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Flash BIOS Chip

  • 02-09-2016 09:12AM
    #1
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,948 ✭✭✭✭


    I have what I believe (at present) to be a corrupted BIOS chip which prevents the motherboard from getting through POST so have no method I can use to flash it while on the board. The chip is socketed.
    The chip is a Winbond 25Q64BVAIG from an Asus motherboard. Could someone point me to where I might get this flashed? Preferably in the Limerick/Shannon region if at all possible, although I guess it would be easy use the postal service.
    Thanks.


Comments

  • #2
    witnessmenow
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,410 ✭✭✭witnessmenow


    I have one of those programmers that I got a few years ago, if you are in no major panic with it if you send me the chip and a return stamped address envelope I can give it a go. It might only be at weekends where I got a chance to give it a go (new baby!) so if you are in a rush you might be better off looking elsewhere!


  • #3
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,948 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    witnessmenow wrote: »
    I have one of those programmers that I got a few years ago, if you are in no major panic with it if you send me the chip and a return stamped address envelope I can give it a go. It might only be at weekends where I got a chance to give it a go (new baby!) so if you are in a rush you might be better off looking elsewhere!

    Thank you for the offer.
    I will continue to look for an alternative but might have to come back to you if I have no success.
    Thanks again ;)


  • #4
    Lu Tze
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 3,523 ✭✭✭Lu Tze


    Johnboy1951 wrote: »
    I have what I believe (at present) to be a corrupted BIOS chip which prevents the motherboard from getting through POST so have no method I can use to flash it while on the board. The chip is socketed.
    The chip is a Winbond 25Q64BVAIG from an Asus motherboard. Could someone point me to where I might get this flashed? Preferably in the Limerick/Shannon region if at all possible, although I guess it would be easy use the postal service.
    Thanks.

    For many motherboards you can just buy a replacement bios chip, have a google of your motherboard model


  • #5
    askU
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 479 ✭✭askU


    Johnboy1951 wrote: »
    I have what I believe (at present) to be a corrupted BIOS chip which prevents the motherboard from getting through POST so have no method I can use to flash it while on the board. The chip is socketed.
    The chip is a Winbond 25Q64BVAIG from an Asus motherboard. Could someone point me to where I might get this flashed? Preferably in the Limerick/Shannon region if at all possible, although I guess it would be easy use the postal service.
    Thanks.

    Try disconnecting as many peripherals as possible one by one. What happens?


  • #6
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,948 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    Update: I was a little concerned that I had misdiagnosed the problem, so I was able to borrow a BIOS chip from the same model motherboard, and use that to boot the board to POST. I also used the 'faulty' chip on the other board and got the same problem there.
    All tests were done with only CPU/cooler and RAM .. nothing else attached.
    So now at least I know definitely the problem is a corrupted or dead BIOS chip.
    I believe corrupted, but could be wrong.

    Yes I have located one replacement chip on line, in the event I need it. I would hope to find someone locally who has the capability of flashing the chip.

    ****

    I am even beginning to consider hair-brained schemes like booting the PC with the good chip, and then attempting to swap chips while OS is running, and flash the 'faulty' chip from the running system. :D
    The chip would not be 'in use' at that time so it *might* be possible :)
    (spending too much time looking at this thing which is giving me weird ideas)

    Thanks for the responses. ;)


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  • #7
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,948 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    witnessmenow wrote: »
    I have one of those programmers that I got a few years ago, if you are in no major panic with it if you send me the chip and a return stamped address envelope I can give it a go. It might only be at weekends where I got a chance to give it a go (new baby!) so if you are in a rush you might be better off looking elsewhere!

    I went ahead and ordered a new chip from biosflash.de for approx €13.50 so hopefully will be good to go within a week.

    Thanks again for your offer ... a new chip seems to be the easiest way out and is not too costly.

    Thanks all for the posts. ;)


  • #8
    ozmo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,893 ✭✭✭ozmo


    As its an Electronics forum....

    You could try...

    http://www.win-raid.com/t58f16-Guide-Recover-from-failed-BIOS-flash-using-Raspberry-PI.html

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J67cU9w6Ms


    Worth a try with the old one since you are getting a new one anyway...

    “Roll it back”



  • #9
    Johnboy1951
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,948 ✭✭✭✭Johnboy1951


    ozmo wrote: »
    As its an Electronics forum....

    You could try...

    www.win-raid.com/t58f16-Guide-Recover-from-failed-BIOS-flash-using-Raspberry-PI.html

    www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J67cU9w6Ms

    Worth a try with the old one since you are getting a new one anyway...

    I had come across that idea during my searches, but was not in a 'frame of mind' at the time to even consider doing it. It was the post from 'pacman' that I found, but did not read thoroughly. I had forgotten about it, so thanks for reminding me ;)

    Now that I am certain it is the chip that is corrupted, I will look at doing this.
    I had used flashrom about a year ago to update the BIOS/UEFI on this board to allow me to use a 3rd gen CPU as the old BIOS only allowed for 2nd Gen CPUs, so there should be no difficulty there.

    I cannot seem to find the exact chip on the Winbond site to be certain of the pin out etc. I have no idea why, as there are plenty hits for the number I have, and I have even ordered a replacement using that number.

    I failed to get a datasheet from here either
    http://www.alldatasheet.com/view.jsp?Searchword=W25Q64BV&sField=2
    My part number is definitely W25Q64BVAIG and is listed here
    http://www.biosflash.de/e/bios-chip-type-list.htm

    So this idea is still on - thanks again for reminding me.
    Now I must read that long post by pacman - THOROUGHLY! :)


    Present links I am using
    http://www.win-raid.com/t58f16-Guide-Recover-from-failed-BIOS-flash-using-Raspberry-PI.html
    http://www.alldatasheet.com/view.jsp?Searchword=W25Q64BV&sField=2
    http://www.winbond.com/hq/search/index.html?__locale=en
    http://www.biosflash.de/e/bios-chip-type-list.htm
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J67cU9w6Ms

    EDIT: Having read the complete thread (pacman) it seems my chip can use the standard wiring as diagrammed so there should not be a problem if I wire it correctly.


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