• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Flashing my Bios

Maximilian

Maximilian

Lifer
Hey, ive been wanting to turn on cool n quiet as my rooms kinda warm and this dosent do the pc any good so it ends up making a noise like a jet engine after a few hours usage. So my bios says nothing about cool n quiet and i dont see anything at all in windows so im gonna flash the bios 🙂 yay.

Right so what do i do? is there a completely idiot proof guide and i really mean IDIOT proof guide to flashing a bios? My mobos an MSI 6741 (the A64 one that isnt a K8T NEO and noone seems to have heard of). Do i need to d/l stuff?? is it accomplishable on a 56k? can i break it? what else can go wrong? and what do i do if stuff goes wrong? 🙂

http://www.pcservicecall.co.uk/layout.asp?ID={6B5FA06D-3B27-4010-A907-9EC0D43D4FC7}&amp;CatID={B0C5B27F-8FC5-4352-9C21-1F16EE7A351F} <--- thats the mobo with a nice little picture of it in case youve never heard of it. I thought it was a K8T until i actually checked here.
 
Thanks. I got to the part where i go and find my update at the msi site but oh it just figures that they have every board under the sun except mine. Is it that bad a board? Are they denying existence of it?!?

On a related note i was confused about it before and now im even more confused. Is VT8237 a chipset?? as it says this at startup yet i open up the case and theres a sticker saying K8T800 on the board. Why oh why didnt i build my own pc.......... Can anyone enlighten me on what in the hell this board actually is and what chipset it has??

Never mind they told me its a K8T800 and i should go to the VIA website for the update. If i mess this up i dont get to RMA it cuz its my my own stupidity 🙁 ill give it a bash anyways

Aha! the Vt8237 seems to be part of the whole K8T800 chipset. i get it now
 
Originally posted by: Sureshot324
Originally posted by: Regs
Well, I flashed my Gigabyte K8T wrong. Had to RMA it. Didn't boot.
Click to expand...

Couldn't you have just reset the cmos?
Click to expand...

If you flash it was bad firmware, that IS the CMOS, and there is nothing to re-set, but junk. If it works, and you are uncertain, leave it alone, or be willing to RMA it.

!) You could download the wrong file(s)
2) You could boot with something in memory (need a clean boot, no config.sys or autoexec.bat)
3) The power could go off.
4) Murphy's law could get you
 
nope, a bad flash will kill your board and there's nothing you can do about it aside from an rma or swapping your bios chip. resetting the cmos just restores the default bios settings, there's nothing it can do to restore your old bios file unfortunately.

you need to be very careful that you're using the correct bios file before you flash.

the worst thing that could go wrong which you have absolutely no control over is a power failure just as it's writing the new bios. i suppose you could buy a ups if you're uber-paranoid.
 
So there is no need to ever use the CMOS if there is a "restore default settings" option in your bios, correct?
 
Maybe I am lucky, or just have an over-abundance of bravado. ; I treat a BIOS flas as no big deal. I follow the instructions and have never, ever, had a problem. Nor have I ever had any first hand experience with anyone else having a problem. Frankly, I am of the opinion that if you follow the instructions there is no risk. It's like usigng any other "potentially dangerous" item or appliance. Follow the directions, don't be stupid, and you won't have any problems. Of course sometimes "things happen" and I am in no way implying anyone is stupid if they had a bad flash experience. I just don't really understand the thought process of those who think that this procedure is any more risky than many other things, computer and not computer-related.

\Dan
 
Originally posted by: mitchafi
So there is no need to ever use the CMOS if there is a "restore default settings" option in your bios, correct?
Click to expand...

ummm...you need to clear the cmos if you can't even get into your bios to begin with; that's the whole point of the switch. it's main use is if you overclock so high that you can't post, you can flip the cmos switch and start over.
 
Soviet, if you actually have the Advent 3618 (or whichever one), if you flash the BIOS you most likely will not be able to run the Restore media again. Trust me on this, I service the things on a daily basis, and flashing a non-Advent-supplied BIOS removes certain DMI identification strings, rendering your restore media useless. Flash at your own risk!
 
Originally posted by: SickBeast
nope, a bad flash will kill your board and there's nothing you can do about it aside from an rma or swapping your bios chip. resetting the cmos just restores the default bios settings, there's nothing it can do to restore your old bios file unfortunately.

you need to be very careful that you're using the correct bios file before you flash.

the worst thing that could go wrong which you have absolutely no control over is a power failure just as it's writing the new bios. i suppose you could buy a ups if you're uber-paranoid.
Click to expand...

Thats the beauty of boards with Dual BIOS setups. The likelyhood of trashing your BIOS isn't high, but if you do, no RMA, just switch the reserve, and reflash the primary from the reserve...

my GigaByte 8IPE1000-Pro has this, and its glorious 🙂
 
Originally posted by: DopeFiend
Soviet, if you actually have the Advent 3618 (or whichever one), if you flash the BIOS you most likely will not be able to run the Restore media again. Trust me on this, I service the things on a daily basis, and flashing a non-Advent-supplied BIOS removes certain DMI identification strings, rendering your restore media useless. Flash at your own risk!
Click to expand...

The guy on the phone told me to go to via's site and get a bios from there then flash it, so if what you say is true its lucky i didnt do that. Do you know if advent do any bios updates for this pc or board? i cant find any on their sites.
 
Originally posted by:EeyoreX
I treat a BIOS flas as no big deal. I follow the instructions and have never, ever, had a problem.
Click to expand...

Same here. I've flashed the BIOS's of many motherboards over the years, and never had one fail to boot or be otherwise messed up. The thing to do is to be VERY sure of what type of BIOS your board has (Award or AMI), and if possible get the update from your mobo manufacturer. At least then it's a simple matter of finding an update specific to your board. My board (MSI 865PE Neo2-S), has a nifty self flashing utility that flashes the BIOS from within Windows. I know it's generally accepted practise to do an update from a command prompt, shortly after powering on your PC and after having booted from a boot stiffy (which any BIOS update 'pack' should be able to tell you how to make). However, I've used this utility twice already, and my system is running perfectly. You also, with this utility, make an 'emergency repair' stiffy that restores your BIOS to it's prior state, should something go wrong with the update process. I've never had to test the repair option, and hopefully I'll never have to.
 
Same here. I've flashed the BIOS's of many motherboards over the years, and never had one fail to boot or be otherwise messed up
Click to expand...

Same here,however I treat every BIOS flash has the most important thing and do all the common sense things like check I`ve the right BIOS file and make sure I don`t disturb the BIOS flashing procedure etc.

It`s always a good idea to download and print out the BIOS flashing procedure guide for your motherboard and go over the instructions before hand so you`re sure you`ll know what you`re doing.

With most new motherboards now you can even flash from within Windows which is easier for beginners,however the jury is still out on which way is better for flashing ( bootable floppy,CD or from within Windows,depending on the board in question).

I like to stick with floppy for flashing but have tried flashing from within Windows a few times with no problems.

I guess what I`m trying to say is if you flash your BIOS correctly,then the risk of a bad BIOS flash happening is very minimal, however all BIOS flashing is always done at owners risk, yes having twin BIOS like on most Gigabyte and Aopen boards is very handy.
 
Originally posted by: Soviet
Originally posted by: DopeFiend
Soviet, if you actually have the Advent 3618 (or whichever one), if you flash the BIOS you most likely will not be able to run the Restore media again. Trust me on this, I service the things on a daily basis, and flashing a non-Advent-supplied BIOS removes certain DMI identification strings, rendering your restore media useless. Flash at your own risk!
Click to expand...

The guy on the phone told me to go to via's site and get a bios from there then flash it, so if what you say is true its lucky i didnt do that. Do you know if advent do any bios updates for this pc or board? i cant find any on their sites.
Click to expand...

Nope. Unfortunately mate, you're stuck. I had an Advent, the 3515 until a month or so ago, when I replaced about half the components. While the stock motherboards are pretty good, all things considered, they're not as good as a regular enthusiast board.

I honestly wouldn't worry about it, unless you don't mind not being able to restore it. If you try it, you can always save the current BIOS to a file, just in case things go wrong, so you can flash it back.

Hope this helps! 🙂
 
Yea you most likely saved my mobo from being trashed lol. Ill just have to do without cool n quiet and make do with more fans+2 fan psu.
 
Soviet, MSI has Live BIOS updates and so on so it will find you the latest BIOS you need automatically so you wont ever download the wrong one. I am pretty sure they probably have a windows-based bios update by now. I think you need Live UPdate 3 or something like that check their website and some instructions if need be.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top