Microsoft KB Archive/89015

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Phoenix BIOS: Latest Versions and How to Identify Them

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Q89015

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows versions 2.03, 2.1, 2.11, 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

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SUMMARY
This article discusses the following information about Phoenix ROM BIOS:


 * Phoenix ROM versions for Microsoft Windows
 * Latest versions of the Phoenix ROM BIOS
 * How to find Phoenix ROM BIOS versions
 * Where to obtain the latest Phoenix ROM BIOS

Phoenix ROM Versions for Windows
According to Phoenix Technologies, if you have a ROM BIOS version dated 1988 or earlier, you should upgrade to a later version to eliminate any possible conflicts or unexplained behavior with Windows 3.0, 3.0a, and 3.1.

Latest Versions of the Phoenix ROM BIOS
The latest version of the Phoenix ROM BIOS for PC/AT clones (80286) is version 3.1. The latest version of the Phoenix BIOS Plus for 80386 machines is version 1.10-xx (where xx is any original equipment manufacturer's [OEM] revision number).

How to Find Phoenix ROM BIOS Versions
To check the true BIOS date on a machine equipped with Phoenix ROM BIOS, do the following:

  Type the following command at the command prompt and press ENTER: "debug"  Type the following and press ENTER: "d F000:FFDC"

In most cases, the Debug command displays the following three lines for the Phoenix Technologies ROM BIOS (the example below assumes a date of 08/29/89):

  F000:FFD0 <2-byte HEX numbers> 0088 F000:FFE0 <2-byte HEX numbers> //2299//8899 F000:FFF0 <2-byte HEX number> ... The double-date format is the actual true date for the system ROM BIOS. Bits two and three on line 1 and line 2 are taken from each four-bit number. In the above example, the date would be 08/29/89. The date on the third line is the original release or revision date.

To exit the Debug program, at the dash (-) type q and press ENTER. This returns you to an MS-DOS command prompt.

Where to Obtain the Latest Phoenix ROM BIOS
For further information concerning BIOS acquisition or compatibility, contact MicroFirmWare, which provides technical support for Phoenix Technologies.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: 3.00a 3.00 3rdparty 3.10 3.11 finx msdos ms-dos

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Technology : kbWin3xSearch kbWin203 kbWin210 kbWin211 kbWin300 kbWin300a kbWin310 kbWin311