Microsoft has confirmed that they will continue to provide the OEM channel with Windows XP media for six months longer than originally planned. The new deadline is 31 July 2009.

Previously, Microsoft had only planned to provide the XP disks to partners until 31 January 2009 only, although there is no deadline for downgrade rights. People can still contact Microsoft for a disk, if the customer wants to downgrade from Vista to XP after the new deadline.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is said to be preparing for Windows 7, the next desktop OS successor, to be released in the next 12 to 18 months.

[via Computerworld]

1. The Flash Utility that corresponds with the motherboard BIOS chip (usually AMI or Award). This will be an executable e.g. awdflash.exe
2. The binary file used by the flash utility for programming the BIOS chip. It is usually in an 8.3 file numbering format with the extension indicating the version number. E.g. 0604.rom - version 0604 BIOS for the Asus M3N78-VM motherboard.

Procedure 1 - for flashing the BIOS

1. Create a bootable DOS-formatted USB drive.
2. Copy or extract the 2 required files onto the USB drive.
3. Boot the PC/motherboard using the USB drive.
4. Enter the following command to flash the BIOS - this is usually just the name of the flash utility file followed by the binary file: "afudos /i0604.rom"
5. Once the programming is complete you can remove the USB drive and restart the PC.
6. The first reboot will result in a message similar to the following: "The CMOS has been reset; press F1 to enter setup or F2 to continue with default settings". Press F1 and follow the Procedure 2 (Step 2) below.

Procedure 2 - for configuring the BIOS

1. Press [Delete] key during POST screen to enter BIOS setup.
2. Go to 'Exit' menu. Choose 'Load Setup Defaults'.
3. Change each of the settings listed in Procedure 3 below as applicable - for the specifications of the PC.

Procedure 3 - BIOS Settings

You MAY need to change the following options after loading 'Setup Defaults':

(1) Main menu -> Legacy Diskette A -> 1.44M, 3.5 in (by default).
Please disable if your system lacks a floppy drive.

(2) Main menu -> Storage Configuration -> SATA Mode Select -> SATA Mode (by default).
Please set this option to RAID Mode if you are currently using RAID.

(3) Advanced menu -> Advanced Chipset Settings -> SouthBridge Configuration -> Front Panel Select -> HD Audio (by default).
Please set this option to AC97.

(4) Advanced menu -> Onboard Devices Configuration -> Serial Port 1 Address -> 3F8/IRQ4 (by default).
Please disable if your system lacks a COM port.

(5) Advanced menu -> Onboard Devices Configuration -> Parallel Port Address -> 378 (by default).
Please disable if your system lacks a Parallel port.

(6) Power menu -> Hardware Monitor -> Smart Q-Fan Control -> Disabled (by default).
Please set this option to Enabled.

(7) Boot menu -> Boot Device Priority.
Please customise this according to your requirement.

(8) Boot menu -> Boot Settings Configuration -> Full Screen Logo.
Please Disable this option.

(9) Tools menu -> Express Gate -> Express Gate
Please Disable this option for faster bootup.

End.  Go to 'Exit' menu and choose 'Save and Exit'

Question
 
The array keeps failing drives. The controller error log shows continuous "aborted command" messages when using Seagate Barracuda ES.2 SATA II drives (models: ST31000340NS, ST3750330NS, or ST3500320NS). Is this a known issue with those drives?

Answer

Yes, there is a known issue with the Seagate Barracuda ES.2 SATA II drives (models: ST31000340NS, ST3750330NS, or ST3500320NS) running firmware SN04.

The drive firmware should be updated to version SN05 if the drives are used with Adaptec SATA or SAS RAID controllers except for the new Series 2 (2045, 2405) and Series 5 (5405, 5445, 5805, 5085, 51245, 51645, 52445). For the Series 2 and Series 5 controllers the firmware needs to be updated to version AN05. The AN05 firmware can be obtained directly from Seagate via the Adaptec Support Knowledgebase article ID 15324.