HP Vectra VT 6/xxx HP Vectra XU 6/xxx and VT 6/xxx PCs - Technical Reference M - Page 23

System Rom, Other Isa Accessory Devices

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SYSTEM ROM The System ROM consists of 256 KB of 200ns, Flash EEPROM, implemented within a single 256 K 5 8-bit ROM chip. This is a ROM that is returned to its unprogrammed state by the application of appropriate electrical signals to its pins, and hence can then be reprogrammed with the latest upgrade firmware. The System ROM contains the LAN boot firmware, and the system BIOS (including the boot code, the ISA and PCI initialization, the Setup program and the Power-On Self-Test routines, plus their error messages). These are summarized in Chapters 4 and 5. Updating the System ROM The System ROM can be updated with the latest BIOS firmware. This can be ordered from HP or downloaded from one of HP's online services. (For more information on HP's online services, refer to the Hewlett-Packard Support and Information Services chapter in the User's Guide that was supplied with the computer.) The System ROM is updated by running the HP6Init utility (HP6INIT.EXE) which is supplied with BIOS upgrade. The procedure for doing this is given in the User's Guide that is supplied with the computer. You must specify the model number of the PC since the utility which supplied for a different model cannot be used with this one. It must be run from diskette. Do not switch off the computer until the system BIOS update procedure has completed, successfully or not, since irrecoverable damage to the ROM may be caused. While updating the flash ROM, the power supply switch and the reset button are disabled to prevent accidental interruption of the flash programming process. Error Diagnostics and Suggested Corrective Actions The programs and data in the system ROM are accompanied by a check-sum code. If any of the programs or data ever become corrupted, the check-sum will no-longer correspond with the contents of the ROM, and the appropriate part of the POST routine will attempt to report the error: Cannot display error messages Flash ROM may be defective The suggested corrective action is to reprogram the system ROM by running the same HP6Init utility as is normally used for upgrading it. OTHER ISA ACCESSORY DEVICES ISA accessory boards are for slow peripheral accessories. There are three slots on the ISA bus for accessory boards. One of these is a combination slot with the PCI bus. Plug and Play All PCI accessory boards are Plug and Play, although not all ISA boards are. Check the accessory board's documentation if you are unsure. The procedure for installing an ISA accessory board that is not Plug and Play in Windows 3.11 or Windows 95 is described in the User Guide that is supplied with the PC.

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SYSTEM ROM
The System ROM consists of 256 KB of 200ns, Flash EEPROM, implemented within a single 256
K 5 8-bit ROM chip. This is a ROM that is returned to its unprogrammed state by the application of
appropriate electrical signals to its pins, and hence can then be reprogrammed with the latest
upgrade firmware.
The System ROM contains the LAN boot firmware, and the system BIOS (including the boot code,
the ISA and PCI initialization, the
Setup
program and the Power-On Self-Test routines, plus their
error messages). These are summarized in Chapters 4 and 5.
Updating the System ROM
The System ROM can be updated with the latest BIOS firmware. This can be ordered from HP or
downloaded from one of HP’s online services. (For more information on HP’s online services, refer
to the Hewlett-Packard Support and Information Services chapter in the User’s Guide that was
supplied with the computer.)
The System ROM is updated by running the HP6Init utility (
HP6INIT.EXE
) which is supplied with
BIOS upgrade. The procedure for doing this is given in the
User’s Guide
that is supplied with the
computer.
You must specify the
model number
of the PC since the utility which supplied for a different model
cannot be used with this one. It must be run from diskette. Do not switch off the computer until the
system BIOS update procedure has completed, successfully or not, since irrecoverable damage to
the ROM may be caused. While updating the flash ROM, the power supply switch and the reset
button are disabled to prevent accidental interruption of the flash programming process.
Error Diagnostics and Suggested Corrective Actions
The programs and data in the system ROM are accompanied by a check-sum code. If any of the
programs or data ever become corrupted, the check-sum will no-longer correspond with the
contents of the ROM, and the appropriate part of the POST routine will attempt to report the error:
Cannot display error messages
Flash ROM may be defective
The suggested corrective action is to reprogram the system ROM by running the same
HP6Init
utility as is normally used for upgrading it.
OTHER ISA ACCESSORY DEVICES
ISA accessory boards are for slow peripheral accessories. There are three slots on the ISA bus for
accessory boards. One of these is a combination slot with the PCI bus.
Plug and Play
All PCI accessory boards are Plug and Play, although not all ISA boards are. Check the accessory
board’s documentation if you are unsure.
The procedure for installing an ISA accessory board that is not Plug and Play in Windows 3.11 or
Windows 95 is described in the
User Guide
that is supplied with the PC.