Crap... bad flash?

[Actaeon]

I wanted to update the BIOs to my NF7-S V2.0. I went to abit's site, downloaded the windows flash utlility. Live Update wouldn't work, so I downloaded the file.

On the corner here, I picked the NF7-S BIOs, and used that. Ran the flash utlity, and it said everything was successful, and I needed to reboot. Rebooted, and I get the siren, I knew something was bad with the flash. I tried to reset my CMOS, tried to boot up several times, didn't work. Now everything is powered, but nothing really is happening.

Ugh... not good, espically since this is my main rig. I'm on my mom's rig at the moment...

Help appreciated!

Thanks.

EDIT: Apparently, I was using the 23V BIOS from here, instead of the 21V from here.

 

[InlineFive]

Yes, the Revision 21 is the latest for ethe NF7-S 2.0.

-Por

 

[fredtam]

Probably the only thing that will help now.

 

[Actaeon]

Originally posted by: fredtam
Probably the only thing that will help now.

That's pretty much a standard Abit NF7-S v2.0 bios chip with standard settings right? I could swap it in, and it'll be fine?

 

[fredtam]

Yep

 

[Soulkeeper]

i've purchased like 6 bios's from excaliberpc and even got the extraction tool
the nf7-s seemed to love corrupting the bios on me
and i even did it once with my abit ic7 max-3
also i've melted holes in the bios (don't ask me how) maybe i just saved and cleared it too many times too fast and it overheated

excaliberpc is cool i like the whole selling of abit bios's thing

good luck

 

[Actaeon]

Thanks for the help guys, I might go the excaliber PC route. But I think I wanna try the hot flash route.

If you've got another computer that uses the same physical size of BIOS chip (may be other parameters to look for, like the Mbit size of the chip itself, if that is even relevant), you can do a hot-swap. The manual can probably tell you (or maybe something on Google) which chip the BIOS is, if you don't know.

Boot the good computer with a floppy disk that has the dead one's BIOS file and the flashing utility.
While it's still runing, open the computer, and pop out the BIOS chip. Put the "dead" BIOS chip into the computer, and run the flashing utility. After it is done, shut down, and put the newly flashed chip back in its original PC.

This procedure essentially uses your PC as a EEPROM flasher. Once the system is booted, it doesn't really need the BIOS chip, so you can pop it out, and replace it with the dead one.

Ripped from another thread.

My brother uses an 8K5A2, and I use an NF7-S V2.0.

I found on these pages, the 8K3A has a 2.0MBit chip, and so does the NF7-S V1.0.

I assume the 8K5A2 and the 8K3A are very similar, as well as the NF7-S V2.0, and the V1.0. So I figure I might be able to hot flash...

Comments?

 

[Soulkeeper]

i guess it's worth a try
worst that will happen is it won't work

 

[snidy1]

When I had a bad flash I RMA'd the board to Abit and they sent me a new one.

 

[TGHI]

That's why I love my board (77NXP)...Gigabyte gives me two BIOSes to potentially destroy!

 

[Actaeon]

I tried to hotflash on my brothers Epox 8K5A2, and at first, the flashing program said it was two different hardwares, and wouldn't work. Then we got an older version, then it said there was a Flash Memory error or something. Arg! Any help on that?

Looks like I'll have to order a replacement bios. BadFlash is too expensive, and ExcaliburPC has my BIOs for $16.99, so I might just do that. Too bad my next paycheck comes next week.

*sigh*, this P3 800 is too slow!

 

[Blain]

> My Bad Abit Flash <

1. I downloaded and ran the Abit flash utility (for my BH7)
2. Everything seemed to go fine... the utility downloaded the new BIOS and had me reboot.
3. I clicked on restart... the PC would only run up to the point in which it boots into the BIOS, then shut down.
4. I tried booting back up several more times, but no go.
5. I ordered and installed a new BIOS chip from Excalber... the system does the same exact thing.
* I've cleared the CMOS several times during the troubleshooting,
* I've pulled all the cards,
* I've even tried swapping to a different HD.

The system still does the same start then shut down thing.

Is this MB dead?

 

[nitromullet]

Originally posted by: Soulkeeper
i've purchased like 6 bios's from excaliberpc and even got the extraction tool
the nf7-s seemed to love corrupting the bios on me
and i even did it once with my abit ic7 max-3
also i've melted holes in the bios (don't ask me how) maybe i just saved and cleared it too many times too fast and it overheated

excaliberpc is cool i like the whole selling of abit bios's thing

good luck

You might want to check this out: http://www.ioss.com.tw/web/English/RD1BIOSSavior.html

 

[Gagabiji]

I don't know what to say other than good luck, and tell us how it goes.

 

[Blain]

>> FIXED <<

My problem wasn't really a bad flash, it was that I didn't have a fan plugged into the MBs CPU fan header! My HS uses an 80mm 4pin fan. So I never had a fan connected to the CPU fan header.
After a couple of e-mails the Abit tech support finally told me to make sure a fan was plugged in there.

I'm guessing after the first flash the BIOS defaulted to some kind of safe mode and shut down the system when no fan was detected.

>> Plug those fans in <<

BTW, Now I have a spare BH7 BIOS chip as well as a refurbed Asus P4PE-X on the way.

 

[Regs]

lol @ blain. Trial and error is how everything gets figured out, no joke. Ive dont it many times before!

And funny, I just bad flashed a Gigabyte kt800. 120 dollars ! Should of RMA'ed when I had the chance. I'll just have to replace the bios chip.