Message-ID: <431@ahuta.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 07:42:58 EST
Article-I.D.: ahuta.431
Posted: Fri Feb  8 07:42:58 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 9-Feb-85 06:24:17 EST
References: <307@psivax.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Information Systems Labs, Holmdel NJ
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CC:         dmt
REFERENCES:  <307@psivax.UUCP>

As has already been pointed out, doing away with the startup test involves
burning new ROMs.  I disagree with the comment about expense (unless you
buy an EPROM burner for this one-shot job), but it may be illegal.
In order to do it, you would need to copy the IBM BIOS ROM onto a
writeable medium (say, a floppy), edit it, and use the edited version
as input to an EPROM programmer.  IBM has been sticky about people
copying their BIOS, even as the starting point for a modified BIOS.
They may not know (or care, if they do know) about your one-off job,
but they have the legal right to stop you if they do.

Other vendors of BIOS may permit copying, or may have a BIOS that
already bypasses the RAM test.  I've heard good things about the
BIOS sold by Display Telecommunications Corp, though no first-hand
experience.  It's advertised in BYTE for $30.
			Dave Tutelman