on the 4A4LL0X0.86a.XXXX.p08 phoenix BIOS (p08 upgrade of 4A4LL0X0.86a.XXXX.p07 series) fixed problem of recognizing gb hdd that were greater then 8.4 GB. Does that mean the recognization problem was fixed on the 4A4LL0X0.15a.XXXX.p08 BIOS also??? (since The 86a and 15a immediatly following the 4A4LL0X0 represent diff companies who put the 4A4LL0X0 motherboard in their computers))

Bios upgrades are written for motherboard models and not bios types. The bios type and version is only a template that is then built up for the specific motherboard. The bios upgrade version names are chosen by the motherboard manufacturer or by the computer maker in the case of brand names that use third party boards. So there's no way to know for sure how to compare one company's versions with another company's. If you're thinking of using an upgrade from one company on another's motherboard, that's not a good idea. Most of the time the upgrade won't proceed because the flasher detects it's the wrong version. Other times you'll end up with a dead motherboard. Some motherboards are clones. A few PCchips and Amptron boards are the same and a bios for one will work on the other. The bios numbers you list indicate the motherboards were probably made by Intel. Intel made boards for Gateway, Dell and Micron and probably others. I suppose an upgrade for a Gateway may work on something like Dell, if the Intel models were the same. But don't try it unless you can afford to lose the motherboard.

Fixes and updates of previous bios updates are always included in newer bios update versions, unless those changes caused problems, and if they did and were removed, there are usually notes or release notes that say so. 4A4LL0X0.86a.XXXX.p08 This Intel brand AL440LX (Atlanta) mboard was used in various brand name system packages, including Intel itself, Dell, Packard Bell, Gateway etc. There were several Revisions of this mboard. Each brand has their own bios string, their own updates. Intel has the newest updates. Which brand the AL440LX is in is designated by the number after 4A4LL0X0. - in your case 86A means it was in an Intel system. 10A means it was in a Dell, 15A means it was in a Gateway. Packard Bell had another identifier. The last part of the bios string is the bios update version number - in the case you qouted - p08. Your mboard was in an Intel brand system. You can get a much newer version of your Intel bios if you want. See this page: http://home.earthlink.net/~billselk/al440lx/bios.html The newest version probably does not support hard drives larger than 32 gig. If you need more info about this mboard, I have gathered some. Go to http://www.lanyoncomputers.com.au/corner/index.jsp then use Search Posts: al440lx mike Reply to any post it lists, and I will point you to more info, including manuals, etc.