Updating w/ @bios....

SorryImLate

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Jan 3, 2008
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I want to update with @bios due to the convenience compared to other methods. Its also 2010 and am not going to go buy a floppy drive or try and find one.

Who has used this?

Any tips besides the instruction sheet on gigabytes website?

Its seems like most threads that i read where the user had problems is when they were downloading a beta version.

I currently have a P35-DS3L w/ an F7 bios. I want to update to either the F8 or F9 bios (it says both for a Q9550-which is what i plan on upgrading to)
http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2629#ov

If anyone has updated their bios w/ @bios recently and can pass along and tips or helpful info it would be appreciated. Thanks
 

Campy

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Jun 25, 2010
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You know you can make a bootable USB stick and flash your bios with that, right?
 

SorryImLate

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I understand that many people use Q-flash i guess i could do that if i have to but what i dont understand why gigabyte would offer @bios or continue to offer this program if it didn't work properly (besides user error).
 

MagnusTheBrewer

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Jun 19, 2004
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I understand that many people use Q-flash i guess i could do that if i have to but what i dont understand why gigabyte would offer @bios or continue to offer this program if it didn't work properly (besides user error).

It's just being reasonably cautious. Too many people have hosed their MB doing a flash using the OS. A program starting up, scheduled dls, and even email notification have been known to crap on a BIOS flash from within the OS.
 

SorryImLate

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SorryImLate

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Jan 3, 2008
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Also if you look at the Q-flash screen shots on the PDF file it says "update bios from floppy" when i click this will it automatically read the USB drive or do i have to change something in bios for it to do this?
 

MadScientist

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Jul 15, 2001
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I have used the @bios OS program with my Gigabyte GA-H55M-S2H with no problems because I was too lazy to use Q-Flash. As long as your system is stable and not overclocked you should have no problems with it. I have not overclocked it yet.

With my Asrock P55 Pro MB, since it's overclocked, I always flash the bios with a flash drive and the bios flash utility.
 

SorryImLate

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Jan 3, 2008
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Any help w/ this question ???

If you look at the Q-flash screen shots on the PDF file it says "update bios from floppy" when i click this will it automatically read the USB drive(or will it be looking for a floppy) or do i have to change something in bios for it to read the usb drive?
 

jjmIII

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2001
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Just use @bios. Make sure you set it to stock first though.

Sure. But why not do it with a usb flash drive? Safer and worth learning.

YouTube to the rescue!

To format to Fat32, just insert usb flash drive, go to 'My Computer', rt clk on flash drive, and hit format....easy! Then add your bios file to the drive.
 

hdfxst

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May 13, 2009
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I have a Fat32 partition that i keep pictures and things that i don't want to lose during a format.I just flash from there
 

SorryImLate

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Ok so i formatted my Flash drive (fat32) then i went to go download the F9 bios and it downloaded to "my downloads" on the hard drive. Will there be any problem if i drag and drop the bios on to my flashdrive instead of the bios downloading directly to my flashdrive?

Just want to make sure thanks.
 

SorryImLate

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Also some people say after a flash to load fail safe defaults and others say load optimized defaults...Which one???
 

Campy

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Jun 25, 2010
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Ok so i formatted my Flash drive (fat32) then i went to go download the F9 bios and it downloaded to "my downloads" on the hard drive. Will there be any problem if i drag and drop the bios on to my flashdrive instead of the bios downloading directly to my flashdrive?

Just want to make sure thanks.

No problem.
 

SorryImLate

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Jan 3, 2008
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I just checked and i do have both fail safe defaults and optomized defaults in bios.

Also i have Legacy USB storage Detect Enabled in bios already. Is there anything else in bios that needs to be changed before USB q-flash is done?
 

SorryImLate

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Also after reading a thread on the gigabyte forums on how to q-flash. They say to download the correct bios(which went to my downloads on XP) then they placed the file on the desktop.

Then they unzipped/extracted the file. After this was done i now have 4 file total on my desktop. The original file that i unzipped then Autoexec, FLASHSPI, & P35DS3L.F9.

They say after this is done format the USB FAT32 and then put these 3 file on the USB.

Then Click restart computer, Enter bios, F8 for q-flash.

After that it will say Load bios from a drive (USB) click that and install bios normal steps from there.

This sound good???
 

MadScientist

Platinum Member
Jul 15, 2001
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The Q-Flash pdf file instructions on Gigabyte's site are old. READ your motherboard manual section "Updating the Bios with the Q-Flash Utility".

Copy and paste, or move only the P35DS3L.F9 file to your flash drive. You do not need the other files. Leave your flash drive in.

Reboot and press either the <end> key to directly access Q-Flash or the <delete> key to enter the bios and then the <F8> key to access Q-Flash.

In the Q-Flash menu use the up and down arrow keys to select Update Bios from Drive. Read your MB manual for further instructions.

If you don't have a manual or lost it you can download it from Gigabyte's site.
 
Last edited:
May 13, 2009
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I just set my CPU, memory, etc to stock and use @bios. Once on a P45 board and once on a X-58. Go ahead and do all that if it makes you feel better.
 

jjmIII

Diamond Member
Mar 13, 2001
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Go ahead and do all that if it makes you feel better.

It makes me feel better. I lost a mobo to an OS flash....once bitten, twice shy.

Also the OP is making this sound harder than it is. Download a file to usb, reboot and press end key.....really that simple.
 

MadScientist

Platinum Member
Jul 15, 2001
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It makes me feel better. I lost a mobo to an OS flash....once bitten, twice shy.
Also the OP is making this sound harder than it is.

I have no qualms about using @bios. I've never had any problems with Epox's, Abit's or Gigabyte's OS bios flash programs, if your system is stable.

Yes, I agree that an in-bios flash like Q-Flash is the safer method, if you don't loose power.

The OP wants to learn how to use Q-Flash. That's fine. He just needs to read the manual on how to.
 

SorryImLate

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Jan 3, 2008
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The Q-Flash pdf file instructions on Gigabyte's site are old. READ your motherboard manual section "Updating the Bios with the Q-Flash Utility".

Copy and paste, or move only the P35DS3L.F9 file to your flash drive. You do not need the other files. Leave your flash drive in.

Reboot and press either the <end> key to directly access Q-Flash or the <delete> key to enter the bios and then the <F8> key to access Q-Flash.

In the Q-Flash menu use the up and down arrow keys to select Update Bios from Drive. Read your MB manual for further instructions.

If you don't have a manual or lost it you can download it from Gigabyte's site.

Are you sure on only having the P35DS3L.F9 file on the flash drive? Thats what i thought but the guys on the gigabyte forum said i should also put the autoexec and the FlashSPI files on the USB as well.

Would it hurt the flash if these other 2 files were on the flash drive along w/ the P35DS3L.F9??

Check the Pics out in this thread cuz this was what i was following.
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2441.0.html