Flashing BIOS question

[Tim]

Frank,

An emergency repair disc isn't a book disc - nothing like one unfortunately.
Save the disc, label it and keep it in a safe place - remember you have it
of course...

If you have a DOS boot floppy or Win98 install boot disc, that will do,
otherwise take a look at: http://www.bootdisk.com/

Make sure you skip over the installation of highmem and other such memory
extenders during the boot as they interfere with the use of programs such as
flash & aflash - I think you press F5 or F6 (both) as soon as the Loading MS
Dos message appears.

Make sure you are using the correct version of aflash for the P2B since
there have been several versions of the program and their are reportedly
incompatibilities - use the one from the Asus site where you get the bios
from.

- Tim

 

[CeeBee]

I'm having difficulty getting started. I'm flashing my BIOS on my
P2B-F and I can't seem to get the AFLASH utility to run. I have
copied all unzipped files onto a formatted floppy: AFLASH.EXE, plus
the BIOS flash (1014.003). I'm probably not creating a proper boot
disk. I'm using Windows2000. The instructions I've read from Asus
says all files should fit on one floppy . I'm confused. I first made
an Emergency Repair disc, then copied the aflash and bios files on it,
no problem. But when I re-start my computer, all that comes up is:
"error non-system disc, remove and hit any key to continue". I have
made "boot discs" before, there are four of them. I know I'm missing
something simple, what is it?

If you followed instructions and just have to put those files on a
floppy disk, you have to make a bootable disk first (transfer system
files). Just make a bootable disk with the W2K format routine and then
copy the lot on it. Restart your PC.

But ....

I don't know the contents of the file, but isn't it possible that you
have to _create_ a flash disk with this AFLASH.EXE program? Start it
under Windows with an empty floppy disk in the FDD and see if it starts
to create a bootable flash disk. I know a lot of BIOS manufacturers work
that way.

As a sidenote: why upgrade your BIOS? Is it really necessary? Remember,
if it ain't broke, don't fix it. I know the urge is strong to keep-up-to
date with everything when it comes to computers. I have the same urge
Why do I upgrade my BIOS? Because I can.
But sometimes you just shouldn't.

 

[Frank]

I'm having difficulty getting started. I'm flashing my BIOS on my P2B-F and
I can't seem to get the AFLASH utility to run. I have copied all unzipped
files onto a formatted floppy: AFLASH.EXE, plus the BIOS flash (1014.003).
I'm probably not creating a proper boot disk. I'm using Windows2000. The
instructions I've read from Asus says all files should fit on one floppy .
I'm confused. I first made an Emergency Repair disc, then copied the aflash
and bios files on it, no problem. But when I re-start my computer, all that
comes up is: "error non-system disc, remove and hit any key to continue". I
have made "boot discs" before, there are four of them. I know I'm missing
something simple, what is it?

 

[Frank]

Awesome! Thanks for the replies guys, all is well. I found and downloaded
Dr.DOS, make a proper boot disc, added AFLASH and BIOS, and flashed
successfully.
One curious thing though; during the flash process, after I saved my
original BIOS to the floppy and proceeded to step 2: Update BIOS Including
Boot Block and ESCD, mine read "Update BIOS Without Boot Block and ESCD". It
kinda through me off for a while, because I never saw that option printed in
the Manuel. Anyway, I went ahead and it updated successfully. What is Boot
Block and ESCD?
Once again, thanks!

 

[CeeBee]

Awesome! Thanks for the replies guys, all is well. I found and
downloaded Dr.DOS, make a proper boot disc, added AFLASH and BIOS, and
flashed successfully.
One curious thing though; during the flash process, after I saved my
original BIOS to the floppy and proceeded to step 2: Update BIOS
Including Boot Block and ESCD, mine read "Update BIOS Without Boot
Block and ESCD". It kinda through me off for a while, because I never
saw that option printed in the Manuel. Anyway, I went ahead and it
updated successfully. What is Boot Block and ESCD?
Once again, thanks!

The Bootblock contains the boot progam - BIOS is read-only software that
must be started, and ESCD stand for "extended system configuration
data", a parameter block from a BIOS file holding info about settings of
your system config, like processor speed, multiplier, etc.

 

[Rick]

I'm having difficulty getting started. I'm flashing my BIOS on my P2B-F and
I can't seem to get the AFLASH utility to run. I have copied all unzipped
files onto a formatted floppy: AFLASH.EXE, plus the BIOS flash (1014.003).
I'm probably not creating a proper boot disk. I'm using Windows2000. The
instructions I've read from Asus says all files should fit on one floppy .
I'm confused. I first made an Emergency Repair disc, then copied the aflash
and bios files on it, no problem. But when I re-start my computer, all that
comes up is: "error non-system disc, remove and hit any key to continue". I
have made "boot discs" before, there are four of them. I know I'm missing
something simple, what is it?

Remember, when formatting floppies in Win2K, Win2K can't create bootable
floppies because there is no DOS to speak of... ;-)

-Rick

 

[Big Easy]

started. I'm flashing my BIOS on my
P2B-F andutility to run. I have copied all
unzippedAFLASH.EXE, plus the BIOS flash
(1014.003).says all files should fit on one floppy
..Emergency Repair disc, then copied the
aflashBut when I re-start my computer, all
that

Remember, when formatting floppies in

Win2K, Win2K can't create bootable

floppies because there is no DOS to speak of... ;-)

-Rick

Go to www.bootdisk.com and download
DrDos 7 and use it to make a bootable
disk.
Big Easy