2.1Managing and updating your BIOS

The following utilities allow you to manage and update the motherboard Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) setup.

1.AwardBIOS Flash Utility (EZ Flash feature that updates the BIOS using a floppy disk during POST.)

2.ASUS CrashFree BIOS (Updates the BIOS using a bootable floppy disk when the BIOS gets corrupted.)

3.ASUS Update (Updates the BIOS in Windows® environment.)

Refer to the corresponding section for details on these utilities.

Important notes

• It is recommended that you save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS file to a bootable floppy disk in case you need to restore the BIOS in the future. Copy the original motherboard BIOS using the ASUS Update or AFLASH utilities.

•A working BIOS file for this motherboard is in the support CD. Use this file when you do not have a copy of the motherboard BIOS file in a floppy disk.

•Visit the ASUS website and download the latest BIOS file for this motherboard using the ASUS Update utility.

2.1.1Creating a bootable floppy disk

1.Do either one of the following to create a bootable floppy disk.

DOS environment

Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk into the drive. At the DOS prompt, type: format A:/S then press <Enter>.

Windows® 98SE/ME environment

a.From your Windows desktop, click on Start, then select My Computer.

b.Double-click on Add/Remove Programs icon from the Control Panel window.

c.Click on the Startup Disk tab, then on Create Disk... button.

d.Insert a 1.44 MB floppy disk when prompted. Follow the succeeding screen instructions to complete the process.

Windows® XP environment

a.From your Windows desktop, click on Start, then select My Computer.

b.Select the 3 1/2 Floppy Drive icon.

c.Click File from the menu, then select Format. A Format 3 1/2 Floppy Disk window appears.

d.Insert a floppy disk to floppy disk drive then select Create an MS-DOS startup disk from the format options field. Click Start.

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Chapter 2: BIOS information