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Bios Flash issue

  • 20-08-2004 12:25pm
    #1
    Raz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 999 ✭✭✭


    I am currently attempting to flash the bios of an old Abit KT7 motherboard.
    I followed all the steps on the abit website here.
    I created the bootable floppy using DrDos (I formatted the floppy before hand and did a check for bad sectors which came up clean) and put the bios files on the floppy. I then rebooted the computer with the floppy.
    I popped up an error about the floppy not having the right something or other (said something about command.com) and at the end had "or press enter to retry" followed by a c:\> prompt on a new line. I pressed the return key and everything ran fine so I continued with the process.
    It asked did I want to flash, I said yes. Asked had I done a clean boot from the floppy and the BIOS file you are trying to upgrade is correct? Both yes. Be sure you are ready to flash. Yes.

    It then went to the AwardBIOS Flash Utility V8.20A.
    It gave the BIOS number and date of the old BIOS and had a text box for the "File Name to Program" which was already filled with the correct file name. At the bottom it had a message Please enter the name of the file and press enter or something along those lines. I checked the filenames on my laptop (I had extracted and created the boot floppy on the laptop (same OS wouldn't have caused an issue would it?).
    I pressed enter to start the flash and the message at the bottom was flashing "Please Wait". I'm not sure if it had started flashing before or after I had pressed the key but the floppy had just spun down before I pressed enter.

    This is the condition it has been in for the last 15/20mins and it doesn't seem to be changing. It's sitting there with "File Name to Program : kt7_a9.bin" with the cursor still flashing by the file name and it has the "Please Wait" message flashing at the bottom of the screen.

    A BIOS flash can't take this long can it? I'm sure that it's crashed at this stage but is it safe to turn the power off or will the BIOS be screwed?
    Is anyone familliar with the AwardBIOS Flash Utility and can you tell me whats going on. I'm not going to touch it until I get some definite clue as to whether this is working or not.


Comments

  • #2
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,553 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    I dont think the BIOS flash has even begun. For my abit board a nice graphical representation of the bios appears and it show it overwriting the old bios. Have tried pressing enter or something


  • #3
    Raz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 999 ✭✭✭Raz


    Well it's still flashing please wait at me. I'm just scared of corrupting the bios if I reset the machine. I'm seriously considering it right now.
    Did you use the same method to do the update? Meaning a DOS app.


  • #4
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,553 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    I did one update by floppy and saw that graphic thing but I use flashmenu in windows for all the rest and never had a problem. If there is nothing else ya can do then you have no choice but to restart.


  • #5
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,553 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    If yer bios is screwed....

    http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28021


  • #6
    Raz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 999 ✭✭✭Raz


    Well there is nothing else I can do, the keyboard is frozen or at least is having no effect. If it reboots I'll give it one more try at the floppy option and then I'll see if I can find a windows utility to do it. What OS were you using when you went about it? I'm using Win 2000 Pro.


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  • #7
    Raz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 999 ✭✭✭Raz


    Dempsey wrote:
    If yer bios is screwed....

    http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28021
    Nice thanks :)


  • #8
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,553 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    I was using xp pro. w2k should be fine


  • #9
    Raz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 999 ✭✭✭Raz


    Phew! It's still alive!
    That's a relief.


  • #10
    Raz
    Closed Accounts Posts: 999 ✭✭✭Raz


    Damn. The motherboard isn't supported by Flashmenu. I think I'll leave it as it's too big a risk to take if it might not work properly.


  • #11
    Dempsey
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 20,553 ✭✭✭✭Dempsey


    What's Dr DOS? I downloaded the BIOS update extracted it to the floppy then rebooted and hit Alt+F4 to enter the Flashmanager or whatever and followed the instructions there in.


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  • #12
    Inspector Gadget
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,393 ✭✭✭Inspector Gadget


    DRDOS is another variant of DOS, which originally stemmed from a guy called Gary Kildall, whose company was Digital Research (hence the "DR").
    (The more senior citizens among us, or the vintage hardware buffs, may remember him as the guy behind CP/M)
    It's basically an alternative to MSDOS.

    Some motherboards don't support the direct flashing technique, and even some that do don't offer you the option of backing up the current BIOS in case of problems, so sometimes a bootable floppy is easier.

    The choice of DRDOS may be something to do with the fact that the disk image recommended for flashing on bootdisk.com is DRDOS-based... ;)

    Gadget


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