Updating BIOS for Windows 7 install

[Taccun]

Okay so I'm having some problems with a computer my mom brought from her uncles. I'm not gonna give the whole story but he gave this computer to my mom and she doesn't want it.

First, I want to say that this computer has the Windows 8 beta on it as its only OS. It's very clunky and full of bugs and whatnot and I want it off so I'm putting windows 7 on it and erasing everything on it. This shouldn't be a problem for these forums since everything I"m having problems with has nothing to do with the OS. Besides installing.

Now, basically this computers main parts are better than my own (it's not that great anyway) It's motherboard is x65 bit, it had 2 gb 800 mhz ram (my computer had the same amount but only 667mhz) it's processor is 3.00 GHz (mine is 2.3 GHz)

So basically it's a better computer for the main parts. I've not looked at the PSU but I'm sure it's better aswell. The only thing that isn't better is the graphics card. It's a 7 series while mine is a 9.

So, basically I want to put the best of my computer to this better one. Mine feels newer (since I keep it dusted so it sounds really smooth, while this one sounds a bit old. But either way I want to install windows on it. The only problem is that the BIOS is inoperable. When loading into the BIOS the keyboard no longer seems to work. Its light go off. But every once in a while on trying, I can get it into the boot menu so I can move it to put from CD rom. But at this point, no matter what, it won't let me scroll through the options.

So naturally I went to google and came with some results that it could be the BIAS needing an update OR taking the CMOS battery out and allowing it to load default values. I tried the latter first, overnight actually. This brought it to default settings, but no luck. It didn't help the keyboard.

Now, I'm on the "update BIAS" part. But I can't even seem to find the right update for this motherboard. I tried installing CPU-z but this Windows 8 needs framework to run the software since it's not made for W8. So I just look around on the MB myself and find the Model Number.

It's D33C98. I googled it and mostly game up with Gigabyte results but I can't find BIOS updates for this model anywhere. I see manuels but I can't find much of anything for this MB. It's really driving me crazy trying to figure this out.

I thought about just putting the HD in my current computer and loading windows 7 on to it and putting back in the other one so I could just use my computers BIOS, but I've heard this isn't the best thing to do.

Any help is much appreciated.

 

[Taccun]

tl;dr: Want to change BIOS boot order. Keyboard doesn't work ONLY in BIOS. Tried removing CMOS batter overnight. NO change. Can't find BIOS update for motherboard model number "D33C98"

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Give us more system specs, on your machine and on uncle's.

Uncle's is apparently Intel socket 775 with D33 chipset. Guessing 5 years old minimum? I can't find any support for that motherboard on Gigabyte site either.

Is your primary problem lack of keyboard on uncle's machine?

If your own PC is newer, it may be the better choice, regardless of 2.3 GHz versus 3.0 GHz.

It may be that you can transfer his CPU to your PC, if his CPU is in fact superior.

Tough to say without more hardware details.

Describe your own PC in more detail. Your system specs say only "Dell".

I assume all you want to do is make one "best" PC from all the parts available from the 2 PCs?

 

[Taccun]

Give us more system specs, on your machine and on uncle's.

Uncle's is apparently Intel socket 775 with D33 chipset. Guessing 5 years old minimum? I can't find any support for that motherboard on Gigabyte site either.

Is your primary problem lack of keyboard on uncle's machine?

If your own PC is newer, it may be the better choice, regardless of 2.3 GHz versus 3.0 GHz.

It may be that you can transfer his CPU to your PC, if his CPU is in fact superior.

Tough to say without more hardware details.

Describe your own PC in more detail. Your system specs say only "Dell".

I assume all you want to do is make one "best" PC from all the parts available from the 2 PCs?

Yeah you about hit it on the head with understanding. I don't know what I"m gonna do about it without the update. Unless you're correct in saying mine would probably be better. I"m not sure if the processor would work in mine.

But yes, the primary problems is keyboard functionality in the BIOS on the uncles computer.

My problem with getting you the accurate specs is that I"m typing all this on a laptop. As both computers are running but no monitor. The one I'm using will work for a computer but for some reason will not detect an input when switched and I have to keep trying to get it back on.

I'd have to go through each computer and get the specs which may take a minute.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Look over Uncle's motherboard for model numbers----anything other than "D33C98". That may be a subspecies when you want the species. Do you see any number that begins with GA???

Get a flashlight, open the case, and actually take a look.

A program like Speccy can get you a lot of specs.

Speccy - System Information - Free Download

I wouldn't assume at all that a BIOS update will improve your keyboard situation---and BIOS updates are dangerous---or at least not to be taken lightly.

 

[Taccun]

What information do you need? I'm looking at the dxdiag on my uncles computer right now. I could post the whole report but that would be long.

 

[Taccun]

Look over Uncle's motherboard for model numbers----anything other than "D33C98". That may be a subspecies when you want the species. Do you see any number that begins with GA???

Get a flashlight, open the case, and actually take a look.

A program like Speccy can get you a lot of specs.

Speccy - System Information - Free Download

I wouldn't assume at all that a BIOS update will improve your keyboard situation---and BIOS updates are dangerous---or at least not to be taken lightly.

I've heard that an update can help with problems like that. Well what should I do then? What about putting the HD into my other one? If you don't think it'll work and it's dangerous, I should focus on something else. And installing programs is a bit hard on uncles since it's windows 8 and there's a lot of compatability issues.

 

[Taccun]

Okay the dxdiag displayed "GA-MA69GM-S2H" for System Model.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Hardware details most wanted would be:

Uncle's: motherboard model, probably beginning with GA; CPU model

Yours: Dell model number, CPU model.

BIOS updates MIGHT help, but it's a random shot in the dark and you have NO evidence it will help. Hope is not enough other than as a very last resort. You aren't there yet. And you can't get a new BIOS downloaded unless you can get a known accurate Gigabyte model number. All I have ever seen begin with GA.

DXdiag stuff might help if you have nothing else.

Speccy is pretty good.

You can't really proceed without more hardware detail.

Someone else may have more ideas regarding getting the keyboard going on uncle's PC, but I'd get a list of hardware details first.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM2 - GA-MA69GM-S2H (rev. 1.0)

It appears to be an AMD motherboard and you'll have an AMD processor in it. I know little about them.

If you can get an AMD processor model number, I can give you an estimate of its horsepower and compare that to your Dell---if you can ID the processor in the Dell (your machine).

Does DXdiag identify what BIOS is now in uncle's machine? There are updates at Gigabyte site, most recent is from 2009. But no evidence you have BIOS problem.

 

[Taccun]

Hardware details most wanted would be:

Uncle's: motherboard model, probably beginning with GA; CPU model

Yours: Dell model number, CPU model.

BIOS updates MIGHT help, but it's a random shot in the dark and you have NO evidence it will help. Hope is not enough other than as a very last resort. You aren't there yet. And you can't get a new BIOS downloaded unless you can get a known accurate Gigabyte model number. All I have ever seen begin with GA.

DXdiag stuff might help if you have nothing else.

Speccy is pretty good.

You can't really proceed without more hardware detail.

Someone else may have more ideas regarding getting the keyboard going on uncle's PC, but I'd get a list of hardware details first.

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM2 - GA-MA69GM-S2H (rev. 1.0)

It appears to be an AMD motherboard and you'll have an AMD processor in it. I know little about them.

If you can get an AMD processor model number, I can give you an estimate of its horsepower and compare that to your Dell---if you can ID the processor in the Dell (your machine).

Does DXdiag identify what BIOS is now in uncle's machine? There are updates at Gigabyte site, most recent is from 2009. But no evidence you have BIOS problem.

After I eat I'll upload a full dxdiag of both machines so we can get this going smooth.

It displays "Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG" as the BIOS

 

[ignatzatsonic]

It displays "Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG" as the BIOS

Gigabyte BIOSes are typically named in this fashion:

F4, F5, F6, etc.

"v6.00" may mean F6 or maybe not. Do you show a date for the BIOS? F6 is dated 12/28/08. The only newer BIOS is F7E, which is a beta BIOS, with no indication it solves any keyboard issues. F7E is dated 11/18/09.

Was uncle's PC bought from an OEM such as Dell or HP? Does it have a sticker on it containing a 25 character Product Key in this format:

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Uncle's PC probably shipped with Windows XP or Vista. Did it ever have Windows 7 on it?

 

[Taccun]

It displays "Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG" as the BIOS

Gigabyte BIOSes are typically named in this fashion:

F4, F5, F6, etc.

"v6.00" may mean F6 or maybe not. Do you show a date for the BIOS? F6 is dated 12/28/08. The only newer BIOS is F7E, which is a beta BIOS, with no indication it solves any keyboard issues. F7E is dated 11/18/09.

Was uncle's PC bought from an OEM such as Dell or HP? Does it have a sticker on it containing a 25 character Product Key in this format:

xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx

Uncle's PC probably shipped with Windows XP or Vista. Did it ever have Windows 7 on it?

msinfo displays "Award SOftware International, Inc. F5, 3/3/2008"

I'm pretty sure his computer he built himself. It had no product key or anything. He did have Windows 7 on it at one point..not sure what he had previously.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

OK. It's F5 BIOS. F6 and F7E are newer.

Are you absolutely unable to get his Windows 7 Product Key?

Do you know for a fact Windows 7 is not on it right now, in some other partition?

Get the CPU info on both machines.

 

[Taccun]

OK. It's F5 BIOS. F6 and F7E are newer.

Are you absolutely unable to get his Windows 7 Product Key?

Do you know for a fact Windows 7 is not on it right now, in some other partition?

Get the CPU info on both machines.

I can't say FOR SURE because I can't do anything outside of the default OS.

CPU on uncles is AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+, 3000 M

I'll get the info on mine in a second.

 

[Taccun]

Actually, I can just give you the service tag right? It's an OEM from Dell. An inspiron 530. All factory hardware but for the added graphics card and added 2gb of RAM.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Actually, I can just give you the service tag right? It's an OEM from Dell. An inspiron 530. All factory hardware but for the added graphics card and added 2gb of RAM.

You might be able to enter the service tag at Dell site and get CPU info.

Better yet use DXdiag, Speccy, or whatever you used on uncle's PC.

Inspiron 530s may have come with a variety of CPUs. We need to know about your specific machine.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Inspiron 530 is probably an Intel Core 2 Duo, circa 2006 or 2007 and will likely blow the doors off uncle's AMD.

But need to confirm CPU in your specific machine. I know some Inspiron 530s had quad-core E6600 processors.

 

[Taccun]

Actually, I can just give you the service tag right? It's an OEM from Dell. An inspiron 530. All factory hardware but for the added graphics card and added 2gb of RAM.

You might be able to enter the service tag at Dell site and get CPU info.

Better yet use DXdiag, Speccy, or whatever you used on uncle's PC.

Inspiron 530s may have come with a variety of CPUs. We need to know about your specific machine.

OKay I'm doing in now. The problem I'm having that makes this such a problem is that for some reason for me to switch this monitor, the computer needs t be restarted for the monitor to recognize an input. If you just switch the vga over it says it can't find a signal.

 

[Taccun]

Processor for my computer is a "Intel Core 2 Duo CPU E4500 @ 2.20GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.2GHz