AMIBIOS 07.00.10: Difference between revisions

From SoftHistory
No edit summary
Line 1: Line 1:
AMIBIOS 7, also known as 07.00.10, is a release of AMIBIOS that is usually known with the subcore date of "040201" (April 2, 2001). Unlike other [[AMIBIOS 07.00.xx]] code bases, 07.00.10 was most likely based on the existing [[AMIBIOS 6]] (071595 and other sub-core dates) code instead of the entire new codebase other AMIBIOS 7 cores used, although with some new features. These features include bigger size storage support (from 32 GB to 2 TB), a built-in boot menu and a built-in option ROM for network boot (although it was still possible to perform a network boot on earlier cores with unofficial option ROMs).
AMIBIOS 7, also known as 07.00.10 and is not to be confused with [[AMIBIOS 07.00.xx]], is a release of AMIBIOS that is usually known with the string core date of "040201" (April 2, 2001). Unlike [[AMIBIOS 07.00.xx]] (whose code was re-used for [[AMIBIOS 8]]), 07.00.10 is based on the older AMIBIOS codebase, although with some changes and new features. These features include bigger size storage support (from 64 GB to 2 TB), a built-in boot menu and a built-in option ROM for network boot (although it was still possible to perform a network boot on earlier versions with unofficial option ROMs).


== POST screen ==
== POST screen ==
AMIBIOS 7 can mostly be seen with new (640x480 for both POST and setup) and old (640x350 for POST, 720x400 for setup utility) screen resolutions, although some rare instances using new resolution for POST and old for the setup utility also do exist. The new resolution version includes a bigger, more colourful and detailed EPA (Energy Star logo), while the old resolution version used the older EPA from later AMIBIOS 6 versions.<gallery>
AMIBIOS 7 can often be seen with a VGA (640x480) resolution POST screen and a graphic Energy Star Ally EPA, although occassionally it may also be seen with an EGA (640x350) resolution POST screen and the older text mode EPA from [[AMIBIOS 6]]. Also, the EPA on both variants may be changed with a different graphic or can be completely disabled.<gallery>
File:AMIBIOS 07.00.10 POST.png|A VGA AMIBIOS 7 compiled for the Acrosser AR-B1479 Single Board Computer
File:AMIBIOS 07.00.10 POST.png|A VGA AMIBIOS 7 compiled for the Acrosser AR-B1479 Single Board Computer
File:AMIBIOS 7 EGA for ECS K7S5A.png|An EGA AMIBIOS 7 compiled for the ECS K7S5A motherboard
File:AMIBIOS 7 EGA for ECS K7S5A.png|An EGA AMIBIOS 7 compiled for the ECS K7S5A motherboard
</gallery>
</gallery>
== Setup Utility ==
== Setup Utility ==
AMIBIOS 7 has introduced updated versions of most of the older setup utilities found in [[AMIBIOS 6]] (except for WinBIOS Setup Utility, which was discontinued by the time and was still in use only by some code forks of AMIBIOS 6). Although some versions of AMIBIOS 7 could be seen with the older 720x400 resolution version of the Hi-Flex and Simple Setup utilities which were introduced with AMIBIOS 6.
Two different screen resolutions may be used for the setup on AMIBIOS 7, VGA (640x480) and EGA (720x400). Although versions that use VGA for the POST screen often also use it for the setup, some versions with VGA POST may also use EGA setup instead.


In fact, it is possible to directly port setup utilities from AMIBIOS 6 to AMIBIOS 7 by swapping the setup client module with AMIBCP 7, however the setup utility being ported must be in the older 720x400 resolution and the BIOS being modified must also only use the older resolution for setup. Attempting to port an old res. setup utility to new res. AMIBIOS or vice versa will cause the setup utility to not to be displayed correctly or not work at all (only a black screen will be seen when attempting to enter setup). Also, even with proper setup client and BIOS version, swapping the setup utility can cause other issues such as non-working features or menus in setup.
For VGA, AMIBIOS 7 has introduced new VGA resolution versions of all setup utilities originally introduced with [[AMIBIOS 6]] (except for WinBIOS Setup Utility, which was discontinued by the time and was only in use by some code forks of AMIBIOS 6), although also with some other changes. These include Hi-Flex, Simple and Easy Setup. They are all often called "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY", although in some rare cases the actual names of the utilities may also be used instead.


The gallery below contains images of known setup utilities introduced with AMIBIOS 7. Please note that old resolution version of Hi-Flex and Simple Setup are not included in the gallery as they're exactly the same as the versions used on AMIBIOS 6.<gallery>
For EGA, the original Hi-Flex and Simple Setup utilities from [[AMIBIOS 6]] can be seen (with no changes) with their original names (instead of "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY"), although Easy Setup was re-written for EGA as well and is different from the original Easy Setup seen on AMIBIOS 6. Easy Setup is often also called "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY" instead of its actual name, although sometimes it may also be called "AMIBIOS SETUP UTILITY" instead (seen on ASRock motherboards, which may indicate it is a modification made by ASRock, although sometimes the "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY" name was also used by ASRock).
 
It is often possible to port the setup utilities from AMIBIOS 6 to AMIBIOS 7 by swapping the setup client module with AMIBCP 7, however both modules must be in the same screen resolution. Swapping a VGA resolution setup module with an EGA resolution setup module (or vice versa) will cause the setup utility to not work (and often just a black screen will be displayed when entering setup). Aside from this, swapping the setup utility may cause other issues as well (such as nonfunctional features or menus in setup), even if the utilities are in same resolution. By swapping the setup utilities, the WinBIOS Setup Utility may also be used with AMIBIOS 7 (by swapping one from an AMIBIOS 6 ROM with WinBIOS setup), however only if it's being swapped with an EGA setup client (as WinBIOS setup was never made in VGA resolution).
 
The gallery below contains images of known setup utilities introduced with AMIBIOS 7. Please note that EGA resolution version of Hi-Flex and Simple Setup are not included as they're exactly the same as the versions used on [[AMIBIOS 6]].<gallery>
File:AMIBIOS 7 Hi-Flex Setup Utility (VGA).png|AMIBIOS 7's Hi-Flex Setup Utility in VGA resolution
File:AMIBIOS 7 Hi-Flex Setup Utility (VGA).png|AMIBIOS 7's Hi-Flex Setup Utility in VGA resolution
File:AMIBIOS 7 Simple Setup Utility (VGA).png|AMIBIOS 7's Simple Setup Utility in VGA resolution
File:AMIBIOS 7 Simple Setup Utility (VGA).png|AMIBIOS 7's Simple Setup Utility in VGA resolution

Revision as of 09:54, 15 December 2023

AMIBIOS 7, also known as 07.00.10 and is not to be confused with AMIBIOS 07.00.xx, is a release of AMIBIOS that is usually known with the string core date of "040201" (April 2, 2001). Unlike AMIBIOS 07.00.xx (whose code was re-used for AMIBIOS 8), 07.00.10 is based on the older AMIBIOS codebase, although with some changes and new features. These features include bigger size storage support (from 64 GB to 2 TB), a built-in boot menu and a built-in option ROM for network boot (although it was still possible to perform a network boot on earlier versions with unofficial option ROMs).

POST screen

AMIBIOS 7 can often be seen with a VGA (640x480) resolution POST screen and a graphic Energy Star Ally EPA, although occassionally it may also be seen with an EGA (640x350) resolution POST screen and the older text mode EPA from AMIBIOS 6. Also, the EPA on both variants may be changed with a different graphic or can be completely disabled.

Setup Utility

Two different screen resolutions may be used for the setup on AMIBIOS 7, VGA (640x480) and EGA (720x400). Although versions that use VGA for the POST screen often also use it for the setup, some versions with VGA POST may also use EGA setup instead.

For VGA, AMIBIOS 7 has introduced new VGA resolution versions of all setup utilities originally introduced with AMIBIOS 6 (except for WinBIOS Setup Utility, which was discontinued by the time and was only in use by some code forks of AMIBIOS 6), although also with some other changes. These include Hi-Flex, Simple and Easy Setup. They are all often called "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY", although in some rare cases the actual names of the utilities may also be used instead.

For EGA, the original Hi-Flex and Simple Setup utilities from AMIBIOS 6 can be seen (with no changes) with their original names (instead of "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY"), although Easy Setup was re-written for EGA as well and is different from the original Easy Setup seen on AMIBIOS 6. Easy Setup is often also called "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY" instead of its actual name, although sometimes it may also be called "AMIBIOS SETUP UTILITY" instead (seen on ASRock motherboards, which may indicate it is a modification made by ASRock, although sometimes the "AMIBIOS NEW SETUP UTILITY" name was also used by ASRock).

It is often possible to port the setup utilities from AMIBIOS 6 to AMIBIOS 7 by swapping the setup client module with AMIBCP 7, however both modules must be in the same screen resolution. Swapping a VGA resolution setup module with an EGA resolution setup module (or vice versa) will cause the setup utility to not work (and often just a black screen will be displayed when entering setup). Aside from this, swapping the setup utility may cause other issues as well (such as nonfunctional features or menus in setup), even if the utilities are in same resolution. By swapping the setup utilities, the WinBIOS Setup Utility may also be used with AMIBIOS 7 (by swapping one from an AMIBIOS 6 ROM with WinBIOS setup), however only if it's being swapped with an EGA setup client (as WinBIOS setup was never made in VGA resolution).

The gallery below contains images of known setup utilities introduced with AMIBIOS 7. Please note that EGA resolution version of Hi-Flex and Simple Setup are not included as they're exactly the same as the versions used on AMIBIOS 6.