Problems updating bios

[barend]

What I used to do in XP was boot from dos, execute Afudos.exe and flash the .rom file for my Asus P5Q3-Deluxe-wifi motherboard.

This does not work anymore: ntfs cannot be accessed.
Tried the Asus cd that came with the motherboard, won't install in W7.
Now I don't really know how to flash a new bios.
Of course I checked out the Asus site, but it's a complicated mess and nothing can't be found on the subject...

Anyone?

 

[alphanumeric]

There are several ways to do it.
1. Create a bootable dos floppy and do it from there.
2. If you don't have a floppy drive create a bootable CD or USB thumbdrive and flash from there.
I flashed my ASUS motherboard right from windows 7 x64. I just downloaded the latest (compatible) utility from the ASUS web sight.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I'm surprised there's no Windows app to handle the BIOS flashing for your board. If that's true, the bootable USB flash drive is your ticket. There are plenty of free apps out there, HP being the most common, that will format a flash drive and make it bootable. Then copy your BIOS flash files to it, and boot from it.

 

[TVeblen]

The safest way to flash an ASUS BIOS, IMHO, is to use the EZ-FLASH 2 utility.

Go to the ASUS website and download the most current BIOS for your MB & OS.

Unzip the file, and copy the .ROM file to a FAT32 formated USB stick with no partitions. It is good practice to rename the file only-8-letters-long.ROM to read it easily in the BIOS.

Document all your existing BIOS settings.

Reboot, Press DEL, and enter the BIOS.

Go to the EXIT tab and Load the BIOS Defaults. (Always load the defaults before flashing a BIOS. Never flash a BIOS while overclocked!) Before restarting, plug in the USB stick so it will be recognized on reboot. Select Save & Exit.

Enter the BIOS again. Under the Tools menu > select EZ Flash 2. Use TAB to go L&R, ARROW KEYS to go up & Down - navigate to find the ROM file on the USB stick (Drive naming will be different than in OS). Once it is highlighted, press ENTER.

Supervise the flash, when it is done, Restart as requested. Unplug the USB stick while it is restarting.

Enter the BIOS again. Load the BIOS Defaults again. Then you can reenter your preferred BIOS settings you documented earlier. Select Save & Exit and you are done.

More detailed info here:
http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...del=P5B+Deluxe/WiFi-AP&SLanguage=en-us&page=1

 

[neo101]

What I used to do in XP was boot from dos, execute Afudos.exe and flash the .rom file for my Asus P5Q3-Deluxe-wifi motherboard.

This does not work anymore: ntfs cannot be accessed.
Tried the Asus cd that came with the motherboard, won't install in W7.
Now I don't really know how to flash a new bios.
Of course I checked out the Asus site, but it's a complicated mess and nothing can't be found on the subject...

Anyone?

Hi

In the old days, when you used a bios flash program like EZFlash, it has to have a programmed line in it mentioning the xxx.rom? you are trying to flash or it won't see it and fail.

Might be where you went wrong.

So, you have to match the flash program .rev to roughly when/just after the bios release date was!

 

[alphanumeric]

I think the OP tried to install the BIOS update utility that was on the CD that came with the motherboard, and it wasn't compatible with windows 7. Thats the way I read it anyway. If so, like suggested, just download the latest version and go from there. Thats the way I flashed my BIOS.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I've said it many times before, but those included CDs are good for nothing more than being a drink coaster during your first build. The drivers and apps are always available online, in updated form. It would be nice to see them not even ship the discs, and instead include a piece of paper instructing the users to the website to download them. Too many people assume the disc will be up to date and work fine, and then when it doesn't, they assume there's a problem.

 

[Mark Phelps]

The safest way to flash an ASUS BIOS, IMHO, is to use the EZ-FLASH 2 utility.

+1

This is what I've used to flash ASUS Mobo BIOS's and it's never failed me.

 

[Mellon Head]

The safest way to flash an ASUS BIOS, IMHO, is to use the EZ-FLASH 2 utility.

+1

This is what I've used to flash ASUS Mobo BIOS's and it's never failed me.

As long as you don't try downgrading to an earlier ASUS BIOS. I can't even get it to work with AFUDOS.

Oh well, the latest BIOS seems to be working properly now. After the &$%#@ re-install...

 

[Hopalong X]

As long as you don't try downgrading to an earlier ASUS BIOS. I can't even get it to work with AFUDOS.

Oh well, the latest BIOS seems to be working properly now. After the &$%#@ re-install...

Which board do you have?

My ASUS board is probably different than yours but this general idea may apply.

I bought this MB about a month ago. It has the 603? bios version.
If I go to ASUS the CPU listing says this should have the 700 version at least.
There is an 800, 900 I think and a 1000 version now.
ASUS said if it works with the 600 without problems DO NOT upgrade the bios.
IF and only IF there are problems then update the bios and make a copy of the old bios before installing the new which is an option in the bios to boot from if the new version does not work.

Just a thought.
Mike

 

[thefabe]

+1 on EZFLASH 2 It's been the easiest way I have found to upgrade my bios as well.

I just format a USB drive to Fat32 then put the 1401.bin (in my cse) file on it then boot into bios>EZFLASH 2 and select the drive from the menu and let it do it's thing. Once it has finshed fashing remember to remove the USB drive before it restarts. I also agree ti's always a good idea to make a backup of the original bios first.

I also subscribe to the "if it an't broke don't fix it" If none of the bios's leading up to the latest don't addres a specific issue you are having then thier is really no reason to flash your bios. Fabe

 

[barend]

Found the solution in an Asus forum:
Just hit Alt-F2 during POST, select the spot where the ROM file is and presto.
Works for ntfs.
Don't forget to save the bios first or you'll lose your settings (o/c'ing my E8400 from 3 GHz to 4.4 GHz)
As neo101 and tveblen mentioned this seems the only option now.
All the other options don't work, as dos obviously cannot access ntfs, well, there are some wobbly programs but it gets complicated.
DeaconFrost is right, special boot disks are more of a pain than helpful: always there's some reason why they don't work: driver missing etc.
Sure there's workarounds, but who wants boot disks to be a hobby in itself?
My Acronis emergency disk doesn't see my e-sata disk (where the backup files are!).
Had to buy an extra internal sata hddd to backup now...
So right now I'm backing up c:\ as a full image once a week and all my files on weekdays incrementally.

My conclusion:
There's a solution for everything, but the simplest is always the best!

Thanks for the input guys!

 

[jimbo45]

Found the solution in an Asus forum:
Just hit Alt-F2 during POST, select the spot where the ROM file is and presto.
Works for ntfs.
Don't forget to save the bios first or you'll lose your settings (o/c'ing my E8400 from 3 GHz to 4.4 GHz)
As neo101 and tveblen mentioned this seems the only option now.
All the other options don't work, as dos obviously cannot access ntfs, well, there are some wobbly programs but it gets complicated.
DeaconFrost is right, special boot disks are more of a pain than helpful: always there's some reason why they don't work: driver missing etc.
Sure there's workarounds, but who wants boot disks to be a hobby in itself?
My Acronis emergency disk doesn't see my e-sata disk (where the backup files are!).
Had to buy an extra internal sata hddd to backup now...
So right now I'm backing up c:\ as a full image once a week and all my files on weekdays incrementally.

My conclusion:
There's a solution for everything, but the simplest is always the best!

Thanks for the input guys!

Hi OT to the original thread but you mentioned that Acronis doesn't see your ESATA drive.

When you create the Acronis Bootable Media you should ensure that the FULL program version is used and not the "basic" one. You get a choice when creating the bootable media.

The Full version includes things like USB and other disk drivers and also will let you restore from a NETWORK drive too.

The Full version should see your drives. The latest versions (11.0) DEFINITELY supports ESATA.


Cheers
jimbo

 

[OneSerious]

I just done mine last night using a utility that came on the Disc out of the box (can't remember the name). Worked a treat. It goes online, downloads a list of bios versions you pick the one you want. Press "flash" it does it's work and reboots, ready to rock.

Edit: Mine is is also an Asus board.

 

[barend]

[/QUOTE]
Hi OT to the original thread but you mentioned that Acronis doesn't see your ESATA drive.

When you create the Acronis Bootable Media you should ensure that the FULL program version is used and not the "basic" one. You get a choice when creating the bootable media.
The Full version includes things like USB and other disk drivers and also will let you restore from a NETWORK drive too.
The Full version should see your drives. The latest versions (11.0) DEFINITELY supports ESATA.
Cheers
jimbo[/QUOTE]

I have Acronis Home 10, version 13.0.6053.
I don't get a choice to do a "full version".
The disk created does not detect e-sata.
They sent me a Linux based image, but that won't do it either.
Which version do you refer to exactly?
Thanks

 

[jimbo45]

Hi OT to the original thread but you mentioned that Acronis doesn't see your ESATA drive.

When you create the Acronis Bootable Media you should ensure that the FULL program version is used and not the "basic" one. You get a choice when creating the bootable media.
The Full version includes things like USB and other disk drivers and also will let you restore from a NETWORK drive too.
The Full version should see your drives. The latest versions (11.0) DEFINITELY supports ESATA.
Cheers
jimbo[/QUOTE]

I have Acronis Home 10, version 13.0.6053.
I don't get a choice to do a "full version".
The disk created does not detect e-sata.
They sent me a Linux based image, but that won't do it either.
Which version do you refer to exactly?
Thanks[/QUOTE]

True Image Home 2011 build 5105

Cheers
jimbo