Fools guide to flash bios

Fools guide - don't. (get an adult or grown up to help you!)

Seriously though, while it may seem fairly simple for most of us here to flash a BIOS, the fact that you have to explain to your mate in noddy speak how to flash the BIOS is just asking for trouble.
 
Ummm, yeah see what you mean. :(

Dam it now means that i have to drive to his place, round trip of 100 (ish) miles. Couldv'e done with out that.

Oh well, Ces't la vie!
 
I take no credit for this, stolen completely from the DFI NF4 thread on ABXzone, written by none other than Sierra-bound:

"BIOS Flashing

The best method for flashing a BIOS remains the floppy disk, IMO. Some people use CD's or USB drives. That's okay too. I would not recommend flashing in Windows, especially if you've been having stability problems.

The floppy method

Insert floppy disk in drive. Go to My Computer and right click on the floppy icon. Select "format", then check "Create an MS-DOS startup disk". After the formatting is complete, copy the AWDFLASH executable and the BIOS file to the floppy. Reboot.

Enter BIOS and load Optimized Defaults. Save and exit.

At the DMI Pool verification screen, the boot-up process should stop and a command prompt will appear. Type in the following:

AWDFLASH.EXE (BIOS file name).BIN /py /sn /cd /cp /cc /LD /R /f

All the letters following BIN are switches. An explanation of each switch can be found here. A switch is an internal command that allows you to add or remove functions. "f", for example, is the command to flash. There should be a space after AWDFLASH.EXE, BIN and each of the switches.

If you're not sure what the BIOS file's name is, type in the following at the command prompt:

dir/w/p

This will produce a list of all the files on the floppy with their correct DOS abbreviations.

If you use those switches, the computer will automatically reboot when the flash is finished. Go back into the BIOS, load Optimized Defaults again, save and exit.

If you left the floppy in the drive, you will get the command prompt again. At that point, kill all power to the computer. That includes removing the power cord from the PSU. Press the motherboard's power-on button a couple of times to help drain all power from the board. Then leave the CMOS jumper in the reset position for at least ten minutes. You can also remove the motherboard battery if you want. Some people do. I don't.

Put CMOS jumper back in normal position, power on, go back into the BIOS and load Optimized Defaults again, save and exit.

Now you're ready to use your computer.

I've used this method dozens of times and have never had a bad flash. It's important that you leave the CMOS jumper in the reset position for at least ten minutes, otherwise all the new BIOS settings may not take hold. This applies only to DFI NF4 boards. You don't have to wait that long with other motherboards."
 
If you still want to take the risk tell your mate to use 'Asus update' which is on his motherboard CD. The tool will automatically update his board to the latest BIOS revision from within windows, very simple to use.
 
Well i've managed to update my mates bios, on this asus mobo. Unfortunately still having issues with the occassional lock up of the system, that is why i was having to update the bios.

I've changed the ram too, from a single 1gb to 2 512mb's and that's made little difference. It's using the onboard graphics, onboard sound etc etc.

What more could cause a lock up of xp :confused:
 
Flashing a Bios on an Asus board is a Breeze nowadays mate ignore the horror storys.

Use Asus update.
Go to the Asus site and You get the correct Bios for His board.
Then send it him or link him and tell him to save it to a location (you choose)
Then use Asus update and select update from location.
It takes a couple of minutes and is about 5 clicks of the mouse button. No fuss no dramas no handbags swinging.
Post back for more info or reassurance but honestly mate it is Simple using Asus update if you have already saved the new Bios yourself.
 
Av8 said:
Well i've managed to update my mates bios, on this asus mobo. Unfortunately still having issues with the occassional lock up of the system, that is why i was having to update the bios.

I've changed the ram too, from a single 1gb to 2 512mb's and that's made little difference. It's using the onboard graphics, onboard sound etc etc.

What more could cause a lock up of xp :confused:
Click to expand...

MALC30 said:
Flashing a Bios on an Asus board is a Breeze nowadays mate ignore the horror storys.

Use Asus update.
Go to the Asus site and You get the correct Bios for His board.
Then send it him or link him and tell him to save it to a location (you choose)
Then use Asus update and select update from location.
It takes a couple of minutes and is about 5 clicks of the mouse button. No fuss no dramas no handbags swinging.
Post back for more info or reassurance but honestly mate it is Simple using Asus update if you have already saved the new Bios yourself.
Click to expand...

Thanks Malc30, but i have managed to update his bios for him. Just having problems with the lock ups that i thought the bios update would have sorted out.
 
Av8 said:
Thanks Malc30, but i have managed to update his bios for him. Just having problems with the lock ups that i thought the bios update would have sorted out.
Click to expand...

Try xp anti spy to block the data sent and try to slim down XP for him.
Has he spy swept it lately ?
How many resources is he running ?
 
malc30 said:
Try xp anti spy to block the data sent and try to slim down XP for him.
Has he spy swept it lately ?
How many resources is he running ?
Click to expand...

I'll look into it, thanks for reply.
 
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