How to Build Your Own Athlon Computer
(Slot A Processor)
Part 6 - Flash and Setup the BIOS
Last updated: 5/10/00

Also see How to Build a Computer with a Socket A Athlon or Duron Processor

In Part 6 we describe how to flash and setup the MSI MS-6167 motherboard BIOS.  This step requires a computer which is interfaced to the Internet to download the latest motherboard BIOS from MSI.  It can be delayed until after the MODEM is installed and configured, but is best done at this point.

• Part 1 - Gather the Stuff

• Part 2 - Setup the Chassis

• Part 3 - Setup the Motherboard

• Part 4 - Install and Boot the Motherboard

• Part 5 - Install the Disk Drives

84.  Download the BIOS and Award Flash utility from MSI's web site,  The file I downloaded was w667ms13.exe.  It is a compressed, self-extracting file.  Use the Windows Explorer to double-click the compressed file and extract the following files:

85.  Boot the computer and check the date of the motherboard BIOS which is displayed right at the beginning of the boot sequence.  If it older than the one that you downloaded, the motherboard BIOS should be flashed.  But first, I'll warn you that you will be taking a chance if you do this and you will be doing it at your own risk.

If something goes wrong (e.g., a power outage) during this process you could end-up with an unbootable motherboard.  If that happens you will have to find someone with the equipment to flash the BIOS, obtain another BIOS, or buy a new motherboard.  I've done it many times without a problem.  Someday it's going to get me.

86.  Read the flash.doc file.

87.  Make a bootable floppy without autoexec.bat and config.sys files.

I use DOS 6.22 for the floppy.  A Windows 95 or 98 bootable floppy will also work. You could also wait until after you have installed Windows to Flash the BIOS.  But my way is the safest way and avoids possible problems during the Windows installation.

88.  Copy the awdfl735.exe and w667ms13.bin (or latest BIOS) to the floppy.

89.  Boot the computer with the floppy with the Award flash utility and the new BIOS

90.  Ok, let's flash the BIOS. Type "awdfl735" (without the quotation marks) at the DOS prompt and press enter.

100.  Enter the BIOS file name to program when prompted (in this case w667ms13.bin).

101.  Indicate whether or not you want to save a copy of the old BIOS and, if you decide to save a copy, where to save it, when prompted.

I usually do not save the old BIOS.

102.  Type "Y" when it asks if you if you are sure your want to program the BIOS and hope there is no power outage.

Push the F1 key when it's done to reboot the computer and power-down and unplug the computer.

103.  Move the jumper next to the left ISA expansion board slot to pins 2-3, the two towards the back of the motherboard.  Go get a cup of coffee while the CMOS discharges (I'd give at 10 minutes), come back and move the jumper back to pins 1-2, and power-up.

After flashing the BIOS it is a good idea to clear remnants and settings from old BIOS that may still be in the CMOS memory.  Do not apply power to the motherboard with the jumper on pins 2 and 3.  It can damage the motherboard.

104.  Boot-up the Computer.  You may see a CMOS checksum error.  Ignore it.  Enter the CMOS Setup by pressing the Delete key when prompted.

105.  Select Load Optimized Defaults and press the Enter key.

106.  Enter the Standard CMOS Features and set the correct date and time and Esc to the Main Menu.

I also change the settings for drives not installed to "none" and leave the others set to "Auto." 

107.  Enter the Integrated Peripherals Setup and disable Onboard Serial Ports 1 and 2.  This computer does not use either serial.  Disabling both ports frees-up IRQs for other devices.

108.  You may want to change the parallel port settings to conform to your printer.  The ECP + EPP setting works with most recent printers.

109.  Enter the PNP/PCI Configuration and change PNP OS Installed to YES and Esc to the Main Menu.

110.  Select Save & Exit the CMOS Setup and press the Enter key.  The remaining CMOS default values are ok for this computer.

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