Help with DFI Lan Party NF4 UT-D

[Ketxxx]

So in the chance that it is deffective I would not recommend anything but Official release but the 6/23/06 on the dfi site is right but flashing you're bios is not the first thing you do and you should not recommend that before basic trouble shooting!

Are you saying, that despite standard good protocall, that flashing a BIOS is ill advised? Do you even know what BIOS stands for?

 

[Ketxxx]

Just wanted to start by saying it's f'in cool that there is a forum to get help on this stuff and all of you are being super-patient with us noobs...

We did try the PATA on IDE2 with the SATA in as well. The BIOS did not autodetect either one. We didn't try IDE1 though and that is the only port we have been able to get anything recognized on...the DVD drive.

I am pretty hesitant to flash the BIOS. I've never done it and DFI website only has instructions for winflash in dos.

Since we don't even have the OS in yet, wouldn't you just copy the *.bin and autoexec.bat on a floppy and boot from that?

Also, DFI website says most recent is NF4LD406? Would you say most recent is best?

Yes, you can boot straight from floppy and flash that way. BIOS 406 is not the latest release either, BIOS 623 is much later. For reference just see THIS With DFI the date the BIOS was uploaded to the server is unimportant, its the BIOS name itself. ie; If you see a DFI BIOS labelled 406, and another 623, even if 406 is shown to be several months newer by date added, 623 is the most recent. Perhaps an easier example is to look at BIOS 406 as v4.06, and 623 as v6.23.

As to how to flash a BIOS, its very easy.

Once you have your boot floppy (complete with award flash and bios 623) after the floppy has loaded simply type;

awdflash.exe BIOSFileName.bin /F/QI/Cc/Sn/Py

(replace "BIOSFileName" with the actual BIOS file name, eg; 623-3.bin)

the flash process is automatic, when prmpted if you want to backup your current BIOS, just press "N". Once the flash is complete, reset your system, power down and remove your CMOS battery for 2 mins then power up again, thats it.

 

[eklock2000]

Much easier...thanks!

 

[Brother Esau]

First off IDE 1 Is allocated for Hard Drives and IDE 2 is allocated for DVD & CD-R Burners why dont you try that and see if it works! IDE 1 for PATA HDD & IDE 2 for DVD and remember you need to use the top connector off of each IDE cable because that is where a single (Master) drive goes!

If you have a floppy drive make sure that you have you're boot priority set for Floppy and the D.F.I bios is super easy to flash Just go to the D.F.I site and download the Latest Bios for you're Motherboard you want to first format a floppy disk this way in case it did have something on it it will be over written now.....on the page of Bios for you're particular Motherboard downloadf the latest bios that has the Diamond Flash tool on it and save it too you're desktop

Now right click on the file and open it and it will automatically look for a floppy disk in A:\ just let it do its thing untill its finished!

Now turn off you're computer and unhook the power supply plug from the wall and wait 10 min after 10min depress the power button on the front of you're computer fort 2 min to drain the juice remaining in the compassitors after you are done with that openn yo're case and move the cmos jumper to the clear position for about 15 seconds and then replace to its original position and plug you're system back in and turn it on boot into bios loadf optimized defaults / save / exit boot back into bios and set boot priority to floppy drive insert you're bios into the floppy drive save/ exit

Now...This is important!!!! The flash proceedure is very simple it will ask you if you want to flash the bios say yes then it will ask you if you wabnnt to save the bios you have now SAY NO because you do not have a bios savior !! Now let it be it will look like it is not doing anything but IT IS!!! You will see when it gets to the end of the flash their will be a indicator bar of programming commands going on and when its finished you will get a promt I bekieve saying hit F4 to load optimized default and exit DO NOT do that at that point just turn you're computer off by the front power button!

Next.....Unplug you're comuter from the wall and wait 10 minutes then open you're case up and move the cmos pin to the clear position and remove the battery for 10 minutes and depress the front power button for two minutes to drain the remaining juice!

After 10 minutes and you have folowed this proceedure exactly place the cmos jumper pin back to the normal position and replace the battery and fire that Mother up!

When you start the system up after a bios flash immediately go into bios load optimized defaults/ save/Exit ....reboot into Bios and set it up to you're liking!

 

[eklock2000]

Sweet, thanks bro, will try all that in that order...

 

[casums]

hey ive tried everything on this board that you and others have suggested on other forums with no luck . I am thinking that i want to try my luck with another board. im looking for one with 939 athalon support, SLI, sata, and i have pc3200 ram i would like to stick in as well. any suggestions. looking to spend no more then $130 preferably on newegg.com.

 

[Brother Esau]

Yea I have some suggestions for you I suggest that you decide on 2 or 3 different boards and go too the board makers forum and read about them before you do anything or else you are just going to have the same problems! Read until you're mind bleeds and then when you are done ...get busy and read some more!

 

[casums]

hey ive been reading up on the ASUS A8N-SLI Premium Socket 939 on forums and it seems to have minimal problams and seems to be more of a "plug and play board". i was wondering if you have any feedback or comments on this board

 

[Brother Esau]

Yea I know about the board its ok and should suit you fine, but I still recommend that you do research on what people are using hardware wise...Memory, Video cards, Power Supply's because you willfind out that each and every Motherboard brand Likes and Dislikes certain Hardware I hope you understand what I am telling you about this and I cant stress enough to you of how important you doing allot of research is.

Also I want to let you know that like I have stated its all luck of the draw with anything you buy whether its... D.F.I ...ASUS....MSI...EPOX...ABIT....ECS whatever you get the idea right?

 

[casums]

yea