Copyright (c) 1999 Creative Technology Ltd. All rights reserved --------------------------------------------------------------- Creative 3D Blaster Savage4 BIOS upgrade utility BIOS version : 1.02.4 --------------------------------------------------------------- ============= GENERAL INFO ============= The 3D Blaster Savage4 BIOS Upgrade utility consists of the following files: * sw1024ja.exe * README.TXT SW1024JA.EXE : Bios flash program with AGP Sideband Addressing enabled. =================== sw1024Ja.exe USAGE =================== sw1024ja.exe can be executed from the MS-DOS prompt using the following syntax: sw1024ja.exe command-line option: /ver : display BIOS version of this flash program /board_ver: display BIOS version of your 3D Blaster Savage4 adapter ============ PROCEDURE ============ (A) To determine if your video bios has the latest update, examine the version display during computer bootup. If your version is newer than current version, you do not need to upgrade your bios. Alternatively, you may run with command-line option /board_ver to display BIOS version of your 3D Blaster Savage4 adapter. (B) Due to the nature of windows environment, this program has to be executable in native DOS mode. Refers to the following section on "BOOT TO NATIVE DOS MODE" if you are not familiar with the steps. (C) Boot to native DOS, and run the bios upgrade program. (D) The programming process takes about 10 seconds (including verification time) to complete. This process should NOT be interrupted. Failing to observe this may result in unexpected (and undesirable) consequences. (E) When the program has finished, reboot your system. (F) The system should now boot up with the updated 3D Blaster Savage4 BIOS (verified by the new version number displayed during bootup) =================== TROUBLE-SHOOTING =================== 1) BIOS upgrade program display error message : "This program cannot be executed in Windows-DOS box" Solution : You need to boot to native dos mode before running the program. Refers to the following section on "BOOT TO NATIVE DOS MODE" if you are not familiar with the steps. 2) BIOS upgrade program display error message : "3D Blaster Savage4 not present" Solution : You are trying to use this program on a video card that is not Creative 3D Blaster Savage4. If you are certain that you have a Creative Savage4 card, your bios is probably being flashed with a non-Creative-Savage4 image. Contact Creative technical support for further assistance. 3) BIOS upgrade program display error message : "unknown EPROM type!" Solution : Your EPROM is probably defective. Contact Creative technical support for further assistance. 5) If you do not see any display upon rebooting. Solution : You can try reprogram it with the use of another PCI VGA card 1) Install with non-Savage4 VGA as primary display card. Insert a second (not Savage4) PCI VGA card into the 1st PCI slot and the 3D Blaster Savage4 into the AGP slot (or 2nd PCI slot if it is a PCI adapter). Make sure the option "Initial VGA adapter" (or equivalent option) selects "PCI" in your motherboard BIOS. Connect the non-Savage4 VGA card output to a monitor, boot up and check if the monitor displays anything. If it doesn't, change the slot positions of the VGA card and 3D Blaster until you can bootup with the non-Savage4 VGA as primary display card. 2) Reprogram Savage4. When the systems boots up successfully with the VGA card, you can then program the 3D Blaster Savage4 BIOS as described above, beginning from Step (C). After the program finished, you can remove the non-Savage4 card and bootup with your 3D Blaster Savage4 card. If you still do not see any display, contact Creative technical support for further assistance. ========================= BOOT TO NATIVE DOS MODE ========================= Presented here are 2 methods that helps you boot to native dos mode. (Method 1 - Boot diskette) Put a un-use diskette in your drive A. Type "format a: /s" at prompt to create a bootable diskette. Then re-boot with the diskette left in the drive. This will boot your system to a native dos mode. (Method 2 - the F8 key) Re-boot your system, pay attention to the on screen initializing messages. When you see the text "Starting Windows 95..." or "Starting Windows 98", hit the F8 key within 5 seconds to obtain the menu. Select Command-Prompt-Only option to put the system in native dos mode. ====End of Readme File====