***********************************************
* BETA EVALUATION BIOS. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. *
***********************************************

All files in this folder are BETA EVALUATION releases only! These
files should not be used on production equipment. Use these files
at your own risk. See disclaimer at bottom.

!!!WARNING!!!
Never attempt to Flash your BIOS from a hard disk, DOS Window, DOS 
shell, or in Windows NT. If your system is working without problems 
or conflicts, then it is not recommended that you flash your BIOS.

Files included in this download:
README.TXT	Text file with BIOS Release & Application Notes.
UPDATE.BAT	Batch file for the Flash BIOS update process.
RESTORE.BAT	Batch file for the Flash BIOS restore process.
xxxxxxxx.BIN	BIOS binary file used by UPDATE.BAT.
AWDFLASH.EXE	Program used to Flash BIOS code to the EEPROM.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

BIOS Download Instructions

Download the xxxxxxxx.EXE file corresponding to your model from the 
EPoX website/FTP to an empty directory on your hard disk or floppy. 
Run the downloaded xxxxxxxx.EXE file and it will self extract into the
above listed files.

Copy these extracted files to a bootable DOS floppy disk. Note: the 
DOS floppy disk should contain NO device drivers or other programs 
that load during the boot other than the operating system itself.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

BIOS Update Instructions

Boot using your DOS floppy disk to the ‘A:\>’ command prompt. At the 
DOS command prompt type: UPDATE

When the Flash program completes restart the computer, remove the DOS 
floppy disk, and enter your CMOS setup by pressing the <DEL> key 
immediately. Using the arrow keys select ‘LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS’ and 
when prompt to confirm press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. Press ‘F10’ to Save & 
Exit the BIOS. When prompted to confirm again press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. 
The system flash is now completed.

Note: During the use of UPDATE a backup of your original BIOS 
date/code will be saved in the same directory as the UPDATE file. It 
will be called ‘OLD.BIN’ and can be used with the restore 
instructions below in case you need to revert back to the original 
BIOS date/code.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

BIOS Restore Instructions

Use of the restore procedure requires the OLD.BIN file created in the 
update procedure above! Boot using your DOS floppy disk to the ‘A:\>’ 
command prompt. At the DOS command prompt type: RESTORE

When the Flash program completes restart the computer, remove the DOS 
floppy disk, and enter your CMOS setup by pressing the <DEL> key 
immediately. Using the arrow keys select ‘LOAD SETUP DEFAULTS’ and 
when prompt to confirm press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. Press ‘F10’ to Save & 
Exit the BIOS. When prompted to confirm again press ‘Y’ and ‘ENTER’. 
The system flash is now completed and should now be reverted back to 
the original BIOS date/code.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

BIOS flash failed

If you have access to an old un-accelerated ISA video card, you might 
be able to recover your BIOS. Remove all cards and drives from your 
system, except for the ISA video card and the floppy drive. Then try 
to boot from a system disk (a bootable floppy with only the flash 
programs and corresponding BIOS binary). If you are able to boot to 
the floppy, flash your BIOS according to the directions above. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

I get out of memory errors when I flash my BIOS! 

On some system configurations, even with a clean boot disk, you will 
get an out of memory error (insufficient memory) when you try to 
flash your BIOS. The solution is simple: Try bypassing the startup 
files by pressing the following keys during startup using you 
bootable floppy disk. Attempt the FLASH again.

DOS 6.2x boot disks - press F5 to bypass. 
WINDOWS 95/98 boot disks - press F8 and select "Safe command prompt." 
Lastly try using a MS-DOS 6.x boot disk. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Manual use of the AWDFLASH Utility

Most users will find that our UPDATE and RESTORE batch files can 
accomplish the BIOS flash with the majority of configurations. But if 
you wish to manually use the AWDFLASH utility, below are the most 
common command line usages and parameters.

Awdflash 7.33 (C)Award Software 1999 All Rights Reserved

 Usage:  AWDFLASH [FileName1] [FileName2] [/<sw>[/<sw>...]]
      FileName1 : New BIOS Name For Flash Programming
      FileName2 : BIOS File For Backing-up the Original BIOS
  <Swtches>
    ?: Show Help Messages
   py: Program Flash Memory               pn: No Flash Programming
   sy: Backup Original BIOS To Disk File  sn: No Original BIOS Backup
   Sb: Skip BootBlock programming         sd: Save DMI data to file
   cp: Clear PnP(ESCD) Data After Programming
   cd: Clear DMI Data After Programming
   cc: Clear CMOS Data After Programming
    R: RESET System After Programming    
  cks: Show update Binfile checksum
 Tiny: Occupy lesser memory
    E: Return to DOS When Programming is done
    F: Use Flash Routines in Original BIOS For Flash Programming
   LD: Destroy CMOS Checksum And No System Halt For First Reboot
       After Programming
 cksXXXX: Compare Binfile CheckSum with XXXX

 Example: AWDFLASH 2a59i000.bin /py/sn/cd/cp/cks2635

----------------------------------------------------------------------

DISCLAIMER

THE SOFTWARE AND BIOS ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT ANY EXPRESS OR 
IMPLIED WARRANTY OF ANY KIND INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, 
NONINFRINGEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, OR FITNESS FOR ANY 
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL EPOX OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE 
FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, DAMAGES 
FOR LOSS OF PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION, LOSS OF INFORMATION) 
ARISING OUT OF THE USE OF OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE AND BIOS, 
EVEN IF EPOX HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. 
BECAUSE SOME JURISDICTIONS PROHIBIT THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF 
LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES, THE ABOVE 
LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. EPoX and its suppliers further do 
not warrant the accuracy or completeness of the information, text, 
graphics, links or other items contained within these materials. 
EPoX reserves the right to change specifications or discontinue 
products at any time with no prior warning. EPoX makes no commitment 
to update any BIOS.

v1.0 091699 JRH