BIOS (AWARD) Upgrade How TO?

[olepap]

Gigabyte MBd=GA7VT-600-L rev1
Award Bios V6.00PC
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Cannot format new HDrive. Its a WDigital 160G.
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Bios is listed on POST screen as F-8
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There are on Gigabyte's download page versions F-5 thru F-15.
None of them are described as helping with larger HDrives.
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Do I need to download and flash all of them?
In numerical order?
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I think each will fit on a floppy.
What do I exactly do with that floppy?
Of course I am downloading them on one computer to flash on another.
I have no OS on the new computer yet obviously.
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Do I need some sort of flasher?
What is that? Where do I get one?

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I e-mailed Gigabytes tech line, no reply yet, how long might that take?
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thanks
olepap
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[Chuckiechan]

First of all, don't use those "auto flashes" in the bios or elsewhere.

Do either Winflash or the Awardflash on a floppy.

The most recent BIOS has the most current settings. (usually)

The flashing utility is often on your set up disk, or on the site where the bios revisions are. You have to use the award flash if you have no O/S.

You boot from the floppy.

Just follow the directions:
Download the Bin file, label it "new"
Run the Flash utility, chose back up BIOS and label it "old"
Install "new".

Sit there and freak out hoping all goes well for two minutes.

Using Award flash is pretty reliable, especially since you have another computer to get help on if you need to reload the "old" bios or get into "bood block" to restore.

If you blow it, which is unlikely but does happen - send it back to Gigabyte and they'll fix it for $ 20-30 bucks.

Cannot format: Your OS should do that for you - In BIOS chose first boot device = CDROM (with OS disk). If not, hook it up as slave in another machine, go to "my computer" - disk management, and "initalize" (?) it from there, and format it. (use NTFS for Win2K and beyond)

[olepap]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chuckiechan

First of all, don't use those "auto flashes" in the bios or elsewhere.

Do either Winflash or the Awardflash on a floppy.
Where do I get either? Are they Freeware?

The most recent BIOS has the most current settings. (usually)
Does this mean that #F-15 gives me all the stuff from F-9 thru F-15 and therefore I neen NOT to load those F-9 thru F-14 ?

The flashing utility is often on your set up disk, or on the site where the bios revisions are. You have to use the award flash if you have no O/S.
Isn't the set up disc the Windows Install Disc? If I am correct, don't I have to upgrade BIOS before I ever insert the Windows Set-Up Disc?

You boot from the floppy.

Just follow the directions:
Where will I find these directions?
Download the Bin file, label it "new"
What's a Bin File?
Run the Flash utility, chose back up BIOS and label it "old"
Install "new".

Sit there and freak out hoping all goes well for two minutes.
Now this I understand.

Using Award flash is pretty reliable, especially since you have another computer to get help on if you need to reload the "old" bios or get into "bood block" to restore.
What is a Bood Block?

If you blow it, which is unlikely but does happen - send it back to Gigabyte and they'll fix it for $ 20-30 bucks.
Do I send the whole Mother...board or just the Bios Chip ? Assuming the Bios Chip is removable..?


Cannot format: Your OS should do that for you - In BIOS chose first boot device = CDROM (with OS disk). If not, hook it up as slave in another machine, go to "my computer" - disk management, and "initalize" (?) it from there, and format it. (use NTFS for Win2K and beyond)

I thought the formating stalled (@ 4%) because the BIOS wasn't set up for my larger HdDrive. Was I wrong. It only recognized 131 G of the 160 Gigs.
I actually wanted a 120 Gig but they are hard to find on line anymore.

thanks for your help

[Chuckiechan]

Here's the flash utility:
GIGABYTE - Support - Motherboard - BIOS - How to reflash Motherboard BIOS
The most common Flash utility is # 3 - Directions are here, also:
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/...shbios_dos.pdf

Just do F15

I meant the set up disk that came with your motherboard. But if you get the flash utility on line, you won't need it. The Award Flash comes down with the BIOS download. Basically, you will paste the Award Flash, the Autoexec.bat, and the .bin file onto a floppy, and go into bios and choose "first boot device = floppy", "second boot device - Hdd" (for when you restart - saves a heart attack)

.bin is the extension used for bios files.

Boot block is a non-writable area of bios reserved for you to access to re do a faulty bios flash. Not all bio's have them anymore, and it doesn't always work.

I think the chip is not removable. Think positive!

Flashing is a really straightforward thing that has been done zillions of times. The only flash I blew was on a Gigabyte board using what I believe was Q flash.

Use the Award flash on a Floppy disc.

Are you sure you need to update it?

[JPMiller]

You dont need to flash the BIOS,,,
You need to update windows...
You should be fine once you get SP3 installed...
If not, go to WD's website and download the datalifeguard tools and diagnostic utilities...
they will detect the non-support for large drives, correct it and reboot...

[Chuckiechan]

If large Hdd's are his only problem, that's a good idea. But the flash supports newer chips, also.

Basically, don't flash if you don't have to.

[JPMiller]

Listen... flashing IS a last alternative...
Unless a specific ne w bios SPECIFICALLY fixes a PROBLEM you are having...
You do NOT want to do it!
Just update windows...
That should be all thats necessary

[olepap]

================================================== =============
Thanks to both of you.
As far as I can tell I have not flashed anything yet. And if I haven't ruined the BIOS nor the MoBoard yet I am thankful...and lucky. But now apparently I have a new problem. Let me try to walk thru all I have done and maybe yall can direct me before I head to a computer shop or just give up altogether.

• Brought up POST screen (BIOS) and inserted OS setup (XP-Pro) CD.
  Setup started and I did whatever was called for.
• Shortly I was asked about the single HdDrive I have installed. (new WesternDigit 160Gig white labeled (no driver CD came with it).
• I noticed that only 137 or 131 (can't recall exactly) Gigs were shown.
• I partitioned it to (I think) C=70 D=40 and E=20. all NTFS
• I highlighted C drive as where to install rest of setup OS.
• I chose standard format instead of Quick format.
  Progress bar started slowly within a few seconds, after about 3 or 4 minutes it had gotten to 4%. It stayed there for around 1 hour.
• I called a computer savvy friend..he said it was hung up.
  Screen offered no way to back out.
  He said just cut off the computer. That he thought my BIOS needed update.
• I did as he said and cut off the computer.
• Since then I have had the computer on and off probably 30 times.
  Each time it goes to the BIOS page 1 and then to the next BIOS screen but there at the bottom of page2 (last line) it says (after a few seconds delay) "error loading operating system__" with the insertion blank flashing, (but not addressable from the keyboard).
• I then just hit the off. then on button on computer to re-open BIOS screen As I don't know how to back up to the previous BIOS screen or if that is even possible.
• =========================
• On my other(temporary)computer (Win 98SE), I downloaded BIOS F-15 from Gigabyte site to drive C temp folder.
  I formatted a floppy and extracted that F-15 to the floppy.
• I went back to the BIOS page one and hit Esc. to open the BIOS setup.
• I chose Q-Flash (a built in Gigabyte installer)
• Chose "Save BIOS" and inserted a new formatted blank floppy diskette.
• Got an error message about floppy (or maybe it said Drive A) access.
• Hit Escape key to get out.
• Chose "update BIOS" and inserted the F-15 diskette.
• Got an error message about floppy access again.
• After trying this numerous times (about 5) I decided maybe my A-drive was not hooked up correctly as the green light on it was not on. However I had seen that the BIOS had identified it as being there.
• I checked connections and it looked ok, but by chance I attemped to reverse the data cable to it. I was surprised that it could be plugged in either way. So I turned it over.
• ============
• Sadly I never found out if that was my problem or not.
  I hooked the computer back up to the power cord, monitor and keyboard and pushed the on/off button. There was a very short light up of the cases green run light, and then nothing, repeated pushes and reset pushes did nothing.
  Next morning I tried again...same result except it again flickered for just split second.
• BTW the RAM Led on the MoBoard comes on and stays on with power and fades off when button is held down or unit is unplugged.
• Have I fried the Power Supply?
• sorry for long
  ~~olepap

[JPMiller]

This why flashing is a last resort and only done after exhaustive testing and research...

Its a sometimes complex task that has the ability to brick your motherboard...
First thing to do is remove the floppy and cable
Then unplug the main power cable and hit the cases power button a few times...
Then plug it back in and see if it will start

[electric]

he could also just clear the CMOS

looks like he didn't unzip the files from Gigabyte site
to get the bin file