Clarification of Flashing BIOS Needed.

[Rubicone]

I downloaded version 1003 several weeks back onto a floppy (never got around to flashing my BIOS), opened it and has the filename cslc1003.AWD. I redownloaded the same file today opened it and has the 1003.bin filename. What is the difference and which do I use to flash my BIOS on ASUS CUSL2-C?(What program does one use to open a bin file and is it safe to open such a file?).

 

[Slikkster]

They're probably the same, but I just did a test download of the file and it was with a .awd extension. I'd use that one. Download it again if you have to, if it makes you feel better.

Anyway, here's the scoop on how to flash your bios. You'll need the "aflash.exe" file as well as the particular bios update file (the .awd file).

Flashing an Asus Bios

 

[Rubicone]

Is that the same program that came with my motherboard CD?

 

[damien6]

This is what you do.
First create a bootable floppy.

Then download the flasher (aflash.exe) and don't do anything w/it other than copying it into that bootable floppy.

Third you download the updated bios file, usually that file should have .awd extension and open it by double clicking w/your mouse. Right click on that bios files, click Properties and write down the complete file name including the (.bin) extension at the end. you should copy that extracted .bin file into that bootable floppy.

Reboot w/that bootable floppy and type "aflash.exe" at the A prompt w/o the hyphens. (&quot Then just follow the direction and when it asks for the new bios files type in the new name including the (.bin) at the end. When it asks you if you want to save the old bios, I recommend that you do and just rename it "oldbios" just incase it gives you an error telling the bios files can't be updated. You have something to go back to.

** Everything is pretty much simple as long as you read and follow the direction during the flash process. DON'T SHUT DOWN THE PC DURING THE BIOS UPDATE UNTIL IT SAID THAT THE BIOS UPDATE WAS COMPLETE AND INSTRUCTS YOU THAT IT IS SAFE TO SHUT DOWN! It should give you that message and press ESC to exit bs.

Shut down using the power switch on the power supply. Don't know about that particular board but in some motherboards you need to short a jumper for 10-15 sec and replace it back to original settings to flush out the CMOS. Reboot > go into the bios setting and reset to your specification.

 

[Rubicone]

When I double-click the file with the .awd extension I get a message box reading:"The document's format is invalid or not supported." I suppose that is because it needs to be opened in a DOS environment only. The file does not have a bin extension. I am wondering whether or not the awd file is the extracted version of the bin file, or are they 2 separate files? Please clarify.

 

[Usul]

<< Right click on that bios files, click Properties and write down the complete file name including the (.bin) extension at the end. you should copy that extracted .bin file into that bootable floppy. >>



Right click, not double click
Make sure to copy the DOS name.
Do it from Windows, before using the boot floppy.

 

[Slikkster]

You don't doubleclick on the blahblah.awd file...it doesn't execute by itself...you would run it thusly:

First, create a boot diskette. Then, copy the &quot;aflash.exe&quot; and the &quot;cslc1003.AWD&quot; to the boot disk.
Now, boot up to dos and the a: prompt.

Then, you would type &quot;awflash&quot; and hit enter <no quotes>

Choose choice 2 to flash your bios.
Type in the name of the bios to flash, in this case cslc1003.awd.

PLEASE READ THE INSTRUCTIONS FROM THE LINK I GAVE YOU ABOVE. HERE IT IS AGAIN:

HOW TO FLASH YOUR ASUS BIOS!!!!

 

[Rubicone]

Since I am going to be repartitioning and formating the hard drive does it make a difference when I flash my BIOS?

 

[AndyHui]

No. A BIOS flash is permanent.

 

[Rubicone]

I just tried flashing my BIOS and got an error message. The warning read as follows: &quot;The BIOS Model doesn't match with the one currently used&quot;. At which point I aborted the whole thing. In the ASUS manual there is only an indication of a notice that the Boot Block is different. Is the warning normal and should I have proceeded or did the file I downloaded from ASUS site is wrong?

 

[Slikkster]

After another reading, it appears that the bios you have is the same one you're trying to update. In other words, the CUSL2-C motherboard has had only ONE bios release, and that's version 1003. In other words, that's the bios you already have installed; the bios that came with the motherboard. It does NOT need updating at this time. Here's the text from the bios ugrade page:



CUSL2-C (ATX, 6 PCI, 1 CNR, AGP 4X, 4 USB, 3 DIMM, )

- BIOS Upgrade and Road Map :

cslc1003.zip
CUSL2-C BIOS Ver. 1003 10/30/2000
First Release.


The key words here are &quot;First Release&quot;. That means it's the original bios. The only thing you would want to keep that for is in case you had a bios upgrade failure from a subsequent release and wanted to revert back to the original.

 

[Rubicone]

When I rechecked the BIOS version I have it indicates the following: &quot;BIOS Revision 1003 Award Plug &amp; Play BIOS Extension V1.0A&quot;.The first time I attempted to flash the BIOS I did so using the wrong file I downloaded the correct one on the second attempt but got another warning reading as follows: &quot;The date code of BIOS image file is older than the one currently used 10/04/00)&quot;.

ftp://ftp.asuscom.de/pub/ASUSCOM/BIOS/Socket_370/INTEL_Chipset/i815ep/CUSL2-C/