Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Quick question

Hi,

Very quick question - playing with my 861 for the first time. What is the difference between the bios version (1.10 in my case) and the software version (2.8 now that I upgraded it). Does the bios need updating ? The machine reports 2.8 happily on the display menu but shows bios 1.10 when uploading / downloading via the computer. I'm also having all kinds of fun trying to get the 861 to deal with a DVD. If you stick a CD in the DVD it plays fine - I just can't get the 861 to respond if a DVD is put in.

Any help appreciated.

Chris

i can't exactly speak to the specifics of an 861, but generally speaking.....

a BIOS is the software (usually burned onto a rewritable chip) that allows the device to do its basic operations (start up, spit data around some sort of bus, etc.). your PC has a BIOS that it uses when it boots up - you might see something like "AMI BIOS 13.39" or whatnot on the screen - it reads that information up off of a chip. it stands for Basic Input Output System. you can upgrade your BIOS in many devices to get the latest and greatest, though i don't think Meridian tends to have us do that (i definitely have upgraded software on my 568, but i don't think i've upgraded my BIOS but i could be wrong).

the software version is probably the version of the software that gets loaded up after the BIOS gets the basic machine operations working. the BIOS doesn't know how dolby digital works, but the software does. the BIOS probably knows how to route bits from card 1 to card 2, but it probably doesn't know 96/24 from 44/16 or anything else - that's the software's job.

hope this is helpful!

doody.

[This message has been edited by MrDoody (edited 10-31-2002).]