Bios upgrade problem - Page 2

iplayfast · #11 (**permalink**) 25-04-08, 06:43 PM

After spending two days trying to create a DOS boot pendrive, (my board doesn't have a floppy) I went to Linux and built flashrom.

I then proceeded to flash my epia board with epia-v bios. (whoops).

The board would not boot. After talking to a tech buddy, he suggested clearing the cmos.

It worked! I'm now back to the original bios. (which I still need to upgrade).

axelgenus · #12 (**permalink**) 29-04-08, 01:48 PM

Also my VB7001G died last night when I tried to update it: VIA Flash DOS Utility hung and, after two hours I was forced to shut it down. Damn it!

The possible solution for this are:

1) replace the motherboard (watch your warranty);
2) replace the BIOS chip (soldered BIOS can also be replaced but I suggest to ask an expert);
3) hotflashing (google for it);
4) use an EEPROM programming tool to reprogram it.

VIA doesn't seem to provide any kind of information and the tool (VIA Flash Utility) just sucks.

I was able to replace the motherboard (thanks to the reseller) but I'm kinda scared and I don't know if I'm going to buy VIA hardware again.

Now I'm in the same situation as iplayfast: I need to update the BIOS because the temperature sensors are misread, the fan control and the powersave features of the C7-D just don't work.

vishcompany · #13 (**permalink**) 29-04-08, 05:22 PM

I just upgraded two px10000g successfully with VIA DOS flash utility. Besides the fact that I probably was just lucky, the flash utility asked, whether the "boot partition" (forgot the exact expression) of the BIOS should be reprogrammed as well, or not. If you choose for "no", you can reboot the board, even if the flash-process mishappened. At least, that's what wikipedia told me about this option. Maybe that's an option for you for next time?
And ah, yes: I also drew a backup of the existing bios first, just in case something goes wrong.

axelgenus · #14 (**permalink**) 29-04-08, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vishcompany

I just upgraded two px10000g successfully with VIA DOS flash utility. Besides the fact that I probably was just lucky, the flash utility asked, whether the "boot partition" (forgot the exact expression) of the BIOS should be reprogrammed as well, or not. If you choose for "no", you can reboot the board, even if the flash-process mishappened. At least, that's what wikipedia told me about this option. Maybe that's an option for you for next time?

That's not the issue! I updated thousands of BIOS working in a computer shop and I've never corrupted one.

Nowadays, every motherboard producer implements DualBIOS or something alike to avoid such catastrophic occurrence. Why does not VIA do it?

Moreover the Flash utility is still a beta... that's not serious, come on!

Quote:

Originally Posted by vishcompany

I also drew a backup of the existing bios first, just in case something goes wrong.

Yeah, that's something very useful when the motherboard doesn't power up...

ccsnet · #15 (**permalink**) 30-09-08, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by axelgenus

That's not the issue! I updated thousands of BIOS working in a computer shop and I've never corrupted one.

Nowadays, every motherboard producer implements DualBIOS or something alike to avoid such catastrophic occurrence. Why does not VIA do it?

Moreover the Flash utility is still a beta... that's not serious, come on!

Yeah, that's something very useful when the motherboard doesn't power up...

This is bad by Via.... sticking it in the MII section... yes I know its beta but at least make sure it works before releasing it !

Terran

talsit · #16 (**permalink**) 13-10-08, 12:39 PM

Yeah, same thing happened to me too!

I tried to upgrade the bios, and it just said that it couldn't do it. And I believed it!

So I turned it off, and now it doesn't come back on. The HD indicator just stays turned on, no video signal, no boot, nothing.

Is there anything at all that I can do? Or has Via's Flash Utility left me with a brick?

talsit · #17 (**permalink**) 13-10-08, 12:40 PM

Oh, and it's an EN 15000.

talsit · #18 (**permalink**) 13-10-08, 10:37 PM

Oh, and I've tried clearing the CMOS and taking the bios out, cleaning the contacts with isopropyl alcohol and all that.

And nothing, a brick!

Matt3o · #19 (**permalink**) 14-10-08, 09:42 AM

I also bricked a EN12000 board with the via bios burning tool.

I was able to revive the bios thanks to a similar jetway board I had (hot swapping the bios chip that thankfully is not soldered).

The bottom line is do not use the via tool to flash the bios. Grab the latest awdflash (award bios flash utility) you find or flash from linux with flashrom (if your card is supported). I downloaded AWDflash version 893 and everything went smooth.

If you are trying (like me) to hotflash a bios from a similar but not identical motherboard remember to run AWDFLASH whit /QI option which bybass chip check (the complete command to issue is: AWD893.EXE <filename>.bin /PY /SN /CC /QI).

If you don't have a floppy I suggest to boot your PC from Ultimate Boot CD (google it, you can't miss it), and boot FreeDos.

Happy flashing.

PS: and don't flash from windows... it's just crap on wheels.

teigaff · #20 (**permalink**) 18-10-08, 07:13 PM

Hi all

I've also bought a 1500EN board. I updatet it to version 1.09 and that failed. I have to use an eprom programmer to fix it. With version 1.09 temperatures aren't show correctly. Specially the CPU heat.
I wanted to flahs back to version 1.07 and that didn't work. So i tried it many times and now it works with following parameters:
awdflash.exe i1200107.bin /py/sn/Wb/cd/cc/cp
Now it works again with version 1.07.
Does anybody knows the differences between the 1.07 and 1.09 versions? Only the measuring of CPU & ACPI temperatures has changed as I see (using SpeedFan).