Unlocking Video Card Bios

Zebra · Jan 12, 2004, 10:16 AM

Using the FlashRom Program, the -i command shows that my BIOS is locked. How does one unlock it? Does it make flashing the BIOS any easier? I was able to edit my BIOS, and I set it up for a higher GPU clock speed and set the memory to CAS1. I had to use the force command to do it though. Upon reboot, no video output. Luckily, I was able to install an old PCI video card and re-flash back in the original BIOS. Scared the crap outta me.

The_Neon_Cowboy · Jan 12, 2004, 01:49 PM

you have to use the option to force flashing i forget the switch

it just ati way of trying keep you out of the bios and from overclocking it

Zebra · Jan 13, 2004, 10:57 AM

Thanks for the reply, but, is there a way to unlock the BIOS?

funkymonkey · Jan 14, 2004, 09:21 PM

you have 9600XT right? the 9600XT bios is not locked. if you have say 9700/9500 you can just download unlocked bios and flash your card with that bios. the whole collection of bios files for ATI can be found at http://www.ocfaq.com/softmod/bios.php

Zebra · Jan 15, 2004, 03:32 AM

According to the FlashRom program, the BIOS is locked. It is an ATI 9600XT.

funkymonkey · Jan 15, 2004, 03:50 AM

try ATIflash

Zebra · Jan 19, 2004, 02:00 PM

ATIflash cannot even find my ATI card!

Jan 12, 2004, 10:16 AM	#1
Zebra DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California,USA Posts: 198 Rep Power: 0	Unlocking Video Card Bios Using the FlashRom Program, the -i command shows that my BIOS is locked. How does one unlock it? Does it make flashing the BIOS any easier? I was able to edit my BIOS, and I set it up for a higher GPU clock speed and set the memory to CAS1. I had to use the force command to do it though. Upon reboot, no video output. Luckily, I was able to install an old PCI video card and re-flash back in the original BIOS. Scared the crap outta me. __________________ My current system as of 04/20/06: M/B: ABIT K8U Socket 754 RAM: 1024MB Corsair Select CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ (Clawhammer) VIDEO: ATI Radeon AIW X800 XT 256MB AGP8X AUDIO: SB Audigy 2 DISK: Maxtor 7200rpm 200GB 8MB cache SATA drive DVD/RW: Sony DRU-800A DL Dual Format DVD/CD Burner CD/RW : TEAC 48X CD Burner OS: WIN XP PRO w/SP2 VID DRIVERS: Latest Omega Radeon Drivers PSU: ANTEC 500W

Jan 12, 2004, 01:49 PM	#2
The_Neon_Cowboy DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: U.S.A. Posts: 16,135 Rep Power: 77 System Specs	you have to use the option to force flashing i forget the switch it just ati way of trying keep you out of the bios and from overclocking it __________________

Jan 13, 2004, 10:57 AM	#3
Zebra DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California,USA Posts: 198 Rep Power: 0	Thanks for the reply, but, is there a way to unlock the BIOS? __________________ My current system as of 04/20/06: M/B: ABIT K8U Socket 754 RAM: 1024MB Corsair Select CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ (Clawhammer) VIDEO: ATI Radeon AIW X800 XT 256MB AGP8X AUDIO: SB Audigy 2 DISK: Maxtor 7200rpm 200GB 8MB cache SATA drive DVD/RW: Sony DRU-800A DL Dual Format DVD/CD Burner CD/RW : TEAC 48X CD Burner OS: WIN XP PRO w/SP2 VID DRIVERS: Latest Omega Radeon Drivers PSU: ANTEC 500W

Jan 14, 2004, 09:21 PM	#4
funkymonkey DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	you have 9600XT right? the 9600XT bios is not locked. if you have say 9700/9500 you can just download unlocked bios and flash your card with that bios. the whole collection of bios files for ATI can be found at http://www.ocfaq.com/softmod/bios.php __________________ [color=red]About to break 20K 3dmarks[/color] [color=red]My PCMARK 2004 score : 4961[/color] [color=blue] MY PCmark 2002[/color] Approaching 50K barrier in AM3 MY AM3 score : 49753 [color=red]East or West, INDIA is the best [/color]

Jan 15, 2004, 03:32 AM	#5
Zebra DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California,USA Posts: 198 Rep Power: 0	According to the FlashRom program, the BIOS is locked. It is an ATI 9600XT. __________________ My current system as of 04/20/06: M/B: ABIT K8U Socket 754 RAM: 1024MB Corsair Select CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ (Clawhammer) VIDEO: ATI Radeon AIW X800 XT 256MB AGP8X AUDIO: SB Audigy 2 DISK: Maxtor 7200rpm 200GB 8MB cache SATA drive DVD/RW: Sony DRU-800A DL Dual Format DVD/CD Burner CD/RW : TEAC 48X CD Burner OS: WIN XP PRO w/SP2 VID DRIVERS: Latest Omega Radeon Drivers PSU: ANTEC 500W

Jan 15, 2004, 03:50 AM	#6
funkymonkey DriverHeaven Newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Mumbai,India Posts: 8 Rep Power: 0	try ATIflash __________________ [color=red]About to break 20K 3dmarks[/color] [color=red]My PCMARK 2004 score : 4961[/color] [color=blue] MY PCmark 2002[/color] Approaching 50K barrier in AM3 MY AM3 score : 49753 [color=red]East or West, INDIA is the best [/color]

Jan 19, 2004, 02:00 PM	#7
Zebra DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: California,USA Posts: 198 Rep Power: 0	ATIflash cannot even find my ATI card! __________________ My current system as of 04/20/06: M/B: ABIT K8U Socket 754 RAM: 1024MB Corsair Select CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3700+ (Clawhammer) VIDEO: ATI Radeon AIW X800 XT 256MB AGP8X AUDIO: SB Audigy 2 DISK: Maxtor 7200rpm 200GB 8MB cache SATA drive DVD/RW: Sony DRU-800A DL Dual Format DVD/CD Burner CD/RW : TEAC 48X CD Burner OS: WIN XP PRO w/SP2 VID DRIVERS: Latest Omega Radeon Drivers PSU: ANTEC 500W