[milan]

This will work if you've got a system that has a removable BIOS chip, but most system boards today don't have that an an option, especially the clones. Thankfully, Compaq workstations have been out for a while with a firmware flash capability that can't be disabled (probably because of too many flashes that went bad, requiring the MB to be sent back.) And their servers actually have redundant CMOS ROM that doesn't activate to new version until it's passed the CRC check. Actually, you don't even need to have an identical motherboard to do it: Just need a little toy, and the proper size replacement chip, as long as you've got the microcode. Again, if you've got a CMOS ROM chip that's surface mounted to the system board (which is the case with an awful lot of clones today, as well as name brand systems) you're out of luck.

That is why you shouldn't buy proprietary garbage (HP, Compaq, eMachine, and looking like Dell and Gateway are getting that way too). Build it if possible, and if not, buy it specialty...not too expensive if you look around.

[MarkL]

That is why you shouldn't buy proprietary garbage (HP, Compaq, eMachine, and looking like Dell and Gateway are getting that way too). Build it if possible, and if not, buy it specialty...not too expensive if you look around.

What line of work are you in? "Proprietary garbage?" Have you ever worked on "real" Compaqs, HPs, IBMs, or Dells? I'm not talking about their consumer products, like the Prosignia, Prolinea, Pavilions, Dimensions, etc... I'm talking about the business class systems. I have never seen any clone systems that can supply large companies who must rely on their systems with the level of reliability or the quick resolution of failures that the major manufacturers can provide. When we sell Dell Optiplex systems, it's not unusual for some of our clients to buy 200 at a time. And we've never had problems getting parts in a timely manner, usually next day, unlike trying to get replacement parts from major distributers. Warranty is a nightmare with clone systems: With the majors, no problem at all.

And that's just with the workstations. For servers, there's NO comparison. IMHO, the best server around is the Compaq (now HP) Proliant. You simply get very good performance, terrific managability, and superp service. Again, this is something that you don't get with clone systems.

Mark