AwardBIOS: Difference between revisions

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AwardBIOS (also known as Award Modular BIOS and later known as Phoenix - AwardBIOS after the [[Phoenix Technologies Ltd|Phoenix Technologies]] merge of the company) is a [[Personal Computer BIOS]] developed by [[Award Software]] in 1984.
AwardBIOS (also known as Award Modular BIOS and later as Phoenix - AwardBIOS) is a [[personal computer BIOS]] developed by [[Award Software]] from 1984 to 1998 and then by [[Phoenix Technologies]] from 1998 to 2009.


== Phoenix acquisition ==
== Merge with Phoenix Technologies ==
On April 16, 1998, [[Phoenix Technologies Ltd|Phoenix Technologies]] acquired Award Software to create a $100M BIOS firm. It was completed on September 28 of the same year and both companies merged. As a result of the merge, Award Software went bankrupt, while Phoenix survived.
On April 16, 1998, [[Award Software]] announced a merger with [[Phoenix Technologies]] to create a $100 million BIOS development company. It was completed on September 28th of that year, and as a result, Award went bankrupt while Phoenix survived.


== PhoenixNet controversy ==
== PhoenixNet controversy ==
In 2000, Phoenix Technologies developed a technology for AwardBIOS versions 4.51PGN and 6.00PGN, called PhoenixNet that integrates into the BIOS of motherboard. It received a major criticism due to being spyware.
''Main page: [[PhoenixNet]]''


This spyware however, also installs some bloated software once it detects an existing operating system and internet connection. Their services have been discontinued in late 2001, but there are probably few motherboards in 2002 that still have PhoenixNet built-in but may not work. After the service ended, some PC vendors have released BIOS updates for their motherboards that have PhoenixNet already to remove or disable the spyware.
In 2000, Phoenix developed an add-on for AwardBIOS called PhoenixNet, which allowed motherboard manufacturers and system labelers to advertise their services during POST, change the browser home page, and automatically install sponsored tools on the system after a clean Windows installation. It was heavily criticized by users for privacy concerns and performance issues on systems with it enabled. It was finally discontinued a year later due to [http://www.cexx.org/phoenix.htm| "the demise of the Internet advertising market"].


== List of known versions ==
== List of known versions ==
Line 17: Line 17:
!Notes
!Notes
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS 1.xx
|[[AwardBIOS 1.xx]]
|1984?
|1984?
|''Not available''
|''Not available''
|Confirmed existence by [https://www.pcorner.com/list/DIAGS/BIOS32X.ZIP/BIOSSIG.DBA/ a file of a BIOS version database]. No ROM files or pictures are available for it as of now.
|Confirmed existence by [https://www.pcorner.com/list/DIAGS/BIOS32X.ZIP/BIOSSIG.DBA/ a file of a BIOS version database]. No ROM files or pictures are available for it as of now.
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS 2.xx
|[[AwardBIOS 2.xx]]
|1985
|1985
|[[File:AwardBIOS 2.07 POST.png|300px]]
|[[File:AwardBIOS 2.07 POST.png|300px]]
|
|
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS 3.xx  
|[[AwardBIOS 3.xx]]
|1987
|1987
|[[File:AwardBIOS B3.11.03 POST screen.png|300px]]
|[[File:AwardBIOS B3.11.03 POST screen.png|300px]]
|Siemens-Nixdorf fork exists.
|Siemens-Nixdorf fork exists.
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS v4.00
|[[AwardBIOS v4.00]]
|1991
|1990
|
|[[File:Award_Modular_BIOS_v4.00_POST.png|300px]]
|Mostly used on motherboards with EISA expansion buses
|Mostly used on motherboards with EISA expansion buses
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS v4.20/4.26/4.28/4.32
|[[AwardBIOS v4.20|AwardBIOS v4.20/4.26/4.28/4.32]]
|1992
|1991-1992
|
|[[File:AwardBIOS 4.20 BIOS POST.png|300px]]
|4.26/4.28/4.32 might have been only used by Gateway 2000/Swan/Anigma.
|4.26/4.28/4.32 might have been only used by Gateway 2000/Swan/Anigma.
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS v4.50
|[[AwardBIOS v4.50]]
|1993
|1993
|[[File:AwardBIOS_4_50Blue.png|300px]]
|[[File:AwardBIOS_4_50Blue.png|300px]]
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|Not to be confused with EliteBIOS, early versions have blue POST screen while later versions have black EliteBIOS POST screen but with v4.50 version number.
|Not to be confused with EliteBIOS, early versions have blue POST screen while later versions have black EliteBIOS POST screen but with v4.50 version number.
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS v4.50xx/v4.51xx/v4.60xx
|[[Award EliteBIOS|AwardBIOS v4.50xx/v4.51xx/v4.60xx]]
|1994
|1994
|
|[[File:AwardBIOS v4.51PG POST.png|300px]]
|Codenamed "EliteBIOS".
|Codenamed "EliteBIOS".
|-
|-
|[[Award PowerBIOS]]
|[[Award PowerBIOS]]
|1994
|1994(?)
|[[File:AwardBIOS_Power1_00.png|300px]]
|[[File:AwardBIOS_Power1_00.png|300px]]
|Probably considered as AwardBIOS v5.00 by Award.
|Considered as AwardBIOS v5.00 internally by Award.
|-
|-
|AwardBIOS v6.00PG
|[[AwardBIOS v6.00PG]]
|1998
|1998-1999
|[[File:AwardBIOS_MedalASUS6_00.png|300px]]
|[[File:Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG POST.png|300px]]
[[File:AwardBIOS_ModulGbyte6_00.png|300px]]
|Codenamed "Medallion". Also known as Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG and Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG. Code forks from ASUS and Gigabyte do exist. A sub-version called [[AwardBIOS v6.00PG#WorkstationBIOS|WorkstationBIOS]] also exists.
|Codenamed "Medallion". ASUS and Gigabyte forks of it exist. A sub-version called WorkstationBIOS also exists.
|}
|}

Latest revision as of 12:38, 30 June 2024

AwardBIOS (also known as Award Modular BIOS and later as Phoenix - AwardBIOS) is a personal computer BIOS developed by Award Software from 1984 to 1998 and then by Phoenix Technologies from 1998 to 2009.

Merge with Phoenix Technologies

On April 16, 1998, Award Software announced a merger with Phoenix Technologies to create a $100 million BIOS development company. It was completed on September 28th of that year, and as a result, Award went bankrupt while Phoenix survived.

PhoenixNet controversy

Main page: PhoenixNet

In 2000, Phoenix developed an add-on for AwardBIOS called PhoenixNet, which allowed motherboard manufacturers and system labelers to advertise their services during POST, change the browser home page, and automatically install sponsored tools on the system after a clean Windows installation. It was heavily criticized by users for privacy concerns and performance issues on systems with it enabled. It was finally discontinued a year later due to "the demise of the Internet advertising market".

List of known versions

List of known AwardBIOS versions
Version Release date POST screen Notes
AwardBIOS 1.xx 1984? Not available Confirmed existence by a file of a BIOS version database. No ROM files or pictures are available for it as of now.
AwardBIOS 2.xx 1985
AwardBIOS 3.xx 1987 Siemens-Nixdorf fork exists.
AwardBIOS v4.00 1990 Mostly used on motherboards with EISA expansion buses
AwardBIOS v4.20/4.26/4.28/4.32 1991-1992 4.26/4.28/4.32 might have been only used by Gateway 2000/Swan/Anigma.
AwardBIOS v4.50 1993

Not to be confused with EliteBIOS, early versions have blue POST screen while later versions have black EliteBIOS POST screen but with v4.50 version number.
AwardBIOS v4.50xx/v4.51xx/v4.60xx 1994 Codenamed "EliteBIOS".
Award PowerBIOS 1994(?) Considered as AwardBIOS v5.00 internally by Award.
AwardBIOS v6.00PG 1998-1999 Codenamed "Medallion". Also known as Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG and Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG. Code forks from ASUS and Gigabyte do exist. A sub-version called WorkstationBIOS also exists.
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Last modified
This page was last edited on 30 June 2024, at 12:38.