ver. 1.12 for Win32
freeware

Copyright 1997-2000 Sergey Nikolayev
Copyright 1999-2000 Artur Prokopiuk

• What for?
• Why EPACoder?
• Features
• History
• System Requirements
• How to use EPACoder?
• EPA logo? Where is this?
• How to add new logo into BIOS?
• Troubleshooting
• Known bugs
• Disclaimer
• TechRoom
• Authors

EPACoder is a tool for converting bitmaps into AWARD BIOS logo (picture in upper-right corner showed while POST) format and inversely (EPA to BMP).

... there are many tools like this ... Yes, but:

• ONLY EPACoder can do everything in one place
• this is stand-alone program, no need any additional drivers, system files, libraries and other ballast
• supports old EPA format (AWBM1.0) and new AWBM2.0 BIOS logo format
• extremely easy to use! Work in GUI, you don't think about the program command line and start-up parameters
• EPACoder is really FAST.
• EPACoder is free :-)

EPACoder 1.12 features include:

• preview of input Bitmap and EPA file (WYSIWYG :-))
• work with standard BIOS logo dimensions: 136x84 and 136x126 pixels images ...
• ... and non-standard dimensions. Now you can create&edit BIOS logo images in any format, for example: 136x240, 140x448, 136x480 pixels. Warning!!! Only SOME of NEWEST BIOS-es can work with this non-standard dimensions! BTW: using EPA1.0 you can't create logo bigger than 136x126 pixels, BIOS technical limit :-(
• work with monochrome or colour bitmaps. No stupid colouring!
• convert:
  • Bitmap into AWBM1.0 EPA format
  • Bitmap into AWBM2.0 EPA format
  • EPA (AWBM1.0 or AWBM2.0) into Bitmap format (useful when you want to save your favourites BIOS logo in well-known graphic format)
  • EPA AWBM1.0 into EPA AWBM2.0 and inversely (useful when you want to convert, for ex. your favourite BIOS logo from old EPA to new EPA logo format)

EPACoder history is very stormy ;-)

• ver. 1.12:
  • added keyboard shortcuts ('Open BMP'=Alt+O, 'Help'=Alt+H and other),
  • a lot of tweaks to the source code, several minor problems fixed
  • when error apperars during conversion to EPA1.0, now there is an information which block in bitmap image is invalid,
  • preview of bitmaps before opening/saving disabled :-(( caused compiler change (Delphi3->Delphi2)
  • added small but powerfull program's internal integrity self control. When file is corrupt (for ex. by virus modification, bad file download, unauthorize modification and other), EPACoder discover it and warn user.
  • and 3kB less of EXE code :-)
• ver. 1.11 - minor repair of WYSWIG. Now the EPA's look is the same as during POST
• ver. 1.10 - small corrections: now program look good on any resolution&font sizes, source code optimalization makes EXE 8kB lighter than previous version.
• ver. 1.09 - cosmetic code changes (45kB of code less than in ver. 1.08!), fixed Drag&Drop error on Win98. Y2K compilant ;-)
• ver. 1.08 - small improvements and interface changes
• ver. 1.07 - another off-line version. Testing, testing, testing ... Ooops, it's midnight, time to sleep :-)
• ver. 1.06 - some improvements:
  • tiny errors removed from program
  • program not create temporary files. Using 'memory stream' EPACoder loads files to memory; thats decrease hard disk activity and incerase booth Input/Output operations and conversion speed
  • new ability: program can recover corrupted EPA-files. In some cases it can help ...
  • better integration with System registry
  • more options you can set: 'disable hints' and 'save settings'
  • double-click on EPA, LAY, BIT files in File Manager opens them in one program's sesion, that mean there is created only one copy of EPACoder in the same time
• ver. 1.05 - added ability to work with non-standard image dimensions (other than 136x84/126 pixels), images open in separate windows, preview of bitmaps before opening/saving, implemented Drag&Drop routines (DDFM - drag&drop from file manager), some small corrections
• ver. 1.02-1.04, program's mutation on my home computer, never published :-). Next on-line release was version 1.05
• ver. 1.01 - added 'show grid lines' option, registry function, some small corrections
• ver. 1.00 - first release

Program requires:

• computer with monitor :-)
• Windows 9x. Also should work on Windows NT, Windows 2000, but I don't tested this program on this OS-es. Windows 3.x? I don't thing so. Maybe with Win32 library run? If you interested in EPACoder 16bit version, please simply contact me.
• ~ 130kB free space on FDD or HDD ...
• ... and few bytes of free memory.
• CPU: 386 or higher :-)

That can't be easier!

To convert Bitmap file into EPA file:

• create your own logo using any graphics program and save result of your work into bitmap file. Bitmap MUST have 2 (1bit/pixel) or 16 (4bit/pixel) colours in standard RGB palette
• run EPACoder and open your bitmap (by pushing 'Open' button in 'BMP Panel') or ...
• ... run EPACoder and drag&drop BMP file from File Manager to 'BMP view' window or ...
• doubleclick EPA image and select interested file in 'Open BMP file Dialog'
• select interested format AWBM1.0 or AWBM2.0 in 'AWBM' in 'Control' panel)
• push 'BMP->EPA' button
• save result into file by pressing 'Save' button (you can find them in 'EPA Panel')

To convert EPA file into Bitmap file:

• double-click on EPA, BIN, BIT or LAY file in File Manager, or ...
• ... run EPACoder and drag&drop EPA, BIN, BIT or LAY file from File Manager to 'EPA view' window, or ...
• ... simply run EPACoder and open EPA file (by pushing 'Open' button in 'EPA Panel') or ...
• doubleclick EPA image and select interested file in 'Open EPA file Dialog'
• push 'EPA->BMP' button
• save output bitmap file by pressing 'Save' button (in 'BMP Panel')

To convert EPA file into other EPA format:

• open EPA, BIT, LAY or BIN file, using methods described higher
• push 'EPA to EPA' button (very clever description :-))
• program recognise format of loaded EPA file. I there was AWBM1.0, EPACoder convert them into AWBM2.0. And the same: AWBM2.0 convert into AWBM1.0 BIOS logo format
• save result of work into file ('Save' button in 'EPA Panel')

That's all!

Simpe: in your BIOS, which is saved in EEPROM memory on your mainboard.
How to find them? You should have two tools: AWDFLASH and CBROM

• run computer in pure DOS mode (no memory managers, any device drivers, TSR programs and other)
• run AWDFLASH (programmer of BIOS chip) as: AWDFLASH /Pn bios.bin /Sy. Your BIOS will be saved into bios.bin file
• copy bios.bin into original.bin and save this second file in safe place!
• run CBROM: CBROM bios.bin /epa extract to extract existing EPA image
• run (in Windows) EPACoder and load extracted file. You will see your BIOS-logo

Remember: if you do something wrong you could corrupt BIOS chip and your computer won't boot anymore. If you aren't experience user, don't do it!

• run computer in pure DOS mode (no memory managers, any device drivers, TSR programs and other)
• run CBROM: CBROM bios.bin /epa new.epa, where new.epa is a file with your own BIOS logo created with for ex. EPACoder ;-). New logo will be saved into bios.bin
• put new BIOS file into BIOS-chip: AWDFLASH bios.bin /Py /Sn and restart computer. You will (should) see a new logo!

Hmmm, problems ... Take a look of them:

• I can't load my logo stored in bitmap file! File size/format is invalid, file read/access error or bitmap has to many colours (>16). Check format of image, possible bad media, change number of colours in bitmap.
• I can't load my logo stored in EPA file! File read/access error. Bad media or file is uses in other task.
• There is a strange errors during converting my bitmap into AWBM1.0 EPA format! It's result of atypical format of old (AWBM1.0) BIOS logo picture. Picture in this format is divided into 'cells', each has 14x8 pixels. That means standard 136x84 pixels image is composed of 17x6 cells and 136x126 pixels is composed of 17x9 cells. And in each cell there can be saved ONLY two colours: one for background and one for foreground; and background can't be bright. Sorry, isn't my idea... You should back to your graphics program and change bitmap. This problem doesn't occur in new AWBM2.0 format. Set 'Show grid lines' enabled to show which cell(s) are wrong-made.
• BIOS logo is still the same! Some of older mainboards (for ex. with 430VX/FX/HX chipset) have BIOS without ability to change logo ability. To change them, you must use special method (see http://www.corbina.ru/~blik906 or http://www.bios.z.pl (in Polish) for Convert program)
• System has crashed after upgrading BIOS with new logo! This is caused by error while writing BIOS-file into BIOS-chip on mainboard or you use incorrect BIOS-logo format. Older BIOS-es use AWBM1.0 format, new AWBM2.0 with standard 136x84/126 pixels format. But SOME can also work with bigger images (for ex. 136x240 pixels). Probably you use wrong format/dimensions of BIOS logo. In both cases you have big problems... To set system working go to good computers firm or do it yourself, using BootBlock or 'hot-swapping' method. See http://www.ping.be/bios or http://www.bios.z.pl (in Polish) for details.
• There is no logo displayed or chaotic symbols shown! Error while writing image into BIOS or you've used incorrect BIOS logo format/dimensions. See explanation above. Try to change BIOS logo to correct dimension/format.
• There are colours differences between original BMP and converted one! Your BMP image is not valid for conversion to EPA format. Input BMP image must be based on standard RGB colours palette, probably your bitmap has palette of indexed colours or non-standard palette.
• EPACoder.exe file self-control failed! (CRC32 is incorect). What does it mean? From version 1.12 application has a small procedure that calculate a special, 32-bit control number (called: CRC32). When program runs, simply check this CRC32 and compare with original one stored inside. ANY difference means an unauthorize modification of EPACoder.exe file. Mostly it could be caused by error while downlodaing file, bad media or VIRUS activity (!!!). It's strongly recomended to close program and check system using newest antiviral tool, download file again or check media. If there still will be an error, please contact me.
• EPACoder doesn't work/hang up/work unstable! Check file/media using newest antiviral. See above.
• Program caused explosion inside my computer! Ugh, there is REALLY a big problem! Call FBI or GhostBusters commando.
• {last error interpreting was joke, of course ...}

EPACoder has no bugs ;-))

But if you find them or you have concept and/or ideas how to make program better, please contact me. Thanx!

Short:

• All copyrights to EPACoder are exclusively owned by the authors - Sergey Nikolayev and Artur Prokopiuk
• EPACoder is distributed "as is". No warranty of any kind is expressed or implied.
• NO REPONSIBILITIES FOR POSSIBLE DAMAGES OR EVEN FUNCTIONALITY CAN BE TAKEN.
• THE USER MUST ASSUME THE ENTIRE RISK OF USING THIS PROGRAM.
• The authors will not be liable for data loss, damages, loss of profits or any other kind of loss while using or misusing this software.
• If you do not agree with this rules you must remove EPACoder file from your storage devices and cease to use the product.

Easy, isn't it?

Some technical information: EPACoder is created under Borland (Inprise) Delphi2.0. Output executable file size decreased from over 300kB to 120kB (!!) using UPX ver. 0.92 (executable packer). Valid EPACoder file CRC32 is 07795C46(Hex).

Sergey Nikolayev (EPA&BMP engine: read/write/convert procedures)
E-mail: awardbios@mail.ru
HomePage: http://Sergey.Nikolayev.da.ru

Artur Prokopiuk (Win32 version with GUI interface)
Email: zmechu@poczta.onet.pl
HomePage: http://www.zmechu.z.pl