MB fashing help!

[dorth]

Hi,
I really need some info on how to safely flash my bios. Currently, my celeron cpu is not detected by my bios even tho the documentation states that it supports celeron 400a cpu. I have heard terrible things about flashing the bios. I f anyone knows where I can find very specific instruction on how to flash a bios (yes I am very newbie at this) I would really be thankful.

[LJE2]

What type of Mobo, What brand is the BIOS, (Award, AMI, ect.)?

[dorth]

MB is a qdi p61440ex excellent 1 and the bios is award. I went to the qdi website and they have instructions on how to do the flash but it seems like it was translated from another language and seems to missing certain grammaticle rules that make it (at least for me) hard to understand with certainty.

[LJE2]

This is a copy of how to flash an Award BIOS from the Abit motherboard site, it will be the same for your motherboard, except you will need to get the Binary file for the BIOS for your motherboard,

How do I update the Award BIOS?

1.In order to flash update the BIOS, you will need 2 files:
1) the BIOS binary file,
2) the AWDFLASH.EXE utility file.
2.Create a directory or folder in the C drive: and name it
BIOS
3.Download the BIOS file you need i.e. BH6GY.EXE, and
download the AWDFLASH.EXE into the new BIOS
directory. (the latest revision always covers the updates
from previous revisions so you don't need to
"step-upgrade!")
4.Execute the BIOS file, then it will automatically
self-decompress into a binary file, i.e. BH6_GY.BIN. You
can execute the file by double clicking it inside Windows
Explorer, or run it under DOS.
5.Take a piece of paper and write down AWDFLASH.EXE
and the name of the BIOS binary file.
6.Shut down your computer properly, then turn it off.
7.Restart your computer, press the Delete key to go into the
BIOS and DISABLE the following:
1. CPU internal Cache
2. CPU External Cache
3. Video BIOS Cacheable
4. System BIOS Cacheable
5. Video BIOS Shadow
Please save it and exit the BIOS.
8.Restart the computer, press down Ctrl + F5, just before
Windows booting up, for a clean boot, you will get the
message "Windows is bypassing all your startup files" and
you end up at the DOS prompt.
9.Type in "cd BIOS" to go into your newly created directory.
10.Type AWDFLASH newbios.bin /py /cc /sn /cd, where
newbios.bin is the file name for the BIOS binary file you
want your BIOS to upgrade to.
11.For example, updating BH6 (bh6_gy.bin), you would type:
AWDFLASH bh6_gy.bin /py /cc /sn /cd
12.After the flash update is completed, please do the
following:
1. Reset your CMOS with the jumper (the detail instruction
is inside the manual).
2. Go into the BIOS settings, then choose Load the Setup
Default
3. Go into CPU Soft MenuTM to adjust your CPU speed
and PLEASE make sure the default voltage is proper for
your CPU
4. Save and Exit.

Note: You should check which .bin file is to be
used with your motherboard, don¡¦t flash with the
wrong .bin file. Otherwise, you may cause system
malfunctions. Even the same model¡¦s BIOS, according its
release date and according to which problems are fixed,
can also have different .bin names. Please read the BIOS
file description before you download it.

Example 1: To update the BIOS and create a backup of
the current system BIOS execute this command:
AWDFLASH NEWBIOS /PY SAVEBIOS /SY

Example 2: To update the BIOS, create a backup of
current system BIOS, and clear the CMOS, execute this
command:
AWDFLASH NEWBIOS SAVEBIOS /CC

Example 3: To update the BIOS and clear PnP settings
execute this command:
AWDFLASH NEWBIOS /SN /CP

Example 4: To make a backup of the current system
BIOS execute the following command:
AWDFLASH NEWBIOS /PN SAVEBIOS

Note:
"NEWBIOS" indicates the file name for the new BIOS
which can be downloaded from our web site at
http://www.abit-usa.com (the user can choose a different
file name in place of NEWBIOS). ¡§SAVEBIOS¡¨ indicates
the filename of the old system BIOS (the user can choose
a different file name in place of SAVEBIOS).

Remarks:
1. When executing AWDFLASH.EXE, do not run
HIMEM.SYS and EMM386.EXE in the CONFIG.SYS. You
can check to see if you are running any memory
management programs by typing MEM /c or MEM /d
under the command line.
2. Please take the following actions to solve problems
caused by power shortage or other non-preventable
malfunctions during BIOS updating that lead to update
failure. First, it is strongly suggested that you format a disk
that can boot your computer before you update your BIOS.
If the above mentioned problem occurs during BIOS
update you will be able to use this disk to automatically
execute a BIOS updating. The content of the disk should
be the following:
(1) Startup system files (COMMAND.COM, MSDOS.SYS,
IO.SYS ...)
(2) AWDFLSH.EXE
(3) The NEWBIOS file which can be download from
ABIT web site.
(4) AUTOEXEC.BAT, which has the following content:
A:\AWDFLASH NEWBIOS /PY /SN /CC /CD
For example, to update the BH6 BIOS version to GY
(BH6_GY.BIN), you need to type:
A:\AWDFLASH BH6_GY.BIN /PY /SN /CC /CD
3. If you try to flash a version of BIOS that is for the
incorrect motherboard model the following message will
appear:
"The program file's part number does not match with
your system!"
Explanation of parameter names:
/CC: Clears CMOS data
/CP: Clears PnP data
/CD: Clears DMI data

I would suggest using the method towards the bottom of the explanation that has you using the boot disk that also contains the Award Flash program, and the Binary file for your BIOS, and make the necessary changes in the autoexec.bat on this boot disk, if you are unsure, don't do it, if you screw up your computer won't boot.

[dorth]

Holy Freaks!

This is like the bible of flashing bios! Ill have to soak this up first, there is so much I could screw up that ill need to psych myself up to do it. Thanks a hell of a lot!