NEVER flash your bios unless you find specific info for the update in release notes or readme files or in info elsewhere on the web site of the manufacturer of your model that it will cure a problem you are having!
Everybody and his dog will tell you to flash the bios when you or they can't figure out what is wrong - it almost always doesn't help unless you find that specific info that it will!
"From the Award BootBlock message it looks like the BIOS flash failed and you may have to do it again."
When you get the first two or ALL of these messages, you cannot get into the bios Setup and you cannot load bios defaults, because the main part of the bios is corrupted or the wrong version or is not there at all:
"Award BootBlock BIOS v1.0
Copyright (c), 2000, Award software, inc.
BIOS ROM checksum error
Detecting floppy drive A media...._ "
The flash process has FAILED.
Either you used the wrong bios update, or you interfered with the flash process, or the flash chip partially physically failed while flashing!
The flash process can be SLOW - e.g. up to 5 minutes or more - DO NOT do anything while it is flashing until you see a message that the flash was successful, including rebooting or turning off/on the computer!
If you didn't interfere and saw no such message, either you used the wrong bios update or the flash chip has physically failed at least partially.
If you saw no messages or possibly missed seeing them, wait at least 5 minutes after the last time the computer's hard drive led lights up before rebooting or turning the computer off/on!
Mboard bioses are in two main pieces - the main part, and the Boot Block part. Usually when you flash with a bios update the flash utility does not replace the Boot Block part.
The Boot block is of a minimal size and is there so that if you use the wrong bios update, or interfere with the flash process, and the flash fails, you can use the minimal capabilties of the boot block to attempt to perform a Recovery procedure, specific to the brand of bios you have. It is the boot block that is looking for a floppy with the right data on it in your A drive.
Do not choose to flash the boot block part of the bios unless insrutucted to do so by manufacturer's directions.
FIRST - you must be absolutely certain you use the RIGHT bios update. You must do this on another computer if you get the boot block messages. Sometimes there are different mboard versions of the same model and the bios updates for them are different, usually because they have a different I/O chip and/or a different main chipset chip.
Make certain you have the model number correct - sometimes there is a series of mboards that have the same first part but there is one or more additional letters or numbers that could be in a second part. Open up the case and find the model number printed directly on the mboard to make sure. If ECS lists different bios updates for different mboard versions, open up your computer case and look for the mboard Version (or V or VER) or Revision (or R or Rev) number printed directly on the mboard - sometimes it is beside the model number, sometimes it is by itself elsewhere on the mboard.
The bios update download may or may not include the flash utility - if it doesn't there should be a flash utility download on the same page as the proper bios updates for your model - don't get the flash utility from another place - it may not be a version that will work with your update.
Once you have the right bios update, go to the ECS web site and look for the information to peform a bios RECOVERY procedure for an AWARD bios - print the directions.
Try the Recovery procedure.
If it doesn't work, either you STILL have the wrong bios update, or part of the flash chip has physically failed.
If you still get:
"Detecting floppy drive A media...._"
you can try again, with the right bios update.
If you don't, the flash chip has physically failed, or if you do and have the right bios update but it still won't flash, it has failed in the main part of the chip where the other data goes (or if you'd rather try something else).
If your bios chip is in a socket and is removable, the cheapest solutio is to order a new bios chip, already flashed with a proper manufacturer's bios update, from a place such as this:
http://www.badflash.com
If the flash chip is soldered to your mboard, you can have the chip replaced if you are in the US and ship the mboard to them (e.g. the badflash site does that), but it can cost close to what it costs for a new mboard, and a used mboard that can use all your components may be cheaper.
.......
Once you get the bios to successfully flash, these lines will not appear:
"Award BootBlock BIOS v1.0
Copyright (c), 2000, Award software, inc."
"Detecting floppy drive A media...._"
THEN this applies:
"Go into the BIOS set up screen and save the settings and re-boot. A BIOS checksum error is normal after flashing the BIOS."
Load bios defaults, and set the date and time.
......
Some ECS mboards are actually made by Hsing Tech, who sell them OEM to ECS and other mboard vendors. Hsing Tech also sells their mboards retail as PCChips models. Hsing Tech/PCChips mboards often have the cheapest flash bios chips they could install on them and they are a lot more likely to physically fail when you try to flash the bios. Further info on the http://www.badflash.com web site.
The mboard verson number on a Hsing Tech made mboard is usually by itself elsewhere on the mboard, and there is NO mboard model printed directly on the mboard by Hsing Tech. There may be an ECS model number on a label in this case.
