Updating w/ @bios....

[MadScientist]

I copied and pasted this from YOUR MB manual. You only need the latest bios file, P35DS3L.F9, on your flash drive.

4-2-1 Updating the BIOS with the Q-Flash Utility
A. Before You Begin:
1. From GIGABYTE's website, download the latest compressed BIOS update file that matches your motherboard model.
2. Extract the file and save the new BIOS file (e.g. p35ds3l.f1) to your floppy disk, USB flash drive, or hard drive. Note: The USB flash drive or hard drive must use FAT32/16/12 file system.
3. Restart the system. During the POST, press the <End> key to enter Q-Flash. Note: You can access Q-Flash by either pressing the <End> key during the POST or pressing the <F8> key in BIOS Setup. However, if the BIOS update file is saved to a hard drive in RAID/AHCI mode or a hard drive attached to an independent IDE/SATA controller, use the <End> key during the POST to access Q-Flash.

 

[jjmIII]

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

You only need the file as stated above, but it WILL NOT HURT if the other files are on there too. Hell, as someone above said, you can have pictures of your cat on there if you want.

File on usb drive, reboot, press end......

 

[SorryImLate]

HAHAH pics of my cat huh? Alright sweet thanks for the help

 

[MadScientist]

I haven't updated the bios on my Gigabyte GA-H55M-S2H in awhile so here's proof that you only need to copy the bios file to your flash drive. Gigabyte has included the other 2 files if you want to boot from the flash drive or floppy and flash the bios in DOS. As jjmIII has stated, it will not hurt if the other files are on there too; unless you change the boot sequence to boot from the flash drive first and forget to take the flash drive out.

For my MB the latest bios file is H55MS2H.F7. I copied this file to a flash drive, booted back up and pressed the <end> key to enter Q-Flash.

Choose Update bios from drive and press enter:

Use the up & down arrow keys to choose HDD and press enter:

Choose your bios file and press enter. Another screen will come up asking if you really want to do this.

Flashed. Press enter and it will take you back to the first screen (main menu). Press <esc> and enter to exit Q-Flash and reboot. You should see the new bios version on the post screen. During the post press <Delete> to enter the bios. Select Load Optimized Defaults and press enter. Save and Exit, F10.

If your system was overclocked or you changed any settings in the previous bios you will have to reset them.

Gigabyte has only 1 generic bios download. This is what confuses some people. They should do what Asrock does and provide bios downloads for a bios flash, DOS, or Windows. http://www.asrock.com/MB/download.asp?Model=P55%20Pro&o=BIOS Asrock's Instant Flash is also easier to use than Q-Flash.

 

[SorryImLate]

So you only need to change the USB-hdd to first boot if your updating bios in DOS? Is that correct?

Thanks for the great walk through BTW.

 

[MadScientist]

Yes, but why flash the bios in DOS. That's old school. Again, for the last time, just copy the bios file to your flash drive and use Q-Flash or use @bios.

 

[jjmIII]

So you only need to change the USB-hdd to first boot if your updating bios in DOS? Is that correct?

Sorry, but I think you may be hopeless .

Goodluck .

 

[SorryImLate]

No im just getting two different info. Again one guy on gigabyte said i should have the USB as first boot. I dont know why.

 

[SorryImLate]

Yes, but why flash the bios in DOS. That's old school. Again, for the last time, just copy the bios file to your flash drive and use Q-Flash or use @bios.

No im not going to do that i was just making sure that's what you meant. No need to get mad mad scientist just making sure i understand what your saying computer God.

 

[Campy]

As far as i understand this, when using Q flash you dont have to have a bootable USB or set it as boot device(obviously) because the flash utility is on the motherboard(the only file you need to have on the USB stick is the new bios file), but when using the DOS flash utility YOU NEED A BOOTABLE USB STICK WITH THE BIOS FILE AND THE FLASH UTILITY EXE ON IT AND YOU NEED TO BOOT FROM IT. there that's about as clear as its gonna get i reckon

 

[SorryImLate]

This is why i ask a lot of questions.....

So i go to update bios, i do have legacy USB enabled. I click update from a drive and my only 2 options are Floppy A and Floppy B, but no USB-HDD or HDD.

So what i not set correctly?

 

[Campy]

I have no clue. Why not just use the DOS method... fuck Q flash lol.


edit: BTW i know all this seems really difficult, and i did some reading before i flashed my first bios aswell(only about a month ago ) and it's definitely one of those things that seems way harder than it actually is. Once you've done it one time you'll be like "wtf that was easy". So don't sweat it and get it done. There's nothing you can screw up unless you actually interrupt the BIOS flashing process. And when you've got that running you've already done everything right.

 

[SorryImLate]

Cuz then i got to ask these guys a million more questions and they already talked me into Q-flash over @bios.

 

[SorryImLate]

Every thing looked the same as Mad scientists screen shots except after i hit udate from a drive i got floppy A and floppy B.

 

[Campy]

yeah dont use @bios. Use the DOS method. I have no idea what your flash utility is called but i read something in that Gigabyte documentation and it said that you downloaded some flashDOS program executable together with the BIOS file. Man i have no idea i dont even have a gigabyte motherboard or a motherboard from this generation of motherboards. maybe you need to format the USB stick in fat32 for Q-flash to recognize it. Beats me man, i'm out. If you really cant get it working after all this go and post on the Gigabyte forums there are lots of Gigabyte nerds there that can help you.

 

[MadScientist]

Thanks for the compliment, but I'm no way even close to a computer deity. Almost every day I learn something new about computers. It's a continuous learning process.

This is straight from your MB manual. It is slightly different than mine since my MB is newer. I don't get the Floppy drive option.

1.Insert your flash drive.

2.The Save Main BIOS to Drive option allows you to save the current BIOS file. Press <enter>.
• Q-Flash only supports USB flash drive or hard drives using FAT32/16/12 file system.
• If the BIOS update file is saved to a hard drive in RAID/AHCI mode or a hard drive attached to an independent IDE/SATA controller, use the <End> key during the POST to access Q-Flash.

3. Select Floppy A and press <enter>. You should be given the choice of Floppy A or HDD 0-0. Choose HDD amd press <enter>.

Not sure why you are getting only a Floppy A and Floppy B option. Is your flash drive inserted with the bios file on it? Try first, in the bios, Loading Optimized Defaults, save, and reboot into Q-Flash.

 

[SorryImLate]

Ok so i selected Floppy B because i only tried floppy A before and nothing happened.

Then i got something similar to Mad scientists screen shot it shows

.. <DIR>

I didnt go any further because on mad scientist screen shot it shows the same thing but the Bios file is underneath the ".. <DIR>"

What do you think?

 

[SorryImLate]

For your viewing pleasure.... Oh and BTW i highlighted the .. <DIR> and it took me back to Floppy A Floppy B

 

[MadScientist]

It's seeing your flash drive, 8GB right, but not any files on it. Are you sure you formatted the drive to FAT32 and copied and pasted the bios file to your flash drive? Check the drive in Windows.

Is the first pic a shot of your desktop?

 

[MrK6]

I apologize in advance for not reading the whole thread, but I think you'll have issues if your flash drive is over 4GB (limitation of FAT?). I know I had to use an older 128MB flash drive to flash the BIOS. I think the simplest way to flash a Gigabyte board is to just make a bootable USB stick (I use the utility that comes with KillDisk to make the bootable drive). Then I just download the BIOS from Gigabyte and throw on the BIOS file and flashspi.exe, restart and boot to the stick, and type "flashspi.exe biosname.fx"

 

[SorryImLate]

It's seeing your flash drive, 8GB right, but not any files on it. Are you sure you formatted the drive to FAT32 and copied and pasted the bios file to your flash drive? Check the drive in Windows.

Is the first pic a shot of your desktop?

Yes the first pick is what files i had after i extracted them on my desktop. I put my flash drive in went to my computer, right clicked my flash drive and went to format. Its already set to FAT32 in the format window so i didnt change any settings and just clicked format.

After that i just dragged and dropped the P35DS3L.F9 file onto my flash drive and then restarted the computer.

I would check the USB after the drag and drop and the Bios file was there.

 

[SorryImLate]

I apologize in advance for not reading the whole thread, but I think you'll have issues if your flash drive is over 4GB (limitation of FAT?). I know I had to use an older 128MB flash drive to flash the BIOS. I think the simplest way to flash a Gigabyte board is to just make a bootable USB stick (I use the utility that comes with KillDisk to make the bootable drive). Then I just download the BIOS from Gigabyte and throw on the BIOS file and flashspi.exe, restart and boot to the stick, and type "flashspi.exe biosname.fx"

Well i might have a 4gb flash drive also but if not i can go buy a 2gb flash drive if thats what the problem is.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

To paraphrase,

"Shut up! Just shut up! He doesn't get it! He'll never get it! It's been 6 days! The cows can flash the BIOS by now! Forget about it please!"

 

[SorryImLate]

DUDE MagnustheBrewer seriously WTF no need to be a dick. My bios flash is going nothing like the walk through. If you have something intelligent to add for why this isnt going correctly then please do share.

Its also NOT THAT I DONT GET IT douchebag as you can see i followed the steps exactly like people told me to and ITS NOT FCKING WORKING!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[SorryImLate]

I guess im not the only one that had this problem-Last Post
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/266687-30-gigabyte-ds3l-wont-qflash