Re: Problems found when run Sandra software?

[D.Currie]

It's not a scary thing, but a person should be aware of the risks vs.
rewards. If the flash has some use, that's fine, but there's no sense in
flashing it to fix something that doesn't apply to your computer. If you
know what you're doing, that's fine too. But there are people with the
patience of a gnat who turn their computers off instead of waiting for the
flash to finish, then wonder why it doesn't turn on anymore. People who have
no idea how to create a clean boot disk or run a command decide to flash the
bios...and who knows if they even know how to download the right one. I've
seen that a number of times. I had one customer who tried to flash his mobo
bios with some file he downloaded from Maxtor. Then again, with the
brownouts that happen around here in the summer, I wouldn't flash the bios
on a computer or any other piece of hardware unless it was on a UPS. No
sense in tempting fate to that degree.

Like any other modification, things can go wrong. I had someone the other
day who wanted me to guarantee that if I took the hard drive out of one of
his computers, put it in the other computer, and ran a repair install, that
his 6 years of data wouldn't be affected.

I'm pretty confident that nothing will go wrong, but guarantee? Not a
chance. Things could go wrong, and not necessarily due to human error. He
could have a crappy power supply that decides to blow up and fry his hard
drive when I plug it in. His hard drive could pick that moment to have a
head crash. Is it likely? No. But anything is possible. I'm not about to
touch that computer unless he understands that I'm not responsible for the
fact that he has a 6-year-old hard drive that he's never backed up.

For some people, risking having the computer unbootable after a bad flash
isn't going to be worth it, no matter how slight the chance might be. And
some users just shouldn't attempt it on their own.



"Unknown" > wrote in message
.com...
> One of the problems with these newsgroups is that newbies have a tendancy
to
> scare the wits out of others. There is nothing difficult about flashing
the
> bios, editing the registry etc. Of course one should read and understand
how
> the BIOS is flashed and the information is available from various sources
> especially the manufacturer.
> Ye gods man ---what happens if you drive a car and get a flat tire??
> "D.Currie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > If the bios flash doesn't take, you can start over, but if you truly
much
> > up the flash, it won't even boot to the floppy, so there is no starting
> > over.
> >
> > For the most part, I don't recommend that users flash the bios unless
> > there's a problem that needs fixing and they know what they're doing,
and
> > they know what the risks are. If you know what you're doing, that's
fine.
> > But it's not as foolproof as loading a program on the computer, and I've
> > seen enough people who've made a mess of that.
> >
> > Some mobos have a dual bios, so that makes it much less risky.
> >
> > As for surface mount vs. socket, yeah if you know how to solder and have
> the
> > parts, that's one thing; but if you have to pay someone to do it for
you,
> > might as well buy a new board.
> >
> > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > .com...
> > > My point was/is the fact that it is surface mounted has nothing to do
> with
> > > it being flashable. If it can't be flashed because it's bad the board
> > should
> > > be replaced because the labor cost to replace it is almost as much as
a
> > new
> > > board. Surface mount component replacement is done every day in TV
> shops.
> > > Surface mount soldering equipment is a soldering iron and solder wick.
> > > As for flashing the BIOS I have done mine seven times in the last
year.
> I
> > > download to a floppy and then power on with the floppy inserted. If
> > > something goes wrong I power down and repeat the routine. I.E. If the
> BIOS
> > > upgrade fails halfway there is no reason to replace the CMOS, surface
> > > mounted or not..
> > > "CWatters" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > > > .com...
> > > > > I think someone is pulling your leg as an April Fools joke. BIOS
is
> > > > surface
> > > > > mounted??? Most all components these days are surface mounted.
> Simply
> > > > means
> > > > > the component is not mounted through hole in the board.
> > > >
> > > > No she is correct. It's telling you that if you "flash" (upgrade)
the
> > BIOS
> > > > and the upgrade fails halfway through then you may be stuck with a
> > > > motherboard that can't easily be fixed. Why? Because if the BIOS is
> > > corrupt
> > > > you can't reboot your PC and have another go, but nor can you unplug
> the
> > > > BIOS chip and fit a new one (because it's surface mounted, not in a
> > > socket).
> > > > To fix it you would need access to surface mount soldering
equipment.
> > > >
> > > > > BIOS can be shadowed???
> > > >
> > > > This means it's possible to make a backup copy of the BIOS so you
have
> a
> > > > spare copy in the event of the problem described above. I believe
(but
> I
> > > > might be wrong) that you switch to the shadow/spare copy by making a
> > link
> > > on
> > > > the motherboard. I'm sure someone else can tell us if this is not
how
> > it's
> > > > done.
> > > >
> > > > If Nancy is reading this... You need not worry as you are unlikely
to
> be
> > > > upgrading your BIOS very frequently (if ever). I've never found it
> > > > necessary.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[D.Currie]

It's not a scary thing, but a person should be aware of the risks vs.
rewards. If the flash has some use, that's fine, but there's no sense in
flashing it to fix something that doesn't apply to your computer. If you
know what you're doing, that's fine too. But there are people with the
patience of a gnat who turn their computers off instead of waiting for the
flash to finish, then wonder why it doesn't turn on anymore. People who have
no idea how to create a clean boot disk or run a command decide to flash the
bios...and who knows if they even know how to download the right one. I've
seen that a number of times. I had one customer who tried to flash his mobo
bios with some file he downloaded from Maxtor. Then again, with the
brownouts that happen around here in the summer, I wouldn't flash the bios
on a computer or any other piece of hardware unless it was on a UPS. No
sense in tempting fate to that degree.

Like any other modification, things can go wrong. I had someone the other
day who wanted me to guarantee that if I took the hard drive out of one of
his computers, put it in the other computer, and ran a repair install, that
his 6 years of data wouldn't be affected.

I'm pretty confident that nothing will go wrong, but guarantee? Not a
chance. Things could go wrong, and not necessarily due to human error. He
could have a crappy power supply that decides to blow up and fry his hard
drive when I plug it in. His hard drive could pick that moment to have a
head crash. Is it likely? No. But anything is possible. I'm not about to
touch that computer unless he understands that I'm not responsible for the
fact that he has a 6-year-old hard drive that he's never backed up.

For some people, risking having the computer unbootable after a bad flash
isn't going to be worth it, no matter how slight the chance might be. And
some users just shouldn't attempt it on their own.



"Unknown" > wrote in message
.com...
> One of the problems with these newsgroups is that newbies have a tendancy
to
> scare the wits out of others. There is nothing difficult about flashing
the
> bios, editing the registry etc. Of course one should read and understand
how
> the BIOS is flashed and the information is available from various sources
> especially the manufacturer.
> Ye gods man ---what happens if you drive a car and get a flat tire??
> "D.Currie" > wrote in message
> ...
> > If the bios flash doesn't take, you can start over, but if you truly
much
> > up the flash, it won't even boot to the floppy, so there is no starting
> > over.
> >
> > For the most part, I don't recommend that users flash the bios unless
> > there's a problem that needs fixing and they know what they're doing,
and
> > they know what the risks are. If you know what you're doing, that's
fine.
> > But it's not as foolproof as loading a program on the computer, and I've
> > seen enough people who've made a mess of that.
> >
> > Some mobos have a dual bios, so that makes it much less risky.
> >
> > As for surface mount vs. socket, yeah if you know how to solder and have
> the
> > parts, that's one thing; but if you have to pay someone to do it for
you,
> > might as well buy a new board.
> >
> > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > .com...
> > > My point was/is the fact that it is surface mounted has nothing to do
> with
> > > it being flashable. If it can't be flashed because it's bad the board
> > should
> > > be replaced because the labor cost to replace it is almost as much as
a
> > new
> > > board. Surface mount component replacement is done every day in TV
> shops.
> > > Surface mount soldering equipment is a soldering iron and solder wick.
> > > As for flashing the BIOS I have done mine seven times in the last
year.
> I
> > > download to a floppy and then power on with the floppy inserted. If
> > > something goes wrong I power down and repeat the routine. I.E. If the
> BIOS
> > > upgrade fails halfway there is no reason to replace the CMOS, surface
> > > mounted or not..
> > > "CWatters" > wrote in message
> > > ...
> > > > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > > > .com...
> > > > > I think someone is pulling your leg as an April Fools joke. BIOS
is
> > > > surface
> > > > > mounted??? Most all components these days are surface mounted.
> Simply
> > > > means
> > > > > the component is not mounted through hole in the board.
> > > >
> > > > No she is correct. It's telling you that if you "flash" (upgrade)
the
> > BIOS
> > > > and the upgrade fails halfway through then you may be stuck with a
> > > > motherboard that can't easily be fixed. Why? Because if the BIOS is
> > > corrupt
> > > > you can't reboot your PC and have another go, but nor can you unplug
> the
> > > > BIOS chip and fit a new one (because it's surface mounted, not in a
> > > socket).
> > > > To fix it you would need access to surface mount soldering
equipment.
> > > >
> > > > > BIOS can be shadowed???
> > > >
> > > > This means it's possible to make a backup copy of the BIOS so you
have
> a
> > > > spare copy in the event of the problem described above. I believe
(but
> I
> > > > might be wrong) that you switch to the shadow/spare copy by making a
> > link
> > > on
> > > > the motherboard. I'm sure someone else can tell us if this is not
how
> > it's
> > > > done.
> > > >
> > > > If Nancy is reading this... You need not worry as you are unlikely
to
> be
> > > > upgrading your BIOS very frequently (if ever). I've never found it
> > > > necessary.
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Unknown]

You cannot learn if you don't try. You should control the computer and not
let the computer control you.
"D.Currie" > wrote in message
...
> It's not a scary thing, but a person should be aware of the risks vs.
> rewards. If the flash has some use, that's fine, but there's no sense in
> flashing it to fix something that doesn't apply to your computer. If you
> know what you're doing, that's fine too. But there are people with the
> patience of a gnat who turn their computers off instead of waiting for the
> flash to finish, then wonder why it doesn't turn on anymore. People who
have
> no idea how to create a clean boot disk or run a command decide to flash
the
> bios...and who knows if they even know how to download the right one. I've
> seen that a number of times. I had one customer who tried to flash his
mobo
> bios with some file he downloaded from Maxtor. Then again, with the
> brownouts that happen around here in the summer, I wouldn't flash the bios
> on a computer or any other piece of hardware unless it was on a UPS. No
> sense in tempting fate to that degree.
>
> Like any other modification, things can go wrong. I had someone the other
> day who wanted me to guarantee that if I took the hard drive out of one of
> his computers, put it in the other computer, and ran a repair install,
that
> his 6 years of data wouldn't be affected.
>
> I'm pretty confident that nothing will go wrong, but guarantee? Not a
> chance. Things could go wrong, and not necessarily due to human error. He
> could have a crappy power supply that decides to blow up and fry his hard
> drive when I plug it in. His hard drive could pick that moment to have a
> head crash. Is it likely? No. But anything is possible. I'm not about to
> touch that computer unless he understands that I'm not responsible for the
> fact that he has a 6-year-old hard drive that he's never backed up.
>
> For some people, risking having the computer unbootable after a bad flash
> isn't going to be worth it, no matter how slight the chance might be. And
> some users just shouldn't attempt it on their own.
>
>
>
> "Unknown" > wrote in message
> .com...
> > One of the problems with these newsgroups is that newbies have a
tendancy
> to
> > scare the wits out of others. There is nothing difficult about flashing
> the
> > bios, editing the registry etc. Of course one should read and understand
> how
> > the BIOS is flashed and the information is available from various
sources
> > especially the manufacturer.
> > Ye gods man ---what happens if you drive a car and get a flat tire??
> > "D.Currie" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > If the bios flash doesn't take, you can start over, but if you truly
> much
> > > up the flash, it won't even boot to the floppy, so there is no
starting
> > > over.
> > >
> > > For the most part, I don't recommend that users flash the bios unless
> > > there's a problem that needs fixing and they know what they're doing,
> and
> > > they know what the risks are. If you know what you're doing, that's
> fine.
> > > But it's not as foolproof as loading a program on the computer, and
I've
> > > seen enough people who've made a mess of that.
> > >
> > > Some mobos have a dual bios, so that makes it much less risky.
> > >
> > > As for surface mount vs. socket, yeah if you know how to solder and
have
> > the
> > > parts, that's one thing; but if you have to pay someone to do it for
> you,
> > > might as well buy a new board.
> > >
> > > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > > .com...
> > > > My point was/is the fact that it is surface mounted has nothing to
do
> > with
> > > > it being flashable. If it can't be flashed because it's bad the
board
> > > should
> > > > be replaced because the labor cost to replace it is almost as much
as
> a
> > > new
> > > > board. Surface mount component replacement is done every day in TV
> > shops.
> > > > Surface mount soldering equipment is a soldering iron and solder
wick.
> > > > As for flashing the BIOS I have done mine seven times in the last
> year.
> > I
> > > > download to a floppy and then power on with the floppy inserted. If
> > > > something goes wrong I power down and repeat the routine. I.E. If
the
> > BIOS
> > > > upgrade fails halfway there is no reason to replace the CMOS,
surface
> > > > mounted or not..
> > > > "CWatters" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > > > > .com...
> > > > > > I think someone is pulling your leg as an April Fools joke. BIOS
> is
> > > > > surface
> > > > > > mounted??? Most all components these days are surface mounted.
> > Simply
> > > > > means
> > > > > > the component is not mounted through hole in the board.
> > > > >
> > > > > No she is correct. It's telling you that if you "flash" (upgrade)
> the
> > > BIOS
> > > > > and the upgrade fails halfway through then you may be stuck with a
> > > > > motherboard that can't easily be fixed. Why? Because if the BIOS
is
> > > > corrupt
> > > > > you can't reboot your PC and have another go, but nor can you
unplug
> > the
> > > > > BIOS chip and fit a new one (because it's surface mounted, not in
a
> > > > socket).
> > > > > To fix it you would need access to surface mount soldering
> equipment.
> > > > >
> > > > > > BIOS can be shadowed???
> > > > >
> > > > > This means it's possible to make a backup copy of the BIOS so you
> have
> > a
> > > > > spare copy in the event of the problem described above. I believe
> (but
> > I
> > > > > might be wrong) that you switch to the shadow/spare copy by making
a
> > > link
> > > > on
> > > > > the motherboard. I'm sure someone else can tell us if this is not
> how
> > > it's
> > > > > done.
> > > > >
> > > > > If Nancy is reading this... You need not worry as you are unlikely
> to
> > be
> > > > > upgrading your BIOS very frequently (if ever). I've never found it
> > > > > necessary.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

[Unknown]

You cannot learn if you don't try. You should control the computer and not
let the computer control you.
"D.Currie" > wrote in message
...
> It's not a scary thing, but a person should be aware of the risks vs.
> rewards. If the flash has some use, that's fine, but there's no sense in
> flashing it to fix something that doesn't apply to your computer. If you
> know what you're doing, that's fine too. But there are people with the
> patience of a gnat who turn their computers off instead of waiting for the
> flash to finish, then wonder why it doesn't turn on anymore. People who
have
> no idea how to create a clean boot disk or run a command decide to flash
the
> bios...and who knows if they even know how to download the right one. I've
> seen that a number of times. I had one customer who tried to flash his
mobo
> bios with some file he downloaded from Maxtor. Then again, with the
> brownouts that happen around here in the summer, I wouldn't flash the bios
> on a computer or any other piece of hardware unless it was on a UPS. No
> sense in tempting fate to that degree.
>
> Like any other modification, things can go wrong. I had someone the other
> day who wanted me to guarantee that if I took the hard drive out of one of
> his computers, put it in the other computer, and ran a repair install,
that
> his 6 years of data wouldn't be affected.
>
> I'm pretty confident that nothing will go wrong, but guarantee? Not a
> chance. Things could go wrong, and not necessarily due to human error. He
> could have a crappy power supply that decides to blow up and fry his hard
> drive when I plug it in. His hard drive could pick that moment to have a
> head crash. Is it likely? No. But anything is possible. I'm not about to
> touch that computer unless he understands that I'm not responsible for the
> fact that he has a 6-year-old hard drive that he's never backed up.
>
> For some people, risking having the computer unbootable after a bad flash
> isn't going to be worth it, no matter how slight the chance might be. And
> some users just shouldn't attempt it on their own.
>
>
>
> "Unknown" > wrote in message
> .com...
> > One of the problems with these newsgroups is that newbies have a
tendancy
> to
> > scare the wits out of others. There is nothing difficult about flashing
> the
> > bios, editing the registry etc. Of course one should read and understand
> how
> > the BIOS is flashed and the information is available from various
sources
> > especially the manufacturer.
> > Ye gods man ---what happens if you drive a car and get a flat tire??
> > "D.Currie" > wrote in message
> > ...
> > > If the bios flash doesn't take, you can start over, but if you truly
> much
> > > up the flash, it won't even boot to the floppy, so there is no
starting
> > > over.
> > >
> > > For the most part, I don't recommend that users flash the bios unless
> > > there's a problem that needs fixing and they know what they're doing,
> and
> > > they know what the risks are. If you know what you're doing, that's
> fine.
> > > But it's not as foolproof as loading a program on the computer, and
I've
> > > seen enough people who've made a mess of that.
> > >
> > > Some mobos have a dual bios, so that makes it much less risky.
> > >
> > > As for surface mount vs. socket, yeah if you know how to solder and
have
> > the
> > > parts, that's one thing; but if you have to pay someone to do it for
> you,
> > > might as well buy a new board.
> > >
> > > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > > .com...
> > > > My point was/is the fact that it is surface mounted has nothing to
do
> > with
> > > > it being flashable. If it can't be flashed because it's bad the
board
> > > should
> > > > be replaced because the labor cost to replace it is almost as much
as
> a
> > > new
> > > > board. Surface mount component replacement is done every day in TV
> > shops.
> > > > Surface mount soldering equipment is a soldering iron and solder
wick.
> > > > As for flashing the BIOS I have done mine seven times in the last
> year.
> > I
> > > > download to a floppy and then power on with the floppy inserted. If
> > > > something goes wrong I power down and repeat the routine. I.E. If
the
> > BIOS
> > > > upgrade fails halfway there is no reason to replace the CMOS,
surface
> > > > mounted or not..
> > > > "CWatters" > wrote in message
> > > > ...
> > > > > "Unknown" > wrote in message
> > > > > .com...
> > > > > > I think someone is pulling your leg as an April Fools joke. BIOS
> is
> > > > > surface
> > > > > > mounted??? Most all components these days are surface mounted.
> > Simply
> > > > > means
> > > > > > the component is not mounted through hole in the board.
> > > > >
> > > > > No she is correct. It's telling you that if you "flash" (upgrade)
> the
> > > BIOS
> > > > > and the upgrade fails halfway through then you may be stuck with a
> > > > > motherboard that can't easily be fixed. Why? Because if the BIOS
is
> > > > corrupt
> > > > > you can't reboot your PC and have another go, but nor can you
unplug
> > the
> > > > > BIOS chip and fit a new one (because it's surface mounted, not in
a
> > > > socket).
> > > > > To fix it you would need access to surface mount soldering
> equipment.
> > > > >
> > > > > > BIOS can be shadowed???
> > > > >
> > > > > This means it's possible to make a backup copy of the BIOS so you
> have
> > a
> > > > > spare copy in the event of the problem described above. I believe
> (but
> > I
> > > > > might be wrong) that you switch to the shadow/spare copy by making
a
> > > link
> > > > on
> > > > > the motherboard. I'm sure someone else can tell us if this is not
> how
> > > it's
> > > > > done.
> > > > >
> > > > > If Nancy is reading this... You need not worry as you are unlikely
> to
> > be
> > > > > upgrading your BIOS very frequently (if ever). I've never found it
> > > > > necessary.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>