needing a bios upgrade for an e4600 gateway

Hello, 4


I am looking for a bios upgrade for a gateway e4600
It is a pentium 4 socket 423 machine. I have tried the
bios update from gateway, but it will not install. When
I try to run it I get a could not open input file
and start address of image is invalid.

Any help would be appreicated.


David Mason

Is there something specific that you need for your system that makes you want to
do a BIOS upgrade? A limitation to overcome, for example? ... Ben Myers


On Sat, 24 Nov 2007 23:26:27 -0600, "David Mason" <dmason001@centurytel.net>
wrote:

>Hello, 4
>
>
> I am looking for a bios upgrade for a gateway e4600
>It is a pentium 4 socket 423 machine. I have tried the
>bios update from gateway, but it will not install. When
>I try to run it I get a could not open input file
>and start address of image is invalid.
>
> Any help would be appreicated.
>
>
> David Mason
>

Yes, The bios version that is on the machine right now
will not support the 1.9 ande 2.0 ghz p4 processors.
I need to update the bios so I can update the processor.


"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:id5ik3509c1otm4iunktvphqktkm7t7f15@4ax.com...
> Is there something specific that you need for your system that makes you
> want to
> do a BIOS upgrade? A limitation to overcome, for example? ... Ben Myers
>
>
> On Sat, 24 Nov 2007 23:26:27 -0600, "David Mason"
> <dmason001@centurytel.net>
> wrote:
>
>>Hello, 4
>>
>>
>> I am looking for a bios upgrade for a gateway e4600
>>It is a pentium 4 socket 423 machine. I have tried the
>>bios update from gateway, but it will not install. When
>>I try to run it I get a could not open input file
>>and start address of image is invalid.
>>
>> Any help would be appreicated.
>>
>>
>> David Mason
>>

On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:32:43 -0600, "David Mason" <dmason001@centurytel.net>
wrote:
That's a good reason for doing a BIOS update, but if your E4600 already has a
CPU in the 1.6 to 1.8GHz range, the speed boost would be somewhat disappointing.
I wish I know how to make the BIOS upgrade work for you.

Even with the system using expensive RAMBUS memory, you might find that a memory
upgrade would give you more bang for the buck and enable you to coax some
additional life out of the system. Windows XP (and 2000 to a lesser extent)
absolutely devours the memory available to it. Not sure how much memory your
system has, but it you are running XP with less than 512MB, a memory upgrade
might be money well spent. Depending on price of RAMBUS, of course.

I am going to put a matched set of 256MB RAMBUS up for sale on eBay today. I
don't get much call for it from customers around here... Ben Myers


>Yes, The bios version that is on the machine right now
>will not support the 1.9 ande 2.0 ghz p4 processors.
>I need to update the bios so I can update the processor.
>
>

Thanks,

I have 1gig of memory in the machine already. The processor is a 1.4 gig
and I have a 2.0gig from another
machine that was being scrapped out. Now I just need
to find a good copy of the bios..


"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:iuajk3drrh8620pmkppg7r5bh18f7qifkf@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:32:43 -0600, "David Mason"
> <dmason001@centurytel.net>
> wrote:
> That's a good reason for doing a BIOS update, but if your E4600 already
> has a
> CPU in the 1.6 to 1.8GHz range, the speed boost would be somewhat
> disappointing.
> I wish I know how to make the BIOS upgrade work for you.
>
> Even with the system using expensive RAMBUS memory, you might find that a
> memory
> upgrade would give you more bang for the buck and enable you to coax some
> additional life out of the system. Windows XP (and 2000 to a lesser
> extent)
> absolutely devours the memory available to it. Not sure how much memory
> your
> system has, but it you are running XP with less than 512MB, a memory
> upgrade
> might be money well spent. Depending on price of RAMBUS, of course.
>
> I am going to put a matched set of 256MB RAMBUS up for sale on eBay today.
> I
> don't get much call for it from customers around here... Ben Myers
>
>
>>Yes, The bios version that is on the machine right now
>>will not support the 1.9 ande 2.0 ghz p4 processors.
>>I need to update the bios so I can update the processor.
>>
>>

Not sure why the Gateway-branded BIOS does not work, and I would be reluctant to
flash the motherboard with the generic Intel BIOS. I've flashed Gateway boards
with the Intel BIOS and vice versa in the past, and it is a real pain in the
backside. And of course, if the flash procedure fails, you end up with an
inert system.

1.4GHz to 2GHz is something that would make a difference. With 1GB of memory
already, you do not need more.

Have you considered swapping out the board for a newer Gateway-branded
motherboard (to mae sure that the Microsoft license cops don't go nuts)? Only
problem with that is you would likely have to reload Windows from scratch due to
a change in chipsets between motherboards. There are workarounds for this,
too, but they are painful... Ben Myers

On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:04:19 -0600, "David Mason" <dmason001@centurytel.net>
wrote:

>Thanks,
>
> I have 1gig of memory in the machine already. The processor is a 1.4 gig
>and I have a 2.0gig from another
>machine that was being scrapped out. Now I just need
>to find a good copy of the bios..
>
>
>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>news:iuajk3drrh8620pmkppg7r5bh18f7qifkf@4ax.com.. .
>> On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:32:43 -0600, "David Mason"
>> <dmason001@centurytel.net>
>> wrote:
>> That's a good reason for doing a BIOS update, but if your E4600 already
>> has a
>> CPU in the 1.6 to 1.8GHz range, the speed boost would be somewhat
>> disappointing.
>> I wish I know how to make the BIOS upgrade work for you.
>>
>> Even with the system using expensive RAMBUS memory, you might find that a
>> memory
>> upgrade would give you more bang for the buck and enable you to coax some
>> additional life out of the system. Windows XP (and 2000 to a lesser
>> extent)
>> absolutely devours the memory available to it. Not sure how much memory
>> your
>> system has, but it you are running XP with less than 512MB, a memory
>> upgrade
>> might be money well spent. Depending on price of RAMBUS, of course.
>>
>> I am going to put a matched set of 256MB RAMBUS up for sale on eBay today.
>> I
>> don't get much call for it from customers around here... Ben Myers
>>
>>
>>>Yes, The bios version that is on the machine right now
>>>will not support the 1.9 ande 2.0 ghz p4 processors.
>>>I need to update the bios so I can update the processor.
>>>
>>>
>

I tried the intel motherboard bios and it will not flash either. It errors
out with a headder not matching error..

as to replacing the motherboard I would also have to
replace the ram and cpu also and I am trying watch how
much I spend on the machine and just use what i have
in my parts bin.



"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:4umjk3p0ba2brqvnbro4tqrmve4faj69d0@4ax.com...
> Not sure why the Gateway-branded BIOS does not work, and I would be
> reluctant to
> flash the motherboard with the generic Intel BIOS. I've flashed Gateway
> boards
> with the Intel BIOS and vice versa in the past, and it is a real pain in
> the
> backside. And of course, if the flash procedure fails, you end up with
> an
> inert system.
>
> 1.4GHz to 2GHz is something that would make a difference. With 1GB of
> memory
> already, you do not need more.
>
> Have you considered swapping out the board for a newer Gateway-branded
> motherboard (to mae sure that the Microsoft license cops don't go nuts)?
> Only
> problem with that is you would likely have to reload Windows from scratch
> due to
> a change in chipsets between motherboards. There are workarounds for
> this,
> too, but they are painful... Ben Myers
>
> On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:04:19 -0600, "David Mason"
> <dmason001@centurytel.net>
> wrote:
>
>>Thanks,
>>
>> I have 1gig of memory in the machine already. The processor is a 1.4
>> gig
>>and I have a 2.0gig from another
>>machine that was being scrapped out. Now I just need
>>to find a good copy of the bios..
>>
>>
>>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>>news:iuajk3drrh8620pmkppg7r5bh18f7qifkf@4ax.com. ..
>>> On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:32:43 -0600, "David Mason"
>>> <dmason001@centurytel.net>
>>> wrote:
>>> That's a good reason for doing a BIOS update, but if your E4600 already
>>> has a
>>> CPU in the 1.6 to 1.8GHz range, the speed boost would be somewhat
>>> disappointing.
>>> I wish I know how to make the BIOS upgrade work for you.
>>>
>>> Even with the system using expensive RAMBUS memory, you might find that
>>> a
>>> memory
>>> upgrade would give you more bang for the buck and enable you to coax
>>> some
>>> additional life out of the system. Windows XP (and 2000 to a lesser
>>> extent)
>>> absolutely devours the memory available to it. Not sure how much memory
>>> your
>>> system has, but it you are running XP with less than 512MB, a memory
>>> upgrade
>>> might be money well spent. Depending on price of RAMBUS, of course.
>>>
>>> I am going to put a matched set of 256MB RAMBUS up for sale on eBay
>>> today.
>>> I
>>> don't get much call for it from customers around here... Ben Myers
>>>
>>>
>>>>Yes, The bios version that is on the machine right now
>>>>will not support the 1.9 ande 2.0 ghz p4 processors.
>>>>I need to update the bios so I can update the processor.
>>>>
>>>>
>>

Right. The generic Intel flash for this board will not work because the BIOS ID
strings do not match between the Gateway BIOS on the board and the Intel BIOS on
the boot media. There are workarounds for this, but I'd have to try it myself
with a comparable board and document carefully the steps taken. There is a BIOS
ID checking component in the Intel flash update software. Either you bypass
it, or edit the flash BIOS images to have a BIOS ID string that matches (except
for revision number) the Gateway BIOS.

A Socket 478 Gateway D850 board that takes RAMBUS would do the trick. Of
course, you'd need a Socket 478 CPU and cooling fan, too... Ben Myers

On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:55:22 -0600, "David Mason" <dmason001@centurytel.net>
wrote:

>I tried the intel motherboard bios and it will not flash either. It errors
>out with a headder not matching error..
>
> as to replacing the motherboard I would also have to
>replace the ram and cpu also and I am trying watch how
>much I spend on the machine and just use what i have
>in my parts bin.
>
>
>
>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>news:4umjk3p0ba2brqvnbro4tqrmve4faj69d0@4ax.com.. .
>> Not sure why the Gateway-branded BIOS does not work, and I would be
>> reluctant to
>> flash the motherboard with the generic Intel BIOS. I've flashed Gateway
>> boards
>> with the Intel BIOS and vice versa in the past, and it is a real pain in
>> the
>> backside. And of course, if the flash procedure fails, you end up with
>> an
>> inert system.
>>
>> 1.4GHz to 2GHz is something that would make a difference. With 1GB of
>> memory
>> already, you do not need more.
>>
>> Have you considered swapping out the board for a newer Gateway-branded
>> motherboard (to mae sure that the Microsoft license cops don't go nuts)?
>> Only
>> problem with that is you would likely have to reload Windows from scratch
>> due to
>> a change in chipsets between motherboards. There are workarounds for
>> this,
>> too, but they are painful... Ben Myers
>>
>> On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:04:19 -0600, "David Mason"
>> <dmason001@centurytel.net>
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Thanks,
>>>
>>> I have 1gig of memory in the machine already. The processor is a 1.4
>>> gig
>>>and I have a 2.0gig from another
>>>machine that was being scrapped out. Now I just need
>>>to find a good copy of the bios..
>>>
>>>
>>>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>>>news:iuajk3drrh8620pmkppg7r5bh18f7qifkf@4ax.com ...
>>>> On Sun, 25 Nov 2007 08:32:43 -0600, "David Mason"
>>>> <dmason001@centurytel.net>
>>>> wrote:
>>>> That's a good reason for doing a BIOS update, but if your E4600 already
>>>> has a
>>>> CPU in the 1.6 to 1.8GHz range, the speed boost would be somewhat
>>>> disappointing.
>>>> I wish I know how to make the BIOS upgrade work for you.
>>>>
>>>> Even with the system using expensive RAMBUS memory, you might find that
>>>> a
>>>> memory
>>>> upgrade would give you more bang for the buck and enable you to coax
>>>> some
>>>> additional life out of the system. Windows XP (and 2000 to a lesser
>>>> extent)
>>>> absolutely devours the memory available to it. Not sure how much memory
>>>> your
>>>> system has, but it you are running XP with less than 512MB, a memory
>>>> upgrade
>>>> might be money well spent. Depending on price of RAMBUS, of course.
>>>>
>>>> I am going to put a matched set of 256MB RAMBUS up for sale on eBay
>>>> today.
>>>> I
>>>> don't get much call for it from customers around here... Ben Myers
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>Yes, The bios version that is on the machine right now
>>>>>will not support the 1.9 ande 2.0 ghz p4 processors.
>>>>>I need to update the bios so I can update the processor.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>
>