I corrupted my bios help please?

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:07

Basically i brought a mobo and managed to get it working after the usual barebones setup. When it was working i thought right this is the best time to update the bios so went to do it through asus update unfortunately when flashing i got a bsod with the message system halted hardware malfunction call your vendor for support. After that all i get is power but no post unfortunately. Apparently the board i have has a crashfree bios using the original cd to boot but that seems not to be working any ideas how i get it working again.
My system specs
Cpu:E8400
Graphics:2x8800gts512mb
Ram: DDR2 2x1gb kingston 667mhz 1x1gb adata 800mhz 1x1 elite pc 800mhz
Mobo

5N-T Deluxe 780i
PSU:850watts
Any ideas are great thanks

shadowake · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:13

There may (if your lucky) be a jumper on the board to use a secondary bios, if not im affraid you may be in trouble. You could try taking out the CMOS battery for 5 mins but I doubt it will work. You really should NEVER flash a BIOS from Windows, it really is just asking for trouble - its like waving your tackle over a fan blade - if it goes wrong its not comming back! :S

G_Wizz · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:21

It looks like that board has a removal bios chip, if so and the worst comes to the worst you can get a pre flashed chip for around a tenner.

Although having said that you don't "boot" from the driver cd to flash the bios, just put the cd in the drive and start the PC, it should search for the bios file on the disc and flash itself. If the boot block is corrupted that won't happen though and you will have to get another chip.

SpAceD · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:21

I don't think he's in that much trouble personally. You need to create a bootable USB stick and boot into a Bios Flashing Tool, and completely flash your BIOS with that tool. You can get some flashing tools that will allow you to erase the bios, then flash.

Makhaira · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:21

Always flash from a boot disk where possible.

Hindsight aside though, you have limited options. On some old motherboards you used to be able to do a swap trick, I've no idea if it still works though. You get hold of a working BIOS chip for your board, insert it and boot to the flash prompt, then, with the PC on, swap it for the dead BIOS chip, and flash that one. Hugely risky, but used to work.

If you were following manufacturer's instructions though, and you're in warranty, you may have recourse for help from them (although I suspect there is an agreement in the update software that absolves them from any responsibility for damage caused).

Makhaira · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:22

SpAceD said:
I don't think he's in that much trouble personally. You need to create a bootable USB stick and boot into a Bios Flashing Tool, and completely flash your BIOS with that tool. You can get some flashing tools that will allow you to erase the bios, then flash.

He can't POST...

SpAceD · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:24

ugghh.. sucks.

frying_pan_cat · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:27

Makhaira said:
If you were following manufacturer's instructions though, and you're in warranty, you may have recourse for help from them (although I suspect there is an agreement in the update software that absolves them from any responsibility for damage caused).

This. My mate had an asus board which died while trying to update the bios. He RMAd it and got sent a new one. Unless your board has a secondary bios and there's instructions on the asus site you can follow then I'd RMA it tbh before you do anything else which might mean they'll refuse

EDIT: I just found this on the Asus site

CrashFree BIOS 2
The CrashFree BIOS 2 feature now includes the BIOS auto-recovery function in a support CD. Users can reboot their system through the support CD when a bootable disk is not available and go through the simple BIOS auto-recovery process. ASUS motherboards now enable users to enjoy this protection feature without the need to pay for an optional ROM.

Is there any instructions in the manual about how to recover the bios from this?

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:28

yep i can't post i'm awaiting another bios chip but i thought due to it being a crashfree bios2 it could be fixed guess i was wrong though. Unfortunately i'm not the original owner of the board and it seems you need to contact the shop form which you purchased it and i don't have any idea where it originally came from.

frying_pan_cat · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:33

EpicCarnage said:
yep i can't post i'm awaiting another bios chip but i thought due to it being a crashfree bios2 it could be fixed guess i was wrong though. Unfortunately i'm not the original owner of the board and it seems you need to contact the shop form which you purchased it and i don't have any idea where it originally came from.

See my edit above. Also it may be worth just dropping Asus support an email as they may just send you a new bios chip

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:36

frying_pan_cat said:
See my edit above. Also it may be worth just dropping Asus support an email as they may just send you a new bios chip

I do have another bios chip on the way but just the wait is killing me atm and i thought i might aswell try every possibility to fix it.

CooK1E · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:36

Asus pretty much encourage you to do the BIOS Updates through windows and not by using a floppy (or usb key) Can't say that I'm surprised that this is with an Asus board. My board has exactly the same symptoms and I hadn't even touched the BIOS at all.

Asus will probably RMA it (although the forums are full of people that got sent a new BIOS chip) however it will take ages. I've been waiting just over 4 weeks now.

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:41

I have a asus striker II that also is a 780i mobo can i try thats bios chip because that board short circuited and died

G_Wizz · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:46

EpicCarnage said:
I have a asus striker II that also is a 780i mobo can i try thats bios chip because that board short circuited and died

Its possible that that chip might just allow you to boot to flash the proper bios, would try it myself if in your position.

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 13:48

only thing i really need to know is will that chip **** up my mobo or make no difference

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 14:00

ok i can get it to post but just post to the logo on the asus striker II bios chip but how do i then flash my old chip to work for a asus p5n-t deluxe so it comes up the wrong bios for the mobo (also i have no floppy drive)

G_Wizz · 22 Jan 2010 at 14:26

You will need to find a universal bios flash utility, if you have access to another PC search for something like uniflash, copy this to a USB stick along with the correct bios. You will also need to make the USB stick bootable, even then its possible that because you are booting with the wrong bios you might not be able to access the USB stick.

Fun isn't it

I had the same problem a while back, I ended up hot flashing the chip in another MOBO.

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 14:31

only problem i have is i don't have another mobo that works with this type of bios chip also when i brought my replacement on flea bay i forgot to check where it was coming from and it was holland which is gonna take forever and upon looking again there was a guy in the uk selling the chip but i'm too tight to fork out for another one

G_Wizz · 22 Jan 2010 at 14:33

When it posts with the wrong chip, how far does it go ?

Can you see the HD's etc in the bios screen.

EpicCarnage · 22 Jan 2010 at 14:42

nope unfortunately just to the logo and bam freeze can't use del or anything. I guess atleast i know when the bios chip does come atleast it will work because the other bios chip got to post at all means the board aint screwed i hope.