Abit KR7A-133 Raid - Newbie Bios upgrading help. Edited

[powerMarkymark]

Hello all,

I read this in another thread and I have the same problem, no readings on the chassis fan.

Well, that problem is now fixed! The BIOS version that was originally installed on my motherboard turned out to be buggy. It was version 6N, dated 12/25/2001, that was the first BIOS revision that shipped with the KR7A-133. Also, it failed to display the chassis fan speed no matter what connector I had tried. Both problems have been fixed by updating my motherboard's BIOS version to 7G (the newest released BIOS version). I still had to whip out my backup LS-120 drive to flash-update the BIOS. But afterwards, the KR7A's floppy controller works correctly! And now I'm getting an RPM reading on the chassis fan (and not just the CPU fan)! WOOHOO!!!

Q1-How can I tell which Bios version I have? (Big Bertha Rig w/WinXP and Fat32)

Q2-Where to get Bios upgrade? (got it)

Q3-How do I "Flash" a bios?

Q4- What are the precautions one should take before attempting the Bios upgrade?

Thx.

 

[cr4pz0r]

Here are the answers to Q1 and Q2:

Q1 - Look at the string on the bottom-left of the screen when you boot up your system, before Windows (or any other OS) actually starts. The BIOS build date is at the very beginning of that string; the BIOS version is at the very end of that string.

Q2 - Here is where to get the BIOS update:

KR7A-133/KR7A-133R BIOS Updates

And, if you are running Windows XP or Windows 2000 with your HD formatted with NTFS, you must make a DOS floppy boot disk and then copy all of the BIOS files (after extracting the BIOS executable file) onto the boot floppy.

 

[SilverBack]

Hi,

1. The bottom left of the screen as you boot. When the system is doing the memory check and verifying the drives.
2.Newest BIOS from Abit
3. Flashing a BIOS can be hazordous to your system if it doesn't complete or if you don't follow directions.
With that said. Most people will boot to a Windows system disk. And Flash the BIOS there.
It is possible and to me preferred to Hit F8 at boot and flash my BIOS from my hardisk after hitting command prompt only.
Abit has made the new BIOS's easier than ever by including the flash utility and a BAT file for installing with the download. Just run the exe to the place you want to flash from. If doing from a hard disk you must have FAT32 installed as the format from your drive. ( Win 98, SE and both Win2000 and XP . NTFS drives will not work. )
Change directorys to where you stored the new BIOS and Flash utility and run the runme.bat ( you must do this without device drivers installed, you have been warned! )
4. Always run flashs with no device drivers installed, do not exit the flash utility until you are sure it has completed. Do not attempt a flash during a thunderstorm LOL
A power outtage at the wrong time could REALLY be bad

SilverBack

 

[tazdevl]

FYI many folks (myself included) seem to be having problems with the 7G BIOS. I have an Audigy, never had popping, cracking or looping with crashes... when I flashed to 7G I did. While I like the fact that the BIOS registers all fan RPMS (6N didn't), has an added temp shutdown options and the RAID chip is disabled if there is no devices present... the instabilities have forced me back to 6N where I have no problems.

Silverback must be on crack... always flash BIOS from DOS... not from F8. Doesn't matter what happens, if you tank a BIOS flash, you need a new chip. The only way you can prevent a problem is to buy a BIOS Savior (PCMods) which is an additional eprom you plug into your board. It allows you to save the original BIOS and flash the other chip... if there is a problem, just flash back with the other prom or run the comp off it.

1)To flash BIOS... get a floppy, smack it into the comp and right click on your A drive.
2) Select the option to make a boot disk/MSDOS
3) Click format
4) Add the BIOS file to the disk.
5) download AWDflash utility from Abit and put it on the disk
6) reboot comp with floppy (be sure to note the name of the new bios file)
7) type runme or awdflash, be sure to save the previous version just in case the new one doesn't work

You're done. Might have to plug in your USB keyboard in the PS2 port, hit delete after the comp reboots and set up your new BIOS. Hit F10 and you're ready to roll.

 

[SilverBack]

Tazdevl
Is on crack, duh.
Many people don't have floppy drives anymore, myself included, flashing from a command prompt with no drivers loaded is actually safer than using a diskette.
Diskettes fail, I have had read problems before flashing from a floppy drive. Is this a normal occurrance? No it isn't, however it has happened. If your hard drive fails during a flash your system was hosed to begin with.

 

[tazdevl]

All drives fail at one point or another. What's your point? If you have an IBM hard drive it probably fails more than a floppy.

Simply put, you want a little overhead as possible when flashing BIOS. Running in DOS achieves that goal... running from the command prompt doesn't.

If you don't have a floppy anymore get a CDRW with Rainier support, but DOS is still the way to go with BIOS updates. If things were otherwise... don't you think most of the motherboard manufacturers would have gotten rid of their DOS flash utilities by now?

 

[dunkster]

I installed a BIOS Savior chip yesterday, and installed the 7G BIOS to the auxiliary BIOS chip.

Kind of a trip to be able to select either of two BIOS revs (original 6G on the Abit BIOS chip).

For $29.26 shipped (Multiwave), it's great convenience for BIOS-testing and good insurance against BIOS failures. Good instructions provided and an easy 5-minute install.

 

[powerMarkymark]

Thanks everyone for your input.