Bios update: which file?

[Katy]

I tried replying with the following but it wouldn't post; maybe this
will....

Thanks Paul! Now I wonder if I download the bios flash from Asus here:
http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=P4S333&Type=BIOS
I read in my manual that the Aflash is a 'writer utility' that uploads the
flash file to the bios to update it. so I would download the Aflash.zip and
the 1007 file, both, right?

and how do I know if I need the 1007 or the 1007c? I went into my setup
and according to the manaul and comparing it to my bios, I have no line
allowing me to enable or disable "Onboard LAN Boot ROM' nor do I have a line
allowing me to enable or disable 'Onboard LAN Controller'.

Would this mean I would use the P4S1007.zip? and not the 'c' version?

I looked at the file link you sent below for the CTMC, downloaded it, and
the text file was in German, the other text file was just numbers. I guess
if I'm going to do that, I may as well flash the bios to do it and allow for
a larger than 137gb hard drive which I need to replace with a 160gb.

I went to the link you sent to an earlier question that led me to
'48bitLBA.com' and chose the Upgrade Bios NOW and the tech who called
informed me at that time it would cost me $50 for their bios upgrade. I had
downloaded, installed and run the Bios Agent creating a text file that I am
probably
not allowed to attach, and I was supposed to call the place to install it.

Couldn't I download/install this myself free of charge from Asus? I have
flashed a bios once before on a PB
which was very involved and irritating, this motherboard seems easier but I
just want to be sure I have the right file for this mobo. Would be great if
Asus could use a Bios Agent to tell 'me' what I need.

Could you help me find the right file? I understand that the responsibility
is still in my court and I'm not about to make you or anyone responsible for
the 'correct file' but I sure could use some feedback.

Thanks again for helping and welcome any advice!!!
katy

 

[Paul]

I tried replying with the following but it wouldn't post; maybe this
will....

Thanks Paul! Now I wonder if I download the bios flash from Asus here:
http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=P4S333&Type=BIOS
I read in my manual that the Aflash is a 'writer utility' that uploads the
flash file to the bios to update it. so I would download the Aflash.zip and
the 1007 file, both, right?

and how do I know if I need the 1007 or the 1007c? I went into my setup
and according to the manaul and comparing it to my bios, I have no line
allowing me to enable or disable "Onboard LAN Boot ROM' nor do I have a line
allowing me to enable or disable 'Onboard LAN Controller'.

Would this mean I would use the P4S1007.zip? and not the 'c' version?

I looked at the file link you sent below for the CTMC, downloaded it, and
the text file was in German, the other text file was just numbers. I guess
if I'm going to do that, I may as well flash the bios to do it and allow for
a larger than 137gb hard drive which I need to replace with a 160gb.

I went to the link you sent to an earlier question that led me to
'48bitLBA.com' and chose the Upgrade Bios NOW and the tech who called
informed me at that time it would cost me $50 for their bios upgrade. I had
downloaded, installed and run the Bios Agent creating a text file that I am
probably
not allowed to attach, and I was supposed to call the place to install it.

Couldn't I download/install this myself free of charge from Asus? I have
flashed a bios once before on a PB
which was very involved and irritating, this motherboard seems easier but I
just want to be sure I have the right file for this mobo. Would be great if
Asus could use a Bios Agent to tell 'me' what I need.

Could you help me find the right file? I understand that the responsibility
is still in my court and I'm not about to make you or anyone responsible for
the 'correct file' but I sure could use some feedback.

Thanks again for helping and welcome any advice!!!
katy

Whoa, Nelly I didn't send you to 48bitlba.com, just to buy a BIOS.
You are absolutely correct, that Asus has your BIOS update for you.
I sent you to 48bitlba, because it has interesting info on the 137GB
disk boundary problem, like what to do for Win2K or WinXP. I did that
because I didn't want to type all the info into a USENET posting, and
sent you there to do some research

As for your current Asus BIOS, in a previous post, you claimed to
be running 1006C, so that would suggest one of the "C" BIOS
is what you should use.

This is the latest release BIOS, p4s1007c.zip, for a "without LAN"
board.

http://www.asus.com/support/downloa...15&l3_id=2&m_id=1&f_name=p4s1007c.zip~zaqwedc

This is the latest beta BIOS, 1008c005.zip, from December of last year:
http://www.asus.com/support/downloa...15&l3_id=2&m_id=1&f_name=1008c005.zip~zaqwedc

The Beta has been around long enough, that it should be just as good
as the release BIOS. Checking Google, I don't see any "train wrecks"
caused by 1008, so I would go with the second of the two links above.

You'll need a flash program:
http://www.asus.com/support/downloa...5&l3_id=2&m_id=1&f_name=aflash221.zip~zaqwedc

I recommend flashing from a MSDOS boot disk. I made mine with Win98SE
and have been carting the same floppy from computer to computer ever
since. Bootdisk.com also has boot disks if you need the files.
Instructions for what to do are actually in a README file inside the
aflash221.zip file. When unzipped, you'll find the aflash executable
and the README file.

Things you can do (as well as what is in the README):

0) Before flashing, go into the BIOS, and write down any custom
settings you are using. You will need these later. If you are
overclocking, return the CPU and memory to normal conditions
before flashing. An overclock can overclock the clock on the LPC
interface, and you don't want that. You could even do "Load
Setup Defaults" from the Exit menu, as that returns the BIOS
to factory settings. (I don't bother with that.)
1) The first step with aflash, is to back up the current BIOS. Aflash
reads the contents of the flash chip and stores it in a file. If
the flash procedure appears to be failing, and you haven't tried to
reboot yet, you can use Aflash again, and write the file contents
back into the flash chip. I've actually had to do that once.
Two BIOS files will fit on a floppy for older boards. For newer
boards with 512KB flash chips, you would need a second floppy with
just Aflash and the BIOS files on it, and swap floppies.
2) Try flashing the new file _without_ updating the boot block.
If you flash the boot block on the first try, there is no
recovery procedure if the flash fails. By fail, what I mean is,
it will look like Aflash has succeeded. You try to reboot and get
a black screen. If there is going to be trouble while flashing,
then it is best to just zap the rest of the code in the BIOS,
but leave the boot block intact. Boot block recovery gives you
a slim chance of getting back on your feet again, but it is better
than nothing.
3) If the flash _without_ updating boot block works, then try
including updating the boot block on the second flash. If step
(2) works, then (3) is more likely to work.
4) If step (2) or (3) fail, try the "Clear CMOS" procedure in the
manual. Always unplug the computer first, before doing this.
The jumper is generally called CLRTC, so look for that in the
manual.
5) If things are still looking bad, you can try reflashing. Some
BIOS have a flash routine build-in, and on some <alt> <f2>
brings up the menu. If your BIOS doesn't have that feature, or
doesn't have CrashFree, then you can try the boot block method.
That involves a boot floppy, only this time it has an autoexec.bat
file on the disk. The autoexec file is a text file with a one
line command in the file. The file to be executed will be
aflash.exe, followed by a sequence of command line options.
That is how some people manage to flash back to their original
BIOS. (If the BIOS refuses to boot from the floppy, or even
attempt to access the floppy, the boot block is fried.)
6) If recovery steps (4) and (5) fail, visit badflash.com and
buy a replacement flash chip programmed with the version of
BIOS you want to use.

Good luck,
Paul

 

[Barry Watzman]

Note, once a motherboard model is discontinued by Asus, Asus classifies
ALL further BIOS' for that motherboard as "beta". This is a bit
different from the usual definition.