Problem after BIOS update

ish4d0w · 30 Jan 2013

Hi,

I did a BIOS update on an ASUS M2V.
I have been having problems with Windows 7. According to the (release note) there were some compatibility fixes added for Vista. (yep, for Vista, but I think they're also neccessarry for Windows 7)

The main problems I had was related to sound. It seems to be a common problem with this MB and Win7. See here as it's discussed on Microsoft's official forums, they're suggesting a BIOS update

I didn't have a floppy drive so I had to find a workaround. I found a bootable CD (link here) that included the latest BIOS version. It's a DOS based CD which starts the update when I type "UPDATE" and press enter. It did the trick. According to the screen messages, it successfully reflashed the BIOS and it asked me to reboot.

Computer was working but Windows started to have problems. I had problems with logging off and switching it off. It would just hang on the shutdown screen.
I could log in but it won't open any of my programs (like Chrome, Word etc...). Not even regedit.
I entered safe mode which was working fine.

I tried reinstalling Windows. From DVD, it hangs on "Extracting Windows files". It did not move from 0% for 20 minutes. I couldn't hear the DVD spinning noise and the LED on the drive wasn't blinking as expected.

From USB, it just stops. I started it and moved to 1% then I left it. When I came back to the computer I could only see the setup background. No cursor on the screen and the keyboard wasn't responding. Nobody was in the room so the installer just crashed I think. It was about 5 minutes so I don't think the installer would have finished.

What should I do?

cyclic · 30 Jan 2013

Go to Asus website, look up your motherboard, click the Downloads tab at the bottom, use the auto update Bios tool. no need to boot to anything.

ish4d0w · 30 Jan 2013

There's no working OS on the computer. The one I can restore to is pretty instable.

There are 2 BIOS update tools on ASUS' website. One is Windows based and one is DOS based.
Which one do I need?

(The Windows one is not designed for 7)

Mark Phelps · 30 Jan 2013

According to the website, your mobo supports EZ-flash -- an ASUS utility that allows you to flash the BIOS from a diskette (and maybe, as USB stick). I used this years ago on an older ASUS board and the way it worked was, you downloaded the flash file to a diskette, you pressed a special key combination, that booted to a Flash utility, you inserted a diskette and saved off the current BIOS, you inserted the diskette with the new BIOS and flashed it.

It may also be able to use USB, but I don't know -- you will have to read the manual to find out.

IF your PC doesn't have a diskette drive, you may be able to do the same with a USB-connected diskette drive. Last time I checked, they cost around $20 USD or so.

As to the utilities listed, AFUDOS works from diskette, the other runs from inside Windows.

bobkn · 30 Jan 2013

The M2V has the old EZ flash, which only accepts a BIOS update from a floppy.

AFUDOS is a DOS utility. You could prepare a USB flash drive that boots in DOS, if you have access to another PC.

Boot From A USB Flash/Pen/Key Drive

I haven't done it in years. I used the HP utility successfully, in the past.

I hope that a BIOS update helps you. Are you certain that the WIn7 DVD and the USB installer were both not corrupt?

gregrocker · 31 Jan 2013

Reset BIOS to defaults, then try another ISO burned to DVD or written to flash stick from Steps 1 and 2 of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which steps will also show you how to get a perfect install for retail.

If DVD hangs again, reset BIOS to defaults.

If that fails, try the flash stick install, booting stick from one-time BIOS Boot Menu key under USB, Removable or HD's, after setting HD first to boot in BIOS setup.

If that fails unplug the DVD drive and try USB again.

Next I'd pull the HD out or try booting Partition Wizard bootable CD to Quick Wipe it to clear the boot sector. Partition Wizard Wipe Disk Video Help.

Let us know how it goes.

ish4d0w · 31 Jan 2013

Thanks for your replies!

It seems that CrashFree BIOS 3 supports USB flash drives and CDs. This is an auto-recovery utility, it seems I can't trigger it manually.
EZ-Flash (ALT+F2) supports floppy only.

However, I already updated my BIOS as my mentioned in the first post. You're advising flashing the BIOS. Should I reflash it?

gregrocker · 31 Jan 2013

Who are you replying to?

I gave you a series of steps to try. You appear to be ignoring them as though I was wasting my time typing them out.

What are the results of trying each of them?

ish4d0w · 31 Jan 2013

I didn't ignore anything and I really appreciate all of your efforts trying to help me :)
I tried them already just didn't post my answer yet. So here you go.

gregrocker said:

Reset BIOS to defaults, then try another ISO burned to DVD or written to flash stick [...]

Tried it. No effect.

Setup hangs when it's supposed to reboot the computer for the first time. Blank screen with background only.

Setup continues on manual reboot but hangs again on "Finishing installation". What is Windows doing there?

I can access command line (shift + F10) from there, therefore also task manager and resource monitor. It seems Windows isn't doing anything at all, it's completely idle. No disk activity, no CPU activity, no drvinst processes, nothing at all.

I also tried it with Vista (from official DVD), it's also doing the same so the problem is not related to Windows 7 install disc and flash drive.

If I reboot at this stage, Windows gives me an error on bootup that installation was aborted and I need to reinstall it.

gregrocker said:

If DVD hangs again, reset BIOS to defaults.

Tried it, no effect.

If that fails, try the flash stick install, booting stick from one-time BIOS Boot Menu key under USB, Removable or HD's, after setting HD first to boot in BIOS setup.

Tried it, no effect but I'm now using this menu. I just couldn't locate the shortcut because it was hidden on the splash screen, it's F8 for this MB.
I'm now leaving the boot settings in BIOS on the HDD being first.

If that fails unplug the DVD drive and try USB again.

Tried it, no effect. DVD drive appears to be fully functional.

Next I'd pull the HD out or try booting Partition Wizard bootable CD to Quick Wipe it to clear the boot sector. Partition Wizard Wipe Disk Video Help.

Couldn't do this one yet as there's a partition on this HD which contains data.
I'll backup this partition soon and I'll try it. This HD is old anyway, it's from 2006.

I wanted to try with a different HD but that one seems to be broken as computer stops at splash screen if it's connected, proceeds if disconnected.

If there's a way to wipe the boot sector without erasing the other partition please let me know. I'll try it.

gregrocker · 31 Jan 2013

I'd wipe the HD with Diskpart Clean Command which solves about half of these failures by cleaning the boot sector of conflicting code.

You can move the data off to external using the installer with Copy & Paste - in Windows Recovery Console.

If this fails predefine an Active partition for install using Step 2.2 in SSD - HDD Optimize for Windows Reinstallation, then from installer's Command line run Disk Check

If that fails test your HD using maker's HD Diagnostic extended CD scan. If none then use Partition Wizard CD Partition surface test which can also Quick wipe the HD and create a Primary NTFS install partition to Modify>Set to Active. Run Partition Wizard Check File System before trying install.

If those all fail then enter Device Manager to disable any devices in error (!) to complete install then update them from desktop using Windows Updates. Device Manager - Access During Windows 7 Installation
Automatically deliver drivers via Windows Update (Step 3)