|
        | README file for
        |
        | ELSA flash tool for updating the BIOS of
        |
        | ELSA GLADIAC MX
        |
        | (FLASH_R.EXE version 3.03)
        |
        | Copyright (c) 2000 ELSA AG (Aachen, Germany)
        |
        | ELSA AG                  Internet   : http://www.elsa.de
        | Sonnenweg 11             
        | 52070 Aachen
        | Germany
        |
        | ELSA Inc.                Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | 1630 Zanker Road,
        | San Jose, CA 95112
        | USA
        |
        | ELSA Asia Inc.           Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | 7F-11, No. 188, Sec. 5
        | Nanking East Road
        | Taipei 105
        | Taiwan
        |
        | ELSA Japan Inc.          Internet   : http://www.elsa.com
        | Mita Suzuki Building 3F
        | 5-20-14 Shiba, Minato-ku
        | Tokyo 108-0014
        | Japan
        |
        | 2000-08-29, CPetry


        Table of Contents

        1.      Overview
        2.      Disk/CD Contents
        3.      Usage Notes
        4.      Release Notes
        5.      Notes & Warnings (!)
        6.      Bugfixes & Changes


------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.      Overview

        FLASH_R.EXE is a utility to easily update the BIOS on an
        ELSA GLADIAC MX graphics board.

        You will find a list of supported ELSA graphics boards
        in section 4.1.


------------------------------------------------------------------------

2.      Disk/CD Contents

        The program disk/CD contains the following files:

        README.TXT      this text file, including notes on the
                        current program release

        LIESMICH.TXT    German version of the text you are currently
                        reading

        The subdirectories PAL and NTSC each contain:

        FLASH_R.EXE     the executable program
        
        RUN386.EXE      DOS extender used by FLASH_R.EXE

        IMAGES (DIR)    Subdirectory containing the BIOS images which
                        are used for update


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3.      Usage Notes

3.1     Standard BIOS update

        If you want to update the BIOS on your ELSA GLADIAC MX
        graphics board, please change into the directory which
        corresponds to the preferred video norm (in the U.S.,
        NTSC ís commonly used). Then call FLASH_R.EXE from MS-DOS:

        FLASH_R.EXE

        The program looks for supported ELSA graphics boards.
        If the program finds one of the supported graphics boards
        in your computer, it will search for the correct BIOS image
        in the directory IMAGES.

        After confirmation the program will save your old BIOS to the
        file C:\OLD_xxxx.bin (xxxx is a number, i.e. C:\OLD_0000.bin,
        C:\OLD_0001.bin, ...) and program the new image to your
        ELSA graphics board.

        Notes:

        - If the BIOS currently installed is the same as or newer than 
          the one in IMAGES, you will be asked if you really want to 
          program an old BIOS version to your graphics board.
          If you confirm with 'y' your current BIOS will be saved to
          C:\OLD_xxxx.bin and the older image will be programmed
          to your ELSA graphics board.


3.2     Command Line Parameters

        FLASH_R.EXE -f [filename]

        It is possible to pass the filename of the BIOS image you want
        to program to your graphics board to FLASH_R.EXE.
        If you i.e. pass the name of the saved image to FLASH_R.EXE it
        is possible to restore your saved BIOS version to your
        ELSA graphics board:

        (e.g.: FLASH_R.EXE -f C:\OLD_0000.BIN)

        FLASH_R.EXE will check if the BIOS matches your graphics board. 
        If not you will get a note.

        FLASH_R.EXE -b [directory]

        This command line parameter will cause FLASH_R.EXE to save
        your old BIOS (OLD_xxxx.bin) to the specified directory
        instead of C:\.

        (e.g.: FLASH_R.EXE -b D:\)


---------------------------------------------------------------------

4.      Release Notes

4.1     Supported graphics boards

        ELSA GLADIAC MX

        The program FLASH_R.EXE will check if the BIOS image is valid
        and useable with your ELSA graphics board.


---------------------------------------------------------------------

5.      Notes & Warnings

5.1     Don't corrupt your BIOS!

        Please make sure that while programming a new BIOS to your
        ELSA graphics board you

        - don't reset,
        - don't switch off
          or
        - don't interrupt your computer in any way until it's finished!

        If you interrupt FLASH_R.EXE in any way before finishing your
        BIOS, you will corrupt the BIOS of your graphics board.
        In this case, please phone our support.

        Please wait, until FLASH_R.EXE has finished programming the new
        BIOS to your ELSA graphics board.

        The program FLASH_R.EXE will give you a note after it has
        successfully finished the BIOS programming.

        On the ELSA GLADIAC MX the screen will go off while accessing 
        the BIOS. FLASH_R.EXE will give you a note too.


5.2     Windows DOS-boxes, OS/2

        Please note that the program FLASH_R.EXE doesn't work in a
        Windows (95/98/2000/NT) DOS-box or under OS/2.

        You have to boot a DOS system.


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6       Bugfixes & Changes

6.1     FLASH_R.EXE versions 3.00 and newer support only GLADIAC MX 
        boards and do not work with older boards.

6.2     We now distinguish between BIOS images for PAL and NTSC.