First of all, thanks for those who posted
Second, what I've done:
Finished putting all hardware into the case, connected the PC, and off I go ...
Uhm ... I have BIOS version 1005. What I did?
Getting BIOS versions:
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Downloaded BIOS versions (on another PC), all from ASUS site, all final versions (NOT beta ones).
Note: ASUS only lists 1009 on their sites, but I had them downloaded before removal.
Created 4 floppy disks (on another PC), with Windows 98:
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[D1] Format a system disk, put the 1006 BIOS (executable version, all files on zip) in it;
[D2] Format a disk, put the 1007 BIOS (renamed file to P4P800.ROM) in it;
[D3] Format a system disk, put the 1008 BIOS (executable version, all files on zip) in it;
[D4] Format a disk, put the 1009 BIOS (renamed file to P4P800.ROM) in it;
Note: Windows 98 seemed to leave the minimum files on a system disk, so I picked from that.
I have a Western Digital 120Gb 8Mb cache, from another macine, with 2 partitions of NTFS. One with Win XP Pro, the other with all data I plan to keep safe.
I connected this HD to the new system, but since I don't wanna boot from the HD (I want WinXP Pro install to format 1st partition and install itself in there), and BIOS starts from Floppy Drive by default, I inserted disk [D2] in the drive.
Steps I took to update from 1005 to 1009:
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*** At this point BIOS 1005 ***
[1] Inserted disk [D2] in the drive (to safe-prevent HD boot-up);
[2] Turned on the PC, entered BIOS (it tells me it's 1005), selected Load Defaults, Save & Exit;
[3] On POST, inserted disk [D1], system boots to floppy;
[4] Executed file for 1006 BIOS update, prayed, and all went well, finished;
[5] Power Off PC, waited 15 secs, Power On PC;
[6] Inserted disk [D2] in the drive (non system disk to safe-prevent HD boot-up);
[7] Pressed DEL to enter setup, it tells me BIOS is 1006 (YES!), gives me error before entering, something like: "Checksum error, Overclocking error! F1-Enter Setup, F2-Continue". Pressed F1;
[8] In BIOS, selected Load Defaults, Save & Exit;
[9] Another restart and entering BIOS, no error this time. Fine!
*** At this point BIOS 1006 ***
[10] Restart, on post hit Alt+F2, entered EZ Flash. Disk [D2] is in the drive, so it automatically starts updating BIOS to 1007, I prayed, and all went well, finished;
[11] PC auto restarts, pressed DEL to enter setup, it tells me BIOS is 1007 (YES!), gives me error before entering, something like: "Checksum error, Overclocking error! F1-Enter Setup, F2-Continue". Pressed F1;
[12] In BIOS, selected Load Defaults, Save & Exit;
[13] Another restart and entering BIOS, no error this time. Fine!
*** At this point BIOS 1007 ***
[14] Restart. On POST, inserted disk [D3], system boots to floppy;
[15] Executed file for 1008 BIOS update, prayed, and all went well, finished;
[16] Power Off PC, waited 15 secs, Power On PC;
[17] Inserted disk [D4] in the drive (non system disk to safe-prevent HD boot-up);
[18] Pressed DEL to enter setup, it tells me BIOS is 1008 (YES!), gives me error before entering, something like: "Checksum error, Overclocking error! F1-Enter Setup, F2-Continue". Pressed F1;
[19] In BIOS, selected Load Defaults, Save & Exit;
[20] Another restart and entering BIOS, no error this time. Fine!
*** At this point BIOS 1008 ***
[21] Restart, on post hit Alt+F2, entered EZ Flash. Disk [D4] is in the drive, so it automatically starts updating BIOS to 1009, I prayed, and all went well, finished;
[22] PC auto restarts, pressed DEL to enter setup, it tells me BIOS is 1009 (YES!), gives me error before entering, something like: "Checksum error, Overclocking error! F1-Enter Setup, F2-Continue". Pressed F1;
[23] In BIOS, selected Load Defaults, Save & Exit;
[24] Another restart and entering BIOS, no error this time. Fine!
*** At this point BIOS 1009 ***
So I started it at 2AM, took about 1/2 hour (no rushing), then got to sleep. So now I just need to start installing WindowsXP Pro on my new system.
So I should be fine, with no problems to appear right? (are you still awake after reading this post? )
Thanks