Why are BIOS flashes so scary?

[NokiaDude]

I just updated my Abit AT7-Max 2's BIOS from the old DD BIOS to the newest BIOS, EB. As I started flashing I had a really bad feeling something would go wrong. In the past, I've always had that feeling that somethign would go wrong during the flah process and my motherboard would be useless. But in the end, it never happens.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Just the posibility that you could end up with a fried board is sufficient reason for me.

 

[cheapgoose]

i had a floppy go bad on me during a flash. also had a computer freeze during a flash. bad luck i guess.

 

[NokiaDude]

Originally posted by: cheapgoose
i had a floppy go bad on me during a flash. also had a computer freeze during a flash. bad luck i guess.

Ooohhh, ouch.

 

[MournSanity]

Yea, BIOS flashes are scarier than Michael Jackson's face.

 

[ChrisIsBored]

Have you ever worn a pink tutu?

 

[sparkyclarky]

I had a flash go bad once. Luckily the board I was using (a MSI - 6309) had a force reading from the floppy option using some key combination upon bootup. So I essentially forced the board (with no video mind you) to flash from the floppy. That was a smooth option on the board, and I really think all boards should have something like that.

 

[Maleficus]

Because you can end up with a useless board as i have learned from first hand experience.

 

[Insane3D]

Nowadays with Windows based flashing....it's easy. Anyhow, even if the flash goes bad, it;s not like hte boards dead, the bios chip just needs to reprogrammed.

I had a flash go bad once on an Epox 8K5A2+. I just took the bios chip from another of the same board, booted to to the floppy prompt, put the dead bios chip back in, and flashed the bios.

Even in most cases, it's very easy to get a new bios chip. I know Asus will do it for free if you send them the chip, they just ask for $5 for return postage. Epox will actually send you a new chip and bios puller free of charge.

 

[Insane3D]

Originally posted by: sparkyclarky
I had a flash go bad once. Luckily the board I was using (a MSI - 6309) had a force reading from the floppy option using some key combination upon bootup. So I essentially forced the board (with no video mind you) to flash from the floppy. That was a smooth option on the board, and I really think all boards should have something like that.

Actually, most do nowadays. A better feature to have IMO is a dual bios setup like Gigasuck has on their boards.

 

[DaFinn]

Just don't flash your BIOS (or whatever you call it) to anyone in public place... that will get you into trouble!

 

[Skyclad1uhm1]

Originally posted by: hypersonic5
Yea, BIOS flashes are scarier than Michael Jackson's face.

Naah, nothing is more scary than _that_!

 

[hans007]

Originally posted by: sparkyclarky
I had a flash go bad once. Luckily the board I was using (a MSI - 6309) had a force reading from the floppy option using some key combination upon bootup. So I essentially forced the board (with no video mind you) to flash from the floppy. That was a smooth option on the board, and I really think all boards should have something like that.

most boards have that now. i used to have that board back in the day. was a great board for o/cing p3 coppermine 100bus chips.

 

[knivox]

Originally posted by: sparkyclarky
I had a flash go bad once. Luckily the board I was using (a MSI - 6309) had a force reading from the floppy option using some key combination upon bootup. So I essentially forced the board (with no video mind you) to flash from the floppy. That was a smooth option on the board, and I really think all boards should have something like that.

yeah I had to do something similar with an epox 8kha. It would automatically try to boot the floppy, so I just had to make an autoexec.bat that would flash it back to a good bios.

 

[Cerb]

Simple: if anything goes wrong in those 2-3 seconds of actual flashing, your mobo is physically fine, but otherwise FUBAR.

Personally, I do NOT find them scarier than MJ's face, and nowhere near as scary as the MJ Ghollum.

 

[CraigRT]

I've flashed so many BIOSes I don't even fear it anymore. meh
the chances are slim it will fubar the system thesedays.

 

[ROcHE]

Hehe. I "hot" flashed so many bioses when the Win95.CIH virus or something like this was active that I'm not afraid anymore.

 

[Bassyhead]

I had a board die once during a bad flash but was able to force a read off the floppy using some key combo

 

[Peter]

They're not scary ... I'm doing them every day, all day. Then again, I'm supposed to - and if it screws up it's usually entirely my fault, if only for writing BIOS code that doesn't quite work And even if, then the programming machine to recover it is only an arm's length away.

I'm not scared doing BIOS updates at home either. I just make sure I don't do them on Friday or Saturday, so if it fails, I can bring the screwed chip to work the next day.

 

[DJMiX]

HINT: Usually Users flash their bios due to stability ISSUES, That leads to bad flashes...
I don't mind READ MY SIG ... SO every one "It's Safe to FLASH your BIOS"

 

[kheath]

Badflash.com has saved me several times.

 

[spclwpns]

It's scary because everybody thinks that for that precious 30 seconds, all of humanity knows what your 'up to' and tries to trample the doors down to pull only THAT power cord to your pc LOL