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From: dws@tolerant.UUCP (Dave W. Smith)
Newsgroups: net.micro.pc
Subject: ROM BIOS Upgrade
Message-ID: <154@tolerant.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 12-Sep-85 01:32:19 EDT
Article-I.D.: tolerant.154
Posted: Thu Sep 12 01:32:19 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 14-Sep-85 04:47:14 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: Tolerant Systems, Inc.  San Jose, CA
Lines: 27

I received and installed the mythical PC BIOS upgrade today, after waiting
patiently for six months.  I got on the waiting list in March.  At the time,
the local IBM Product Center (Sunnyvale) told the that the wait was about
three to four months, and that the upgrade kits "trickled in".  They were
careful not to tell me how long the waiting list was, or how long people
had been on it.  I got a look at the list today (they left it on the
counter for a moment and walked away).  It looks like they were getting 2-3
upgrade kits a month.  So, if you're on a list somewhere, there is indeed
hope.

The kit includes a socket puller, and the first few pages of the enclosed
document describe in great detail how to open up your PC and pull the ROM.
However, the Product Center wanted the ROM (and my serial number) before
they'd sell me the kit.  Sigh.

For those who are wondering what a "BIOS upgrade" is, and if it affects them,
the upgrade is for PC's with ROMs dated prior to 10/27/82  (~ serial number
300,000).  These old ROMS don't recognize hard disk controllers, and hence
are unable to boot off of a hard disk, requiring an awful software cludge.
The upgrade (for a mere $30) fixes the problem.  It's compatible with a
number of the cheap (< $700) hard disk kits.  (Mine is a DTC controller,
Cogito 10Mb drive, purchased for around $600).

-- 
  David W. Smith             {ucbvax}!tolerant!dws
  Tolerant Systems, Inc.
  408/946-5667