Microsoft KB Archive/33706

= Sample Basic Code to Display ROM-BIOS Date for an IBM PC =

Article ID: 33706

Article Last Modified on 8/16/2005

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Visual Basic for MS-DOS
 * Microsoft QuickBasic 4.0
 * Microsoft QuickBASIC 4.0b
 * Microsoft QuickBasic 4.5 for MS-DOS
 * Microsoft BASIC Compiler 6.0
 * Microsoft BASIC Compiler 6.0b
 * Microsoft GW-BASIC Interpreter 3.20
 * Microsoft GW-BASIC Interpreter 3.22
 * Microsoft GW-BASIC Interpreter 3.23
 * Microsoft BASIC Professional Development System 7.0

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This article was previously published under Q33706



SUMMARY
Getting the ROM-BIOS (Read-Only Memory, Basic Input/Output System) date for a computer can be an important clue in diagnosing a variety of potential hardware- and software-compatibility problems.

Page 60 of &quot;The Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to the IBM PC&quot; (published by Microsoft Press, 1985) provides the following Basic program to display the ROM-BIOS date in month-day-year format for an IBM PC: ' To try this example in VBDOS.EXE: ' 1. From the File menu, choose New Project. ' 2. Copy the code example to the Code window. ' 3. Press F5 to run the program.

DEF SEG = &HF000 FOR i = 0 TO 7 PRINT CHR$(PEEK(&HFFF5 + i)); NEXT



MORE INFORMATION
If your IBM PC ROM-BIOS is dated prior to 10/27/82, then the following restrictions apply:


 * 1) You may not be able to address a full 640K -- only 544K or so may be available.
 * 2) The machine will not be compatible with the Microsoft MACH 20 board.
 * 3) Because the ROM-BIOS is earlier than 10/27/82, you have an IBM PC 1 with a 16/64K motherboard (logic board). This machine does not support hard drives, and just supports floppies.
 * 4) IBM no longer offers the 10/27/82 ROM-BIOS upgrade for ROM versions earlier than 10/27/82 if you have a 16/64K motherboard. (IBM does currently upgrade the BIOS for the 64/256K motherboard.)
 * 5) Other BIOS-related restrictions or problems may occur.

Another way to determine the age of your PC is to look on the front-left corner of your motherboard (logic board). IBM PC 1 machines are stamped with 16/64K. IBM PC 1 machines usually have ROM-BIOS versions earlier than 10/27/82, and they do not support hard drives. IBM PC 2 machines are stamped with 64/256K on the motherboard and can optionally support hard drives.

Additional query words: VBmsdos QuickBas BasicCom 1.00 1.01 1.02 2.00 2.01 3.00 4.00 4.00b 4.50

Keywords: KB33706

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