Upgrading 1313 BIOS

It started when I decided to upgrade the memory -- the manual said the laptop would take 2GB, so I bought 2 1GB modules, put them in, but the laptop would only read one of them, no matter how many ways I put it in. So, it was suggested I upgrade the BIOS. I've downloaded the latest, etc, but whenever I boot from the floppy I've got, and the A prompt comes up. Then what? I've been told to "execute the 1.BAT file", but not told how. I've tried typing 1.BAT.exe, to no avail, and was then told to just type in "1.BAT". This also just got me a "Bad command or file name".

So, what's the process?

Any help for a techno-idiot would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Adam K

 

What is your laptop - exact model and model number?

 

Acer Aspire 1313LC -- hope this helps.

 

Ok so the BIOS is archived in AS1310_3a25.zip. Inside there is another zip - ET2T_3A25.zip. You have to unzip ET2T_3A25.zip directly in your floppy, I mean - no directories. You just unzip the contents of ET2T_3A25.zip into A:\.

The contents is:
1.bat
ET2T3A25.rom
ET2T3A25.txt

What you've been told is correct. When you're in A:\> you only have to type 1 and hit "Enter". It will give you "Bad file or command name" if you didn't unzip the contents directly into A:\ but in some kind of directory.
If you get 'Bad file or command name' type dir then hit "Enter". This command will list you the contents of the floppy. It should be something like this:

PHP:

..
123        <DIR>
ET2T_3A25        <DIR>
command.com
autoexec.bat
etc.

If you see

PHP:

ET2T_3A25        <DIR>

in the list this means you have extracted the BIOS in this directory. To access it type cd ET2T_3A25 then hit "Enter". Now type 1, hit "Enter" and the update should start. You get the idea right? Let me know if you have some questions/troubles with that.

Edit: In case you're wondering what is 1.bat: It's a batch file which starts the following command: fla**** et2t3a25.rom /b . In this case it works like a shortcut. Instead of typing the whole string fla**** et2t3...... you type just 1.

 

Thanks -- that looks pretty comprehensive, even for me.

But....following instructions, I put the ET2T_3A25 zip file in with a boot floppy. So, when I went to unzip the file to the floppy, it tells me I don't have enough room. What's safe to delete?

Thanks again, really.

 

You don't need to copy the zip to the floppy to extract it. Extract it elsewhere then copy the files only.

You gotta tell me what files and folders are on that floppy to tell you what you can safely delete. Go to A:\> type dir and hit "Enter" then post the files&folders listed. Also it's should list at the bottom the free space in bytes. You need like 600 000 bytes free space. If you have that space you don't need to delete anything.

 

Thanks -- I assume the only way I can get to A:\> is by re-starting, so:

EGA2
EGA3
EGA
KEYB
KEYBOARD
KEYBRD2
KEYBRD3
KEYBRD4
MODE
COMMAND
DISPLAY
AUTOEXEC
CONFIG
3A25

506,880 free bytes.

If there's a way I can get to this info without restarting my machine, I'd appreciate knowing, 'cos once I'm done the only way I know to get out of DOS is to hit the "Restart" button, which can't be doing it any good.

Okay...have I gone wrong somewhere already?

Thanks, again, especially for your patience.

 

No problem.


What is 3A25 ? Zip? If yes delete it.

What OS are you using? To get out from DOS and go to Windows just type win and hit "Enter".

 

No -- in Windows it says 3a25 (final) and within that is the ET2T_3A25 zip file, as well as a ET2T3A25 text document.

I'm using XP

 

So you have the archive(3a25(final)) copied on the floppy. You don't need the archive, you need the files that are in there. Delete the archive from the floppy. You need to extract the files from it and copy ONLY the files from ET2T_3A25.zip A:\>. You can do it under XP.

Extract AS1310_3a25.zip in...My Documents, for example. Then extract ET2T_3A25 in the same location. Then select the 3 files - 1.bat, ET2T3A25.rom and ET2T3A25.txt and copy to A:\. Then boot with the floppy and when you're in A:\>type 1 and hit Enter..


OR

1. Delete the 3a25 from the floppy
2. Download this file(I created it), it's called 3a25 (final).exe and it contains the BIOS files.
3. Run it.
4. Where it says "Destination folder" delete all and type A:\.

Now you should have the BIOS files on your floppy. Reboot and boot from the floppy. Go to A:\> type 1 and hit Enter.

 

The text file was outside the zip file, while inside there's something called Fla****. Is this a problem?

 

The txt file is not needed anyway fla**** you need. **** it I made bad the 3A25 (final.exe)!! I'll made a new one and post the link. Sorry about that.

 

Again, sorry about that.

 

Sorry, I meant my version, which I used. Don't know what's supposed to happen, but it started ticking along merrily (literally-- a row of red ticks) and then...it rebooted itself back into Windows. I've checked the system, but I still only havee 992MB of RAM, despite the manual telling me it can take 2GB, which is what I've put in. I've switched them around enough to know that they're both working, I've updated the BIOS (I think). What else can I do?

 

Well if you've updated the BIOS and the laptop is supposed to support 2GB I don't know what else you can do...

By the way you can check you BIOS version by entering inside the BIOS(pressing F2 during POST).

 

Have you tried those modules in a different laptop ? Have you tried different 2x1GB modules in your laptop ? What does CPU-Z show in the SPD info, with those modules installed ?

 

I've only got the one laptop, and I can't afford 2 more 1GB modules.

As for the rest, sorry, but what's the CPU-Z in the SPD info? and how would I find it?

 

http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpuz_148.zip

SPD is the 5th tab.

 

Thanks for everything -- I'm beginning to wonder if it is the modules, but I know I checked them. Haven't got the heart to restart the laptop again, run out of energy. Tomorrow....

 

What is this? I mean, it's a zip file, but what do I do with it?

 

Extract and run the cpu-z.exe. It's a software that provides info about your cpu, fsb, ram etc..

 

Okay, done -- thanks again for the patience. It says that Ive got two modules of 1024 Mbytes size in each slot. If i go to the "memory" tab, it says I've got 2048 Mbytes. so, maybe this is the correct figure, and the "System" in the Control Panel is wrong?

 

Okay, in lieu of an answer to that, I'll reach my own conclusion and suppose that the "System" tab in the laptop's control panel wasn't reading the memory properly, which the CDU ID (nifty piece of software that, thank you) does.

But above all, thanks again to everyone. You are heroes and true gentlemen.