I have a ECS 741gx-m system board in a system build by Fry's and I need to update the BIOS so I can load Windows/XP. Can this be done. Curtis

Short answer: Yes.

Long answer:
First off you will need to have a computer with a working floppy drive as well as a working floppy drive in the computer that you will be updating. Once you have this you can update the BIOS by going to the manufacturers website, clicking on the Download tab under the picture and then on BIOS under the tabs. Read all the instructions that are available to you before actually updating including this PDF for using the flash update utility.

If you don't have a working floppy drive than you can still update if you already have Windows 98 or ME installed. Follow the instructions in this PDF, instead of the one above, and you should then be able to update the BIOS.

After you have updated the BIOS you will want to change the boot order listed in the BIOS so that you can boot the Windows XP CD-ROM. To do this start pressing the DEL key, you don't have to hammer on it just press it slowly, until you see a blue screen with a table in three sections with the top two containing about 13 choices. Use the arrow keys to highlight Advanced BIOS Features than press enter. You should then see a whole list of settings. Look for the three settings labeled First Boot Device, Second Boot Device, and Third Boot Device. Change each one by first highlighting it by using the arrow keys than by pressing either the +/- keys or the PGUP/PGDN keys. You should set them so that they show the following:
First Boot Device [CDROM]
Second Boot Device [Floppy]
Third Boot Device [HDD-0]
After you finish changing them press the ESC key then the F10 key. You will be asked if you want to save your changes, press the Y key to save your changes and exit the BIOS setup.

Now that everything is set you can insert the Windows XP CD-ROM and install.