Article ID: 33706
Article Last Modified on 8/16/2005
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
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 "The Peter Norton Programmer's Guide to the IBM PC" (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:
- You may not be able to address a full 640K -- only 544K or so may be available.
- The machine will not be compatible with the Microsoft MACH 20 board.
- 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.
- 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.)
- 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
