BIOS, missing content

[VanMan]

hello all.
After the death off the xbox 360 I decided to build a cheap system for by the tele to play media files.
Got a cheap second hand asus motherboard off flea bay.
When in the bios screen it seems half the usual stuff for graphics etc is missing from the lists.
After some investigation it appears the board has come from what could only be described as a 'school computer'.
My question is this if I re flash the bios from a similar numbered board on the asus web site what are the chances of it A, working at all or B, working and regaining all the content of the bios so I can at least plug a graphics card in.
I can get a load of bits an plug em together to make a pc but i have absolutely no idea of the technicalities behind them.
My Board is P5RD2-TVM/S
The nearest on the asus web site is P5RD2-VM.
Thanks in advance.

 

[RJC]

I wouLd not like to flash a board with a different BIOS just in case you brick the board.

When you say graphics missing, what bits are you wanting to look at.

 

[inSilica]

It looks to me this Motherboard wasn't actually supplied by Asus as retail... i.e. OEM. Someone here having the same problem:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...rd_id=1&model=P5RD2-VM&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

You can try to email Asus support to make same inquiry but note last comment, and comment from RJC - you can brick it fairly easily. Also maybe worth getting in touch with seller to ask about the box/oem computer the motherboard came from.

 

[VanMan]

Thanks for the input fellas.

It looks to me this Motherboard wasn't actually supplied by Asus as retail... i.e. OEM. Someone here having the same problem:

http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...rd_id=1&model=P5RD2-VM&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

You can try to email Asus support to make same inquiry but note last comment, and comment from RJC - you can brick it fairly easily. Also maybe worth getting in touch with seller to ask about the box/oem computer the motherboard came from.

Yep thats where I figured it was a school comp.
The seller has no idea as he just gets the boards as is.

I wouLd not like to flash a board with a different BIOS just in case you brick the board.

When you say graphics missing, what bits are you wanting to look at.

In bios theres no option to able/disable the onboard graphics or increase the onboard values for graphics..
with the card in place it dosent show up in device management either.
The other board manual does say something about assigning IRQs or such but is a bit beyond me.
Should have listened to the old dear when she said 'buy it cheap, buy it twice'
Shall keep plugging away at it I refuse to be beaten.
thanks again.