BIOS-Update instructions

see also:
BIOS Update per bootable CD Method I
BIOS Update per bootable CD Method II
BIOS Update per DOS-Boot-Diskette

Disable all Overclocking and Tuning settings

Don't update an overclocked Mainboard. Load the normal BIOS-Settings, called: "Load Bios Defaults" , "Load Setup Defaults" , or "Safe Settings".

Change Boot sequence to [A: C:]

Because you will boot from your floppy drive.

Disable Write Protection

Some Mainboards have Jumpers to protect before erroneously Flashing. The Position of the Jumper is nearby the Flash-Eeprom.

Other Mainboards have a BIOS-Setup-Option called "Flash Bios Protection", "Firmware Write Protect", "Bios Guardian" or "BIOS-ROM Flash-Protect", which must be disabled.

Create a bootable Diskette

We need a DOS-Bootdiskette with only these 3 DOS-Files (plus the Flashfiles):

• COMMAND.COM
• IO.SYS
• MSDOS.SYS

Use the Windows-Explorer to look for other hidden or Systemfiles and delete them. Make sure, that you can see all Files with your Explorer. Otherwise, you must change his Options.

DOS:
enter "format a: /s" on the DOS-Prompt.

Win98:
use the Drive-Contextmenu and make a "full formatting with Systemfiles"

WinME:
make a complete Start-/Bootdiskette under "System Controls / Software / Create Start-/Bootdiskette".

Win2000:
Execute the file "MAKEDISK.BAT" on your Win2000-CD "\Valueadd\3rdparty\Ca_antiv". It was designed to start an Antivirus-Program, but creates a Bootdiskette too. After creating: delete useless files.

WinXP:
use the Drive-Contextmenu "Format / create MS-DOS-Startdiskette".

Copy the BIOS-Update files onto the Boot diskette

Now, copy the Updatefile and the Flashprogram onto the Bootdiskette. If the files are compressed ("*.exe", "*.zip", "*.rar"), unpack them by making a doubleclick or using a packer like WINZIP or WINRAR.

Sometimes, the manufacturer insert a Batchfile (*.BAT) to his Flashfiles called: "start.bat" or "flash.bat". Please look into the README before executing it.

Error-Detection and Virus-Check

I think, it's a good idea to make it before flashing...

Let's go! Reboot from your Boot diskette

If all went well, you will see after a short time the old, famous DOS-Prompt (A:\>).

Start the Flash program (using Parameter)

Our Example-Flashprogram named "awdflash.exe" is for an AWARD BIOS. There are many other Flashprograms like: "amiflash", "phlash", pflash", "flash" and they all may have different parameters. To watch these parameters, go to the Commandline (DOS-Prompt) and enter:

"flashprogramname /? (or /H)".

Many Mainboard-Manufacturers makes suggestions to start "awdflash.exe" with the following parameter:

"A:\>awdflash.exe kt7a_kk.bin /cc /cd /cp /py /sy /cks /R"

Description:
kt7a_kk.bin = Update filename (example)
/cc = clear CMOS after Programming
/cd = clear DMI after Programming
/cp = clear PNP(ESCD) after Programming
/py = Program Flash Memory
/sy = save the old BIOS to: "OLDBIOS.BIN"
/cks = show Update Binfile Checksum
/R = Reset System after Programming

While Flashing...

Description of the colored Blocks:

• "White" = o.k.

• "Red" = Error

• "Green" = non-flashed Block = o.k

• "Blue" = BIOS-Bootblock

If you don't flash the BIOS-Boot-Block (awdflash-Parameter: "/Sb" = "Skip Boot Block programming"), and something went wrong, you can rescue your BIOS, using a special Bootdiskette (read more under "Failed BIOS-Update").

"Restart and Pray" - Boot PC

Using the awdflash-Parameter: "/R", the PC restarts after finishing the Update Process. It's another good idea to power off the PC, removing the Bootdiskette and at last power on again.

Press the "DEL"-Key (Award-BIOS) to enter the BIOS-Setup.

Load the Default BIOS settings ("Load Bios Defaults", "Load Setup Defaults", "Safe Settings", "Load Optimized Defaults", "Load Default Settings")

After that, it's a good time to reinsert your custom BIOS-Settings, like Overclocking or Tuning.

"CMOS Checksum Error" = Kill CMOS

Getting messages like "CMOS Checksum Error", you have to kill the old resident CMOS-Settings.

Please take a look into your Mainboard Manual, or search a Jumper nearby the Mainboard Battery, named like "RTCLR" , "CLRCMOS" , "CLRCMS" , "CMOS_CLEAR" or "Clear RTC".

The CMOS is a battery-buffered Chip, which saves all BIOS-Settings, like Harddisk-Parameter, CPU-/RAM-Timing, Bootsequence.

Failed BIOS-Update

If the Flashprogram halts before finishing the Update Process: KEEP COOL and

If you are back on the DOS-Prompt: try it again and insert the same Flash-Command once again.

After having a Power Failure and your PC hangs while booting:

Dualbios (Backup-BIOS)
If your Mainboard has a Dualbios (2nd Flash-Eeprom), take a look into your Mainboard Manual. You can reactivate these special BIOS by Jumper or Keystroke.

Intact BIOS-Boot-Block
To use the following tipps, it would be helpfull to replace your PCI-Graphiccard by an ISA-Graphiccard, because the Boot Block Code doesn't support PCI-Graphiccards. Using a PCI-Graphiccard, the Monitor would be black the whole time, while trying to make a new Update. But no worry, the Flashprogram sends some different Beep-Codes, which could tell us the current Flash Process Status.

AWARD-BIOS:
We need our Bootdiskette and do only 1 Change on it:
Create (on a 2nd PC using a Texteditor) a File called: "AUTOEXEC.BAT", with only one Line:

"awdflash.exe updatefilename /py /sn" (without quotes!)

Now, boot from Diskette and listen to the Beeps:

While Booting:
2 short Beeps = no Bootdiskette in Drive A:
Continuously short Beeps = no Floppydrive ;-)

After the Flash Process:
Continuously long Beeps = Programming successfully. RESTART!

AMI-BIOS:
You will need an empty and formatted Diskette. Copy only your BIOS-Updatefile on it and rename it to "AMIBOOT.ROM". Now, restart your PC and press "<CTRL><Home>" until you can hear 1 Beep. After 10-30 Seconds, you will hear: 4 Beeps = "BIOS was re-programmed !"

PHOENIX-BIOS:
There must be a Jumper on your Mainboard called "Recovery Mode" and you must boot from a "Crisis Recovery Disk" (from your Mainboard Manufacturer).