Trying to Flash BIOS

[GTaudiophile]

I've got an ASUS P4B266 running BIOS 1003. The most recent version is 1010. I'm thinking about updating, but I find their instructions to be a little cryptic. For example, how does one do "format a:/s" in DOS from Win2K? Or, should I use their Windows-based ASUS Update program?

Edit: I'm not having any stability issues. I'm just thinking of upgrading for the sake of upgrading. Maybe I should skip it.

 

[XRdirtHead]

I've found the Windows BIOS update to be 100% reliable and much more comforting than the dark confines of DOS. Its really simple, but don't try a web install or don't bother searching online for the BIOS. Just download it to a root directory off of C:\ Unzip it, then run the utility and point to that directory. Click on the BIOS image and then flash. Make sure you don't have other programs running, and undo any OC before flashing. Don't reset, as it may appear to hang and your mouse will be unresponsive, but its just doing its thing.

This was answered by chizow when I asked a question about bios flashing. Good luck! Reply and let me know how you made out. I think I may give mine a shot when I get home from work....
Ed

 

[GTaudiophile]

"Don't have other programs running."

Does that mean have nothing running in the system trey? Like Norton Anti-Virus? Or, just nothing running under Applications in the TM?

And, I wonder how long it "hangs while it's doing its thing?"

 

[yodayoda]

go here:

http://www.bootdisk.com/

and download a boot disk utility. you can make your own DOS boot disk from win 2k. next, copy the bios ROM and the flash utility to the floppy disk. reboot your computer, selecting floppy as your first boot device, and allow the computer to go to dos. next, run the flash program--it is usually something like "amiflash bios1010.rom" or whatever is says in the directions. make sure you do not turn off the computer in the middle of flashing. after it is complete, reboot the computer and you should see the new BIOS revision number while you are booting up.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I went to bootdisk.com and downloaded the DOS 6.22 file from this page. I then booted off of the disk created and ran "format a:/s" to create the bootdisk required by ASUS. This second bootdisk only contains command.com. When I boot off of it, it prompts me to enter date and time, and that's it. Does that sound right?

Edit: In addition to command.com, I've also copied "aflash.exe" and "1010.bin" to the disk. I think that's all I need.

 

[oldfart]

Win2K cant make a bootable DOS disk. That is what the /S is for (/System). Just format a floppy without the /S. I use DR DOS from bootdisk.com. Put it, the aflash.exe and the bios file on the floppy. Boot up off it and run the aflash.exe and follow the prompts.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: oldfart
Win2K cant make a bootable DOS disk. That is what the /S is for (/System). Just format a floppy without the /S. I use DR DOS from bootdisk.com. Put it, the aflash.exe and the bios file on the floppy. Boot up off it and run the aflash.exe and follow the prompts.

Thanks. Percentage wise, how often do BIOS flashes go wrong? I seem to hear so many horror stories...

 

[oldfart]

I couldn't even tell you how many BIOS flashes I've done through the years, but it is A LOT. I've never had a single problem. When you do it, set CPU/FSB speed to stock, be sure you wont lose power during the moddle of the process and you will be fine.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: oldfart
I couldn't even tell you how many BIOS flashes I've done through the years, but it is A LOT. I've never had a single problem. When you do it, set CPU/FSB speed to stock, be sure you wont lose power during the moddle of the process and you will be fine.

I don't OC.

I did as you suggested: downloaded DrDOS 7.x, ran the program, and it created a boot disk. I then extracted the latest version of AFLASH.exe and 1010.bin to the same disk.

My only concern: DrDOS created an AUTOEXEC.bat file on the disk, but ASUS' instructions specifically say to leave this out. Is it okay to leave it?

 

[oldfart]

Just delete the bat file. I think it was just echo off or something like that.

 

[GTaudiophile]

Originally posted by: oldfart
Just delete the bat file. I think it was just echo off or something like that.

Thanks for your help.

 

[XRdirtHead]

I just want to say I flashed bios for the first time and my computer still works!
I used the Asus Flash utility and it was a piece of cake!
Good luck!

 

[GTaudiophile]

So, I've got the boot disk ready as I described above...

Here is what I'm going to do. Please let me know if this process looks wrong:

1) Boot without disk, enter BIOS, and restore defaults.
2) Boot with disk, run AFLASH.exe
3) Type option 1
4) Save current BIOS as "A:/1003"
5) Type option 2
6) Use new BIOS "A:/1010.bin"

After re-reading the directions from ASUS, I don't enter a file extension in step 4, but I do in step 6 I think...

 

[oldfart]

I dont think you need to enter a file ext. You can just save as 1003 and it will add the ext for you. You dont need the A:/ path either since you are already in that directory. If you do use the ext, (step 4 and 6) it wont hurt anything.

It should work fine. There will be a status telling you what the progress is. Dont abort out of it until it tells you to do so.

 

[GTaudiophile]

The BIOS update from 1003 to 1010 was successful!

Thanks again for your help. You should have heard my heart beating during the process. I think I even held my breath!