BIOS upgrade Question

[jkac123]

I am looking for some solid advice on upgradeing the bios in all my PC'S. I am a little scared to mess things up! I have found updates for all of them, however I am not sure how to do it? Is flashing the same as upgradeing? After I download it, what do I do then?

[NDC]

Look here for step by step instruction:

http://pub51.ezboard.com/fxtreme89487frm15.showMessage?topicID=26.topic

[jkac123]

After reading the Xtreme bios guide lines {referring to last post} I am concerned because the bottom line says it is a one time deal! I cant afford to screw up. Can I make a back up of the original bios settings?

[NDC]

I don't mean to scare you, but having a backup of the previous BIOS is no help if you can't get the system to post after a bad flash since your system can't boot from anything. Not even a floppy disk.

But flashing the BIOS isn't as difficult as you think. Just follow the instructions and you'll be fine. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[jkac123]

NDC,

OK, just for the sake of conversation lets say I do loose everything and find I cant boot up! What would I do then? How do you fix it from there? And thanks for your replys!

[ragtop]

When it comes to BIOS updates, the rule of thumb is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".

If your computer is working fine, then don't risk a BIOS flash. If you need the BIOS update to correct a problem you are having, or to add some new functionality that you need, then by all means go ahead.

There are a couple different options for trying to recover from a bad BIOS flash - none of them are very promising. (some boards have a BIOS recovery routine that you can perform, but its kind of tricky; sometimes you can do a "hot swap" and reflash the bad chip, but you need an identical motherboard - and you risk trashing both of them if something goes wrong; and some MB companies will send you a new BIOS chip - for a price)

It seems like the most common way to recover from a bad BIOS flash is to buy a new motherboard (like maybe a Gigabyte, or one of the others that use a dual BIOS setup, so you won't have the same problem again http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

[RenaissanceMan]

When to flash your bios



A BIOS upgrade will usually contain one or more of the following: additional BIOS features, fixes for various bugs and/or compatibility problems, and additional CPU support. The newest BIOS upgrade will always contain the fixes from earlier revisions (so you do not need to flash every BIOS revision between your current revision and the latest revision). However, if your system is working without problems or conflicts, then it isn’t recommended that you flash your BIOS. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it! Trying to fix a working system might result in a non-working one.

How to determine your Bios revision



Boot the system. During the memory count, look for a line like #401A0=XXXX. It should be the third line from the top of the screen. The XXXX (the last four numbers in the sequence after the dash) are your BIOS revision. For example: #401A0-0202 would mean that you have BIOS revision 0202.



Instructions



To flash the Bios, you will need a utility like aflash.zip (in zipped format). Download this as well as the Bios update for your system, you should be able to find this from your motherboard manufacture or some other source such as a FTP:// or BBS.

Upon first use of a computer system:

Create a bootable system disk by typing format A:/s from the DOS prompt without creating "autoexec.bat and Config.sys" files.
Copy Aflash.exe to your new diskette.
Run Aflash.exe from your new diskette and select option "Save current bios to file. And enter a filename to save : (Current file)
Updating Bios procedures (only when necessary):

Important: Flash memory type maybe unknown, if unknown is displayed after "flash Memory:" then this ROM chip is not programmable or not supported with the pnp bios and therefore cannot be programmed by the flash memory writer.

Download an updated Bios file from the internet (WWW),FTP, or a BBS and save to the diskette you
Created above.

Boot from the floppy diskette you created above.
At the A:\ prompt, type: aflash and then press the enter key
Enter "update bios including boot block and escd from the main menu.
The program displays a second screen prompting you for the name of the bios file. Type in the complete file name and extension of the new bios, and thin press the enter key. The utility then uploads the bios file from disk.
Warning: if you encounter problems while downloading the new bios, do not turn off your system since thismight prevent your system from booting up. Just repeat the process and if the problem still persists, upload the original bios file you saved to disk above. If the flash memory writer utility was not able to successfully download a complete bios file, your system may not be able to boot up. If this happens, your system will need service from your vendor.

After successfully downloading the new bios file exit the flash meomory writer utility and then turn
Off your system.

Turn on you computer and hold down the key specified to enter your bios setup. You must select
Setup default to affect the new bios then you may set other items from the main menu.

[Nixona]

You drop the Motherboard company an email and they will usually send you a new bios chip you throw into the motherboard. I think it's somewhere between $10-15. If they are the same motherboard there is a method of swapping the chips, I'm not quite sure how it's done, but it works too.

[jkac123]

As far as the rule of thumb goes, if its not broke dont fix it, Well my HP says do not install WIN ME without the latest BIOS update! Well that is to late. I have been running it for a couple months now. There have been some whacky events I have noticed that I did not see on WIN 98. I really think it would be best to update seeing how HP recomends it at there web site. Still I do not want to make a installation mistake!

[Mitchell]

There are very legitimate reasons to flash a BIOS. Just about every other person before me has stated that "If it ain't broke, don’t fix it", and I would have to agree. I build about 30 PC's a week, and have flashed well over 300 systems. About 10% of these fail. The primary reason they fail is MY fault. Here are some pointers:

1) Just because the BIOS string on the first POST screen shows an old date should not be your primary reason to flash. AND just because the mobo manuf POSTS and new BIOS should not be your primary reason to flash. It IS however always a good idea to check the mobo manuf web site for an update and BE SURE TO READ WHAT THE BIOS REVISION FIXES! If the problem it fixes is NOT what you are experiencing - leave it alone. I have 15 computers running in my "test lab" in my house, all with different mobos from expensive ABIT's to garbage like PCChips. Most of them have BIOS dates of 10/97 OR EARLIER. For those that flash just because the mobo posts a new BIOS, well that's just a waste of time. Be sure you have a REASON to flash.

2) So let's say you have checked and there is a more updated BIOS posted, AND you have checked and found that the REASON FOR THE REVISION is something you are experiencing, AND you REALLY feel you HAVE to flash, be sure that you get the RIGHT BIOS for your mobo. BE AWARE: Award has TWO FLASH UTILITIES - not just one. Research and make sure you find the proper UTILITY AND .BIN FILE for your mobo.

3) You will be asked if you want to "save" your BIOS. Don't bother. If you blow it and the .bin file is wrong, you lose power, or you just plain screw up, then having a "copy" of the BIOS will not help. In this case, congrats! You have just lobotomized your system.

4) If you DO put your system into a permanent coma, call the mobo manuf. They usually are pretty good about sending out a new BIOS. $15 I think, maybe plus shipping. Stay away from the Internet Companies that sell BIOS - like Dr. BIOS, and the like. They will charge you upwards of $50 for a chip. If you have that kind of money to blow, email ME and I’LL SELL YOU THE CHIP! hahaha

5) If you DO blow the flash, and you DO get a new chip, be sure to look for PIN 1 on the BIOS and re-insert the chip the proper way. Also, BE SURE NOT TO TOUCH THE PINS! Nothing is more irritating that to get a new BIOS, and then blow the new BIOS because the ESD (static) fried the chip.

All this sounds "scary" for a first-timer, and for first-timers it probably should. But remember you're only a first-timer once. If you do this for a profession (ugh) like some of us - go for it. You can't call yourself a "pro" until you've blown a few. For those that "have never blown a BIOS", well, we all have lucky streaks. Again, I'm about 90%, and I do A LOT OF SYSTEMS.

If this is your own system, and don't have either a replacement mobo, or don’t want to try and figure out how to speak english/oriental when you call the mobo tech support, then you need to figure out if you REALLY need to flash. Chances are that you don’t.


I’m curious, WHY do you think you HAVE to flash?


[This message has been edited by Mitchell (edited 04-19-2001).]

[rhino49]

saving the old bios can help sometimes

I recently tried flashing my daughter's FIC VIA 503+. Everything was OK except when accessing PCI modem the system would reset. After 2 hours of trying to fix it by moving the card, reinstalling modem drivers, via irq steering system drivers etc, I flashed back to the saved .bin file. This fixed the problem until I have more time to fool with it.

I also had a weird experience flashing an Abit BH6. Booting up after the flash, I got the message "CMOS checksum error". I don't recall if I was offered a choice, but system defaults were restored. Now on boot the vga screen was scrambled. It would continue and launch into a nonscrambled but very unstable Windows. I couldn't fix the CMOS because the screen was too scrambled. I solved this by removing AGP video card and using an old PCI video card - this fixed the vga so I could access bios screens. One item I changed was a PCI/AGP video choice (possibly the culprit).Then I shut down, swapped AGP back and all was OK. I think I needed to access bios right after cmos defaults were restored before they were saved.