Another Guy Who Can't Flash (his bios)

[Dan]

The board is an EPoX 8K7A+; my OS is Win2K. I downloaded the lasted bios to a floppy and unzipped it. As the system boots I hit the Alt-F2 keys to start the bios flashing process. The process begins, correctly identifies the *.bin file and then just seems to sit there. Nothing happens after that. The mouse and/or keyboard don't work so I can't alter anything. Although it warns not to turn the system off or reboot I have no recourse but to reset. When I do the system reboots and everything is fine, albiet I still have the old bios.

I tried this with bios caching "enabled" and "disabled" but changing the setting didn't effect the outcome.

I must be missing something but I'll be darned if I know what.

 

[CraigRT]

Bump for ya.. have you tried looking around the net at all on this??
I'm sure there is an answer at least, maybe not a solution but at least an answer so you can know what is going on with your sys...
Keep looking around, you'll find some sort of answer!

 

[Dan]

No, I haven't tried searching the Net yet. In fact, I suppose I could always try EPoX's tech support. You guys here are always my first resource though. (Over time I've found that I get more accurate information here -- and I get it a whole lot quicker too!)

 

[Buz2b]

I found something for you that might help. This was from another Forum on Epox boards, specifically the 8K7A. First, verify that BIOS shadowing is disabled. Also listed is make sure you "disabled Virus Protection in BIOS". They also mention clearing the CMOS after flashing the BIOS. Never heard of doing that before but what the heck, not hard to do. You should do that before flashing anyway. Last but not least was a post in answer to someone who was having the exact problem you are; nothing happening for a long period and no flash taking place. Here is the exact quote that was the answer to his problem:
"You should copy all the bios files from the zip extract onto a blank floppy. In the first initial seconds after cold boot, you should see a prompt (i think it is F2 or alt-F2) to flash new bios. The entire flash process was entirely automatic from there. This is quite different from other flashing I have done in the past where you had to boot to an a: prompt, type awdflash.exe, and then the name of the bin file. This epox flash method was totally automatic with that F2 command after cold boot..
The keystroke in question is alt+F2. I take it there will be a prompt for you to do this or you should do it at Post. Key point also is that there should be nothing on the disk but the extracted files from the zip. You said before that you downloaded to a floppy and extracted. Don't do that. Download to the HDD, then extract to the floppy. Only the extracted files on the floppy. Good luck and LMK how it goes.

 

[Dan]

Thanks for the suggestions. Just for the heck of it I cleared my CMOS and downloaded another copy of the updated bios to my HDD. I then extracted that to a freshly formatted floppy. Virus protection and Bios shadowing are disabled in the bios. After that I started up again and, as before, used the Alt-F2 keys. And, as before, the results were the same, i.e., nada.

I get the menu from which point everything should be automatic. It tells me it is "programming flash memory" and identifies the file to program as "8K7A1824.bin" which is indeed the correct file. The cursor is blinking in the last box of the progress bar. However the bar itself remains the original dark gray color. A key below that informs me as follows: white = Write OK; blue = No Update; red = Write Fail. As I said, the bar doesn't show any of those colors.

I've let it sit as long as 5 minutes before resetting the system. (I've done this enough times in my day to know it only takes seconds to flash a bios.) Each time I've reset my computer and it's been as if nothing happened. (So at least my attempts aren't causing any harm.)

As I said up above:

<< I must be missing something but I'll be darned if I know what. >>

:|

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Perhaps the EEPROM is damaged?

 

[Dan]

This is a relatively new board (I've used it for about 5 weeks.) So far I've only found one other glitch with it: the board's connection for the power LED doesn't seem to work.

 

[phatstyl]

on my iwill kk266r there is an option in the bios that bios eeprom and the options are flashable or non-flashable. I think this is like a safety, so that you dont flash it by mistake, the first time i tried to flash my bios and the option was non flashable it wouldnt let me change it. (no idea how that would happen but...) Maybe there is a similar option in your bios? just an idea, throwing it out ther efor ya just in case. Best of luck to ya

 

[Sniper82]

at the end of the BIOS file on the floppy right click and rename it(but don't rename it just put a .bin at the end and hit enter)

Might help might not but just a suggestion. I am getting a source file not found error on my 8KTA3 which is pi**ing me off.

 

[Sniper82]

Yipppeee I got mine to update. Try going into dos and typeing C: the when you get to your C: type format A:/S and put the floppy you want to add the BIOS files to after doing this go back into windows and put the BIOS files on it. Also at the end of the main BIN file put .bin because for some reason it locks up in AWDFLASH if I don't do this.

 

[Adul]

try running the dos version of the bios update program then.

 

[Dan]

Tell me how to do that with Win2K and I'll be all over it.

 

[Sniper82]

I did mine at the BIOS POST. Anyway Dan if you have a Win98SE/Win95 boot disc boot it to dos with either. When it asks if you want CD-Rom support or none CD-Rom support just go to none and wait. Type UPDATE or whatever you have to with your mobo model.

If all else fails try what I said for some reason after formating it in dos useing FORMAT A:/S it worked great. The /S must add system files or something I have no clue.

 

[Dan]

Maybe I'm just not understanding some element of Win2K or something. Naturally, I've tried Boot Disks from other flavors of Windows (95, 98SE, ME) but in each instance I get an error message that it's the wrong I/O, replace the disk, press enter, etc.

I've also gone to the command line via Run in Win2K and tried the FORMAT A:/S command. While I can do a FORMAT A:, I get an error message that the /S switch isn't recognized.

Edit: I forgot to add that I also disabled everything having to do with Norton Antivirus, just in case that was preventing me from altering the bios.

Who'd have thought an "automated" process would be such a pain in the @ss?

 

[Sniper82]

thats either your floppy drive or floppys. Are the retail boot disks or homeaid?

 

[Buz2b]

OK, I guess I tried. I'll let you do the reading on this. There is a really good source here. That is where I got most of the exerpts I was giving you. Many more here. Just do a search for Win2K and BIOS. Probably find more ideas. Sorry I couldn't do more but Win2K is not my cup of tea.

 

[Slaimus]

Dan: /S is disabled in WinME. Use make emergency disk, unzip the bios and awdflash there(if there isn't enough space, delete the cab file), and boot with the disk with minimal boot option.

 

[zayened]

for WinME, after making the boot disk, just delete autoexec.bat and you should be set.

 

[Dan]

I use Windows 2000.

 

[Buz2b]

Just go to the ECS K7S5A FAQ on the other site. In there you'll find instructions or links on creating boot disks and flashing BIOS.

 

[Dan]

Buz2b: Thanks for a yeoman's effort on this. I really appreciate your help.

 

[Buz2b]

<< Buz2b: Thanks for a yeoman's effort on this. I really appreciate your help. >>

Thank you for the kind remarks. I only hope you are able to find the answer to your troubles.