologies publishes their DRAM-sizing algorithms
>
> without restriction.  The VIA 580VP chipset matches the Intel
> 430FX almost bit-for-bit, so this is a good place to start.
> For an example of actual code, disassemble an Award,
>
> AMI, or Phoenix BIOS.  Don't read the BIOS from shadow RAM;
> copy it off the chip or find it on the web.  The DRAM- and
> cache-sizing code are easy to find, because most everything
> else is compressed to resemble random noise.
> There is no way for the BIOS writer to conceal Intel's
>
> secrets.  DRAM-sizing code must run directly off the flash
> chip, so it can never be compressed or encrypted.
>
> Dave Coffin  8/7/99
>
> On Fri, Aug 06, 1999 at 01:16:27AM +0200, Niklas Ekström wrote:
> > I have been in contact with Intel about obtaining the BIOS specifications
> > for various chipsets (in particular the 430FX which is the chipset of my
> > testing environment), but they seem very reluctant to give them away. I
> > guess it might depend on that a) you normally have to sign a
> > Non-Disclosure Agreement to obtain them (which doesn't go well with the
> > fact that I will make the source for the BIOS publicly available) and
> > possibly b) that I'm a private person and not a well recogized BIOS
> > manufacturing company.
> >
> > Does anyone have a good suggestion as how to solve this issue? I think
> > this is quite a major issue. Even though I think I have a clue on how to
> > do most things (detecting memory size and type (FPM/EDO)), I also believe
> > there are some things that you would actually need the BIOS specification
> > for (atleast so I don't have to _guess_ how to do some things).
> >
> > I believe some of you here (professional BIOS programmers) have read

these
> > specifications. Can you give any hint to how much information these
> > specifications contain and how vital that information is? Also, is it
> > possible to obtain that information for any other source?
> >
> > / Niklas
> >
> > To unsubscribe: send mail to [e-mail]
> > with 'unsubscribe openbios' in the body of the message
>
> To unsubscribe: send mail to [e-mail]
> with 'unsubscribe openbios' in the body of the message

-
To unsubscribe: send mail to [e-mail]
with 'unsubscribe openbios' in the body of the message