I think it might be too old for a 40G to run direct from the BIOS.
Here is what I found, (mixed in with a little of your info).
The good news is there IS a newer BIOS available, so
you can take your chances...

To find the info below, use Pentium and/or 586, then 5vd.
There is no direct link to the BIOS files that I could "extract"
from the WEB page I was on. (They are java scripts or active
server pages...)

2A59GS2GC-00 = Soyo SY 5vd2/d5
Pentium-MMX CPU @ 188Mhz
Award modular bios v4.51PG
Award plug and play bios extension v1.0A
07/21/97 i430vx-ite 8680   2A59GS2GC-00
Board/bios version VD-B5 soyo
chipset i430vx-ite 8680//intel triton-vx socket 7 based m/b

http://www.soyousa.com/manuals/586new/m5vd11.pdf

From TW site:
5VD BIOS files
file name: 5vd-b6.bin
checksum: 8D67
release date: 10/13/1998  BIOS revision: VD-B6
Changes: Supports booting from a ZIP IDE drive,
Identifies more CPUs and CD-ROM drives.

From US site:
5VD 1MB BIOS Files
file name: 5vd1BA1.bin
checksum: -release date: (11/20/98) BIOS Revision: VD-1BA1
Changes: BIOS revision is displayed in CYAN (light blue).
Fixed a CMOS checksum problem when using 4 ISA cards simultaneously.

While there, get the Award BIOS flash program, the flash instructions,
and see all the warnings, etc.

         Rick Glazier

From: "john upton" <[log in to unmask]>
>My PC will not detect a new hard drive (40gig).
>I gather it could be the bios that needs upgrading.
>Most of these things mean nothing to me I hope they do to you
>and you can offer some assistance in this matter.

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