Anyone ever have a bios update go sour?

donrc · Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 882

I have never had the need to update a bios, but I now have an Asus P5GD1-VM board that I am running Windows7 RC on and I would like to do the update and try my hand at overclocking.

Anything I should be careful of? Anyone ever have this process bite them in the butt?

drc

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

Are you kidding me?

Doing a bios update, when it's not absolutely, positively, necessary is like playing Russian roulette, with five shells in the cylinder. Evil or Very Mad

First off..........never do it just for the heck of it.
Then if you absolutely have to do it, make sure you do it with the PC plugged into an UNInterruptable Power Supply. ( UPS )
Just one little power glitch, will almost guarantee that you'll turn your Mobo into a door stop or paper weight.

Second off......... if you want a faster CPU, then buy one. Don't take any CPU and try to supercharge it. Cars blow up when supercharged..........so do computers.

Have I ever had an update go south? You better believe it. Twisted Evil

I wound up buying that customer a new motherboard. Crying or Very sad

Live long and prosper!

Doc Cool

donrc · Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 882

Doc,
Thanks for your usual excellent advice. However, this is a learning situation as to both the upgrading and the overclocking. It is a motherboard that I am probably going to replace soon anyway. It is an older machine and not my main one.

Given that, any advice in the cause of learning?

drc

PhotoCarp · Joined: Sep 06, 2007 Posts: 109

Updating the BIOS is not for the faint of heart. You must follow the instructions to the letter and double check every step before you proceed. One small mistake and your motherboard becomes a useless slab.

First thing to do is find out which BIOS version you are currently using then go to the ASUS site and read the release notes for all the newer BIOS versions for your mobo. If your mobo does not have overclocking capabilities now then check to see if the updates add that. Most updates will fix a bug, add support for a newer CPU or add a feature. If you need to fix a bug that is affecting you or changing your CPU or want some feature then go for it. Otherwise don't bother; it's not worth the risk. OTOH If you don't mind the risk or can easily afford a new mobo then go for it.

Be sure to go to the ASUS site and thoroughly read and re-read the instructions. I had an ASUS and the manual told me that I could use some utility that would easily flash the BIOS yet the site emphatically stated to not use the utility. I went with what the site said and had no problem.

You may also want to visit the ASUS forums and find out what you can about your mobo. You'll most likely find someone who has gone through the process with that mobo.

I have had success with updating the BIOS on more than one occasion. Bitten in the butt? Been there, done that. I had to replace the mobo on an update that went bad but it was my own dang fault. It turned out I used the update for the wrong board. Again, carefully follow the instructions and it will go smoothly

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

donrc · Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 882

Photocarp,
Thanks for the post. You guys have almost scared me out. But since I am going to change this board soon anyway I may try it. I'll let you know what happens.

drc

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

In ages past, all bios updates would be done from a boot floppy.
The file you download from the mobo manufacturer would create the boot floppy for you.
But alas, nowadays, floppy drives are few and far between, so bios updates are now written to be done from within windows.

I've done a couple of those, with NO problem, but again, double check and then triple check to make sure the update is the correct one for your mobo.

Then, for safety, I shut down ALL running programs including my AV program, before actually running the flashing program.
I don't want any other software messing with the flashing program while it's running.

Good Luck,
Doc Cool

goretsky · Posted: Mon Jul 13, 2009 1:59 am Post subject:

Hello,

I update the firmware in BIOSes fairly routinely without ill effect. Usually to add support for things like new models of processors, speeds of RAM or to fix bugs (coding errors) in the BIOS (they are, after all, computer programs and subject to the same types of coding errors one sees in other programs). I recall about 7-8 years ago (I think) having one go bad in a Dell notebook. The BIOS chip was socketed, so it could be replaced by putting a replacement chip in with the BIOS software.

I would recommend updating the BIOS from a floppy diskette or CD-ROM if the system or motherboard manufacturer offers one for download, as opposed to doing it from within the operating system. That way, you do not have to worry about the possibility of something in the operating system causing it to fail.

The other thing I would suggest is to have the computer plugged into a UPS with a working battery. That way, if the power goes out during the middle of your BIOS upgrade, it will continue without problem.

In any case, most motherboard BIOSes manufactured these days have a separate area called a boot block in them which may not get updated (or is updated less frequently than the reset of the BIOS code). The boot block typically contains a basic set of instructions to allow the rest of the firmware to be reloaded from a floppy diskette or CD-ROM in the event the main section of code gets corrupted. Some motherboards even have two BIOSes, so you can flash one, and if there is a problem, switch to the other one.

If you check with the motheboard manufacturer, they should tell you any tips or specific steps to take when flashing the BIOS firmware.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

donrc · Joined: Feb 16, 2003 Posts: 882

Thanks for the comments guys. I am going to try it. For now I have a friend's computer on my repair bench, so until I get him squared away I'll have to wait.
I am reading and rereading the process for updating in the manual. There are three different methods suggested for this board (Asus P5GD1-VM). I've about decided to use the one that uses a floppy from DOS.

Doc I'll double check that I have the latest and correct bios for the board. This board has had a bunch of bios updates. I had to RMA the first board that I purchased. I suspect the board was ok and that the software was bad. It still tells me on bootup that no harddrives are installed, but the drives run just fine anyway.

Later.

drc

goretsky · Posted: Tue Jul 14, 2009 12:30 am Post subject:

[Message edited to correct typo. AG]

Hello,

If you are feeling extra paranoid, you can format and chkdsk the floppy diskette you are using to update the motherboard's BIOS twice, just to make sure you do not have bad floppy diskette.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky

drwho07 · Joined: Nov 29, 2007 Posts: 1546 Location: Central FL, USA

I second that motion!

DO, run Scandisk or Chkdsk on the floppy to make sure it's GOOD, before relying on it to flash your bios.

If you can, always format the floppy on the same drive that will be used for the flashing routine. That will somewhat insure that the drive will be able to read the disk all the way through the flashing process.

Nothing I can think of, just off hand, is worse than getting half way through a bios flash and then seeing an error message on your screen that the PC can't read the floppy. (floppy Read Error) Evil or Very Mad

I did have that happen to me once. OH, that sinking feeling!!! Embarassed

Good Luck,
The Doctor Cool

zlim · Joined: Mar 11, 2005 Posts: 2635

I've done two BIOS updates. Both on laptops, a Micron and an HP, and both using a floppy. One of them, allowed the option of putting the BIOS I was replacing on a floppy before I started so that if something went wrong, I could use that floppy to reflash the BIOS.
It seems to me that would be an excellent tool for every manufacturer to do to save a headache.