BIOS update instructions.

[Jon]

After seeing a few more of these pop up over the past few weeks I went and dug up the little BIOS update guide I did a while back and revised it a bit. Those of you that know how to do it already may have your own methods and do it a little differently, but I felt this was the most straightforward and fail-safe method for someone doing it the first time.

1. Go to BootDisk.com (www.bootdisk.com) and download the Caldera Dr. DOS boot disk image. Run that program and make a boot floppy. The Dr. DOS boot disk is what I highly recommend over a standard Win95 or Win98 boot disk. It loads no drivers or other resident programs that could cause a hang during the update process. It's just a pure command-line environment.

2. Go to the manufacturer's website and obtain the BIOS update for your respective motherboard. They normally package this in a Zip format containing the BIOS file itself along with the flash utility needed to perform the upate. Others package it in an EXE format and you can run that to extract what you need. If the flash utility is not included, refer to the website as to what you need. All BIOS chips are not the same!

3. Copy the files in #2 to a seperate floppy (BIOS update and flash utility. Others may be included as well if it is done through a batch program).

4. This is not completely necessary but this is a fail-safe guide to flashing. Before restarting to the boot disk, enter the BIOS and remove any overclocking you may previously have had. Either set to default or underclock if necessary. We don't want anything that could cause a freeze up during the middle of the write process.

5. Restart your computer using the Dr. DOS boot disk. Once loaded, remove that disk and insert the floppy with the flash utility and BIOS update on it.

6. Run the flash utility from the command line by typing in its name. Example:

A:\>AWDFLASH <hit enter> (note: Some include a batch file called UPDATE.BAT, or similar, that will automate steps 7-11)

7. The flash utility should be started now. It will ask you the file you want to write. Type in your BIOS update name exactly as it is. Example:

Filename to Flash: BIOSUPDATENAME.BIN <hit enter>

8. It will now ask you if you want to back up your current BIOS. Say "Y" for yes and name it something like OLD.BIN.

9. After saving the BIOS it will confirm if you want to continue with the overwrite. Type "Y" for yes and it will begin the write process.

10. DO NOT REMOVE THE FLOPPY DISK, TURN OFF THE COMPUTER OR RESTART THE COMPUTER WHEN THE WRITE BEGINS UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE. You will hose your ROM chip.

11. After it is done it will tell you it was succesful and you can restart. After restarting, go into your BIOS and set everything to BIOS defaults or Optimized defaults, save and reboot (You could also just reset your CMOS jumper...that is the most recommended method. Just unplug the power source and set the CMOS jumper to the clear position. It should be in your manual as to where this jumper is and what position it should be in to short it).

12. After #11 reboot you can go into your BIOS and set your BIOS settings however you want and you're all done.

I hope this helps anyone new and afraid to flash for the first time. It can be a scary process but if done correctly and with patience, everything should go fine.

[repo man11]

Nicely done. For those who have more questions about BIOS, including bad flash recovery techniques such as hot swapping your BIOS chip, www.wimsbios.com is an excellent resource. Here (http://www.sysopt.com/articles/recoverbios/) is a guide to doing a bootblock flash, which can get you out of a jam if the flash goes wrong.
One more tip for beginners. If the flash utility tells you "file not found", and you realize that you got the name of the BIOS file wrong, exit the utility, and type in dir at the A: (A:dir). This will display the contents of the floppy, including the BIOS file. Write the name down, and restart the flash utility.
Ever wonder what some of those mysterious BIOS settings are? Lost Circuits has a BIOS settings explanation guide (http://www.lostcircuits.com/advice/bios2/1.shtml) . To help you understand how to get the most out of your computer.

Here is a listing of some of the many Awdflash keys:

/? - Help. Before you start working with Award Flash Memory Writer, it is advisable to use this key and to study carefully all the opportunities of this software.

/Py or /Pn - stands for answering "yes" (Y) or "no" (N) to the request concerning the BIOS reflashing. By means of /Pn you can ban FlashROM reprogramming. This option enables you to save the current version of the BIOS or to get its checksum without updating your BIOS. A backup copy will help you to restore the previous version of the BIOS. By default /Py mode is set.

/Sy or /Sn - stands for answering "yes" (Y) or "no" (N) to the request about saving the previous version of the BIOS. By default /Py mode is set again. In this case before reprogramming the FlashROM microchip you'll need to confirm saving by this request:

Do You Want To Save BIOS (Y/N)

/Sn is recommended to use for *.bat-files in case of automatic BIOS reflashing in systems without a display.

/CC - to clear CMOS after reflashing. This option comes in handy when there is a risk that the data arrays created by new BIOS version in CMOS may differ from those former ones. If so, then you are likely to have troubles with the mainboard startup. Clearing CMOS will let you avoid searching for Clear CMOS jumper on the board, which is really helpful if it isn't accompanied with a proper manual or is simply hard to access.

/CP - stands for clearing PnP (ESCD) Data matrix after BIOS reflashing. The information about PnP devices is stored in ESCD. The key /CP is an equivalent to Reset Configuration Data in PnP/PCI Configuration CMOS Setup. It makes sense to use /CP if you skip several versions of BIOS or if you have installed new PnP cards. If you don not update the ESCD, your board may suffer some startup problems.

/CD - stands for clearing DMI Data pool after reprogramming. Literally, DMI is a data base, containing all the information on the system as a whole. Clearing it may be fruitful in the above mentioned situations with /CP and /CC keys, as well as if some of the system components have been changed.

/SB - stands for no BootBlock reflashing. The BootBlock is the first unit to be addressed by startup and it is hardly ever changed. If the board manufacturer gives no other recommendations, there is no need to reflash BootBlock. In particular, if the BIOS reflashing fails, it may become impossible to restore the BIOS via software. On some mainboards there is a BootBlock Protection jumper. If protection is set, either you won't be able to reflash the BIOS without /SB at all or the system will face verification errors.
This setting has NOT been confirmed to work. It may or may not work on your motherboard. Use with caution. Thanks for the input Tmod.

/SD - stands for saving the data of DMI pool in a file. Part of DMI can be saved to be used by the software in future. Even though this key stands in the list, which is shown by /?, using it will bring no result. This key simply doesn't work.

/R - stands for the system reset after reflashing. It lets you have your computer restarted automatically as soon as you finish updating FlashROM. The option is useful for working through a *.bat-file.

/Tiny - stands for using less RAM. Without the /Tiny key, AwardFlash utility tries to put the entire BIOS file, which is intended for further reflashing, into RAM. Still, if have taken all the precautions but anyway you see a message saying "Insufficient Memory" during the BIOS reflashing procedure, then the key /Tiny should be used. It will make the data from the BIOS file loaded and reflashed in portions.

/E - stands for returning to DOS after BIOS reflashing. For instance, you may need it to make sure that the previous version of the BIOS is saved.

/F - stands for reprogramming by means of the system BIOS. Most contemporary BIOS's feature the procedure of FlashROM reprogramming. The key /F enables AwardFlash to reprogram FlashROM with the algorithms of the current BIOS version. If a mainboard peculiarities do not allow applying AwardFlash Writer algorithms, you should use the key /F.

/LD - stands for clearing CMOS after reflashing and not showing the message "Press F1 to continue or DEL to setup". Unlike /CC, this key lets you avoid this message by the following startup after clearing CMOS, provided you have set the properties by default.

/CKS - stands for showing the checksum of XXXXh file. The checksum is shown in hexadecimal representation. This option is advised to be used with the verification key.

/CKSxxxx - stands for comparing the checksum of the file with XXXXh. If the checksums are different, you'll see the message "The program file's part number does not match with your system!". As a rule, XXXXh for each BIOS update file is usually available on the mainboard manufacturer's site

/WB - Updates the BIOS Boot Block. This switch does not have to be used. The BIOS Boot Block will get updated with the flashing of the BIOS.
Thanks for the input Tmod

/CC = clear cmos data after programming

/CD = clear dmi data after programming

/CP = clear PnP (ESCD) data after programming

/R = reset system after programming

/PY = program flash memory

Here are some additional command line switches for the Award flashing program:

/? = show help menu

/SY = backup original BIOS to disk

/SB = skip bootblock programming

/TINY = occupy lesser memory

/E = return to DOS when programming is done

/F = use flash routines in original BIOS for flash programming

/LD = destroy cmos checksum and no system halt for first reboot after programming

/CKSxxxx = compare binfile checksum with xxxx

/CKS = show update binfile checksum

/PN = no flash programming

/SN = no original BIOS backup

/SD = save dmi data to file

/WB = flashes the BIOS Boot Block
http://www.cybertechhelp.com/html/tutorials/tutorial.php/id/65

I've recently read where /qi ( QI: Qualify flash part number with source file) can help you when you are doing a hotswap flash (credit goes to Artisan). Evidently it checks the part number against the BIOS file you want to program, and not the motherboard. If you're hotflashing a chip on another make and model of motherboard, this should prevent it from refusing to flash because of a part number mismatch.

Further update: Artisan PM'd me that the /qi switch may not be the magic bullet after all. So it seems the /f switch is still the switch to use for flashing mismatching BIOS files, as you sometimes do with a hotswap BIOS flash.

[Jon]

If you would, choose to edit your post, copy the contents and make that same reply over in the Intel section. It's a nice couple of links that can go hand-in-hand with this guide and want you to get your credit for sharing it.

[Yodums]

Might want to tell them not to use the Windows Updater (A program from your board manufacture to flash in Windows), very risky.

And add that if it fails, that to not reboot or anything, and try to reflash if that doesn't work try to leave the computer on and redownload the flash file etc.

Yodums

[Oni]

Just wanna drop this in:

If you hose your BIOS ROM chip, rather than RMAing your mobo, take a trip to www.badflash.com and see if they can help you, first.

[Yodums]

Woohoo, excellent guide, used this as a reminder yesterday to flash me bios ;)

[peece67]

Very good guide .....

My method is a lil different though

I use a win 98 startup disk - with no cd support
it loads virtual ram disk in C: (if using ntfs like I do)
then simply copy awdflsh.exe to c: (virtual disk)
then copy bios.# to C: (virtual disk)
then switch to C:
then type awdflsh bios.#

i found that every time I have ever had a problem flashing a bios was because of the floppy drive .... them damn things are so slow and such old tech its no wonder people have problems with bios flashing.

I have never had 1 problem doing it this way .... auto exec and bat files are dos but if you are not very sure of what to do you can screw things up ... this method is cut and dry no guessing involved.

[water_cooler 20]

i flashed one of my old pcs but i'm still scared to flash mine

[elva lover]

if u flash bios, u won't need to reinstall any drivers or reformat do you?

[repo man11]

Normally no, but there is a thread under Epox AMD motherboards where some people say they had to reinstall Windows when they updated to a certain BIOS (8K3A+&2815). I have that board, and I had no problems when I updated. But evidently it is a possibility.

[madsam]

ok, i was going to flash my bios as instructed by abit's website, then a concerned member here directed my to this bios-saving thread, and i would like to extend my thanks to all who have perticipated in this thread, because i just , successfully flashed my bios on my new at7-max2, and i am vey happy now.

[shadowdr]

another good idea is to keep the mobo manual handy.i have had two flashes to go bad.The first i tried the online flash utility by abit.That time I rebooted and had lost the number function on the key board so i could no longer type in the bios name.using another computer i had to rename the .bin to an all letter name and reflash.
the second time i have no idea what happend but i was using a modded bios that would not reflash using the awdflash and bios name.Consulting the manual i was still able to recover using the command line in the manual with all the switches.a:/ awdflash kt7_a9.bin /cc /cd /cp /py /sn /cks/r enter.i have no idea why it would work this way and not the other but it did flash and i was very happy.

[NO LIFE]

I have a question. In step #11 you said you could just reset your CMOS. Can you do that instead of a mobo flash or with a mobo flash??

[Sonny]

Originally posted by shadowdr
a:/ awdflash kt7_a9.bin /cc /cd /cp /py /sn /cks/r enter.i have no idea why it would work this way and not the other but it did flash and i was very happy.

Because you had the force flash switch. That's one I like to avoid.

[Drufus22]

I downloaded a bios flash from my motherboard manufacturer and they specifically say not to flash from a floppy disk. Should I heed this warning and is there any other way to flash?

[repo man11]

See Peece67's post above. I've never tried his method, but it sounds as though it would work.
If your motherboards manufacturer says not to flash from a floppy, surely they must have instructions on how they think you should do it?

[Drufus22]

yea, they do. They say to make a boot disk and flash from the hard drive. The problem is, for some reason when I get to the dos screen with the boot disk, I cannot access the c drive. I know I must be doing something stupid here.

[repo man11]

If you are using 2000 or XP with the NTFS file system, you won't be able to access the drive with a DOS bootdisk. That leaves Peece67's method, or the tried and true floppy disk method.

[Drufus22]

thanks, looks like I'll dance with the warning from MSI.

[IZON]

thanks

edit/ can the BIOS flash be done before the OS is loaded?

[Drufus22]

yes IZON, in fact it must be done before the os is loaded. It must be done from the command promt when booted up in MSDOS mode.

--Drew

[IZON]

cool

[Lazlo Panaflex]

wow http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/winFlash.html This program is Awesome. It is the easiest bios updating expierence ive ever had. long live WinFlash

[jobauer]

Thanks for the link Lazlo :)

it worked great here too... Soooo easy !!!

[Niloc]

Thanks for writing this. Very helpful. I might need to update my Bios, but Im some what scared of having it go wrong and messing up my chip... :(

[res0r9lm]

Originally posted by Niloc
Thanks for writing this. Very helpful. I might need to update my Bios, but Im some what scared of having it go wrong and messing up my chip... :(

Don't do it. I flashed my ak31 v3 last night with ak31s2ei and computer was very unstable even underclocked.

[Lazlo Panaflex]

Did u use winflash? If not what method did u use?

[res0r9lm]

I used ak31s2ei.exe it's a self extracting file that includes the flashing utility. I ran it from dos. I don't think shuttles method of flashing is the problem because I went back to old bios using same method and haven't had any issues.

[Damian]

Small correction: The "DR" in "DR-DOS" stands for "Digital Research" and not "Doctor".

[Lazlo Panaflex]

Originally posted by res0r9lm


Don't do it. I flashed my ak31 v3 last night with ak31s2ei and computer was very unstable even underclocked.

That satement is not helpfull to anyone, a lot of the time it is very helpful to have the latest bios, especially in overclocking. Dont make genralized statements like that especially when you probably did something wrong. Use winflash and you will not have any problems.

[res0r9lm]

Dude I don't know what your problem is but I think I know how to flash a bios and further more I followed shuttles instruction to a T. The way the bios is flashed in these boards is with a exe file it's impossible to screw up you just boot into dos and run the program and it takes care of the rest.

so what your saying is I should install windows to flash my bios. where's the Linflash

:mad:

[Damian]

The point is that just because it happened to you in one case on one board doesn't mean it'll happen to everyone. It could be pure coincidence too. Maybe your floppy/drive were corrputed?

I just flashed my BIOS two days ago. Nothing changed, but nothing became more unstable.

[res0r9lm]

Originally posted by Damian
The point is that just because it happened to you in one case on one board doesn't mean it'll happen to everyone. It could be pure coincidence too. Maybe your floppy/drive were corrputed?

I just flashed my BIOS two days ago. Nothing changed, but nothing became more unstable.

I used my hdd not floppy but anyway I think the problem might be narrowed to the type of tbred that is being used. I have an xp1800+ "A". if anyone wants to discuss this further there is a thread under shuttle boards the would be a better. http://forum.oc-forums.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=87316

[Wolfeinstein]

i have windows xp sp1 after i go on the website bootdisk.com where do i go to download that file?

first the win xp file would not fit on a floppy disk it is too big what do i do??

pls help

[Jarhead7236]

wolfenstein,
you need to download the DrDOS7x file...you can pick between 2 versions of it...with utilities or bios flashing - no drivers...here's the link:

www.bootdisk.com/donate.htm#lunch

[dropadrop]

One thing that could cause the stability problems mentioned above, is not resetting your bios after updating it. I've had stability problems with 3 motherboards after flashing the bios, but forgetting to revert to optimal settings. Every time I revert to optimal settings, the stability problems have vanished.

[SITEOD]

I was trying to use that WinFlash but after I downloaded it nd tryed to run it it keeps giving me an error and closing. Is it just my comp or is there something wrong with the file itself? And yes I have tried redownloading the file.

Thanks

[Junglebizz]

After updating the bios on my Epox 8RDA+, the internal speaker beeped loudly about 3 or 4 times. Also, there was a section on the rom display that it didn't copy over, i assume that's normal, but is the beep telling me that all went well?

[Luie]

WOW!
Thanks for recommending WinFlash! :D
I used it and flash my Shuttle AK31A with the (new?) EJ BIOS.
It worked so smoothly. I was surprised! And it was done in Windows too!

^_^ Flashing BIOS never had been so much easier.
(The last time I flashed BIOS was it's E9 version. It was very troublesome + I ended up taking the ROM chip to the pros to reflash it because I did a fatal mistake. Cost HK$60...(~US$7.60)lol.)

[gibletzor]

When you use WinFlash, do you still need to reset the cmos like you say to do if you flash it the other way? or just let it reboot like it says in that guide on the site?

[thinksnow]

Jon
8. It will now ask you if you want to back up your current BIOS. Say "Y" for yes and name it something like OLD.BIN.
Could I just go through to this step to extract a copy of my mutant rev 1009 BIOS on my A7N8X-X (http://www.ocforums.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=281497)? I really want someone to take a look at this thing and let me know what's going on!

[M4D]

To be honest i don't like windows flashing :rolleyes:
Too much of a risk if you ask me ...

I prefer to edit the batch file that comes with abit bios's
and put just a few more switches into it so that it makes
it easier/automated and also flashes all the essential bios parts ...

Clear pnp and dmi pool end it with a -r and your away
and flashing/flashed even :D

[topslop1]

I just did a Windows flash that turned out messy. I'm getting no video now but I'm still booting up and not hearing and errors or noise from the speaker. I figure that I'm going to have to try to flash my bios the oldschool way with a floppy - that is if I can get some damn video working.

[alinosa]

if i have an awdflash option while booting (hit alt-f2 for awdflash) do i do the same as with a floppy but without having awdlfash on the floppy?

[repo man11]

With a motherboard that has a built in BIOS flash utility, you simply need a formatted floppy that has the BIOS file on it. Be sure to use any additional commands that the manufacturer recommends. See my initial post in this sticky if you are curious about what the Awardflash commands mean.

[alinosa]

thnz a lot, i was kinda worried, never flashed a dfi mobo before

[obsolete]

Wonderful guide guys. Thanks all for putting it together. ;)

awdflash "biosname.bin" /cc /cd /cp /py /sn /cks /r /tiny is the absolute best command for reprogramming everything. Had to do this to overwrite a DFI bios to NF7. Bios is locked & without /tiny, it's a no go. :D

[T1Cybernetic]

To be honest i don't like windows flashing :rolleyes:
Too much of a risk if you ask me ...

I prefer to edit the batch file that comes with abit bios's
and put just a few more switches into it so that it makes
it easier/automated and also flashes all the essential bios parts ...

Clear pnp and dmi pool end it with a -r and your away
and flashing/flashed even :D

I was just going to reply and i noticed i already posted here before i changed
my nickname, :p so i wont bother to reply but just quote my original post, :D.

[ochungry]

Thank you very much Jon and Repo, very well written guide+very helpfull links. :)

[flagship]

Does it have to be a floppy? Can it be a cd?

[RotKT]

thanks