Help with BIOS Flashing please

  • Thread starter Thread starter John Brown
  • Start date Start date
J

John Brown

Yes, first time flasher..keen not to make error ...been studying Users
Manual, Abit web pages etc...

thought I'd done all necessary but flashing not carried out. Not sure why
not.

Would be glad of any advice...here's the story:-

Its an ABIT NF7-S v2.0 Motherboard and am trying to flash the BIOS.

Managed to make a bootable floppy onto which included the two files as
required -

the BIOS Flash Utility AWDFLASH.EXE and the BIOS binary file NF7D_27.BIN

Started from the A drive and inserted as recommended as per:-

A:\>AWDFLASH NF7D_27.BIN /cc /cd /cp /py /sn /cks /r_

Expected that would do the trick...but what I got was the following
display...which I don't really understand what it means nor what to do now
:-)

----------------

AWDFLASH V8 .23K (03/21) (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. 2003 All Rights
Reserved

Usage: AWDFLASH [FileName1] [FileName2] [/<sw>[/<sw>....]]

FileName1 : New Bios Name For Flash Programming

FileName2 :BIOS File For Backing-up the Original BIOS

<Switches> ?: Show Help Messages

py : Program Flash Memory pn: No Flash Programming

sy : Backup Original BIOS To Disc File sn: No Original BIOS Backup

Sb : Skip BootBlock programming Wb: Always Programming BooBlock

cd : Clear DMI Data After Programming cc: Clear CMOS Data After Programming

cp : Clear PnP(ESCD) Data After Programming

LD : Destroy CMOS Checksum And No System Halt For First Reboot After
Programming Tiny:Occupy Lesser Memory

Q1 : Qualify flash part number with source file

E :Return to DOS After Programming R: RESET System After Programming

F :Use Flash Routines In Original BIOS For Flash Programming

cks : Show update Binfile Checksum cksXXXX: Compare Binfile Checksum with
XXXX

NVMAC : XXXXXXXXXXXX NVGUID : XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Support nForce Input MAC,GUID Function , with "/wb" to update MAC and GUID

Example: AWDFLASH 6A69R000.bin /py/sn/nvmac :xxxxxxxxxxxx/wb

A:\>
 
first question, WHY? are you flashing the bios?
Do not do this as if it is a driver thing, if there is no reason to do it,
Don't
 
John Brown said:
Yes, first time flasher..keen not to make error ...been studying Users
Manual, Abit web pages etc...

thought I'd done all necessary but flashing not carried out. Not sure why
not.

Would be glad of any advice...here's the story:-

Its an ABIT NF7-S v2.0 Motherboard and am trying to flash the BIOS.

Managed to make a bootable floppy onto which included the two files as
required -

the BIOS Flash Utility AWDFLASH.EXE and the BIOS binary file NF7D_27.BIN

Started from the A drive and inserted as recommended as per:-

A:\>AWDFLASH NF7D_27.BIN /cc /cd /cp /py /sn /cks /r_
Click to expand...

OK, that should read:

A:\>AWDFLASH NF7D_27.BIN

The error message is because it doesn't like some of the qualifiers you have
listed after, such as /cc /cd

If you are just trying to upgrade to the latest BIOS version, you don't need
any of the crap after the filename ending in .BIN.

-Dave
 
Because I've had some funnies with cpu speed - thought it might be the old
BIOS...its Jan 03.

JAD said:
first question, WHY? are you flashing the bios?
Do not do this as if it is a driver thing, if there is no reason to do it,
Don't


John Brown said:
Yes, first time flasher..keen not to make error ...been studying Users
Manual, Abit web pages etc...

thought I'd done all necessary but flashing not carried out. Not sure why
not.

Would be glad of any advice...here's the story:-

Its an ABIT NF7-S v2.0 Motherboard and am trying to flash the BIOS.

Managed to make a bootable floppy onto which included the two files as
required -

the BIOS Flash Utility AWDFLASH.EXE and the BIOS binary file NF7D_27.BIN

Started from the A drive and inserted as recommended as per:-

A:\>AWDFLASH NF7D_27.BIN /cc /cd /cp /py /sn /cks /r_

Expected that would do the trick...but what I got was the following
display...which I don't really understand what it means nor what to do
now
:-)

----------------

AWDFLASH V8 .23K (03/21) (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. 2003 All Rights
Reserved

Usage: AWDFLASH [FileName1] [FileName2] [/<sw>[/<sw>....]]

FileName1 : New Bios Name For Flash Programming

FileName2 :BIOS File For Backing-up the Original BIOS

<Switches> ?: Show Help Messages

py : Program Flash Memory pn: No Flash Programming

sy : Backup Original BIOS To Disc File sn: No Original BIOS Backup

Sb : Skip BootBlock programming Wb: Always Programming BooBlock

cd : Clear DMI Data After Programming cc: Clear CMOS Data After Programming

cp : Clear PnP(ESCD) Data After Programming

LD : Destroy CMOS Checksum And No System Halt For First Reboot After
Programming Tiny:Occupy Lesser Memory

Q1 : Qualify flash part number with source file

E :Return to DOS After Programming R: RESET System After Programming

F :Use Flash Routines In Original BIOS For Flash Programming

cks : Show update Binfile Checksum cksXXXX: Compare Binfile Checksum with
XXXX

NVMAC : XXXXXXXXXXXX NVGUID : XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Support nForce Input MAC,GUID Function , with "/wb" to update MAC and
GUID

Example: AWDFLASH 6A69R000.bin /py/sn/nvmac :xxxxxxxxxxxx/wb

A:\>

-------------------

So, as I say, I'd be pleased for any guidance.

Thanks, J
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Mike T. said:
OK, that should read:

A:\>AWDFLASH NF7D_27.BIN

The error message is because it doesn't like some of the qualifiers you
have listed after, such as /cc /cd

If you are just trying to upgrade to the latest BIOS version, you don't
need any of the crap after the filename ending in .BIN.

-Dave
Click to expand...
--------------
Not wishing to dispute your knowledge Dave..but are you sure?...
in the original Abit NF7/NF7-M/NF7-S motherboard users manual (page F-2)
it says:-
We strongly recommend you use the above parameters following "awdflash" to
flash your BIOS.
DO NOT just type "awdflash se6_sw.bin" without the parameters following the
".bin" file.
 
A:\>AWDFLASH NF7D_27.BIN
--------------
Not wishing to dispute your knowledge Dave..but are you sure?...
in the original Abit NF7/NF7-M/NF7-S motherboard users manual (page F-2)
it says:-
We strongly recommend you use the above parameters following "awdflash" to
flash your BIOS.
DO NOT just type "awdflash se6_sw.bin" without the parameters following
the ".bin" file.
Click to expand...

Well, I'm going by the error message. The error message directly
contradicts what you have said is written in the manual. If you have to
follow the procedure from the manual verbatim, you already know that it
won't work. It's possible that the procedure written in the manual contains
some parameters that are no longer recognized/supported by the flashing
program. (thus the error message)

Now, the qualifiers are probably telling the flashing program to flash in
some kind of "safer" method. So I wouldn't blame Abit for posting the
warning in the manual. They are trying to cover their ass. But the bottom
line is, there is no 100% safe way to flash a BIOS. If you could get the
flash to work with all the parameters listed in the Abit manual, you'd STILL
run a risk of damaging or destroying your mainboard, simply by flashing the
BIOS.

So before you try to flash the BIOS, REGARDLESS of how you flash the BIOS,
you've got to be willing to accept the risk of mainboard damage resulting
from the procedure.

From what I've read in this thread, a BIOS flash is needed. As long as you
are SURE that the .BIN file you downloaded is the correct one for your
mainboard (don't forget version!, as there can be more than one version of a
specific model mainboard), then I'd advise you to do the flash without all
of the parameters, as that appears to be the only way that it is going to
get done. -Dave
 
John Brown said:
..but are you sure?...
in the original Abit NF7/NF7-M/NF7-S motherboard users manual
(page F-2) it says:-
We strongly recommend you use the above parameters following
"awdflash" to flash your BIOS.
DO NOT just type "awdflash se6_sw.bin" without the parameters
following the ".bin" file.
Click to expand...

Considering the fact that flashing the bios is a risky procedure
(they all tell you that) and that I have gone without including any
commandline arguments for years, nowadays I should suspect those
recommendations or the entity where those recommendations come from.
 
John Brown said:
Because I've had some funnies with cpu speed - thought it might be the old
BIOS...its Jan 03.
Click to expand...


OK wrong CPU speed or Identification is a good reason.
The error messages suggests either the parameters are unneeded or are not
being typed correctly. In the manual 'punctuation' can get in the way of
syntax. Type the executable string the way the error messages suggested and
not the way the manual does.
JAD said:
first question, WHY? are you flashing the bios?
Do not do this as if it is a driver thing, if there is no reason to do it,
Don't


John Brown said:
Yes, first time flasher..keen not to make error ...been studying Users
Manual, Abit web pages etc...

thought I'd done all necessary but flashing not carried out. Not sure why
not.

Would be glad of any advice...here's the story:-

Its an ABIT NF7-S v2.0 Motherboard and am trying to flash the BIOS.

Managed to make a bootable floppy onto which included the two files as
required -

the BIOS Flash Utility AWDFLASH.EXE and the BIOS binary file NF7D_27.BIN

Started from the A drive and inserted as recommended as per:-

A:\>AWDFLASH NF7D_27.BIN /cc /cd /cp /py /sn /cks /r_

Expected that would do the trick...but what I got was the following
display...which I don't really understand what it means nor what to do
now
:-)

----------------

AWDFLASH V8 .23K (03/21) (C) Phoenix Technologies Ltd. 2003 All Rights
Reserved

Usage: AWDFLASH [FileName1] [FileName2] [/<sw>[/<sw>....]]

FileName1 : New Bios Name For Flash Programming

FileName2 :BIOS File For Backing-up the Original BIOS

<Switches> ?: Show Help Messages

py : Program Flash Memory pn: No Flash Programming

sy : Backup Original BIOS To Disc File sn: No Original BIOS Backup

Sb : Skip BootBlock programming Wb: Always Programming BooBlock

cd : Clear DMI Data After Programming cc: Clear CMOS Data After Programming

cp : Clear PnP(ESCD) Data After Programming

LD : Destroy CMOS Checksum And No System Halt For First Reboot After
Programming Tiny:Occupy Lesser Memory

Q1 : Qualify flash part number with source file

E :Return to DOS After Programming R: RESET System After Programming

F :Use Flash Routines In Original BIOS For Flash Programming

cks : Show update Binfile Checksum cksXXXX: Compare Binfile Checksum with
XXXX

NVMAC : XXXXXXXXXXXX NVGUID : XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Support nForce Input MAC,GUID Function , with "/wb" to update MAC and
GUID

Example: AWDFLASH 6A69R000.bin /py/sn/nvmac :xxxxxxxxxxxx/wb

A:\>

-------------------

So, as I say, I'd be pleased for any guidance.

Thanks, J
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
--------------
Not wishing to dispute your knowledge Dave..but are you sure?...
in the original Abit NF7/NF7-M/NF7-S motherboard users manual (page F-2)
it says:-
We strongly recommend you use the above parameters following "awdflash" to
flash your BIOS.
DO NOT just type "awdflash se6_sw.bin" without the parameters following the
".bin" file.
Click to expand...

The extra parameters are not neded. They refer to unzipping a zip file and
running a .bat file. That is not what you are doing, and it is not what
you want to do. The two files without the parameters will do the job.
Just remember to jumper the two pins near the CMOS battery after flashing.
 
I agree,you don't need all those switches.Mike is correct.Every BIOS I've
ever done was the way Mike T. wrote out.
"John Brown"
 
OK, Thanks for all the advice...I'll report back rtef success/failure:-)
J
-----------------
 
dawg said:
I agree,you don't need all those switches.Mike is correct.Every BIOS I've
ever done was the way Mike T. wrote out.
"John Brown"
Click to expand...
--------------------
Decided to go ahead without any parameters using only the flash utility and
the BIOS binary:-

A:\>awdflash nfc_27.bin

....so using the bootable floppy with the flash utility file and the BIOS
binary files added.....seemed to be going ok...

got to first page where it shows File Name to Program : nf7d_27.bin

and then asks for name of Save Current BIOS:

.... so I typed in a name: nf7d_27A ...all well so far...

...bit later got message Disc Full or File Error...damn!!...abandonded the
attempt...

....and sure enough the floppy disc is full as it tried to save current BIOS
details.

Looking at the details of what's on the Floppy:-

Awdflash.exe 40kb

nf7d_27.bin 512kb

nfd_27a 316kb...but presumably incomplete as disc full

Autoexec.bat 0kb

Command .com 91

Config.sys 0

Display.sys 17

Ega2.cpi 58

Ega3.cpi 58

Ega.cpi 58

Io.sys 114

Keyb.com 22

Keyboard.sys 34

Keybrd2.sys 32

Keybrd3.sys 31

Keybrd4.sys 13

Mode.com 29

Msdos.sys 1

Would be glad for any further advise.

Cheers,

J
 
--------------------
Decided to go ahead without any parameters using only the flash utility and
the BIOS binary:-

A:\>awdflash nfc_27.bin

...so using the bootable floppy with the flash utility file and the BIOS
binary files added.....seemed to be going ok...

got to first page where it shows File Name to Program : nf7d_27.bin

and then asks for name of Save Current BIOS:

... so I typed in a name: nf7d_27A ...all well so far...
Click to expand...
I would type c:\nf7d_27A

which should save to root of C on your HD
 
and then asks for name of Save Current BIOS:
... so I typed in a name: nf7d_27A ...all well so far...

..bit later got message Disc Full or File Error...damn!!...abandonded the
attempt...

...and sure enough the floppy disc is full as it tried to save current
BIOS details.

Looking at the details of what's on the Floppy:-

Awdflash.exe 40kb

nf7d_27.bin 512kb
Click to expand...

OK, you need a cleaner floppy to run off of. The way you do that is to
format b: /sys from any DOS bootable floppy disk with format.com on it.

A:\>format b: /sys (my DOS is rusty, it might be format b: /s)

If you don't have a DOS bootable floppy disk with format.com on it, you can
download a program to create one from www.bootdisk.org

Actually, I just checked the main page there, and they have driver free
disks specifically for BIOS flashing, so try one of those first. :) -Dave
 
Well, I'm going by the error message. The error message directly
contradicts what you have said is written in the manual. If you have to
follow the procedure from the manual verbatim, you already know that it
won't work. It's possible that the procedure written in the manual
contains some parameters that are no longer recognized/supported by the
flashing program. (thus the error message)

Now, the qualifiers are probably telling the flashing program to flash in
some kind of "safer" method. So I wouldn't blame Abit for posting the
warning in the manual. They are trying to cover their ass. But the
bottom line is, there is no 100% safe way to flash a BIOS. If you could
get the flash to work with all the parameters listed in the Abit manual,
you'd STILL run a risk of damaging or destroying your mainboard, simply by
flashing the BIOS.

So before you try to flash the BIOS, REGARDLESS of how you flash the BIOS,
you've got to be willing to accept the risk of mainboard damage resulting
from the procedure.

From what I've read in this thread, a BIOS flash is needed. As long as
you are SURE that the .BIN file you downloaded is the correct one for your
mainboard (don't forget version!, as there can be more than one version of
a specific model mainboard), then I'd advise you to do the flash without
all of the parameters, as that appears to be the only way that it is going
to get done. -Dave
Click to expand...
-----------------
Job done..blimey bios flashing should be added to the list of marriage,
moving
house and death for high stressfulness level :-)
And wouldn't have been possible to accomplished without the help of
knowledgeable
newsgroup members for which very grateful.
Did the flashing just with A:\>awdflash nfc_27.bin and deleted all from
floppy except
Io.sys, Command.com and Msdos.sys
Mind you things a bit wobbly afterwards..but then remembered the need to
reset CMOS :-)
Thanks again. J
-------------------------------------
 
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