Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is the system BIOS updated on the Gateway® 9200, 9200R, and 9250R Servers?

A: Following are instructions for running the BIOS and Firmware updates on the Gateway® 9200, 9200R, and 9250R Servers. The updates need to be performed in this specific order for them to work properly.

  1. Hotswap Controller (HSC)

  2. Baseboard Management Controller (BMC)

  3. Field Replaceable Unit/Sensor Data Records (FRU/SDR)

  4. System BIOS

Note: Before attempting any BIOS Flash, first enter the system BIOS and record all settings so they can be re-applied after the flash has been completed. The update restores the BIOS to the default settings.

The update requires three formatted, high-density floppy disks. As of May 2002, the following self-extracting files need to be downloaded from the Gateway Web site:

9504485.exe - Update utility 1.34
9504980.exe - HSC version 0.63 update
9505752.exe - BMC version 0.29 update
9505768.exe - FRU/SDR version 9O
9505602.exe - System BIOS version 12.0

Phase 1: Updating the HSC and BMC

  1. Download the firmware update utility, the HSC update, and the BMC update to the same location on your hard disk drive, for example, a new folder on the desktop. Run each file to extract the contents. When prompted to overwrite any files, press the Y key for yes.

  2. Make a bootable floppy disk. At a Microsoft® Windows® 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me command prompt, type: format a: /s. Press the ENTER key. Copy the files extracted in step 1 to this floppy disk.

  3. Leave the floppy disk in the floppy disk drive. Restart the server.

  4. At the A:\ prompt, type: fwupdate. Press ENTER to begin.

  5. On the first menu, select Upload flash, and then press ENTER.

  6. When prompted for the file name, type: sithsc63.hex. Press ENTER.

  7. The next screen prompts you to update the Primary or Secondary controller. Press ENTER to accept the default option of Primary.

  8. The next screen prompts you to “Upload Boot Block (Y/N)?”. Press ENTER to accept the default option of N.

  9. It then prompts you to “Upload Operational Code (Y/N)?”. Type: Y. Press ENTER.

  10. The update proceeds, and a status bar appears. When the update is finished, the “Press any key to continue” message appears at the bottom of the screen. Press any key to continue.

  11. On the menu, “Upload flash” is selected. Press ENTER to continue.

  12. When prompted for the file name, type: sitbmc29.hex. Press ENTER.

  13. The next screen prompts you to “Upload Boot Block (Y/N)?”. Press ENTER to accept the default option of N.

  14. It then prompts you to “Upload Operational Code (Y/N)?”. Type: Y. Press ENTER.

  15. The update proceeds, and a status bar appears. When the update is finished, the “Press any key to continue” message appears at the bottom of the screen. Press any key to continue.

  16. Press the ESC key to exit. Remove the floppy disk from the floppy disk drive.

Phase 2: Updating the FRU/SDR

  1. Open the right side or top panel to determine the number of fans in the server. If there is one row of fans, and an empty area for more fans, then the total is five. If both rows are populated, the total is eight fans.

  2. Identify the number of power supplies in the server. The 9200 and 9200R servers have one, two, or three power supplies. The 9250R server has one or two power supplies.

  3. Download the Sensor Data Records (SDR) Update from the Gateway Web site. Insert a blank high-density floppy disk and run this file to extract the contents. The extraction utility creates a bootable floppy disk for you.

  4. Restart the server with this floppy disk in the floppy disk drive. The update begins automatically.

  5. On the first menu, to select “Update FRUs and the SDR repository”, type: 1.

  6. On the next menu, to select “Tachometer fans”, type: 1.

  7. On the next menu, type the option that corresponds to the number of fans in the server.

  8. On the next menu, type the option that corresponds to the number of power supplies in the server.

  9. When prompted with the question, “Does your system have an auxiliary power supply fan?”, press the N key for no.

  10. The next menu prompts you to enter an asset tag. This is normally not used. Press N for no and continue.

  11. When prompted to restart after the update is complete, press the Y key for yes.

  12. The server then performs a read/write of the information on the floppy disk and restarts. Remove the floppy disk after the server has begun restarting.

Phase 3: Updating the System BIOS

  1. Download the BIOS update file from the Gateway Web site and save it to a location on your hard disk drive, for example, a new folder on the desktop. Run this file to extract the contents.

  2. Make a bootable floppy disk. At a Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows Me command prompt, type: format a: /s. Press the ENTER key. Copy the files extracted in step 1 to this floppy disk.

  3. Restart the server with this floppy disk in the floppy disk drive.

  4. At the A:\ prompt, type: 1. Press ENTER.

  5. The update runs automatically. When completed, the server is automatically restarted, and the update process is complete.