Official GIGABYTE Forum
At The Very Beginning => Technology & Products => Topic started by: runn3R on February 11, 2009, 11:37:16 am
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Hi All
there is flash demo showing in funny :D and convincing way advantages of GIGABYTE DualBIOS technology. you can download it from this location (http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/upload/files/DualBIOS_MATRIX.zip).
And here (http://uk.gigabyte.com/microsite/55/tech_081226_dualbios.htm) you can get some information how DualBIOS works in details
(http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/upload/files/dualbios_matrix%201.png)
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that's brilliant! Neo the back up bios LOL!!
any more of these on the site to down load?
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i will try to get more of flash demos and even movies and comics ... if you want
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I know this sounds stupid, but does the backup bios update itself to match the same version running in the main bios after you have updated it?
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hi dwood
no, backup bios stays the same when you update the main bios. during update process under Q-Flash you can choose which bios you want to update (main / backup).
p.s. there are no stupic questions, only the answers could be ;)
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Thanks runn3R,
I shall take a look!
Dan :-)
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hi dwood
no, backup bios stays the same when you update the main bios. during update process under Q-Flash you can choose which bios you want to update (main / backup).
p.s. there are no stupic questions, only the answers could be ;)
Hi runn3R,
Had a quick look in QFlash but couldn't find the option to flash the backup bios, any pointers?
Dan ???
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Hi Dan
i have double checked, it only possible to upgrade main bios now. sorry :-[ my error. some time ago it was possible to upgrade the backup bios & to access Dual BIOS options but due to the system safety such option was removed.
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Hi runn3R,
Does this mean in the event of a miss flash my board will fail to post? As the bios version in the backup bios would be older than the required version to support my CPU?
Sorry to be a pain,
Dan :)
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Hi Dan
the story is as follows:
There is something more than just a second bios chip. There is a copy of bios contents stored in the HDD connected to the MB, this function is called Express BIOS Rescue or just Virtual Dual BIOS.
On every boot up of the MB, it checks the hard disk if there is any bios image inside it.
If there is no bios image into the hard disk, the current main bios version will be saved into hard disk (inside the special hidden area, not available to standard OS).
That means the hard disk has the same bios version like the main bios.
If the main bios is damaged, the bios contents will auto rescue from hard disk.
If there is no hard disk, then it will recover from backup bios.
If you upgrade the hardware main bios chip, then at next boot the copy of bios in HDD is also updated automatically.
In the situation you describe nothing wrong will happen, just bios will be recovered from HDD and system will work.
Hope this is clear explanation :)
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Update:
To have a copy of BIOS on your HDD you need to enable the following option in the BIOS:
"Backup BIOS Image to HDD", which can be found under Advanced BIOS Features
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runn3R,
Many thanks for finding this out for us.
Dan ;D
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some video showing functionality of DualBIOS:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,311.0.html
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(...)
any more of these on the site to down load?
have a look here at "Godzilla" style movie about the other topic (2 oz Copper PCB):
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,102.msg2267.html#msg2267
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the video is great, but does not tell me how to access the backup bios, my main bios is dead and I have a black screen, any suggestions or a way to access the backup bios?
thanks
John
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Try this but it might take a few goes to get it right.
You can kick in the backup BIOS by shutting down the PSU from the wall, then hold down your case power button in and then turn on the power supply button, a few seconds later the board will start, shut off the power supply then. Then you can turn on the power supply again and power up the board normally and DualBIOS will kick in.
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Hi Runn3R,
Because a initial link for dualbios is not good, I search by google a new good link.
I find here : http://www.gigabyte.com/microsite/55/tech_081226_dualbios.htm
For members of forum, I add this infos about QuadBIOS
Quad BIOS is a unique GIGABYTE feature that includes DualBIOS™ andXpress BIOS Rescue Technology.
This combination delivers a safety assurance mechanism that sports a total of 4 copies of BIOS distributed between the Flash ROM, hard-disk and driver CD.
This feature helps to reduce the affects of virus attacks or firmware damage and provides multi-layer BIOS protection that assures greater PC platform stability.
For recall, I add your first intervention in details:
Hi Dan
the story is as follows:
There is something more than just a second bios chip. There is a copy of bios contents stored in the HDD connected to the MB, this function is called Express BIOS Rescue or just Virtual Dual BIOS.
On every boot up of the MB, it checks the hard disk if there is any bios image inside it.
If there is no bios image into the hard disk, the current main bios version will be saved into hard disk (inside the special hidden area, not available to standard OS).
That means the hard disk has the same bios version like the main bios.
If the main bios is damaged, the bios contents will auto rescue from hard disk.
If there is no hard disk, then it will recover from backup bios.
If you upgrade the hardware main bios chip, then at next boot the copy of bios in HDD is also updated automatically.
In the situation you describe nothing wrong will happen, just bios will be recovered from HDD and system will work.
Hope this is clear explanation :)
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Update:
To have a copy of BIOS on your HDD you need to enable the following option in the BIOS:
"Backup BIOS Image to HDD", which can be found under Advanced BIOS Features
Thank for this interesting topic.
Gloup_Gloup
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Link has been just corrected, thanks