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3-1-1 UPDATE PENTIUM II MICROCODE API
Intel also provides MICROCODE API(Applications Programming Interface) for
Pentium II processor-based mainboard user to update data block in BIOS quickly and
easily. (You can find this utility in the All-In-One CD in the mainboard package).
The BIOS code on the Pentium II processor-based mainboards contains data that is
specific to each silicon stepping of the processor. Integrators must ensure that this BIOS
stepping data matches the processor stepping used. When the BIOS does not contain
stepping data that matches the processor stepping, integrators must update the data in the
BIOS before shipping the system. Historically, Pentium II systems have been updated by
replacing the entire BIOS with a new revision of BIOS that contains the correct stepping
data.
Intel‘s BIOS update API allows just the stepping data within the BIOS to be
updated as needed. Mainboards that contain a BIOS with the Intel-defined BIOS update
API can be quickly and easily updated, if required, without obtaining a complete BIOS
upgrade. Using this utility, integrators can easily verify that the correct stepping data is
present in all Pentium II processor-based mainboards. However, if the stepping data
requires updating, the mainboard BIOS must contain the Intel-defined BIOS update API,
otherwise a complete BIOS upgrade is required from the mainboard vendor.
Put the All-In-One CD into your CD-ROM drive, e.g. drive E, and then type
E:\>”ENTER”, and type \api\checkup3.
The main menu should now be displayed, showing the following four options :
1) Check and load update
2) Specify stepping data file [current : pep.pdb]
3)
Help
4) Quit without loading update
Select 1 to know the stepping filename, select 2 to load right patch code, then
select 1 to update proper patch code. Now, the screen will show the message “please
remove floppy diskette from floppy disk drive”. Then cold boot (mechanical power
off) system to continue. For more information, please refer to “CHECKUP.HLP“ file.
