Please help me make a .BAT file for a blind BIOS flash

[BlvdKing]

A co-worker is practically giving me a Gigabyte Socket A motherboard (KT133). The problem is that he flashed the BIOS and now the board doesn't work. I heard that if I put a PCI video card and a floppy disk with the proper flash files (as well as an automated .bat file) that it will reflash itself (hopefully correctly) and when I reboot sometime later it will work again. I don't know how to make a .bat file, so I would like some help. I have already made a boot disk by typing at the command prompt: format a: /s. I have also copied flash841.exe and 7zx.fea onto the disk. Now I need a .bat file to automate the process. Anyone know how to do this before I order a new TBird? Thanks in advance!

 

[lucidguy]

Create a text file.
Put "flash841 7zx.fea" in the text file.
Save text file.
Rename text file to autoexec.bat.
Copy this autoexec.bat onto the floppy.
You should be all set.

 

[BlvdKing]

Thanks LucidGuy, I am doing a '.bat test' now.

 

[Zach]

Copy onto a boot floppy that is.

 

[BlvdKing]

question: During a normal bios flash, the flash program usually asks if your sure you want to flash the bios. Is there anyway to automate this as well?

 

[obenton]

This "automated" flash from the autoexec.bat file will work only if the first few sectors of the existing BIOS are still intact, which is often the case after a bad flash. These beginning sectors of the BIOS will search for and run, if it exists, an autoexec.bat file. If the autoexec.bat file contains the command that runs the BIOS flash, the flash will be run. Of course, the flash .exe program and the binary BIOS file must be on the boot floppy as well. The autoexec.bat file must contain only the one line. The screen remains blank while the flash process is taking place, if it's taking place at all, so give it time by waiting about five minutes before rebooting the computer. If you're lucky, you'll then get a POST. If unlucky, you've got to do a hot flash or get a new BIOS chip.

 

[smb]

Gigabyte use to have a utility that would fix a bad flash on their web site.

 

[BlvdKing]

obenton,
Thanks alot. I was wondering how the BIOS would initiate the floppy when the BIOS program is corrupted. Your statement eases some fear of doing this procedure. My autoexec.bat file looks like this:

flash841 7zx.fd

7zx.fd is the latest non-beta bios for the board.

smb,
I will scour GigaBytes website for this program.

If all goes well, I will have a KT133 motherboard for $20!

One last question for obenton:
Does having a PCI video card in the machine make a difference?

Thanks again.

 

[lucidguy]

Having one in there won't hurt. Not having one may prevent the BIOS from completing POST depending on what the initial BIOS settings were, and how much of the BIOS and its settings have survived.

All things being equal, I would boot with a graphic card.

 

[BlvdKing]

Well, I found this and thought I should share, just in case someone else comes up with this problem.

"Solution 1: Boot-block BIOS

Modern motherboards have a boot-block BIOS. This is
small area of the BIOS that doesn't get overwritten
when you flash a BIOS. The boot-block BIOS only has
support for the floppy drive. If you have a PCI video
card you won't see anything on the screen because the
boot-block BIOS only supports an ISA videocard.

Award: The boot-block BIOS will execute an
AUTOEXEC.BAT file on a bootable diskette. Copy an
Award flasher & the correct BIOS *.bin file on the
floppy and execute it automaticly by putting awdflash
*.bin in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

AMI: The AMI boot-block BIOS will look for a
AMIBOOT.ROM file on a diskette. Copy and rename the
correct BIOS file on the floppy and power up the PC.
The floppy doesn't need to be bootable. You will see
the PC read the floppy, after about 4 minutes you will
hear 4 beeps, this means the transfer is done. Reboot
the PC and modify the CMOS for your configuration."

I got this from here. This board has an AMI BIOS so I will try the above, but if that doesn't work I will try the procedure for the AWARD. Thanks all.