Hello again (haven't been here for a while). Sorry the post is a bit long.

My problem isn't specific to Windows ME. That just happens to be the OS I'm using, and so far I haven't found a "general" category on here.

I've got 2 desktop computers, both about the same age (4½ to 5 years), one made by Tiny, the other an "emachines" from PC World.

Anyone who's tried to get a BIOS upgrade from www.esupport.com will know the trouble I've had over the years. Until recently they just ignored every application for a BIOS upgrade, and they still never respond to e-mails.

A while ago though, they e-mailed me to say they had an upgrade for my main PC (I'll call it number 1) which had packed up only the day before and I doubted that I could get it going again.

Instead I applied for, and got, an upgrade for machine number 2. A few days later I managed to fix machine number 1, so went back to esupport for the upgrade they said they had, only to be told they didn't have an upgrade after all, and to try again in 6 months!

Before anyone asks, I did use their BIOS Agent in both cases.

I need the upgrade because the original, very slow, CD-RW drive had to be scrapped and the 52x replacement isn't recognised below the level of Windows, so I can't use the recovery CD if I get a disaster.

As I've already said, they don't reply to enquiries, so I'm stuck. Could it be that they think the upgrade I bought for machine number 2 (about £17 in case anyone else is thinking about it) is for machine number 1? To put that another way, is there any way I can find out whether the two machines use the same BIOS? I daren't risk screwing the existing BIOS by applying the wrong upgrade, especially as, despite what they say, I have been unable to revert to the original BIOS on machine number 2. It tries, and then gives a failure message. No. Sorry. I don't remember the exact message.

Why would I want to undo the upgrade? I found that the recovery CD (the correct one for this PC) didn't work any more. It just said the image wasn't for this machine and refused to go any further. The only thing that isn't original is the BIOS upgrade. I even removed the LAN card in case that was causing the trouble.

Hello?

Anyone?

I would be amazed that the two had the same BIOS unless they just happened to use the same motherboard.

The next step that I would suggest is to go to the manufacturer of the computer first; then the motherboard.

Tiny no longer exists so can you ID this motherboard? Try Belarc: Main Circuit Board:

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

eMachines is here (very slow):

http://www.e4me.com/

or again ID the motherboard.

Most board manufacturer's maintain archived BIOS downloads.

Hope this helps.

Sorry it's only half a reply so far, Jephree, but the Tiny is currently being upgraded to XP, so it's not ready to go on line yet. This is the one that's got the upgrade. I've managed to get Everest Home Edition installed on it though, and here's what it says about the motherboard.

Field Value
Motherboard Properties
Motherboard ID 05/13/2004-i850-W83627-6A69SM49C-00
Motherboard Name MSI 850 Pro (MS-6339)

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 99 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 396 MHz
Bandwidth 3164 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties
Bus Type Dual RDRAM
Bus Width 32-bit
Real Clock 396 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 791 MHz
Bandwidth 3164 MB/s

Motherboard Physical Info
CPU Sockets/Slots 1
Expansion Slots 5 PCI, 1 AGP Pro, 1 CNR
RAM Slots 4 RIMM
Integrated Devices Audio
Form Factor ATX
Motherboard Size 240 mm x 300 mm
Motherboard Chipset i850

Motherboard Manufacturer
Company Name Micro-Star International
Product Information http://www.msi.com.tw/program/produc...o_mbd_list.php
BIOS Download http://www.msi.com.tw/program/suppor...t_bos_list.php
__________________________________________________ __________________________

Here's what it says about the emachines one, which hasn't been upgraded since I bought it new about 4½ years ago, mainly because esupport.com didn't respond for at least a couple of years.

Field Value
Motherboard Properties
Motherboard ID 31511.EM.0000.D.0101091529
Motherboard Name TriGem eMachines Imperial/Glendale

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel GTL+
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz
Effective Clock 67 MHz
Bandwidth 533 MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel Hub Interface
Bus Width 8-bit

Motherboard Manufacturer
Company Name TriGem Computer Inc.
Product Information http://www.trigem.com/tgproduct/new/new.asp
BIOS Download http://www.trigem.com
__________________________________________________ _____________________________

Hope that lot helps.

You say "Most board manufacturer's maintain archived BIOS downloads". That could be worth a look. I don't have (unmetered) access at weekends, but I'll certainly check it out next week.