EZ-Flash Hangs After Update/ Intel CPU Ucode Error

Paul.
I opened up or created a new ticket (Asus sure makes it complicated and wont
allow you to reply back) and told them of your findings. I got a response
back that will "look into it".

In any case, thank you for looking into this and yopur suggestions!

Happy Holidays and error free computing!!


"Paul" <> wrote in message news:elo69n$s78$...

> I don't know the exact wording of that message normally is, but
> it should be telling you that the microcode was not loaded. The
> BIOS is supposed to contain a microcode patch, for every processor
> that is valid for the socket. But the error message implies that
> no matching microcode was found.
>
> I downloaded the 1201 and 1105 BIOS files, extracted the "P6"
> microcode module with mmtool.exe , and parsed the extracted module
> by hand. The 1105 BIOS contains microcode for 0F44 and 0F47 processors,
> while the 1201 BIOS only has microcode for 0F44 (820D stepping A0).
>
> You can see 0F44 and 0F47 processors, listed here. Corresponding
> to the 820 processor, stepping A0 and B0. This file lists "cpuid"
> codes, which is what the microcode patches are sorted by.
>
> http://www.ukcpu.net/Programming/OS/cpuid.txt
>
> ; 0F44 Pentium D A0 FSB200*4, DualCore, SSE3, EMT64 +P
> ; 12+16/2048 L1/L2 +
> ; +
> ; 0F47 Pentium D B0 FSB200*4, DualCore, SSE3, EMT64 +P
> ; 12+16/2048 L1/L2 +
>
> This is an example of info from Intel - in this case for an 820D B0.
>
> http://processorfinder.intel.com/det...px?sSpec=SL8CP
>
> So it does look like when they made the 1201 BIOS, the 820D stepping
> B0 microcode went missing. And you likely own a B0.
>
> In terms of removing a PLCC chip from a socket, this is an example
> of an extraction tool. There are "L" shaped hooks on the ends of
> the legs, and they slide underneath the bottom of the chip, as it
> sits in the socket. The extractor pulls straight up on the chip.
> Insertion of new chips, does not use the tool, and you use your
> thumb to put back the new one. Make sure to make note of the orientation
> marks on the chip and socket. The socket may have a triangle on the side
> where pin 1 is located. The chip may have a matching mark of some sort
> (a white dot?) for its pin 1. The chip goes in face up, with the part
> number showing.
>
> http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2062619
>
> The "tools to avoid" section here, shows a version of extractor
> which is "less preferred".
>
> http://www.dansdata.com/sbs10.htm
>
> Make sure you inform Asus Tech Support, that they bumbled the
> BIOS and its microcode module. Maybe, after a couple tries,
> they might manage to produce an update that is correct. But
> if no one tells them, it won't get fixed.
>
> Paul