System BIOS

8.2 ROM Flashing

The system BIOS firmware is contained in a flash ROM device that can be re-written with new BIOS code using a flash utility locally (with F10 setup), with the HPQFlash program in a Windows environment, or with the DOSFlash.EXE utility in a DOS or DOS-like environment.

8.2.1 Upgrading

Upgrading the BIOS is not normally required but may be necessary if changes are made to the unit's operating system, hard drive, or processor. All System BIOS upgrades are available directly from HP. Flashing is done either locally through F10 setup, the HPQFlash program in a Windows environment, or with the DOSFlash.EXE utility in a DOS or DOS-like environment. Flashing may also be done by deploying either HPQFlash or DOSFlash.EXE through the network boot function. This system includes 64 KB of write-protected boot block ROM that provides a way to recover from a failed flashing of the system BIOS ROM. If the system BIOS ROM fails the flash check, the boot block code provides the minimum amount of support necessary to allow booting the system and re-flashing the system BIOS ROM with a CD or USB disk/thumb drive.

8.2.2Changeable Splash Screen

✎A corrupted splash screen may be restored by reflashing the BIOS image through F10 setup, running HPQFlash, or running DOSFlash.EXE. Depending on the system, changing (customizing) the splash screen may only be available with assistance from HP.

The splash screen (image displayed during POST) is stored in the system BIOS ROM and may be replaced with another image of choice by using the Image Flash utility (Flashi.exe). The Image Flash utility allows the user to browse directories for image searching and pre-viewing. Background and foreground colors can be chosen from the selected image's palette.

The splash screen image requirements are as follows:

■Format = Windows bitmap or JPEG

■Size = 1024(width) x 768(height) pixels

■Colors = 16 (4 bits per pixel)

■File Size = < 64 KB

The Image Flash utility can be invoked at a command line for quickly flashing a known image as follows:

>\Dosflash.exe [Image_Filename] [Background_Color] [Foreground_Color]

The utility checks to insure that the specified image meets the splash screen requirements listed above or it will not be loaded into the ROM.

8-2

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Technical Reference Guide