Feeling Lucky. . .

Hi!

I just flashed my BIOS - it's been years since I went through this ordeal.
My machines have mostly been quite well behaved,so have skipped that one.
Now I thought it was about time (4 upgrades at once!), and it was all quite
uneventfull - well, painless, at least. Funny how this simple operation can
muster the adrenaline???


Tony. . .

Charlie
Tue May 23 09:03:34 CDT 2006

Now see, that's something I tend to stay on top of, and I haven't had a
problem in so many years that I no longer get the adrenaline up. OTOH, it
is always a good idea to know where that BIOS reset jumper is on your mobo.
:)

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc

Tony Sperling wrote:
> Hi!
>
> I just flashed my BIOS - it's been years since I went through this ordeal.
> My machines have mostly been quite well behaved,so have skipped that one.
> Now I thought it was about time (4 upgrades at once!), and it was all
> quite uneventfull - well, painless, at least. Funny how this simple
> operation can muster the adrenaline???
>
>
> Tony. . .

Carlos
Tue May 23 09:09:03 CDT 2006

Tony:
Flashing your mobo's BIOS is one of the most stressing things in the world.
Time seems to freeze while the progress bar slowly advances, waiting for a
lurking power outage.
Don't know why "shrinks" don't mention this issue.
They usually quote losing a job, moving to a new house as topmost causes for
stress.
I'd vote for BIOS flashing first.
Luckily flashing from within Windows is a lotta faster than the floppy thing.
I also flash my DVD and CD drives, way less stressing.
Also flashed successfully my HP iPAQ Pocket PC once.
Oh, man! THAT was adrenaline!
Carlos

"Tony Sperling" wrote:

> Hi!
>
> I just flashed my BIOS - it's been years since I went through this ordeal.
> My machines have mostly been quite well behaved,so have skipped that one.
> Now I thought it was about time (4 upgrades at once!), and it was all quite
> uneventfull - well, painless, at least. Funny how this simple operation can
> muster the adrenaline???
>
>
> Tony. . .
>
>
>

Larry
Tue May 23 11:28:38 CDT 2006

On two separate occasions using SuperMicro mobos, I had to order a new BIOS
chip from them because the flash failed. And resetting the mobo didn't fix
it.


"Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
news:%23qkPvGnfGHA.4852@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Now see, that's something I tend to stay on top of, and I haven't had a
> problem in so many years that I no longer get the adrenaline up. OTOH, it
> is always a good idea to know where that BIOS reset jumper is on your
> mobo. :)
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
> http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc
>
> Tony Sperling wrote:
>> Hi!
>>
>> I just flashed my BIOS - it's been years since I went through this
>> ordeal.
>> My machines have mostly been quite well behaved,so have skipped that one.
>> Now I thought it was about time (4 upgrades at once!), and it was all
>> quite uneventfull - well, painless, at least. Funny how this simple
>> operation can muster the adrenaline???
>>
>>
>> Tony. . .
>
>

Charlie
Tue May 23 12:41:50 CDT 2006

Ouch. Makes my ASUS experience feel a lot better! Maybe I've been spoiled.
But I admit - I always keep a baseline version on a bootable CD that has the
flash utility on it... JIC.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc

Larry Hodges wrote:
> On two separate occasions using SuperMicro mobos, I had to order a new
> BIOS chip from them because the flash failed. And resetting the mobo
> didn't fix it.
>
>
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
> news:%23qkPvGnfGHA.4852@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> Now see, that's something I tend to stay on top of, and I haven't had a
>> problem in so many years that I no longer get the adrenaline up. OTOH,
>> it is always a good idea to know where that BIOS reset jumper is on your
>> mobo. :)
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>> http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc
>>
>> Tony Sperling wrote:
>>> Hi!
>>>
>>> I just flashed my BIOS - it's been years since I went through this
>>> ordeal.
>>> My machines have mostly been quite well behaved,so have skipped that
>>> one. Now I thought it was about time (4 upgrades at once!), and it was
>>> all quite uneventfull - well, painless, at least. Funny how this simple
>>> operation can muster the adrenaline???
>>>
>>>
>>> Tony. . .

Tony
Tue May 23 12:50:20 CDT 2006

To Charlie: Yes, I almost remember that feeling - I must have been one of
the first of a handfull of people here in old DK that flashed anything (
except for the odd exhibitionist ), I was a regular reader of PC Mag. at the
time and knew about ZIF sockets and Flashable chips, two items I desperatly
wanted for my next machine and everywhere I asked about it no-one had ever
heard of the concepts. I then bumped into a fellow that built me a machine
with a Chinese Quantum board fresh with all the new stuff ( 486 DX50), and
it didn't take long before I had found a reason to try that flashing stuff.

At least 6 months then passed before ZIF and Flash became buzzwords here.
But over all, I have to say that I have followed the producers advice not to
fix it if it ain't broke.


To Carlos: Yes, we do understand each other. No question about that.
However doing it from Windows? I just don't know - I think I would feel like
if they turned up one day and began to exchange the entire foundation of the
house with everybody still inside. I know they could probably do it, but I
would quite probably feel a bit 'icky' to.

I never flashed any of my cards, I have been on the look-out for something
but they seem to only issue those fixes when there are serious bugs. The
periferals are often targeted at one-task only, they work or not, did
flashing help you any there?

Personally, I had an unexpected bonus. Some time ago I downloaded the
processor dashboard utility from AMD, it installed allright but didn't
launch protesting that it lacked some support. This update, I noticed
mentioned something about C&Q and when I was up and running again I fired up
the dashboard and it worked right away, funny little thing, the dashboard.
Then I noticed that the CPU temp had fallen by almost ten degrees, which I
understand is meaning that all the time C&Q wasn't working, although Sandra
listed it as active - well, it was set to active in the BIOS of course!

I also tried installing the well known SpeedFan utility once, which also
didn't ever worked for me, I wonder if that is fixed as well? That is next
on the list. Then if temp stays put, maybe I try and jack up the clock just
a notch?


Good day and/or night, all!

Tony. . .

Carlos
Tue May 23 13:29:02 CDT 2006

Charlie:
BIOS reset jumper just resets BIOS data, not firmware.
So, if the firmware (program) gets screwed up you are in trouble.
Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that keeps a
small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS image.
I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive, turning
on the machine and a little of praying.
Carlos
"Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:

> Ouch. Makes my ASUS experience feel a lot better! Maybe I've been spoiled.
> But I admit - I always keep a baseline version on a bootable CD that has the
> flash utility on it... JIC.
>
> --
> Charlie.
> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
> http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc
>
> Larry Hodges wrote:
> > On two separate occasions using SuperMicro mobos, I had to order a new
> > BIOS chip from them because the flash failed. And resetting the mobo
> > didn't fix it.
> >
> >
> > "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in message
> > news:%23qkPvGnfGHA.4852@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> >> Now see, that's something I tend to stay on top of, and I haven't had a
> >> problem in so many years that I no longer get the adrenaline up. OTOH,
> >> it is always a good idea to know where that BIOS reset jumper is on your
> >> mobo. :)
> >>
> >> --
> >> Charlie.
> >> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
> >> http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc
> >>
> >> Tony Sperling wrote:
> >>> Hi!
> >>>
> >>> I just flashed my BIOS - it's been years since I went through this
> >>> ordeal.
> >>> My machines have mostly been quite well behaved,so have skipped that
> >>> one. Now I thought it was about time (4 upgrades at once!), and it was
> >>> all quite uneventfull - well, painless, at least. Funny how this simple
> >>> operation can muster the adrenaline???
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Tony. . .
>
>
>

Carlos
Tue May 23 13:34:01 CDT 2006

Tony:
Flashing from within Windows with ASUS utilities is fast and reliable.
Give it a try (at your own risk) and you'll notice a tenfold speed increase
as compared to floppy.
I do it for mobos and CD/DVD burners.
Flashing is useful for burner drives because afther that they recognize more
recordable media as it is released in the market.
That info is included in the release notes of the firmware.
At least ASUS does so.
Carlos
P.S.: Good afternoon on my side
"Tony Sperling" wrote:

> To Charlie: Yes, I almost remember that feeling - I must have been one of
> the first of a handfull of people here in old DK that flashed anything (
> except for the odd exhibitionist ), I was a regular reader of PC Mag. at the
> time and knew about ZIF sockets and Flashable chips, two items I desperatly
> wanted for my next machine and everywhere I asked about it no-one had ever
> heard of the concepts. I then bumped into a fellow that built me a machine
> with a Chinese Quantum board fresh with all the new stuff ( 486 DX50), and
> it didn't take long before I had found a reason to try that flashing stuff.
>
> At least 6 months then passed before ZIF and Flash became buzzwords here.
> But over all, I have to say that I have followed the producers advice not to
> fix it if it ain't broke.
>
>
> To Carlos: Yes, we do understand each other. No question about that.
> However doing it from Windows? I just don't know - I think I would feel like
> if they turned up one day and began to exchange the entire foundation of the
> house with everybody still inside. I know they could probably do it, but I
> would quite probably feel a bit 'icky' to.
>
> I never flashed any of my cards, I have been on the look-out for something
> but they seem to only issue those fixes when there are serious bugs. The
> periferals are often targeted at one-task only, they work or not, did
> flashing help you any there?
>
> Personally, I had an unexpected bonus. Some time ago I downloaded the
> processor dashboard utility from AMD, it installed allright but didn't
> launch protesting that it lacked some support. This update, I noticed
> mentioned something about C&Q and when I was up and running again I fired up
> the dashboard and it worked right away, funny little thing, the dashboard.
> Then I noticed that the CPU temp had fallen by almost ten degrees, which I
> understand is meaning that all the time C&Q wasn't working, although Sandra
> listed it as active - well, it was set to active in the BIOS of course!
>
> I also tried installing the well known SpeedFan utility once, which also
> didn't ever worked for me, I wonder if that is fixed as well? That is next
> on the list. Then if temp stays put, maybe I try and jack up the clock just
> a notch?
>
>
> Good day and/or night, all!
>
> Tony. . .
>
>
>
>
>
>

Tony
Tue May 23 14:15:37 CDT 2006

Now that the AM2 is out, one day I will need to have a new machine and I had
planned on making it an ASUS - it will be so expensive, though, that I'll
need to put it in a safe over night, so I will probably invest in a 939 as a
go-between. No reason that couldn't be an ASUS as well.

Thanks.

Tony. . .


"Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C5B5BF7A-173E-4760-91A6-73CCDDD483E7@microsoft.com...
> Tony:
> Flashing from within Windows with ASUS utilities is fast and reliable.
> Give it a try (at your own risk) and you'll notice a tenfold speed
> increase
> as compared to floppy.
> I do it for mobos and CD/DVD burners.
> Flashing is useful for burner drives because afther that they recognize
> more
> recordable media as it is released in the market.
> That info is included in the release notes of the firmware.
> At least ASUS does so.
> Carlos
> P.S.: Good afternoon on my side
> "Tony Sperling" wrote:
>

Charlie
Tue May 23 16:04:58 CDT 2006

correct, it will only reset the data, not recover from a bad image. But that
can still get you out of a lot of problems. And, as you point out, having
the ASUS and other BIOS with a non-writeable portion makes it pretty
straightforward to recover. But frankly, I haven't had to worry about it in
a long time.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc

Carlos wrote:
> Charlie:
> BIOS reset jumper just resets BIOS data, not firmware.
> So, if the firmware (program) gets screwed up you are in trouble.
> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that keeps a
> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
> image. I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the
> drive, turning on the machine and a little of praying.
> Carlos
> "Charlie Russel - MVP" wrote:
>
>> Ouch. Makes my ASUS experience feel a lot better! Maybe I've been
>> spoiled. But I admit - I always keep a baseline version on a bootable CD
>> that has the flash utility on it... JIC.
>>
>> --
>> Charlie.
>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>> http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc
>>
>> Larry Hodges wrote:
>>> On two separate occasions using SuperMicro mobos, I had to order a new
>>> BIOS chip from them because the flash failed. And resetting the mobo
>>> didn't fix it.
>>>
>>>
>>> "Charlie Russel - MVP" <charlie@mvKILLALLSPAMMERSps.org> wrote in
>>> message news:%23qkPvGnfGHA.4852@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>> Now see, that's something I tend to stay on top of, and I haven't had a
>>>> problem in so many years that I no longer get the adrenaline up. OTOH,
>>>> it is always a good idea to know where that BIOS reset jumper is on
>>>> your mobo. :)
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Charlie.
>>>> http://msmvps.com/xperts64
>>>> http://download.microsoft.com/download/B/8/6/B868C664-13FC-4F91-9651-5B6D4F1A2F60/Is_Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition_Right_for_Me.doc
>>>>
>>>> Tony Sperling wrote:
>>>>> Hi!
>>>>>
>>>>> I just flashed my BIOS - it's been years since I went through this
>>>>> ordeal.
>>>>> My machines have mostly been quite well behaved,so have skipped that
>>>>> one. Now I thought it was about time (4 upgrades at once!), and it was
>>>>> all quite uneventfull - well, painless, at least. Funny how this
>>>>> simple operation can muster the adrenaline???
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> Tony. . .

DP
Wed May 24 06:16:19 CDT 2006


"Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that keeps a
> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
> image.
> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
> turning
> on the machine and a little of praying.


Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would a bios
image on a CD work?
Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?

I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to use,
but I thought I'd better ask.

Rick
Wed May 24 07:22:47 CDT 2006

That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have used
the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in the
user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos stated,
the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
specific key combinations.

DP wrote:
> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
>> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that keeps a
>> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
>> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
>> image.
>> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
>> turning
>> on the machine and a little of praying.
>
>
> Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would a bios
> image on a CD work?
> Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
>
> I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to use,
> but I thought I'd better ask.
>
>
>
>

Carlos
Wed May 24 10:16:02 CDT 2006

Rick:
Thanks for your supporting answer.
The mobo manufacturer is the right place to go.
Anyway, it is way much cheaper to buy (or borrow) a floppy drive and do the
recovery than having to replace the entire motherboard or replace the BIOS.
Notwithstanding, and I don't have the mobo manual with me right now, there
is a slight chance that ASUS might be supporting the CD BIOS recovery
alternative.
It is a matter of doing a little research on the net.
Carlos

"Rick" wrote:

> That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have used
> the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in the
> user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos stated,
> the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
> image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
> specific key combinations.
>
> DP wrote:
> > "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> > news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
> >> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that keeps a
> >> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
> >> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
> >> image.
> >> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
> >> turning
> >> on the machine and a little of praying.
> >
> >
> > Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would a bios
> > image on a CD work?
> > Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
> >
> > I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to use,
> > but I thought I'd better ask.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>

John
Wed May 24 10:58:56 CDT 2006

I have updated my ASUS BIOS via a bootable CD(RW)
To update the BIOS via floppy, you need the boot files and the ASUS update
program awdflash

"Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:007F81D8-6CC0-44CD-9126-4C80D78AE8E8@microsoft.com...
> Rick:
> Thanks for your supporting answer.
> The mobo manufacturer is the right place to go.
> Anyway, it is way much cheaper to buy (or borrow) a floppy drive and do
> the
> recovery than having to replace the entire motherboard or replace the
> BIOS.
> Notwithstanding, and I don't have the mobo manual with me right now, there
> is a slight chance that ASUS might be supporting the CD BIOS recovery
> alternative.
> It is a matter of doing a little research on the net.
> Carlos
>
> "Rick" wrote:
>
>> That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have used
>> the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in the
>> user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos stated,
>> the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
>> image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
>> specific key combinations.
>>
>> DP wrote:
>> > "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> > news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
>> >> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that
>> >> keeps a
>> >> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
>> >> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
>> >> image.
>> >> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
>> >> turning
>> >> on the machine and a little of praying.
>> >
>> >
>> > Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would a
>> > bios
>> > image on a CD work?
>> > Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
>> >
>> > I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to
>> > use,
>> > but I thought I'd better ask.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>

Carlos
Wed May 24 11:23:02 CDT 2006

John:
It is also possible to update the BIOS with a non-bootable floppy by
pressing Alt-F2 during the boot sequence.
There is no need for the awdflash.exe program to reside in the floppy if you
use this method.
Just the BIOS file.
Carlos

"John Barnes" wrote:

> I have updated my ASUS BIOS via a bootable CD(RW)
> To update the BIOS via floppy, you need the boot files and the ASUS update
> program awdflash
>
> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:007F81D8-6CC0-44CD-9126-4C80D78AE8E8@microsoft.com...
> > Rick:
> > Thanks for your supporting answer.
> > The mobo manufacturer is the right place to go.
> > Anyway, it is way much cheaper to buy (or borrow) a floppy drive and do
> > the
> > recovery than having to replace the entire motherboard or replace the
> > BIOS.
> > Notwithstanding, and I don't have the mobo manual with me right now, there
> > is a slight chance that ASUS might be supporting the CD BIOS recovery
> > alternative.
> > It is a matter of doing a little research on the net.
> > Carlos
> >
> > "Rick" wrote:
> >
> >> That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have used
> >> the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in the
> >> user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos stated,
> >> the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
> >> image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
> >> specific key combinations.
> >>
> >> DP wrote:
> >> > "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> > news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
> >> >> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that
> >> >> keeps a
> >> >> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
> >> >> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
> >> >> image.
> >> >> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
> >> >> turning
> >> >> on the machine and a little of praying.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would a
> >> > bios
> >> > image on a CD work?
> >> > Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
> >> >
> >> > I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to
> >> > use,
> >> > but I thought I'd better ask.
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
>
>
>

Rick
Wed May 24 11:33:16 CDT 2006

What Carlos is talking about is not a regular BIOS update; it's an
emergency flashing of the BIOS if something happens and your system will
not boot up - a corrupted BIOS.

John Barnes wrote:
> I have updated my ASUS BIOS via a bootable CD(RW)
> To update the BIOS via floppy, you need the boot files and the ASUS update
> program awdflash
>
> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:007F81D8-6CC0-44CD-9126-4C80D78AE8E8@microsoft.com...
>> Rick:
>> Thanks for your supporting answer.
>> The mobo manufacturer is the right place to go.
>> Anyway, it is way much cheaper to buy (or borrow) a floppy drive and do
>> the
>> recovery than having to replace the entire motherboard or replace the
>> BIOS.
>> Notwithstanding, and I don't have the mobo manual with me right now, there
>> is a slight chance that ASUS might be supporting the CD BIOS recovery
>> alternative.
>> It is a matter of doing a little research on the net.
>> Carlos
>>
>> "Rick" wrote:
>>
>>> That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have used
>>> the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in the
>>> user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos stated,
>>> the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
>>> image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
>>> specific key combinations.
>>>
>>> DP wrote:
>>>> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
>>>>> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that
>>>>> keeps a
>>>>> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
>>>>> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
>>>>> image.
>>>>> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
>>>>> turning
>>>>> on the machine and a little of praying.
>>>>
>>>> Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would a
>>>> bios
>>>> image on a CD work?
>>>> Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
>>>>
>>>> I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to
>>>> use,
>>>> but I thought I'd better ask.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>
>

John
Wed May 24 12:09:40 CDT 2006

I stand corrected.

"Rick" <Rick@Discussions.Microsoft.Com> wrote in message
news:OdbKF$0fGHA.5092@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> What Carlos is talking about is not a regular BIOS update; it's an
> emergency flashing of the BIOS if something happens and your system will
> not boot up - a corrupted BIOS.
>
> John Barnes wrote:
>> I have updated my ASUS BIOS via a bootable CD(RW)
>> To update the BIOS via floppy, you need the boot files and the ASUS
>> update program awdflash
>>
>> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:007F81D8-6CC0-44CD-9126-4C80D78AE8E8@microsoft.com...
>>> Rick:
>>> Thanks for your supporting answer.
>>> The mobo manufacturer is the right place to go.
>>> Anyway, it is way much cheaper to buy (or borrow) a floppy drive and do
>>> the
>>> recovery than having to replace the entire motherboard or replace the
>>> BIOS.
>>> Notwithstanding, and I don't have the mobo manual with me right now,
>>> there
>>> is a slight chance that ASUS might be supporting the CD BIOS recovery
>>> alternative.
>>> It is a matter of doing a little research on the net.
>>> Carlos
>>>
>>> "Rick" wrote:
>>>
>>>> That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have used
>>>> the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in
>>>> the
>>>> user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos stated,
>>>> the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
>>>> image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
>>>> specific key combinations.
>>>>
>>>> DP wrote:
>>>>> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>> news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
>>>>>> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that
>>>>>> keeps a
>>>>>> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
>>>>>> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working BIOS
>>>>>> image.
>>>>>> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
>>>>>> turning
>>>>>> on the machine and a little of praying.
>>>>>
>>>>> Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would
>>>>> a bios
>>>>> image on a CD work?
>>>>> Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
>>>>>
>>>>> I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to
>>>>> use,
>>>>> but I thought I'd better ask.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>

Mercury
Fri May 26 03:25:29 CDT 2006

Everyone is progressively covering all the options as usually happens... so
I'll attempt to add 2 cents worth.

ALT F2 on Asus is an Emergency procedure and will read - depends on the
motherboard Floppy or CD - perhaps any bootable device so long as you can
make the image in the correct format.

As always flashing the BIOS is not to be seen as a trivial procress -
always dowload the most recent BIOS flash utility,
Verify the files downloaded & have 2 copies in case Floppy media fails,
always flash from "DOS" unless you have no choice,
RTFM,
Read special notes on the appropriate motherboard web site,
don't attempt to flash an unstable system.
don't flash the BIOS from within Windows - you are adding a lot of extra
possible points of failure.
Have an answer to the question "What if it fails".

You can take 2 paths with BIOS - keep adrift with them, keep them up to date
and have a BIOS Saviour chip (a bit pointless really unless one sells a lot
of a specific set of boards), *or* avoid them like the plague and do a
thorough review if you suspect you must do a bios update.

I tend to take the latter approach - on new motherboards (new to me &
market) I update the BIOS to "stable" when the system is new so that a
failure has least consequences. Theoretically I should then not have to
touch the BIOS needed (unless there is a good reason) and there is a
reasonably stock set of reasons to check the need for BIOS updates EG
support for new CPU's.

HTH

2 cents




"John Barnes" <jbfoofy@email.net> wrote in message
news:uEY4bT1fGHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>I stand corrected.
>
> "Rick" <Rick@Discussions.Microsoft.Com> wrote in message
> news:OdbKF$0fGHA.5092@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> What Carlos is talking about is not a regular BIOS update; it's an
>> emergency flashing of the BIOS if something happens and your system will
>> not boot up - a corrupted BIOS.
>>
>> John Barnes wrote:
>>> I have updated my ASUS BIOS via a bootable CD(RW)
>>> To update the BIOS via floppy, you need the boot files and the ASUS
>>> update program awdflash
>>>
>>> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>> news:007F81D8-6CC0-44CD-9126-4C80D78AE8E8@microsoft.com...
>>>> Rick:
>>>> Thanks for your supporting answer.
>>>> The mobo manufacturer is the right place to go.
>>>> Anyway, it is way much cheaper to buy (or borrow) a floppy drive and do
>>>> the
>>>> recovery than having to replace the entire motherboard or replace the
>>>> BIOS.
>>>> Notwithstanding, and I don't have the mobo manual with me right now,
>>>> there
>>>> is a slight chance that ASUS might be supporting the CD BIOS recovery
>>>> alternative.
>>>> It is a matter of doing a little research on the net.
>>>> Carlos
>>>>
>>>> "Rick" wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have used
>>>>> the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in
>>>>> the
>>>>> user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos
>>>>> stated,
>>>>> the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
>>>>> image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
>>>>> specific key combinations.
>>>>>
>>>>> DP wrote:
>>>>>> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>>> news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that
>>>>>>> keeps a
>>>>>>> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
>>>>>>> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working
>>>>>>> BIOS
>>>>>>> image.
>>>>>>> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the drive,
>>>>>>> turning
>>>>>>> on the machine and a little of praying.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer? Would
>>>>>> a bios
>>>>>> image on a CD work?
>>>>>> Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge to
>>>>>> use,
>>>>>> but I thought I'd better ask.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>>>>
>>>
>

Tony
Fri May 26 06:03:33 CDT 2006

Well, I have to say - that pretty much sums up the attitude I have been
keeping too. On the other hand, we probably should acknowledge that
technology advances is chipping away at the complexity of having graphical
utilities that dig through layers that really aren't so much a part of the
actual OS, down to the BIOS itself.

As I am most likely going to invest in ASUS the next time, and that company
have several years of research into this complexity, and having
knowledgeable people you trust vouching for the stability, I surely will try
it at some point - I want to see it at work.

But then I don't really see why it should be benefitial at all, I downloaded
a zipfile from Asrock and extracted it directly to a floppy - re-booted and
typed the name of the BIOS image and after 6 - 8 sec's I re-booted again and
entered the setup program and checked it was set to 'safe', and that's it.
It is so uncomplicated that doing it from within windows doesn't seem to
have any apparent bonus.

The 'rush' you get is from watching the progress meter, as Carlos says, the
seconds after you cross the point of no easy return - yea, that is scary!

So all the fuzz you have to go through - the progress bar, the re-booting,
and the configuration check - that is all the same, I'd say it seems easier
the DOS way, but of course some manufacturers force you to find the correct
BIOS image, then find the proper flash utility and put it on the floppy and
having impossibly convoluted names on the BIOS image to type, well in that
case I would happily embrace a package solution any day, but that is what I
found with Asrock.


Tony. . .


"Mercury" <me@spam.com> wrote in message news:e56e0l$aj$1@lust.ihug.co.nz...
> Everyone is progressively covering all the options as usually happens...
> so I'll attempt to add 2 cents worth.
>
> ALT F2 on Asus is an Emergency procedure and will read - depends on the
> motherboard Floppy or CD - perhaps any bootable device so long as you can
> make the image in the correct format.
>
> As always flashing the BIOS is not to be seen as a trivial procress -
> always dowload the most recent BIOS flash utility,
> Verify the files downloaded & have 2 copies in case Floppy media fails,
> always flash from "DOS" unless you have no choice,
> RTFM,
> Read special notes on the appropriate motherboard web site,
> don't attempt to flash an unstable system.
> don't flash the BIOS from within Windows - you are adding a lot of extra
> possible points of failure.
> Have an answer to the question "What if it fails".
>
> You can take 2 paths with BIOS - keep adrift with them, keep them up to
> date and have a BIOS Saviour chip (a bit pointless really unless one sells
> a lot of a specific set of boards), *or* avoid them like the plague and do
> a thorough review if you suspect you must do a bios update.
>
> I tend to take the latter approach - on new motherboards (new to me &
> market) I update the BIOS to "stable" when the system is new so that a
> failure has least consequences. Theoretically I should then not have to
> touch the BIOS needed (unless there is a good reason) and there is a
> reasonably stock set of reasons to check the need for BIOS updates EG
> support for new CPU's.
>
> HTH
>
> 2 cents
>
>
>
>
> "John Barnes" <jbfoofy@email.net> wrote in message
> news:uEY4bT1fGHA.3916@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>I stand corrected.
>>
>> "Rick" <Rick@Discussions.Microsoft.Com> wrote in message
>> news:OdbKF$0fGHA.5092@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> What Carlos is talking about is not a regular BIOS update; it's an
>>> emergency flashing of the BIOS if something happens and your system will
>>> not boot up - a corrupted BIOS.
>>>
>>> John Barnes wrote:
>>>> I have updated my ASUS BIOS via a bootable CD(RW)
>>>> To update the BIOS via floppy, you need the boot files and the ASUS
>>>> update program awdflash
>>>>
>>>> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:007F81D8-6CC0-44CD-9126-4C80D78AE8E8@microsoft.com...
>>>>> Rick:
>>>>> Thanks for your supporting answer.
>>>>> The mobo manufacturer is the right place to go.
>>>>> Anyway, it is way much cheaper to buy (or borrow) a floppy drive and
>>>>> do the
>>>>> recovery than having to replace the entire motherboard or replace the
>>>>> BIOS.
>>>>> Notwithstanding, and I don't have the mobo manual with me right now,
>>>>> there
>>>>> is a slight chance that ASUS might be supporting the CD BIOS recovery
>>>>> alternative.
>>>>> It is a matter of doing a little research on the net.
>>>>> Carlos
>>>>>
>>>>> "Rick" wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> That's a question you should address to the manufacturer. I have
>>>>>> used
>>>>>> the floppy recovery just to verify it works, but there is nothing in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> user's manual to indicate you could substitute a CD. As Carlos
>>>>>> stated,
>>>>>> the floppy does not have any boot information on it, only the BIOS
>>>>>> image. The computer is forced to read the image from the floppy with
>>>>>> specific key combinations.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> DP wrote:
>>>>>>> "Carlos" <Carlos@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>>>>>>> news:65F47B4F-C097-4904-8B4D-CF040EFE4618@microsoft.com...
>>>>>>>> Modern BIOSes (ASUS, for example) have a non-writable portion that
>>>>>>>> keeps a
>>>>>>>> small piece of code available for emergency recovery.
>>>>>>>> All you'll need is a floppy (non bootable) with a proven working
>>>>>>>> BIOS
>>>>>>>> image.
>>>>>>>> I think that it is only a matter of placing the floppy in the
>>>>>>>> drive,
>>>>>>>> turning
>>>>>>>> on the machine and a little of praying.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Carlos: What if you don't have a floppy drive on your computer?
>>>>>>> Would a bios
>>>>>>> image on a CD work?
>>>>>>> Or is it too much to ask a crippled computer to find the CD drive?
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I hope I never get to the point where I have to put this knowledge
>>>>>>> to use,
>>>>>>> but I thought I'd better ask.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>
>>>>
>>
>
>