The Disparity Bit - Comments

Gary Baker: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Gary Baker) — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 03:33:28 +0100

Great. This means it will be very simple without much problem. Thanks.

Dan Armak: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Dan Armak) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:39:18 +0100

No, you only need to copy the new bios image to the floppy. Then you boot normally, enter the (installed) BIOS's ezflash submenu, and it lets you browse the floppy contents, load the new image and dump the new one.

Since you don't need to make a DOS boot image this works fine with any OS that can write a FAT16 filesystem. It also works fine with a USB disk (or presumably a PATA/SATA disk with a FAT16 filesystem) instead of a floppy.

Gary Baker: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Gary Baker) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:49:41 +0100

I am concerned about using ezflash too. I presume you need to copy files on to a dos formatted disk and then copy files to program and utility to floppy right? Then boot floppy.
Is this right?

Dan Armak: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Dan Armak) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 07:13:46 +0100

I used the ezflash - it worked fine.

Derek Kite: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Derek Kite) — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 04:37:38 +0100

You said you upgraded the bios. How did you do it? I'm reading about the windows utility, and not using the ezflash built in to the bios.

Thanks

Derek Kite

Flamsmark: Wikipedia on a DVD

nospam@example.com (Flamsmark) — Tue, 13 Nov 2007 18:41:17 +0100

Have you been looking at the logs for the dump pages lately. It looks like we could be waiting a long time - the enwiki dumps are repeatedly failing.

Dan Armak: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Dan Armak) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 13:25:39 +0200

Neither of them is officially stable enough to use for everyday work. Or maybe they just didn't get around to making the announcement yet :-) But I don't want to try using either until there's at least an upstream release with a version number. Even if it's marked 0.0.1_alpha1.

When I do use them, I'll post the results here.

Ringobell: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Ringobell) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 03:42:19 +0200

Dan, thanks for the summary. I was looking for this exact info, as I am also considering a purchase based on the ASUS M2A-VM. I'd like to know your results using the newly-updated avivo driver, as well as the new OS driver from AMD/ATi/Novell.

Dan Armak: How are Microsoft backdoors news?

nospam@example.com (Dan Armak) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:14:24 +0200

Because Microsoft understands its reputation (such as it is) won't suffer from this, and because Microsoft products have never sold on the basis of a reputation for probity and security, but rather in despite of them.

Either you install binary, opaque patches every few days, or you run unpatched. Microsoft can send backdoor patches to an individual, a company, a country, or the whole world. We didn't need the Auto Update story to know this. This is something that should be incorporated into Microsoft's reputation from day one. (The same goes for other non-free OSs too, of course.)

As for why they would do this, I could suggest a desire to control everyone's PCs for purposes of WGA/activation/DRM/TCPA/killing undesirable (competing) software or hardware. Or pressure put on them by 'security agencies' and law enforcement.

But this story teaches us the most trivial reasons are also the most common: expediency and disregard for user desires, preferences and legal rights.

Yuval Langer: How are Microsoft backdoors news?

nospam@example.com (Yuval Langer) — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 11:15:23 +0200

Why would MS risk its reputation just to install a back door on its costumers' computers?

Daniel: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Daniel) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:24:35 +0200

Sounds great, just googled around for that new driver thing, was something i was thinking about as well, but this will not be an issue when they release the open source version. You have been most helpfull, i'll stick with the 690G just waiting for the rest of the hardware which have been sent today (it is just like christmas again) ;-) Thanx again for your time.

Daniel

Dan Armak: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Dan Armak) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 13:56:45 +0200

Well, I had a special constraint when buying this board - the whole Ninja Scythe story. But I'm quite satisfied with it, especially now that a new ATI R500/600 free driver is going to be released - I look forward to trying it out with the Radeon X1250 IGP on this board.

Daniel: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Daniel) — Fri, 14 Sep 2007 09:28:08 +0200

Oh i didn't realise that that AHCI actually is a open standard, thank you so much for clarifying this to me. I must admit i am still in doubt about the Biostar TA690G. I bought it cause it apparently has very low watt usage and that is just what i am looking for as it should be running 24/7. Are you happy with your board or would you go for eg. a nvidia 7050 chipset if you had the chance of changing boards? Computers are a jungle and i am in the middle of it ;-)

Regards

Dan Armak: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Dan Armak) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:36:35 +0200

Yes, SB600 SATA is supported - at least when in AHCI mode. My motherboard's BIOS has an option to turn AHCI support on and off. I haven't tried the non-AHCI mode, but in AHCI mode, the generic Linux AHCI SATA support works fine.

It does seem my email isn't available through the blog (except when I post a comment :-), I'll look at fixing that.

Daniel Jensen: Asus M2A-VM linux status summary

nospam@example.com (Daniel Jensen) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:06:57 +0200

Stumbled across your blog about the current status for the asus M2A-VM motherboard which uses the amd 690 chipset. You mention: One issue was with SATA: when in AHCI mode, the chipset falsely claimed to support 64-bit DMA Does this mean that the amd sata actually is supported under linux? I have been searching around all day, have a Biostar TA690G motherboard i have just bought but won't be doing much installing on it if sata is not working under 690 :-) Been trying to find your email adress but has been unable to find it, so i am asking here in the blog :-)