Basic BIOS Flashing Question

[BlueBirdTS]

I recently purchased an E8400 along with a Gigabyte P35-DS3L motherboard. I also bought a cheap Celeron 420 just to flash the BIOS. However, I've never built a system of my own before, and until recently, I had no idea that the BIOS could even be updated. Anyways, how would I go about flashing the BIOS? I've seen several guides online, but they are relatively vague. Could I just do it directly from Windows using software, or do I need any special hardware (floppy drive, etc.)?

 

[BlueAcolyte]

Just download the BIOS from Gigabyte's site and tap the button for QFlash like a woodpecker on bootup. (F8 I think, it's in my manual)

Put the BIOS on a flash drive, plug the drive in, and find it in QFlash. When the upgrade starts, DO NOT TURN OFF THE COMPUTER!!!!!!

Note: The flash drive must be FAT formatted. The BIOS file can also go on your hard drive if you do not have a flash drive.

 

[Doclife]

There is an utility in the Gigabyte mobo CD driver called @Bios. Install and and then update that utility by clicking on "Check @BIOS Updates.." button. After, @BIOS is updated, run @BIOS again, check the "Find BIOS From Gigabyte" and then click on "Update New BIOS". The utility will find the latest BIOS version and flash the mobo for you.

 

[JustaGeek]

Read the manual, and follow the steps closely, or you might damage the BIOS install.

RMA might be the only option in case of failed BIOS installation.

DO NOT use the Windows based updaters - they are generally very unreliable.

If you have a floppy drive, use the method described here.

You can also build a bootable CD.

Good luck!

 

[cozumel]

Strongly advise against using @BIOS. It operates via Windows and downloads directly from the internet. If your connection is bad, Windows crashes or the connection drops you could totally kill the board and your DS3L will be dead.

Once you have the new BIOS on a floppy you can either use the method linked to by JustaGeek or by using QFlash. With Qflash you need to enter the BIOS by pressing del during post. When you are in the BIOS press F8 to start the QFlash utility. Full instructions are within your manual and also on Gigabyte site. How to flash using AWDFLASH is also on Intel's website.

Using JustaGeeks AWARDFLASH method or Gigabyte's QFLASH are both equally safe. Just to stress again, do not @BIOS as it is asking for trouble.

 

[BlueBirdTS]

Thanks for the helpful responses! QFlASH seems like the easiest utility to use.

 

[Team42]

As posted in another thread, I use Gigabyte's @BIOS utility to update my BIOS in Windows and haven't had any problems. I don't update directly from the internet though: there is an option to update from elsewhere that doesn't depend on the internet. I download, save, extract and then update. I always keep all versions of BIOS on my secondary PC just in case. I don't have a floppy drive in my main rig (it can flash from USB, CDROM or HDD) but the first boot device is set to CDROM just in case of emergencies...

Read the manual.

BTW, how many people have had Windows crash during BIOS updates? Is this a fear of something that used to happen a long time ago and it stays in peoples' memories, or is it still a very real risk? I've been using Windows-based PCs for the last 14 years and haven't had one crash outside of a testing environment (if you exclude a couple of powercuts, but that would ah heck any BIOS flash...)

 

[cozumel]

Originally posted by: Team42
BTW, how many people have had Windows crash during BIOS updates? Is this a fear of something that used to happen a long time ago and it stays in peoples' memories, or is it still a very real risk? I've been using Windows-based PCs for the last 14 years and haven't had one crash outside of a testing environment (if you exclude a couple of powercuts, but that would ah heck any BIOS flash...)

You need to be unlucky for Windows to crash or the program to stop responding while flashing the BIOS. But updating via Windows is a risky variable that can be avoided altogether. Nobody wants to be cursing their bad luck when the avoidable and unlikely could have been avoided.

Updating the BIOS is probably the only update most people do that may result in a catastrophic failure of their rig. It should be done in the safest way possible. I really don't understand why Gigabyte, Asus and other manufacturers make these programs that carry this risk (however small). It is, in my opinion, bordering on negligent.

And Team42, I also have never had a BSOD or Windows crash since Windows98 that has not been caused by me stress-testing hardware or experimenting with heavy overclocks. But I would never update BIOS via Windows as I want to keep the risk to an absolute minimum.

 

[Doclife]

Originally posted by: cozumel

Originally posted by: Team42
BTW, how many people have had Windows crash during BIOS updates? Is this a fear of something that used to happen a long time ago and it stays in peoples' memories, or is it still a very real risk? I've been using Windows-based PCs for the last 14 years and haven't had one crash outside of a testing environment (if you exclude a couple of powercuts, but that would ah heck any BIOS flash...)

You need to be unlucky for Windows to crash or the program to stop responding while flashing the BIOS. But updating via Windows is a risky variable that can be avoided altogether. Nobody wants to be cursing their bad luck when the avoidable and unlikely could have been avoided.

Updating the BIOS is probably the only update most people do that may result in a catastrophic failure of their rig. It should be done in the safest way possible. I really don't understand why Gigabyte, Asus and other manufacturers make these programs that carry this risk (however small). It is, in my opinion, bordering on negligent.

And Team42, I also have never had a BSOD or Windows crash since Windows98 that has not been caused by me stress-testing hardware or experimenting with heavy overclocks. But I would never update BIOS via Windows as I want to keep the risk to an absolute minimum.

I think that the people who wrote the @BIOS program is a bit smarter than you'd think. @BIOS would find the latest bios of the mobo, download it to the computer first, THEN flash the mobo with new bios version. Thus, if you loose the internet connection while downloading the bios file, then no harm has been done. Only when the bios file is on your computer HD (or wherever it saves the bios file) then the flashing would take place.

There is always a small risk when flashing the bios, no matter which method you use. For example: what if there is a power surge that causes the computer to reset while the bios flashing is being done ? That would be catastrophic and render the mobo useless.

 

[cozumel]

I just cannot see how running a BIOS flash through Windows, where a crash is possible, is as safe as flashing through DOS or BIOS where this risk is totally negated.

The fact is that Windows can crash or a program (such as @BIOS) can stop responding within the GUI although I do agree the chance is small. If an increased risk exists it is therefore sensible and correct to avoid using Windows-based BIOS update programs when there are other options where this risk no longer exists.

It is obvious and is without doubt a total no-brainer.

 

[Idontcare]

Not too mention forum boards like XS are littered with folks complaining that they are RMA'ing their boards because of failed attempts to update the BIOS thru windows software.

Not everyone who has unprotected s e x in a one night stand will end up with a pregnancy...but the risk of it happening does correlate to frequency of occurences and why not just use a little protection and reduce the chances of having an undesired surprise?

Its not a question of whether it is risky, it should be merely good enough to accept that it is riskier than simply putting the BIOS file on a thumbdrive and updating your Bios thru the built-in qflash program when you computer posts.

You have to reboot anyway and really to do it correctly you are supposed to clear the CMOS after BIOS flashing and load defaults, reboot again, enter the BIOS and only then change settings to your liking. With all that rebooting and manhandling of the board and BIOS why bother starting one tiny part of that cycle with windows controlling the fate of your computer and forthcoming weekend?

 

[SorryImLate]

how long do normal bios updates take to install? 30 sec...1 min?

 

[Tempered81]

Originally posted by: Doclife
There is an utility in the Gigabyte mobo CD driver called @Bios. Install and and then update that utility by clicking on "Check @BIOS Updates.." button. After, @BIOS is updated, run @BIOS again, check the "Find BIOS From Gigabyte" and then click on "Update New BIOS". The utility will find the latest BIOS version and flash the mobo for you.

this is what i did. It's ez & works from within Windows.

 

[cozumel]

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: Doclife
There is an utility in the Gigabyte mobo CD driver called @Bios. Install and and then update that utility by clicking on "Check @BIOS Updates.." button. After, @BIOS is updated, run @BIOS again, check the "Find BIOS From Gigabyte" and then click on "Update New BIOS". The utility will find the latest BIOS version and flash the mobo for you.

this is what i did. It's ez & works from within Windows.

Good grief. I give up.

 

[cozumel]

Originally posted by: SorryImLate
how long do normal bios updates take to install? 30 sec...1 min?

Something like that. Definitely less than a minute I reckon.

 

[Doclife]

I updated my Gigabyte mobo with new Bios version this morning using @BIOS from Windows. It takes about 1-2 minutes to complete the task.

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: cozumel

Originally posted by: jaredpace

Originally posted by: Doclife
There is an utility in the Gigabyte mobo CD driver called @Bios. Install and and then update that utility by clicking on "Check @BIOS Updates.." button. After, @BIOS is updated, run @BIOS again, check the "Find BIOS From Gigabyte" and then click on "Update New BIOS". The utility will find the latest BIOS version and flash the mobo for you.

this is what i did. It's ez & works from within Windows.

Good grief. I give up.

I like to smoke while I pump gas too! What? Its not like its ever caused my car to blow up, not even once yet. Hold on a sec, gotta take this cellphone call while I pump gas into this external container I got sitting on my truck's bedliner...

 

[Tempered81]

oh shit, that means you need to do it through DOS then. However, it did easily work in windows with @bios. ;(

 

[Idontcare]

Originally posted by: jaredpace
oh shit, that means you need to do it through DOS then. However, it did easily work in windows with @bios. ;(

Not DOS, when your computer posts (most modern mobo's anyway) you have the option of entering into a built-in BIOS flash update program (F8, or alt-F8, etc) just like you have the option of entering into the BIOS itself (DEL, or F2, etc).

Use the builtin program to read the BIOS file off a thumbdrive (must be FAT or FAT32 formated, not NTFS) and you are in like flynt.

 

[Tempered81]

Oh sorry, well what if you dont have the thumbdrive, can it ready cd or floppy - im sure?

 

[tenax]

A quick question..usually i use @bios with no issue to flash my gigabyte board, but i want to go back to an earlier version of the bios. i downloaded version i want (f9) and i have a thumbdrive to put it on..the question is..the bios i downloaded has a .exe extension..do put that file as is on the thumb drive..or click on the file while i'm in windows and it extracts or something..don't want to click on it without knowing what could happen..thanks..ps, the file name is:

motherboard bios ga-p35-ds4 f9.exe

 

[tenax]

Originally posted by: tenax
A quick question..usually i use @bios with no issue to flash my gigabyte board, but i want to go back to an earlier version of the bios. i downloaded version i want (f9) and i have a thumbdrive to put it on..the question is..the bios i downloaded has a .exe extension..do put that file as is on the thumb drive..or click on the file while i'm in windows and it extracts or something..don't want to click on it without knowing what could happen..thanks..ps, the file name is:

motherboard bios ga-p35-ds4 f9.exe

anyone? pushing a bit here as i plan to flash my bios using qflash tonight thank you.