Specifications

Chapter 4 BIOS Setup
ReadyBoard 800 Reference Manual 73
Use the following steps to convert and load your custom image onto the ReadyBoard 800.
1. Copy the files from the CD-ROM\Software\Misc\Splash directory on the CD-ROM to a new
directory (conversion directory) on your PC.
This new conversion directory is where you intend to do the conversion and save the file.
2. Ensure you remove the read-only attributes from all the files as part of the file copying process.
3. Copy the ReadyBoard 800 BIOS binary file (rb800.bin) to the new conversion directory on your
PC where the other files and utilities are located.
If this file is not on the ReadyBoard 800 Doc & SW CD-ROM, you will have to obtain it from Ampro.
NOTE Ampro recommends keeping a copy of this original rb800.bin file,
just in case you encounter problems with your new file or have
difficulty updating the BIOS with the new image.
4. Prepare your custom image file with any Windows bitmap software editing tool.
♦ For example, Corel Photo-Paint, Adobe Photoshop, or the Windows Paint program provided
with Windows. You can insert a desired graphic image, logo, text, etc. into the file.
♦ The custom image must be a bitmap image in .bmp format at 640x480 pixels and it must be
16 colors. The file should be about 150 bytes uncompressed. Refer to the example file
splash.bmp.
5. Save your custom image file as splash.bmp at 640x480 pixels by 16 colors.
♦ If your custom image file is not approximately 150 kbytes uncompressed in size it is probably
not in the right format or is too complex to be used in the BIOS. You will have to edit it
down in size until you have reached an acceptable file size. Refer to the example splash.bmp.
♦ If you are doubtful about the conversion process, due to the file size, Ampro recommends
making a copy of your new splash.bmp, so that you can edit it later if the conversion does not
yield a small enough file. Otherwise, you may have to re-create your custom image before
you can edit it down to an acceptable file size.
6. If your custom image file is not on the conversion PC, copy the new splash.bmp file to the
conversion directory.
7. Run the following command from DOS, or a Windows DOS pop-up screen to convert your new
splash.bmp file.
C:\splash>convert convert.idf
This conversion should yield a splash.rle file of approximately 5 kbytes in size or less, depending
on the complexity of your image.
8. If the splash.rle file size is greater than 5 kbytes, go back to the unconverted image file and edit
the file.
You may reduce the file size of the converted image (splash.rle) by reducing the image’s complexity.
9. Run the following command to merge the converted image with the BIOS binary file.
C:\splash>resplash rb800.bin splash.rle rb800n.bin
This creates a new BIOS named rb800n.bin, which has the new splash image. Rename the new
BIOS file rb800n.bin to rb800.bin before using it to update the ReadyBoard 800.
10. Copy the files update.bat, aflash.exe, and the renamed rb800.bin to a DOS boot floppy.
11. Boot the ReadyBoard 800 from the floppy and run update.bat.
12. Cycle the power to the ReadyBoard 800 and enter BIOS Setup to enable the splash screen.