What the heck to do with a Compaq MB?

[Cybercraig]

Hey, I don't know where this puppy came from but when I boot this Neo 2 up it says Compaq! Half the BIOS options are gone and the floppy port on the MB is missing pins! How the heck can I upgrade this BIOS?

 

[toadeater]

Why do you think it is a Neo 2 board? If it really is, you could flash it with the standard Neo 2 BIOS instead of the crippled Compaq one.

 

[hans007]

this is the neo2 from the compaq gaming system. the one with the coolermaster case right?

it is a neo2... the floppy port only is missing pins because of the keyed cables, it still works. i had one of these a while back. you cant flash the bios becuase there is a checksum lock on it. i believe it is possible if you had a flash programmer to force program it ...or a different utility that allowed disregarding the flash lock.

 

[Cybercraig]

Hans, I think it came out of the GX-5050 model. You are probably right on the bios. I was reading Xtreme and someone has bought a new BIOS chip programmed from Mr. BIOS and switched chips. He now is running a 4800x2 in it. That may be my only option. Probably the least painful as I can't get this SOB to do anything!

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: Cybercraig
Hans, I think it came out of the GX-5050 model. You are probably right on the bios. I was reading Xtreme and someone has bought a new BIOS chip programmed from Mr. BIOS and switched chips. He now is running a 4800x2 in it. That may be my only option. Probably the least painful as I can't get this SOB to do anything!

yeah you have to switch it because of the checksum lock on the flash software from MSI.



people with emachine's computers used to do this too, because MSI sold the rs480m2-IL integrated board with a special emachines bios.

i think you can actually just call MSI and tell them you messe dup your bios and they can ship you a new one for like $10 too.

 

[Regalk]

Or just get yourself another mATX if you need a second box - why pull yourhair out. Use your valuable time wisely

 

[Cybercraig]

Well I got my buddy Alexander at MSI to send me a new BIOS chip. He threw in the original rounded IDE cables, the "D" bracket, and the original driver disk for 10 bucks shipped. I popped the battery out, swapped chips, battery back in and clear CMOS and she just sat there. I mean the thing ran for 5 minutes without posting. Put the "D" bracket in so I could see what was happening and poof, a post! Thanks hans, as you hit the nail on the head! Runs like a watch now. ;-)

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: Cybercraig
Well I got my buddy Alexander at MSI to send me a new BIOS chip. He threw in the original rounded IDE cables, the "D" bracket, and the original driver disk for 10 bucks shipped. I popped the battery out, swapped chips, battery back in and clear CMOS and she just sat there. I mean the thing ran for 5 minutes without posting. Put the "D" bracket in so I could see what was happening and poof, a post! Thanks hans, as you hit the nail on the head! Runs like a watch now. ;-)

Sweet so you now have a fully functional Neo 2 from a prebuilt compaq? Congrats .