Bios failed to update in windows, help!!!

sirichmond · 6 Dec 2008 at 10:57

Hi all,

Just tried to reflash my bios in windows using the Asus Update utility it got all the way through but then could not verify the new bios. So I downloaded an older one and tried that but now asus update utility wont open as it says its unable to detect Asus Bios........ Any ideas I'm scared to switch the PC off incase it wont restart.

Cheers

Edinho · 6 Dec 2008 at 11:34

Thats why I hate using the new way of flashing, just seems too dodgy and I come out in a sweat doing it. I'd try google see if its happened to someone else. Your going to have to reboot at some point!

gl

sirichmond · 6 Dec 2008 at 12:10

Had a look online seems it does not work with Vista 64 bit several stories of people in the same boat. Thats it PC is not been switched off now.

Edinho · 6 Dec 2008 at 12:50

See if you can contact Asus. Looks like their cockup.

J.B · 6 Dec 2008 at 13:22

Something as low level as a BIOS update should never be done with something as high levels as a modern OS.
I made this mistake many years ago, I dont know why ASUS still say it is a reasonable way of flashing the BIOS. Their update facility that is built into the CMOS (EZ Flash) is pretty good and easy to use.

The only plus side I can see for ASUS's bad bios flash utility, is that it has created a market on ebay for selling replacement BIOS chips. check it out!

MikeHunt79 · 6 Dec 2008 at 13:45

Bah, there really should be a sticky thread saying "Don't BIOS flash in Windows".

It's pretty much the worst possible thing you can do to a PC short of setting fire to it!

lunarwolf · 6 Dec 2008 at 14:23

used asus update on vista 64 and no problems.

you probably need to restart computer, probably why it is saying that u dont have a bios currently since updating bios usually involves a reboot

so reboot and finish update process

worst that could happen you have to do it old school

AtreuS · 6 Dec 2008 at 14:31

No the the worst thing that can happen is he reboots and the board is dead as there is no working BIOS. He cant boot from a floppy to flash it if that happens so its RMA time.

vertica · 6 Dec 2008 at 14:31

having learnt from experience, flashing from the os usually results in a corrupt bios,

either you never ever turn off your pc again! (not even a restart)
or you have send your mobo back to the manufacturer to get the bios chip replaced

sorry mate but sounds like your mobo may be going on a holiday!

pastymuncher · 6 Dec 2008 at 14:38

As you have discovered, never ever use the crappy Asus windows software to flash the bios. Always use Alt + F2 on startup to use EZFlash.

Have you tried "rescuing" the bios? Basically flashing back to the original version. Does your board support Asus Crash Free Bios? If so pop the motherboard driver cd in the drive, restart and it should detect the bios on the cd and reflash to it automatically.

Edinho · 6 Dec 2008 at 14:54

Plus never ever flash unless you need to. It only leads to you landing in jail or a dead mobo.

sirichmond · 6 Dec 2008 at 15:45

Indeed I have learnt my lesson and its not looking like a pretty one. Not tried to do a restart yet gonna leave that a while, I fear the worse. Have tried to reflash with original bios from windows but the utility wont even start as it says there is no bios present. If it is dead I will try installing the mobo CD as it is a crash free bios. Ha. Failing that I have already ordered a second hand one to replace so if it should restart miraculously will just sell it on.

Fanatic · 6 Dec 2008 at 16:07

I did this too.

When I rebooted there was no BIOS. It just sat there waiting for a CD/Floppy/USB. So I downloaded the BIOS from the Asus site, stuck it on a USB, stuck the USB stick into the PC. It detected the USB and flashed the BIOS. Need to rename the BIOS file though, for me it needed to be called P5WDH.ROM - as my motherboard was an Asus P5WDH.

pingwing · 6 Dec 2008 at 16:24

Did thisbefore years ago, except i managed to prove i was a dunce and put the wrong bios on my board (back in the days of my 939 foxconn board that refused to o/c at all)

Anyway after hours of faffing about the best way out of this situation is when you have to turn it off just take the battery out for a little bit (with it unplugged from the wall). Put the battery back in and it should revert to the default bios (iv done it a few times).

sirichmond · 10 Dec 2008 at 11:48

Hello there, tried everything to recover my bios but no avail. So used ebay and got a second hand motherboard exactly the same. Now can I just pop the bios chip out of the new motherboard and put it in mine? Or would it be better to rebuild the system using the new mobo? If it is possible just to swap the bios chip can someone tell me the best way to do it, a noddy guide.

Cheers in advace

pastymuncher · 10 Dec 2008 at 11:56

sirichmond said:
Hello there, tried everything to recover my bios but no avail. So used ebay and got a second hand motherboard exactly the same. Now can I just pop the bios chip out of the new motherboard and put it in mine? Or would it be better to rebuild the system using the new mobo? If it is possible just to swap the bios chip can someone tell me the best way to do it, a noddy guide.

Cheers in advace

I believe the P5K has a soldered in place bios so you will have to swap the boards over. As it's the same board there will be no need to reinstall windows.

The Halk · 10 Dec 2008 at 12:13

Saves me creating a thread....

I don't use a floppy drive any more, so what's the best way for me to update my BIOS?

I've always just done it in Windows after killing every possible process in task manager. But every time I say to myself "I'll do it properly next time"

Can it be done from an SD card? That'd be ideal since the monitor has a couple of card slots on it.

Alternatively I could just buy the lowest capacity USB flash drive?

MikeHunt79 · 10 Dec 2008 at 12:18

sirichmond said:
Hello there, tried everything to recover my bios but no avail. So used ebay and got a second hand motherboard exactly the same. Now can I just pop the bios chip out of the new motherboard and put it in mine? Or would it be better to rebuild the system using the new mobo? If it is possible just to swap the bios chip can someone tell me the best way to do it, a noddy guide.

Cheers in advace

RMA it - Why should you have to pay for another board when it's ASUS' fault your BIOS is bad in the first place...

J.B · 10 Dec 2008 at 12:26

The Halk said:
Saves me creating a thread....

I don't use a floppy drive any more, so what's the best way for me to update my BIOS?

I've always just done it in Windows after killing every possible process in task manager. But every time I say to myself "I'll do it properly next time"

Can it be done from an SD card? That'd be ideal since the monitor has a couple of card slots on it.

Alternatively I could just buy the lowest capacity USB flash drive?

I do mine from a USB drive, has to be formatted in FAT32 I think though. Dont think I can do it from my card reader though, not 100% sure.

MikeHunt79 · 10 Dec 2008 at 12:28

J.B said:
I do mine from a USB drive, has to be formatted in FAT32 I think though. Dont think I can do it from my card reader though, not 100% sure.

A card reader shuold be the same as a USB drive... They are pretty much the same thing.