My P5N-E SLI board has suffered the startup problems since I updated the BIOS from a very old 0202 to 0608 in Windows. The procedure described below seems to have solved the issue.
http://www.lejabeach.com/Guide/awardbios.html
I used the command line:
A:\AWDFLASH P5NESLI.BIN /py /sn /wb /cc /cp /cd
UPDATE: I am not sure if the spaces between the switches are relevant, but decided to put them in anyway.
The only problem is that I renamed the 0608 file to P5NESLI.BIN in Windows. When I tried to use the AWDFLASH, it gave me an error "File not found".
I ran: A:\dir command, and it showed me the files AWDFLASH EXE and P5NES~2 BIN.
I used the "rename" command in DOS:
A:\ren P5NES~2.BIN P5NESLI.BIN
After that all went smoothly.
Why is it important to use that utility with the old-style floppy drive...? Because it has all these switches! Read what they do:
/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.
I hope that it using AWDFLASH has solved my startup problem, as described above. Haven't suffered the boot failure since yesterday, but only time will tell...
And for those who do not have a Floppy Drive - I would strongly recommend getting one!
The modern motherboards are a combination of the OLD and the NEW. Working with BIOS and the BIOS chips is a part of the old technology alive for probably 20 years or more. Unless/until that philosophy and approach changes, we will be "stuck' in that weird combination of the antiquated floppies with modern SSD's.
But... perhaps someone knows a "work around" with the CD Drive, or a USB drive...?
UPDATE: Apparently the procedure is basically same with other BIOS', too:
http://www.lejabeach.com/rhcf/biosguide.htm
http://www.lejabeach.com/Guide/awardbios.html
I used the command line:
A:\AWDFLASH P5NESLI.BIN /py /sn /wb /cc /cp /cd
UPDATE: I am not sure if the spaces between the switches are relevant, but decided to put them in anyway.
The only problem is that I renamed the 0608 file to P5NESLI.BIN in Windows. When I tried to use the AWDFLASH, it gave me an error "File not found".
I ran: A:\dir command, and it showed me the files AWDFLASH EXE and P5NES~2 BIN.
I used the "rename" command in DOS:
A:\ren P5NES~2.BIN P5NESLI.BIN
After that all went smoothly.
Why is it important to use that utility with the old-style floppy drive...? Because it has all these switches! Read what they do:
/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.
I hope that it using AWDFLASH has solved my startup problem, as described above. Haven't suffered the boot failure since yesterday, but only time will tell...
And for those who do not have a Floppy Drive - I would strongly recommend getting one!
The modern motherboards are a combination of the OLD and the NEW. Working with BIOS and the BIOS chips is a part of the old technology alive for probably 20 years or more. Unless/until that philosophy and approach changes, we will be "stuck' in that weird combination of the antiquated floppies with modern SSD's.
But... perhaps someone knows a "work around" with the CD Drive, or a USB drive...?
UPDATE: Apparently the procedure is basically same with other BIOS', too:
http://www.lejabeach.com/rhcf/biosguide.htm
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