uniflash.doc

UniFlash s version 1.17

               *MXIC28F1000AP
                MXIC28F1000P
                MXIC28F1000PPC

                Texas Instruments
                -----------------
                Texas Instruments chips will be recognised as AMD or INTEL
chips. It seems unbelieveable, but TI uses the same Mfg&device codes as AMD
and Intel ! But since the command set is nearly the same, it should work.

4.0            Help! I don't understand the sources !!!
-------------------------------------------------------

If you have problems understanding something mail us (address at the end).
Have a look also on the ADDCHIP.FAQ file. It explains how to add new chips
plus some details.


5.0            Expert mode
--------------------------

We included something called expert mode. If you're just a user don't enter
it (unless you have to ...).  The expert mode adds some new functions that
allow you to overwrite the bootblock (which is not normally possible) -
plus some other advanced fuctions.
To enter expert mode type "uniflash /EXPERT".
NOTE: Sometimes it may actually be NECESSARY to overwrite the bootblock because
      one BIOS mfg's bootblock may very well be incompatible with another
      BIOS mfg's BIOS ! (this is usually the case when you get a 'BOOTBLOCK
      MISMATCH' error message ...)

5.1            Making an emergency disk
---------------------------------------

It is always nice to have an emergency disk handy in case something goes
wrong. You see, most flash BIOS's incorporate something called a 'boot block'
and UNIFLASH will not normally overwrite it so it remains intact.
The boot block contains just enough code to boot up your computer with basic
peripheral support to enable you to flash in a working BIOS in case something
went wrong.

To make an emergency disk one would do the following:
-make a *DOS* system disk (NOT Win'95) using "format a: /S"
-copy uniflash to that disk
-copy a working bios image (preferably a backup that was made while the system
 was still a-ok) to the disk
-make an AUTOEXEC.BAT containing:
@UNIFLASH -E <name of BIOS image file>

(NOTE: Whatever you do, do *NOT* load HIMEM.SYS. The boot block lacks support
       routines that HIMEM.SYS requires, resulting in very nice crashes.
       And I know from experience ... !! In general, keep the boot disk as
       clean as possible (just the way it is after "format a: /S")            )

Make sure UNIFLASH and the BIOS image are on the disk as the boot block only
supports the floppy drive, you won't be able to access any harddrive !!
When you boot from this emergency disk the working BIOS image will
automatically (without any intervention by you) be flashed into the flash ROM
by UNIFLASH. This is very convenient as the boot block has no support for PCI
video cards, so you won't be able to SEE anything in the process unless you
replace your PCI videocard with an old ISA one (hint!).
UNIFLASH will give you some audible feedback, though:

first short beep: UNIFLASH invoked, reading BIOS image
second short beep: done reading BIOS image, starting to flash
double short beep: done flashing, reset your system
long continuous beep: some error occured, press any key to retry operation


6.0            How to support UniFlash?
---------------------------------------

If you want to help us in adding support for new chips, in testing the whole
thing or bugfixing, mail us BOTH!!, we'll put your name in credits at the end.
We want your opinions & experiences to make flashing BIOS an easy and safe
operation, where you doesn't need tons of flashers (if you multiply the
number of chipsets by the number of flash rom memories available, you'll 
understand better what we're talking about).

7.0            Credits
---------------------------------------

Pascal van Leeuwen - Made first design, chipset handling routines, a primitive
write function for SST, WINBOND and INTEL, added flat real mode, etc...
Improved SST & Winbond routines, made AMD routines work, added Atmel support,
added lots & lots of flash chips (of which most are currently untested ...)
Added reliability improvements (backup of old BIOS, verify after write)
Tested both Winbond & SST chips, became an expert at hot-flashing ;-)

Galkowski Adam - Initiated the UniFlash project, made modular structure, made
the current design, added functions handling DMI, PnP and bootblock, added
expert mode, made the previous crappy AMD support, wrote this doc, tested SST
routines, had multiple rendez-vous with "Award BootBlock BIOS",
advertised, etc...



8.0            How to contact us
--------------------------------

If you want to contact us, please write to BOTH of us (send the same letter at
two different addresses) with the subject UNIFLASH project.

- Pascal van Leeuwen
web    : http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pvanleeuwen/index.htm
email  : [e-mail]

- Galkowski Adam
email  : [e-mail]

BTW: New versions should be on:
1)   http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/pvanleeuwen/ufhome.htm

2)   http://www.ping.be/bios/   (A page by Wim Bervoets, a very good page
for maniacs of flashing, I suggest you to have a look there)


9.0            Revision info
----------------------------
1.17b          -fixed a bug in the -FORCE option, should work now
               -still having trouble correctly detecting flash chips,
                we can use all the input we can get on which chips are
                and aren't correctly identified by UNIFLASH !
1.17           -pre-1.20 release because of some important fixes,
                still working on some things we promised for 1.20, though
               -fixed flashing problems with Macronix & AMD chips
               -Integrated English & French version into one executable
                to avoid having to keep 2 versions synchronized
               -Cleaned up chipset detection
               -known bugs: chip detection still not 100% accurate
                (we're working on it, this will be fixed in v1.20)
1.16d          -Added AMI Flash Interface support
               -Added the "Additional BIOS Info" option
               -Added the Macronix MXIC 28F1000PPC/12V chip
               (not officially released by Adam's request)
1.16c          -Made the detection routine more accurate
1.16b          -Removed some (debugging?) code that messed up detection
1.16           -Fixed a stupid bug in the chip detection part, which made it
               impossible to identify Atmel chips, for example.
               -Tried to add TI chips and after long hours of work and of
               downloading datasheets figured out that TI chips are just
               "remarked" AMD & Intel chips (the same Mfg & Id numbers),
               so TI chips will be recognised as AMD or Intel ones.
               -Made the source code clearer. Wrote a FAQ explaining how
               to add your own chips.
               -Added the Intel 28F010/12V and 28F020/12V chips
               -Translation of the whole thing to french. The english 1.16
               version equals french 1.00FRENCH version
1.15           -Fixed problems with AMD flash chips
               -Added VIA 82C570 chipset support
               -Tested Intel 28F001BX-T/28F001BN-T support
               TO DO before final release of V1.15: fix extended memory
                     detection, does not work ok on a friends' system ...
1.14           -Added Macronix support
               -Added SST 28EE011 flash chip
               -Added AMD Am28F010, Am28F010A, Am28F020, Am28F020A, Am28F256
                Am28F256A, Am28F512 and Am28F512A flash chips
               -Removed valid PCI ROM check so it is possible to flash a
                ROM on a PCI card that does not (yet) contain a valid ROM
               -Added some safety stuff:
                -cache disabled during flashing (having the cache enabled
                 seems to be a problem with some Cyrix chips (or chip/chipset
                 combo's ?))
                -interrupts now fully disabled during actual communication with
                 the flash chip for increased reliability
               -added multiple flash chips/single ROM image support
                (experimental)
1.13           -Added Catalyst support
               -Added OPTi chipset support (for 82C750 'Vendetta')
               -Added Intel 28F400/28F004 flash chips
               -Completely rewrote PCI option ROM support (still experimental)
1.12           -Fixed problem ID-ing Intel chips (oops)
               -Made first attempt at supporting PCI option ROMS (experimental)
1.11           -Added Atmel support
1.1            -Fixed memory allocation bug with sectored (Intel,AMD) flash ROM
                chips
               -Added VIA chipset support
1.0            -First public release




10.0           Compatibility
-----------------------------

Here is a list of tested & working motherboards. Please add yours when
Uniflash runs flawlessly on your system.

Mfg           | Model + revision  | Chipset used | Flash ROM chip used
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASUSTeK       | T2P4 rev 2 & 3.10 | Intel HX     | SST 29EE010/5V
Expertboard   | 8661 rev ?        | Intel VX     | WinBond W29EE011/5V
Soyo          | 5TA2 rev ?        | Intel FX     | SST 29EE010/5V
Shuttle       | Hot569 rev 2      | Intel TX     | Atmel 29C010A/5V
Shuttle       | Hot565 rev ?      | Intel TX     | Winbond W29EE011
Shuttle       | Hot603 rev ?      | AMD 640      | Winbond W29EE011


11.0            Beta testing stuff
----------------------------------

We would like to extend our thanx to the following people who've been
very helpful with beta testing this program.
NOTE: YOU can be on this list too ! All you have to do is send us
information on a system where UNIFLASH doesn't work and help us with
getting it to work on that system.
Please help us in making UNIFLASH the universal and reliable tool we had
in mind when we started this project. Thanx in advance !

                The 100 heroes gallery (random order)
                -------------------------------------
                Enrico Antongiovanni
                Wim Bervoets
                Michael L. Croswell
                Polyvios Simopoulos
                Matthias David Siebler


12.0            Biz support
---------------------------

We would like to thank the following people at the various flash ROM
and chipset manufacturers for their support (in random order):

                Scotts Chen at Macronix International Co., Ltd.