What does it mean to reprogram at the BIOS level. What is BIOS and how to flash it. Which motherboards are subject to flashing their BIOS

This review prompted us to write the fact that many SC customers, when handing in a motherboard for repair, ask not to “repair the board”, but “just restore or rewrite the BIOS”, without fully understanding the essence of the problem, although the problem with the BIOS itself is quite multifaceted and is not always the case. In order to save you money and time, we will try to clarify this issue by breaking down both the main and some related information into points.

It is always possible to reprogram the contents of the Flash memory chip where the start code is stored, i.e. the BIOS (hereinafter referred to as the BIOS chip), and the cost of this procedure is really cheaper (sometimes several times) than the “electronic” or “hardware” repair of the board. To solve such issues in our service center, professional equipment of foreign production (Slovakia) is used. For reprogramming, the BIOS chip is removed from the board. We do not practice the ISP programming method (In System Programming, that is, “in-system” or “in-circuit”) due to the lower level of reliability and stability. Of course, we have adapters for popular types of microcircuit packages, sometimes called “panels” or “blocks” in slang, but if there is no adapter you need, theoretically, you can solder directly to the microcircuit, depending on the profitability of this event. The following adapters are available: SOIC-8, PLCC-32, PLCC-44 (ZIF), TSOP-40, TSOP-48. The list of supported chips is quite extensive and can be downloaded as a text file - sometimes it can be useful to see if we can help you with programming. However, do not forget one subtlety: if the required chip brand is not in the list, this does not mean that our equipment cannot cope with it (in this case, it will not be superfluous to consult by phone). Work with many types of memory is carried out according to unified algorithms, which are relatively few, and it is likely that knowing this algorithm, we can choose an analogue for work. As a rule, in addition to the algorithm, you need to select a chip with the same address and data bus organization, the same volume, and, preferably, a brand. Checking for strict compliance with the identifier, of course, must be disabled in the settings of the programmer software. It must be understood that such a “trick” will not work in the case of non-standard memory chips or devices for a specific application, such as microcontrollers.

There are only two factors that slightly complicate this procedure (in the sense of complicating both in time and cost). This is the absence of the firmware itself, especially if the board model is rare (i.e. the absence of a file with the contents of the BIOS in binary format on some media provided by the customer, because of which we will have to additionally search for it on the Internet; besides, very it is also important not to make a mistake in the revision of the device, which can be with different and incompatible BIOS code even for the same model), and the second factor is the lack of a “socket” for the Flash chip on the board (or, in common people, “cribs” or just an adapter; it is true mainly for PLCC-32-type cases with J-shaped leads, if the board is relatively old, on modern ones there is an adapter for DIP-8 cases), as a result, before the programming procedure, it is necessary to perform soldering work on desoldering the microcircuit, and then also by sealing it back after programming. However, the total cost of this procedure, taking into account all the "complications", still remains below the cost of a "hardware" repair of the board. Note that all of the above is true only for those cases when the Flash memory chip itself is serviceable, and only its contents are "faulty", see below.

According to the statistics of motherboard repairs, problems with the BIOS are extremely rare and amount to approximately no more than 5% (and this cannot be called a repair in the literal sense). The remaining 95% of repairs are either the search for a faulty electronic component and its replacement using soldering equipment (sometimes it is necessary to select an analogue of the component), or the search and restoration of damaged soldering (rarely). Keep this in mind if you yourself make assumptions about the BIOS problems of your board, if the malfunction itself arose “out of the blue, out of nothing” (or “it worked yesterday, turned it off, turned it on today - it doesn’t work ... I remember, it was, like, “jump” of power ... probably the BIOS has flown ...”). According to our statistics, most customers “sin” for problems with the BIOS only on the grounds that “everything is clean on the board itself, the fans are spinning, there are no burnt or melted elements and mechanical damage, not a single microcircuit is heated above normal, and we are with the board didn't do anything at all." Believe me, from a technical point of view, such a diagnosis, if not absurd, is clearly insufficient - the range of malfunctions of motherboards, like any other complex electronic equipment, is too wide to evaluate it only "by eye". Probability is mentioned above - these are real facts recorded by us during our long practice.

If a board malfunction arose immediately after obvious influences that increase the probability of a BIOS failure by dozens of times compared to normal operation, then the diagnosis “it is necessary to reflash the BIOS” is most justified, i.e. it gives maximum efficiency during repairs and minimal risk of obtaining a negative end result. By influences, we mean mainly the human factor, i.e. an attempt by the user to independently reprogram (update) the BIOS using special utilities from board manufacturers (AWDFLASH, AMIFLASH, UNIFLASH), or manipulate the microcircuit itself in general. This may cause the following problems:

An electrical (or, if you prefer, "electronic") failure in the board itself;
- power failure (interference) during programming;
- “turned off the light” during programming (there was a power outage);
- programmed, by mistake, with the wrong BIOS version or for the wrong revision of the board;
- the service software worked incorrectly (it hung in the process of programming or erasing the MS BIOS);
- the service software worked incorrectly (incorrectly determined the type of the Flash-memory chip);
- a discharge of static electricity, which can damage both the MS BIOS itself and its contents (this is possible if, for some reason, the microcircuit was removed from the socket or was carelessly transported, etc.);
- manifested degradation of the microcircuit itself, see below (it will need to be replaced).

In such cases, we recommend that you do not repair the board, but rather program the contents of the BIOS into the Flash memory chip, as it is faster and cheaper, and the probability of a positive end result (that is, that the board will work after the reprogramming procedure) is almost 100% , judging by the statistics of repairs.

Let us dwell separately on the point "The utility software did not work correctly." According to our statistics, quite a lot of problems arise exactly when the user updates the BIOS using utilities for Windows. For the best guarantee of upgrade success, we strongly recommend that you use MS-DOS utilities whenever possible (using an appropriate boot disk or flash drive) or utilities built directly into the BIOS program itself.

Flash-memory chips used to store the start code, i.e. BIOS firmware, are prone to degradation of various kinds. However, degradation is extremely rare and practically does not occur during normal operation. The degradations themselves can be very different, and their final manifestation is, in fact, a malfunction of the microcircuit (an incorrect chip_ID answer, the inability to program, erase, read certain memory cells, etc.). Separately, it is worth mentioning the situation when, up to a certain point, the computer worked perfectly, but it was after trying to update the BIOS that the latter turned out to be faulty, i.e. the board could no longer be started, although there were no hardware failures (suppose), the software worked without errors, the version of the BIOS itself was chosen correctly, etc. The reason is in the partially degraded Flash memory chip, or rather, in certain of its cells. The bottom line is that the main area of ​​the memory cells of the microcircuit during normal operation only works for reading when the power is turned on (before POST) and the “wear” of the cells cannot be noticed - everything works. But at the very first recording of the entire address space (i.e. updating the BIOS), a certain cell “failed” (more precisely, certain bits at certain addresses in the memory array lost their ability to store information, and this fact “came out” - before programming, the microcircuit is erased ). There have also been observed failures that are massive and are the result of the failure of the internal controller in the MS BIOS and the distortion of information transmitted both via the external and internal data buses - for example, after reading a “freshly written” microcircuit, you can see how it is reset to zero in the read dump every fourth byte out of eight. Such “surprises” during repair can only be detected during programming with preliminary erasure and nothing else (any programming on professional equipment necessarily includes full software and hardware control of the process with display of the results of procedures).

The main reasons for the degradation and malfunction of Flash memory chips are banal aging, hidden chip defects, surges (exceeding) of the supply voltage due to poor-quality power supplies, and increased “write wear” of certain cells. The fact is that the BIOS chip is written not only when the version is updated, but also every time the PnP device registry is updated, or the so-called. DMI pool or ESCD (Extended System Configuration Data). This is a block of memory, usually 1024 bytes long, where the current system settings are stored, in particular, regarding the configuration of devices on the PCI bus and the interrupt distribution scheme. The registry area is updated whenever any expansion boards, controllers, video cards, sound cards are removed from the slots or, on the contrary, connected, or the CPU or clock frequency and CPU multiplier are changed (regardless of the way these parameters are controlled and set, i.e. i.e. jumpers-"jumpers" or programmatically). The immediate moment of writing to the above area of ​​the chip is usually accompanied by messages like "Building DMI pool", "Updating DMI information", "Updating ESCD". We emphasize that the above can also cause a failure under adverse conditions. Based on the foregoing, we can summarize the following - if your PC configuration is not updated, then writing to the BIOS chip is never done during normal operation- only its reading is performed, the "wear and tear" from which is extremely small. The number of “erase-write-read” cycles is always limited for any memory microcircuit, and it is far from a fact that degradation will not occur within the MTBF period declared by the manufacturer or specifications for a particular chip. In conclusion, we note that not all motherboards have a similar situation. In some boards, you can find a small chip (usually next to the South Bridge chip) that has 8 pins (package type - SOIC-8). This is the so-called. Serial EEPROM is small, and all registry writes go there. In our opinion, this is the most competent solution, since the number of cycles and degradation resistance of such microcircuits are several times higher than that of Flash memory used to store BIOS code. Therefore, on the so-called. “test computers”, we recommend installing just such boards, with a separate external Serial-EEPROM, as a rule, something like 93С66 from Atmel, etc. (not to be confused with the same or similar EEPROM for storing the settings of the integrated sound and “network” ( LAN) chipsets and located, as a rule, in close proximity to the latter!). We also note that in some motherboards, in a certain area of ​​​​the BIOS chip, the settings of the motherboard parameters (BIOS Settings) are also saved each time during "Save setup and exit" (or are reserved under certain conditions - for example, this is what Asus O.S. Profile technology does). Thus, it turns out that even in the absence of external damage to the microcircuit, there is no 100% guarantee that it is serviceable and not “worn out”, and that additional costs will not be required to purchase it (or purchase an analogue) after trying to rewrite the contents of the microcircuit, even if on professional equipment.

You should always remember that even if the contents of the BIOS chip turned out to be really damaged without the influence of a human factor, this can not always be a one-time failure (which the user most wants to believe in). This may also be a consequence of any problems, for example, the marriage of the motherboard itself, the marriage of the BIOS chip or its wear (just such wear that may not appear during subsequent programming), poor-quality power, and so on. However, according to the statistics of repairs, in the case of a hardware failure of the Flash chip and only a malfunction of the contents of the BIOS itself - after rewriting the correct version of the BIOS, the computer, in most cases, works without failures for a very long time (that is, we mostly did not observe cases of relapse). However, we still noticed serial failures and regular recurrences of arbitrary destruction of the contents of the BIOS chip on certain models of Socket-478 boards (the duration of normal operation after overwriting is about 6-12 months), but it is not possible to find out the causes of such symptoms due to spontaneous manifestations of a malfunction (the same applies to any electronic malfunctions, the conditions for the manifestation of which, due to technical reasons, are impossible or extremely difficult to simulate artificially). In addition, as we mentioned, there are a great many reasons, and the percentage of such relapses is extremely low, which is good news.

If the BIOS chip has physical or thermal damage (opening or burning of the case, darkening of the paper sticker, melting of the holographic sticker, swelling) - it is useless not only to program it (which goes without saying), but also to look for a replacement chip, since, in the vast majority of cases , with such symptoms, the South Bridge on the motherboard turns out to be faulty (the official name is South Bridge), which in many cases is unprofitable to replace for various reasons (the main of which is the lack of a serviceable YuM chip at the repairman's disposal at an adequate input price). The main reason for such symptoms is an excess of the supply voltage, a malfunction of the PSU, a marriage of the YuM itself, or a breakdown at the USB input. In the case of microcircuits with a DIP-type package (pins are on both sides and directed downwards, they were mainly used in boards of a class not higher than Pentimum-3, i.e. the chipset is not later than intel BX, well, or some old Socket-462 boards) another reason is added connected with the installation of the microcircuit in the socket on the contrary, i.e. not in accordance with the key, since it is simply impossible to insert the microcircuit in the PLCC package on the contrary - the purely mechanical limitations of the socket interfere (one of the corners is, as it were, cut at 45 degrees, i.e. e. is, in fact, the key). In this case, the probability of getting a working board only by replacing the chip and reprogramming the BIOS is about 50-60%, but at the moment there are no boards with a Flash memory chip in the DIP package, only PLCC-32 execution is found. In modern boards (for example, the Intel P35 chipset), BIOS chips are made in a SOIC-8 package soldered onto the board. As a rule, the chip has 8 pins, programming is done via the I2C serial bus (IIC, Inter Integrated Circuit), algorithm (protocol type) - SPI Write (Serial Peripheral Interface by Motorola). In some cases, similar MSs are also available in a DIP-8 package (and installed in a socket).

Contrary to popular belief among inexperienced or novice users, we emphasize that any malfunctions of Flash-memory chips are hardware-related in the full sense of the word (in terms of external manifestations) and cannot be repaired by any software. That is, for example, if a certain chip of a certain manufacturer gives an incorrect ID on the programmer (or on special software), i.e. a unique identifier of the chip type, then it is impossible to rewrite this ID on any “super-programmer”: the hardware organization of the MS of such does not provide opportunities. In addition, even if the ID check is forcibly disabled in the programmer software and, nevertheless, you try to “flash” the microcircuit, this will not be successful - the programmer software will report an error, as a rule, already at the stage of erasing the microcircuit, not to mention programming or correct verification of recorded content. Also, no standard EEPROM or so-called. Firmware HUB does not support "defect hiding" mode, i.e. certain bad memory cells, similar to hard drives. Such "advanced innovations" are present, as a rule, only in chips for more serious applications, such as DOC (DiskOnChip). These devices are used as mobile "electronic" drives in the so-called. single-board computers (about them -) and embedded systems for industrial use, see, for example, information about the M-Systems brand on the English version of Wikipedia). In general, DOC can be called the progenitor of modern solid-state drives - SSD.

If the user's diagnosis of problems with the BIOS is based on obvious symptoms (for example, at startup, the computer explicitly or indirectly writes on the screen in English text about problems with the BIOS), then the guarantee of a positive end result after programming the BIOS chip is extremely high, but, again, not 100%, regardless of the origin of the malfunction (human factor, or, “by itself”), because “cunning”, i.e. non-standard hardware malfunctions of the motherboard (but very rarely) occur with such a symptom. To summarize, the percentage of obtaining a positive result from programming the BIOS chip with messages on the screen like "Bios ROM Checksum error" or "Detecting floppy drive A: media" tends to 100%. However, before reprogramming the MS BIOS, we recommend that you make sure that your PC's RAM is in good working order by temporarily replacing it with known-good compatible memory modules (SIMM, DIMM, RIMM, DDR, etc. - in this case it does not matter at all - to degradation and failures any modules are affected). The principle is that the initial operations, namely, unpacking and calculating the checksum of the BIOS content, are, of course, performed directly in the RAM and, if it is faulty, we risk receiving a message about an incorrect BIOS checksum with a perfectly healthy chip and its contents. And all this without even starting POST (PowerOnSelfTest). We also note that the presence of any messages at the start of the PC related to damage to the contents of the BIOS indicates that the so-called MS has survived in the MS itself. boot block (boot block is a small program code that performs the initial initialization and unpacking of the main code block), and, in some cases, it is possible to reprogram the contents of the MS BIOS without dismantling the MS from the motherboard (by loading the BIOS file through, for example, a 3.5 " or USB-Flash), but for such procedures it is necessary to follow certain rules and sequence of actions, depending on the board model and other factors, and this is not always possible.

Summarizing the above, we can draw the following conclusion: board repair and BIOS recovery are different procedures and should not be confused, since in case of board repair you do not risk anything and, accordingly, do not pay for repair work in case of an unsuccessful result (or pay only pre-diagnosis). In the case of the BIOS recovery procedure, you pay only directly for this procedure, and the risk of obtaining an unsuccessful result lies only with you, i.e., with the Customer. The service engineer in this case has nothing to do with it - he honestly did everything that you asked him to do (by the way, in the vast majority of cases - in your presence, that is, under your control of the process). So, "flash" or not - it's up to you.

At its core, the microcircuit where the BIOS is stored is an ordinary non-volatile (ROM) flash drive (ROM), data exchange with which is carried out using the SPI protocol. The BIOS stores the primary program code for turning on and initializing the computer, the BIOS password, as well as the parameters of the nodes and elements of the motherboard of your computer or laptop.

What is the difference between BIOS, CMOS and EEPROM?

Many people confuse a BIOS flash drive with a CMOS flash drive. CMOS stands for volatile flash memory (RAM). In modern laptops, the CMOS itself is located directly on the chip, in the RTC section. CMOS stores the system time and user BIOS settings. The hub reads information from its CMOS using the SMBus protocol. Information in CMOS is always stored due to the presence of a lithium battery on the motherboard.

In laptops, there is also a matrix firmware code. It is stored in a non-volatile EEPROM flash drive and operates using the I2C protocol.

Why flash BIOS?

One of the common reasons for flashing the BIOS is to replace old components with new ones that are unknown to the I / O system. For example, flashing is required when buying and or a modern video card.

When overclocking hardware, experienced users change the operating bus frequency and multiplier in the BIOS, as well as RAM timings. These parameters are responsible for the speed of the computer system. Of course, hardware manufacturers, or as hardware is often called, have provided protection against exceeding these parameters through critical levels, which will protect equipment and save it from failure.

Often, due to the influence of a variety of factors, changes occur in the BIOS that ultimately disrupt the computer. This can manifest itself in the following ways: unexpected reboots; atypical system requests; complete failure of the computer -,.

How to flash BIOS? Flashing methods.

There are several ways to flash:

1. BIOS update (not supported by all motherboards) - the easiest option
2. Update from the operating system with programs from the motherboard manufacturer.
3. From MS-DOS programs AMI Bios and AWD Flash
4. Using the programmer.

The first three methods are quite simple to perform, but often something goes wrong during the firmware itself (sudden power outage, failure of the BIOS flash drive itself, software failure) and then you will have to resort to the fourth method, namely flashing the BIOS on the programmer.

Flashing the BIOS on the programmer.

Flashing the BIOS with a programmer is a reliable and safe way. You need to download the correct BIOS firmware, place the chip in a special adapter, select the chip type and communication protocol. Then perform programming with subsequent verification of the written code. To be sure, you can read the chip again into another file and compare them in a hex editor. After flashing the BIOS, the laptop should turn on and display an image on its screen.

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Any computer hardware and software, as you know, becomes outdated over time and ceases to meet current requirements. This applies equally to the primary BIOS / UEFI systems, the software of which is integrated into a special chip on the motherboard. When installing new hardware ("hardware"), it may sometimes be necessary to flash the BIOS. On a laptop, on a stationary computer terminal, such a procedure will be performed, it doesn’t matter. The technology is almost always the same. Some users who are unfamiliar with the basics of such techniques believe (and not without reason) that this process is unsafe and difficult. If you can agree with the first statement, then you can argue about the second. In fact, flashing the BIOS of the motherboard is not such a troublesome business. But for the correct implementation of such a procedure, special attention should be paid to some important details and nuances, which depend on the motherboard manufacturer and the programs and methods used for flashing.

Why do I need a BIOS flashing?

In general, if it is not planned, and the whole system is working stably, there is no point in updating the BIOS version.

But when new equipment is installed on the computer, which may not be supported by the primary system only because of its obsolescence (the BIOS simply does not recognize the device), flashing the BIOS becomes an urgent problem. Although many users find this process complicated, nonetheless, anyone who works with a computer will be able to perform such steps on their own. It will take no more than 10 minutes.

Flashing the BIOS of the motherboard: prerequisites

To begin with, pay attention to a few mandatory conditions, failure to comply with which can lead to disastrous consequences.

You should download files and programs for updating primary systems only from the official resources of motherboard manufacturers. In the case of installing an unofficial firmware, no one can guarantee that the process will be successful and the system will work as expected after that.

The second thing to pay attention to is during the update. You need to make sure that there are no power surges or spontaneous disconnection of a computer or laptop from the mains, in advance.

General rules for updating all firmware

Flashing BIOS for almost all models of motherboards involves the use of the same scheme:

For standard BIOS systems, DOS mode is used in most cases. However, for some BIOS versions, as well as for more modern UEFI systems, a special BIOS flashing program created by the motherboard manufacturer can be used, which can run even in the Windows operating system environment without the need to create bootable media.

How can I find out the motherboard modification and the current BIOS version?

The very first thing to do is to determine which model of the motherboard is installed in the computer system, as well as to find out the version of the primary BIOS system (perhaps it is currently relevant and does not need to be updated).

You can view information about the board and BIOS version in the section that is called from the Run console with the msinfo32 command.

For the motherboard, you can also use specialized utilities like CPU-Z (formerly Everest). For a device determined in this way, on the manufacturer's website, you need to find the latest firmware and save the files on your hard drive.

Preparing Bootable Media (General Method)

In the case of using bootable media, when an update from under Windows is not provided, at the first stage it must be created. The usual recording of downloaded files will not work.

To simplify the work, you can use the Rufus utility, which is very easy to learn and creates a bootable USB flash drive in a couple of minutes. You don't need to change anything in the settings. Only in the file system, you should specify FAT32, and use MS-DOS mode in the recording method, be sure to check the box next to the line for creating bootable media. If this is not done, then the device will not be recognized as a bootable device when booting again. Then, in some cases, to install the update, you will need to additionally copy the control program and the firmware file to the media.

Next, the BIOS update process will be considered with examples for motherboards from several well-known manufacturers. Although in general they are very similar to each other, nevertheless, each of them has its own nuances. We assume that the priority in the BIOS settings is already set.

ASUS

Flashing the Asus BIOS can be done in several ways. Among the preferred utilities, it is worth highlighting two programs - AFUDOS and ASUSTeK EZ Flash 2.

When using the first utility, you should create bootable media and make sure that it contains the afudos.exe program file and the firmware itself (for example, p4c800b.rom).

ASUS BIOS flashing is as follows. Boot from flash drive. Since the media was written for DOS mode, the initial line C:\> will appear on a black screen, in which you need to write the command /i p4c800b.rom and press the enter key. Upon completion of the update, a reboot will occur, during which you just need to remove the media from the USB port so that the system starts from the hard drive.

Flashing the BIOS of an ASUS motherboard when using the second utility is somewhat different from the previous version.

Despite the fact that most firmware on the official ASUS website have the .rom extension, sometimes CAB files can also be found. There is nothing wrong with this, since they are used for UEFI systems.

For firmware, you should enter the UEFI settings on reboot, go to Advanced Mode (advanced settings) and select the ASUSTeK EZ Flash 2 line in the service (tools) section. Next, select the media with the program again from the list (line of the same name), after which the desired firmware file will be shown on the right. We select it and agree with the warning twice (first to check the file, then to start the firmware process).

At the end of the process, a notification about the reboot will appear, and at the beginning of the restart, a proposal will be issued to carry out the initial setup. Press F1 and set the desired parameters. Otherwise, just exit the settings without saving the changes.

gigabyte

Flashing the BIOS of Gigabyte systems is quite different from other processes. First of all, this is due to the fact that you can use the online update to install the firmware. But first, consider using the Q-Flash utility, which is considered to be the best for updating firmware.

First you need to enter the BIOS settings and use the option to reset all settings Load Optimized default. After that, you need to save the changes, restart the computer and enter the BIOS settings again. Further, to launch the Q-Flash utility, the F8 key is pressed, and the start is confirmed by pressing the Y and Enter keys. To begin with, it is recommended to save the current version using the Save Bios option, after which you need to use Update Bios. Next, you will be asked to specify the source from which you want to update. HDD 2.0 should be selected as the carrier (this is how the flash drive is displayed in the settings). Then everything is as usual: select the firmware file present on the media and agree with all the warnings.

For an Internet update, you can use the @BIOS utility specially developed by Gigabyte specialists, which runs in a Windows environment. In this case, it is highly recommended to disable Hyper-Threading mode in the primary system settings, as well as deactivate anti-virus and other resident applications, to avoid errors or failures during the upgrade process.

After starting the program, you can immediately save the current BIOS version by clicking the Save Current BIOS button, and then select the Internet Update online update mode, click Update New BIOS and select one of the servers in the list. After that, you will be prompted to specify the model of the installed motherboard, and the program will automatically download all the necessary components and activate the update process.

MSI

Flashing the MSI BIOS, as in the case of ASUS, can be done either from under Windows or from under DOS. For DOS mode, a BIOS-embedded tool called BIOS-MFLASH is used. But the MSI Live Update 5 or 6 application can also be used as an initial management utility. It is noteworthy in that it can also be used to update all installed MSI drivers, as well as flash the BIOS of the corresponding graphics accelerators. Let's start with him.

In the main window, you just need to check the boxes on the necessary elements. Select the MB BIOS component and press the Scan button from the bottom (Scan). If a new firmware version is found, use the Download and Install button, after which the update process will start.

First you will need to select the update environment. To simplify matters, check the In Windows mode item, in the next window click the close button for all programs that appear in the list (Close all listed programs), click the continue button (Next) and in the next window click the process start button.

For DOS mode, select it from the window of the launched update process, after which we indicate the media and agree to the destruction of all data present on it (the process will take no more than a minute, after which a message will be displayed about the successful creation of the boot drive). When you reboot, you will only have to follow the instructions of a kind of "Master".

In the case of updating using the built-in MFLASH mechanism, you will have to download the firmware manually, create bootable media and perform the same actions in the BIOS as described above (select the media and firmware file in the tools menu).

Acer

Flashing the BIOS of Acer systems is surprisingly much easier. You don’t even need to create bootable media, although you still have to format it in FAT32.

To install the update, a special utility called Insyde Flash is used, which is copied to removable media. At the same time, you need to copy the firmware file downloaded from the official website, which has the .fd extension and corresponds not only to the motherboard, but also to the laptop model, to the main directory of the program on the USB flash drive. Please note that the device must contain only one firmware file, otherwise the application will issue an offer to flash only one of several. After running the utility with the power on, you will be prompted to install the update immediately.

The second way is just as simple. First you need to completely turn off the laptop, unplug the cord from the outlet and wait until the power indicator stops blinking. Next, plug the cord into an outlet, insert the USB flash drive into the appropriate port, hold down the Fn and Esc keys and press the power button. As soon as the indicator starts flashing, release the keys. After that, reading information from the drive will begin (this can be seen by the blinking of the LED on the device itself). At the end of the update process, the laptop will reboot on its own.

Video cards

Since GeForce and Radeon are dominant in the video card market, BIOS flashing will be considered using their example.

At the initial stage, you need to download new firmware and control programs for your card on the manufacturer's website. If the system has several video cards, only one should be left for the duration of the update by inserting it into the PCI-Express slot.

For GeForce cards, the NVFlash program is used (two files), for Radeon, the ATIFlash utility (one file). Next, you need to create a bootable USB drive for DOS mode, and then copy the program and firmware files to it.

When starting from a flash drive, you should make sure that the card is single-processor, otherwise the proposed method will not work. For NVIDIA, use the nvflash --list command, for ATI - atiflash -i. If information is given on two cards, then the adapter has two processors, and the proposed firmware method cannot be used (it is better to refer to the manufacturer's website and find instructions there).

At the next stage, flashing the BIOS of the GeForce video card involves disabling protection. This is done with the nvflash -protectoff line.

Further, to start the BIOS update process for GeForce cards, use the nvflash -4 -5 -6 newbios.rom command (the name of the ROM file must match the name of the downloaded firmware), for Radeon cards - atiflash -p -f 0 newbios.rom. After that, we wait for the process to complete and reboot the system in normal mode.

Brief summary

That's all for flashing primary I/O systems. Based on the foregoing, we can conclude that the best option is to install the update exclusively in DOS mode, although special utilities can be used to simplify the work. But they only work if there are UEFI systems, and they are not suitable for standard BIOS versions. You need to be extremely careful with video cards, since incorrect installation of the update or the slightest violation during the flashing process can cause the graphics adapter to fail.

BIOS is an abbreviation familiar to everyone, the meaning of which is not familiar even to many sophisticated and experienced users of personal computers. For most of them, it is associated with a gray-blue interface in the style of MS DOS or Windows 3.1, but many may not tell you about its functionality. Most knowledge of the average user, at best, is limited to the fact that the BIOS is the system settings of the computer or something like that, because it is quite difficult to give an exact answer. This complexity is quite justified - a personal computer is not easy to understand for an ordinary person when it comes to fast and productive work in any industry, and understanding the basic mechanisms of its functioning and, moreover, each of its components seems almost impossible - in practice, this knowledge borders on erudition and are not useful in most situations.

So, BIOS is an input-output system that stands between hardware and software (together with the user) and allows you to use computer resources for their intended purpose. It has a permanent memory module that contains a number of data on the configuration of the equipment, including the time - all owners of old computers have encountered a battery replacement and could hear that it powers this particular component. An important feature of the BIOS is that the capabilities of other hardware located on the motherboard directly depend on its capabilities.

But for most PC users, all these technical points are unimportant, but there is a practical need for those actions that they may also encounter. These include, for example, replacing an outdated processor with a newer and more productive model: motherboard support at the software level directly depends on whether the BIOS is “friends” with it. Compatibility may not be added immediately: if the slot for the processor (Socket) can no longer be changed, then it is possible to create the necessary conditions for the operation of a suitable hardware model, and the creators of motherboards for the most part care about ensuring compatibility.

Why flash the BIOS?

As it became clear from the above, the BIOS ensures the joint operation of all components located on the motherboard. In particular, we are interested in the processor and RAM: their capabilities are developing at the most rapid pace and require the release of motherboard models at the appropriate speed. But this practice is not very profitable and the creators decided to leave a reserve for the future, leaving the user the opportunity to improve the compatibility of the motherboard with hardware on their own to some extent. This was the reason for the appearance of the BIOS firmware procedure on personal computers, which allows you to get rid of many problems with it.

It is worth noting that the procedure is quite dangerous compared to other actions with a PC: if the power is turned off at the time of overwriting (rarely, but it happens), everything will not be restored in any way and the motherboard can be put somewhere far away or simply thrown away. But in frequent cases, such a procedure is still necessary, it brings support not only for new components, but also tools for working with new equipment - old models of motherboards that do not support flashing via USB devices got this opportunity thanks to the compatibility package included in the firmware for such equipment. The flexibility of a computer in terms of capabilities is invaluable, and in cases where firmware is still needed, you should not be afraid of the high complexity of this process - if all procedures are performed correctly, the risk of harming the computer is minimal, and the process can often take only a few minutes, but this is worth talking about in more detail.

Often, the manufacturer himself can recommend flashing - this may be due to a number of shortcomings that did not have time to notice and / or eliminate during the production phase. For many PC owners who own one of the new series of motherboards, this practice is not something unfamiliar - for objective reasons, this happens very often.

Which motherboards are eligible for flashing their BIOS?

An important feature of this whole story is the fact that there are still only three companies in the world that are engaged in the production of the software part of any I / O system. It will become intuitively clear to many that this increases the chances of each individual model for flashing, and in fact it turns out that way: no matter what the manufacturer of your motherboard is, with a high degree of probability (which tends to a hundred percent) this procedure is possible for you. But it is worth adding that the same company is engaged in the supply of updates and it is not in its commercial interests to invest heavily in improving the performance and capabilities of old models - then there will simply be no need to buy new ones.

The theoretical ability to replace the firmware is included in any BIOS - at the heart of the device is a memory module designed for approximately 1000 write cycles. But the release of firmware will completely lie on the conscience of the motherboard manufacturer.

Checking this possibility is quite simple: you only need to know the manufacturer and model of your device and its model (if not, then welcome to the next section of the article). We go to its official website (both ASUS, MSI, ASRock and others have their Russian versions) and follow the page dedicated to your version of the device. There, in one of the tabs, a category with all released firmware for this component will be available, as shown on the example of the official ASUS website below.

On the websites of other companies, the procedure is approximately the same - in the corresponding section, all possible options for updating the BIOS will be offered, since in models from different manufacturers they differ in the process almost completely and the skill of flashing one component cannot guarantee knowledge of the subtleties in another - here you should carefully study the proposed online for step-by-step guides or, ideally, the manufacturer's own documentation. There are also a lot of video flashings on the network: there are relatively few motherboard models, but out of those hundreds or thousands of users who encountered a problem, at least one decided to record a video - just search on video hosting sites. Viewing the process from the outside will deprive the subconscious fear of “breaking something” and help you understand the essence of a particular stage.

Determining the motherboard model

Many find it difficult to determine the model of their motherboard - as with other knowledge of a similar plan, there is one and the same problem: there is no need to memorize or memorize an intricate set of letters and numbers, and this does not help in everyday tasks. Referring to the documentation or looking for a box is also not an option - many people tend to lose such things when moving, take them somewhere for storage, or simply forget about them. Also, this problem may arise for those who bought a PC "from hand", although in a store when selling an assembled system unit, boxes from some devices also have a habit of not giving, and buyers are reluctant to take them with them.

There are as many as four ways to understand what model your motherboard is. Of these, three involve the use of utilities, and one is direct access to the board. The latter will not work if you have a laptop: it is not recommended for a non-professional to disassemble them, and the pros do not always cope - the maintainability of modern solutions is mediocre. The same applies to All-in-One PC and any other solutions that are not mounted in a standard system unit. Also, you should not do this if your PC is under warranty: all screws will be covered with seals, which will easily show whether the device has been opened. It is not necessary to perform any manipulations - the very presence of their damage is already a sufficient reason for refusing warranty service, which is clearly stated in the conditions of any such company.

In the event that nothing prevents opening the system unit, it unscrews two / three / four, or, more simply, all the available bolts and remove the cover from the side. Our eyes will see the motherboard, on the surface of which a sticker will be waiting for you.

That's all: remember or rewrite the model, do all the manipulations performed with the lid in reverse order.

In the case of programmatic verification, the command line, which is available in any version of the operating system of the company from Redmond, can also help. After opening it, you will need to type two commands there, activating each by pressing Enter.

The first will provide information on the manufacturer of the component, and the second - on the model. If you do not want to deal with the command line and disassembly of the system unit, then the AIDA64 (formerly Eevrest) and msinfo32 utilities can become a quick alternative. It is worth downloading their free versions from official sites - you will most likely not need full functionality, but there is always a chance to catch a virus. In AIDA64, you just need to go to the "Motherboard" section from the start window, and in msinfo32 - to the System Information tab and read the data opposite the Motherboard item.

For Linux-based systems (including Ubuntu, Linux Mint and the like), you need to activate the command dmidecode.

There, among all the data, you must select the Manufacturer and Product Name items.

Do I need to back up the BIOS?

You need to understand that BIOS firmware is created by people, and the array of information for well-coordinated interaction must be clearly calculated, and all moments must be clearly planned. And if in theory this is possible, then in practice this does not always happen: there is a high probability that flashing this system, along with a number of improvements, can bring a number of problems with your PC into your life, so it’s still worth protecting yourself in case of such a possibility.

The manufacturers themselves do not provide such an opportunity, only allowing more than one firmware version to be written to the media and their subsequent use. But this does not always happen, since no one expects an unfavorable outcome by undertaking such an operation.

A third-party program called Universal BIOS Backup ToolKit provides similar capabilities. This product was made by an enthusiastic programmer from China back in 2008 and works perfectly on operating systems of the Windows family with versions from XP to 8.1 inclusive. An important feature of this program is its well-coordinated work: the backups are correct, the probability of damage to the final file is close to zero, and the software works surprisingly efficiently, as if done by an enthusiast. It is worth launching it only by clicking on the right mouse button with the call to the “Run as Administrator” sub-item - otherwise errors in operation simply cannot be avoided.

The only pitfall that may come across unfamiliar with the question: most antivirus programs recognize it as malware, which is not true. Of course, they can infect the source file, but even a utility downloaded from the official site will not pass the test of most programs of this class from the first echelon. The reason for this is a specific driver, thanks to which the software has such unique functionality. In fact, it does no harm, it is only important to download it from a trusted source. The program interface is in English, but very simple. A small window contains only a few buttons, the meaning of which will be clear not only to an experienced user, but even to an inexperienced user in this matter. In addition to the exit button and the key that causes the documentation to be read, the program window has buttons to start copying. After the completion of the process, which takes from one to two or three minutes, in the program folder (or any other specified by the user), an archive in the .rom format will be available, which is a complete copy of your firmware. The memory size, which is indicated on the left, is determined automatically, but it is better to double-check it for your motherboard model - if it fails, there will be problems and you will not be able to use an incorrectly made copy due to inevitable errors in the future. The probability of its successful operation on the UEFI BIOS is doubtful, but further updates of the program should fix all the shortcomings, and maybe they already fixed it at the time of reading this article.

General information about firmware via DOS

Firmware via DOS is one of the safest options for reinstalling software for a given computer node, since all problems associated with the incorrect operation of your operating system are simply excluded. For different models of laptops and motherboards on computers, there are slightly different variations of the process, although most of them have many similar features and the guide for flashing in this way can be reduced to a universal series of actions that need to be taken.

Prepare the media for flashing. This can be a floppy disk or flash drive.

In direct comparison, they are in no way inferior to each other when it comes to this process, but it is recommended to get a floppy disk only if the motherboard (or BIOS) does not support booting from a USB flash drive. If you still decide to use a more outdated option, then you should check the integrity of the floppy disk by inserting it into the computer, going to "My Computer" and calling the disk check in the properties of the media that is displayed in the list (in our case, this is a floppy disk). If any errors occur, you should not expect a miracle from a faulty floppy disk - there is a high probability of malfunctions in the process of "filling" files and incorrect operation of the PC up to a breakdown and the need to carry it for repair.

Read the official recommendations given by the manufacturer on the official website. Also, similar manuals can be found in the instructions for the motherboard, but the data tends to become outdated and it is quite possible that the same happened in your case.

Also, during the flashing process, you will be prompted to download the files necessary for this, which include, at a minimum, a utility for formatting the media and a firmware file from the list.

Make a backup copy of the data on the media.

Everything is simple here: if there are any important data left on the flash drive or floppy disk (which is unlikely), then you need to save them on the computer’s hard drive: they will not be lost during the firmware upgrade, but the removable drive will need to be formatted.

Disk formatting.

A special utility that runs as Administrator will help here. Perhaps this is not in the recommendations, but the launch of any program of such a plan must be done in this way, otherwise you can get a large number of “complex” problems and the firmware process has stopped. You can also format using built-in tools by clicking on the disk icon in "My Computer" and selecting the item of the same name. All values ​​should be left as default, nothing needs to be changed. Should I perform a full format? It will take a lot of time, so it's better to simply leave the "quick" box unchecked - the effect will be about the same.

Copying the firmware file.

This stage can be carried out both with the help of a utility, and can be done using a regular Explorer, with which we usually perform all operations with files on our computer. An important feature is that there should be no extraneous files on the media - formatting (point 4) is mandatory, deleting files is not enough.

It is worth pressing the reset button (it does not matter, on the case or in the system menu) and when loading the initial screen, press the button to enter the BIOS - Delete. After that, we see a menu where you need to select the boot partition: it will be called Boot. In this tab, you need to change the boot priority from media and put the first one on which the firmware file is written. After completing all the preparations, press the F10 key (save all changes and reboot) and follow the instructions given for your specific motherboard model - here the process may differ significantly.

BIOS update via Windows

The option to update the BIOS firmware through the operating system is provided by almost every motherboard manufacturer: each of them has its own utility that does everything almost automatically. Nevertheless, it is worth carefully studying all the instructions so as not to be confused at the most inopportune moment.

As described in the previous paragraphs of this article, you need to go to the manufacturer's website and select your motherboard model. In the accompanying tabs, the corresponding utilities will be available for download along with the firmware files - in most cases, the process is identical even for products from different companies. Next, you need to run the utility (with Administrator rights, of course) and select the firmware method (the item "From a file" or similar in meaning). Next, we look in the file manager for the place where the archive was saved and click the "Run" button - the program does everything else automatically. The advantage of this method is simplicity - even a beginner in mastering a PC can handle it. Another thing is whether a beginner needs to flash the BIOS, because, as mentioned earlier, the procedure can damage components and adversely affect the operation of the computer. It is worth noting that the already small probability of a system failure or power outage is superimposed by a considerable chance of failure in the operating system itself - despite all their stability, these software products are extremely complex: even on slightly different configurations, they can lead themselves in absolutely different ways, because the number of factors that can affect this is extremely large. It is also necessary to warn users who nevertheless decided on such a move: it is not recommended to run any programs or leave a browser, torrent client or office document running - any combination can affect the operation of the built-in utility and then contacting the service center cannot be avoided. The problem is in the OS itself, which has a lot of components and thousands of possible bugs, the array of which even companies like Microsoft take years to fix.

In truth, firmware using utilities is far from the best idea, and if there is such an opportunity, then it is better to use more reliable options: firmware via DOS or via the built-in BIOS toolkit. Such solutions may be less simple and economical in time, but they give a much more predictable effect, which cannot be said about the option described above. In cases of flashing by other methods, the number of factors that can negatively affect the process is minimal, and with the inclusion of the operating system with all its shortcomings in the equation, the probability of failures increases by an order of magnitude.

MSI

Unlike even larger market players, this company provides the ability to flash the BIOS using any of the available methods described above. This is convenient, since the BIOS system menu is too tough for many, and some are worried about safety and are ready to play it safe, not wanting to use a utility launched from under the operating system. There is also the option of flashing via DOS boot, which is also safe and relatively simple - here the choice already needs to be made by the user based on an objective assessment of their capabilities and willingness to minimize or put up with risks.

Whatever the process and whatever method is used, you need to start by determining the model of your motherboard, which can be done in several ways, described above in this article. On the official website of the manufacturer, we are looking for our model and download the necessary files, following the instructions. But since there are already three paths themselves, users will obviously not be satisfied with such a simple explanation and will be asked to describe the process in detail.

live update

Live Update is a utility produced by the company for flashing the BIOS and some other similar manipulations. It is worth noting that MSI motherboards are also installed on laptops, tablets and other devices - here it will not help and you will have to use other methods. This is due to the fact that during the firmware process, unforeseen errors may occur that will become critical for the health and functioning of the device.

So, download the utility from the official site and install it (with the launch of the installer with Administrator rights). This will solve the problem of unexpected crashes that so often occur after a conflict of programs and permissions. Next, run the program and go to the appropriate item (tab). It is also necessary to download the archive with the firmware in parallel, because the automated version, according to reviews, does not always work correctly and it is better to refrain from using it.

Then, following the menu, we will have to face a warning that calls to close all open programs (which was already mentioned here earlier) and wait for the end of all the actions that the program performs. Further, of course, the PC will reboot and with the help of the same program it will be possible to find out about the overall success of the operation.

There is another version of the program that offers automated installation of firmware updates via DOS, which was described in earlier sections of the article. It is worth noting that it retains all the advantages of this method and allows for an easy and safe installation of a software upgrade. Technically, the program downloads only the archive with the firmware, so the process does not differ from the “manual” installation, but you don’t need to search for the right version of the motherboard and download the archive anymore - the utility is responsible for all this. The downside is that you may not need the newest version, but the software will download it, and the highest numbers in the version column do not guarantee the best performance, as we have seen many times in many cases.

MFLASH is a utility from MSI that is built into the BIOS and allows you to install updates directly using the system's toolkit. In order to operate it, any additional tricks are unnecessary: ​​only an empty (or better, formatted) USB flash drive and a file with BIOS software downloaded to it. Here the sequence of actions is slightly different: the first of them should be just downloading the file mentioned above for your model. Then it will be necessary to clear the place - the presence of other files is undesirable, although some users speak positively about the success of such an installation.

After rebooting, you will need to enter the BIOS with the Delete button and find a tab with the same name as the utility. Next, you will need to specify the path to the file (disk) and click on the start process button. The length of the entire procedure after entering the BIOS is only a couple of minutes maximum, and after rebooting you will get a system that will most likely work correctly - there are no chances that any software failures can affect it.

From under DOS

Also a reliable method that does not involve the system at all and works out perfectly when updating software. In order to find it, it will be necessary to peep among the official files exactly the one that is necessary for installation from under this OS - there will be a corresponding mark in the name at the end, as in the screenshot. Next, you need to get a floppy disk, check it for errors using the utility built into Windows, and format it there. If there are no errors when checking the disk, then it will be possible to write a file to it - it will then become the installation file.

Next, reboot and enter the BIOS with the Delete button. After this has happened, we are looking for the Boot Device Priority item and put our media (Floppy Drive) in first place. Next, press F10, agree to save all changes and wait for the reboot.

After loading the operating system, we will see a black background with fonts in bright colors (or white) - that means we are in. We will be prompted to press Y to continue and N to leave this mode. We press the first button, wait a minute and a half and see an inscription about the successful completion of the firmware upload. We remove the floppy disk and restart the computer, simultaneously entering the BIOS and changing the boot priority back to the hard disk, although if the floppy disk is pulled out and there is no boot disk in the drive, it will do this anyway.

gigabyte

Gigabyte is the world's third-largest motherboard manufacturer based in China. The company did not have such technologies before and was just a contractor for large “sharks” of the market like Asus or Intel, but having “peeped” some of their developments and opened soybean research departments, it quickly turned from an apprentice into full-fledged competitors.

Gigabyte's BIOS software specialists did not reinvent the wheel: all methods for reinstalling software for this system are as similar as possible and clearly borrowed from other market players. It is not known for certain whether patent wars are taking place between corporations, but one thing is for sure: the user remains the winner from such solutions, because all the actions and methods for changing the firmware that work with Asus and MSI also work on the motherboards of the Chinese company - only the appearance differs (purely formally) and the names of the utilities. The company did not come up with something fundamentally new, which had a positive effect on the convenience of conducting such operations.

On the positive side, the company does its best to make it easy to find its documentation, which is not hidden in the bowels of the official site, but is easily accessible within the search results of any system on the first page in several copies.

The company, or rather, its specialists strongly do not recommend carrying out such a procedure if you have not identified any malfunctions and malfunctions in the operation of the equipment: processor, RAM and other components. In many cases, according to the company's own research, performance does not improve and deteriorates, so it is worthwhile to carefully consider the advisability of flashing the BIOS.

Also in the manuals, much attention is paid to the exact definition of the motherboard model, taking into account the revision. Since there are models in the Gigabyte lineup that are designated the same, but one of them is a re-release of the second, the firmware (and all other manipulations) may differ, the use of the wrong archive may be most detrimental.

It is also worth noting that in the event of a breakdown or any other malfunction that may occur in the event of a flashing of the warranty, the device is not subject to warranty, because this action is fully qualified as a repair. This is also worth considering, and it's good that the manufacturer is not silent about this.

Q-Flash is the most reliable way to flash the BIOS: this utility is built into the system itself and performs its functions perfectly, with minimal predispositions to incorrect firmware. Its operation does not depend on the operation of the operating system, which is a definite plus. The only problem is that not all solutions support this technology - in other situations, a much simpler solution would be firmware via DOS.

Before using the Q-Flash utility, you need to download the latest BIOS firmware from the official GIGABYTE website that matches your motherboard model. The BIOS firmware file must be written to media (floppy disk, flash drive, or hard disk; FAT32/16/12 file system).

Since the procedure for updating the BIOS microcode carries a potential risk, it is not recommended to update the BIOS if the current BIOS version is working well. BIOS update should be carried out very carefully. Incorrect BIOS update may result in system inoperability.

This solution allows you to update the firmware of the I / O system from under the good old operating system such as DOS. It is worth noting that the flashing operation must be performed on a system operating in normal mode. Overclocking, low memory timings, non-standard system bus frequency can lead to the fact that our event will end with a trip to the service center (or calling familiar gurus). The easiest way is to load the default settings in the BIOS SETUP (the main menu item Load Fail-Safe Defaults or similar).

The flashing operation must be performed only from under DOS. To boot from a floppy, it only needs two system files: io.sys and command.com. In any case, neither autoexec.bat nor config.sys should be loaded. In addition, the floppy disk must contain files with the flash driver and with the firmware itself.

Run the flasher with the "/?" and you will receive detailed instructions for working with it.

Note that the updated firmware does not always meet the user's expectations. Be sure to save the file with the old BIOS version on the floppy disk (!) in order to be able to reverse your actions in the future. For AWARD BIOS, the flasher call can be as follows: “awdflash.exe newflash.bin /py /sy”. Where “newflash.bin” is the real name of the file with the firmware, “py” and “sy” are the flags for reprogramming and saving the old BIOS version, respectively. And the last thing: in no case do not restart or turn off the computer until the flash driver has finished working. This will lead to inevitable damage to the BIOS.

live update

Live Update is perhaps the simplest solution to problems with the I / O system, because it searches for the necessary microcodes and does almost all the manipulations instead of the user - you don’t need to be an expert in this field to use it. To get started, you need to visit the official website and download the Live Update 5 utility, which will scan your computer and display a list of necessary updates, with the ability to download them. Click "Click here" and click "Open".

The archive will open, run the LiveUpdate.exe installation file in it and install the Live Update 5 utility in a few steps. After the installation is completed, run it and click on the “Scan” button, wait a few seconds while the utility looks for updates. The program will display a list of results. We are interested in an update called "MB BIOS". If such an update is on the list (usually at the very top), then there is a BIOS update for our motherboard. Download it to your computer by clicking on the "Download" button (arrow). It is better to click "Browse", and choose a place to save the update file yourself. For example, I saved it to my desktop. That's it, now we have the BIOS update file, now you can proceed to the next step. Run the saved BIOS update file and follow the instructions.

There are two options here: the first is probably to write the firmware image to a USB flash drive, and update the BIOS from the USB flash drive (or for the firmware, if it is impossible to update from under Windows). But since I did not have a free flash drive, I chose the second option, which, judging by the title, means BIOS firmware from under Windows. Here we need to close the running programs and click "Next".

The further process of updating the BIOS is that we simply press any key on the keyboard, and the computer should restart. Then everything is over - the device received a new firmware.

ASUS BIOS firmware

ASUS is one of the titans of the computer components industry, showing itself as market leaders in both quantitative and qualitative terms. An important feature of their products is ease of maintenance: for each class of goods there is a utility that searches for drivers or any other useful work - in the case of this company, the implementation of these solutions is on top. The same thing happened with updating the BIOS: both options are very convenient and easy to master for unskilled and inexperienced users.

USB BIOS Flashback is the easiest way to update BIOS on ASUS motherboards. Now all you need to update is a USB drive with a BIOS file written to it and a power supply. No processor, no RAM and other components are now needed.

The list of system requirements for this utility is quite prosaic:

• power unit;
• USB drive FAT16, FAT32 or NTFS (for Intel X79 only FAT16 and FAT32);
• ASUS motherboard based on the Intel X79, Z77, H77, Q77, B75 chipset (the list of ASUS motherboards supporting USB BIOS Flashback technology is presented in the table).

First you need to download and unzip the BIOS ROM file from the official ASUS website. It is important to understand that obtaining files from somewhere else is fraught with irreversible consequences and unforeseen operation of the equipment. Next, you should rename the BIOS file as written in the table, and then save it to the USB drive in the root directory:

Then it is worth plugging the USB drive into the USB BIOS Flashback/ROG Connect connector (for boards based on Intel X79 it is a white USB 2.0 connector, for boards based on other chipsets it is a USB 2.0 connector, marked with color and the inscription USB BIOS Flasback/ROG Connect on the panel Q-Shield) and hold for three to four seconds until the light indication starts. Next, we are waiting for the completion of the light indication of the USB BIOS Flashback / ROG Connect button, which means that the update has been successfully completed.

It is important not to remove the USB drive, power off the motherboard, or press the CLR_CMOS reset button while updating the BIOS. It is also worth remembering that if the USB BIOS Flashback / ROG Connect button blinks for five seconds, then the USB BIOS Flashback is not working correctly. This can be caused by incorrect device installation, a file name error, or an incompatible file format - it's worth checking on your own after a reboot. It is worth noting the company's rather loyal policy regarding problems after updating the firmware: in case of any problems with booting after updating the BIOS, you can contact the local ASUS service representative, which, according to the authors of the documentation, undertakes to help.

AFUDOS utility

This solution is slightly outdated - in motherboards released in the 2000s and 2010s, the EZ Flash utility is the most popular, although the old solution is also applicable to many devices. To start the firmware in a similar way, open the bootable USB flash drive, write the afudos program on it (the file afudos.exe downloaded from the site) and the firmware itself (a file with a name like p5c800b.rom). Then we reboot and when the first picture appears on the monitor, press F2 for laptops or Del for desktop PCs, go to the Boot tab and put the USB flash drive in first place, usually for this you need to set Removable Device in the 1st Boot Device item, then press F10 and confirm that we want to save the changes in the settings. After that, the computer will boot from the flash drive, and will issue an invitation to work A:\> on a black screen. To start the firmware process, write afudos / ip4c800b.rom and press the Enter key. It is worth noting that you do not need to turn off the power and do not reboot the system during the BIOS update. This can cause serious damage to your system. After the BIOS update is completed, the utility will return to DOS, it is worth removing the floppy disk and rebooting the system to enter the BIOS menu.

Intel

This method is one of the simplest, as it uses a self-extracting archive and does not require any special skills from the user. After selecting the section dedicated to the motherboard, you need to download the firmware, in our case it is Express BIOS Update and launch it by double-clicking. Next, click "Next" in the prompt window, and then - "Yes" to accept the license rules. After - click "Finish". Windows will restart to start the BIOS update. During the update process, do not turn off the power of the computer for 3 minutes. During the reboot process, you will see the BIOS update process. When the BIOS is updated, the computer will boot into Windows. When Windows restarts, a window will appear indicating that the BIOS update was successful.

The essence of this method is to create bootable (disks, flash drives, floppy disks) containing a BIOS update. In our case, download this file LF94510J.86A.0278.BI.ZIP

For work, we will need firmware files (write down its name on a piece of paper, it will come in handy later) with the XXX.BIO extension and the iFlash.EXE firmware utility. These files are in the archive with the downloaded firmware. Use the iFlash utility that comes with the firmware in the archive. The HP USB Disk Storage FormatTool 2.2.3 utility is also useful (other versions are possible), but this one is one of the most stable at the time of this writing. Of course, you can't do without MS-DOS files to create a DOS boot disk. After downloading, all files will be unzipped.

Run the utility as administrator HP USB Disk Storage FormatTool 2.2.3. We set the checkboxes as shown in the picture. The path to the folder of the MS-DOS boot device is the place where the MS-DOS files were downloaded. (for example, for me, this is drive C, the Downloads \ win98boot folder. And the Start button. When asked about destroying files, click "Yes".

Upon completion of the process, copy 2 files from the archive with the firmware to the USB flash drive (an example of how they look: IFLASH2.EXE and LF0278P.BIO). And without pulling out the flash drive from the USB port, we restart the computer. We go into the BIOS (button F2 at boot) and set the boot priority from the USB drive (on the Boot tab, enable boot from USB (Enable USB Boot) and exit the BIOS with saving the settings - F10.

DOS will boot. At the command prompt, type IFLASH /PF XXX.BIO (or IFLASH2 /PF XXX.BIO) to start the BIOS update process. Then follow all the instructions. In our example, it will look like this: IFLASH2 /PF LF0278P.BIO

Creating a boot floppy is a viable method if the utility and firmware are small enough to fit on a floppy, as the floppy is 1.44Mb in size.

For our example, there is no way to visually show the process of creating a boot disk. So as an example, I will take another firmware file from another motherboard. Insert the floppy disk into the disk drive and double-click the downloaded firmware file XXX.EXE. Press "y" to extract the necessary files. The files will be extracted to a temporary directory (folder temp; Path C:\temp). You can also extract files with the usual WinRAR archiver. Double-click on the RUN.BAT file and follow the instructions to create a boot floppy.

After creating, restart the computer, set the BIOS to boot from the Floppy disk and exit with saving the parameters - F10. After booting from the floppy disk, a welcome window will appear, press any key. You will see the BIOS update status. When the process is complete, remove the floppy disk from the drive and press Enter to restart the computer.

ASRock Firmware

For motherboards from a Chinese manufacturer, the sequence of actions will also not be very different when flashing: here you also need to format the media and go to the official site for the files. Further, the list of actions is also standard and is no different from updating from DOS from other manufacturers...

You need to download the BIOS update file (WinZip file with .zip extension) from the ASRock website, extract it, and save the ASRFLASH.EXE utility and the BIOS file to a floppy disk. Next, boot the system from a floppy disk. At the "A:\" prompt, type ASRFLASH, press the spacebar once and type in the name of the BIOS file, and then press "Enter". For example: A:\ASRFLASH K7S41GX2.00 "Enter". After that, you will see the message "Please wait for BIOS loading ROM".

After 30 seconds, you will see the message "Flash ROM Update Completed - Pass", which means that the BIOS update is completed. After updating the BIOS, remove the floppy disk. Reboot the system and press F2 during boot to enter the BIOS setup program.

From the Exit menu, select "Load Default Settings" and press "Enter" to continue. Select "Exit Saving Changes" and press "Enter" to exit the BIOS setup utility.

Actions after flashing

It is not necessary to undertake any special “rituals” after flashing, if the instructions do not provide for it: just remove the media that was involved after flashing and test the PC with new software. If any failures are noticed, it makes sense to roll back to the previous version or find another one so that both the support for new components and the stability of the machine do not suffer.

Sooner or later, most PC users are faced with problems that can only be solved by updating the system BIOS. In addition, many advanced users update the BIOS of their motherboard every time a new version is released, preventing the very possibility of such problems. We will take a closer look at a universal and convenient tool - the AMIFlash utility, which is suitable for updating the BIOS of all manufacturers and has rich fine-tuning capabilities.

There is no alternative

There are a sufficient number of programs designed to upgrade the BIOS. Among them there are universal ones (such as AwardFlash, UniFlash, ECSFlash, AMIFlash) and special ones - for example PhoenixPhlash, which can only be used in conjunction with a configuration file for certain motherboards. However, AMIFlash from American Megatrends is the best universal upgrade tool for most system BIOSes. The utility has several undeniable advantages that distinguish it from other similar programs and make it a unique product of its kind.

So what's good about her?

Firstly, this utility is written using Tenberry Software's DOS/4G technology, which allows you to remove many of the restrictions imposed on programs in the DOS operating system environment, namely:

• overcome the limit of 640 KB of main memory and provide access to almost all memory using the protected mode of the central processor;
• minimize the use of those same 640 KB - the program takes from 5 to 20 KB of main memory;
• get full and direct access to any hardware device, such as PCI-to-ISA Bridge or Firmware HUB.

The last point is especially important. DOS/4G technology opens up 32-bit access to memory and I/O port space, which allows direct addressing of all chipset registers. The control of these registers, in turn, allows operations to be performed in the address space of the Flash chip. In practice, this means that it becomes possible to read the manufacturer's code and chip type from FlashROM in order to select the correct algorithm for writing / reading data.

Note that such a seemingly simple solution as the use of DOS / 4G is not used by other manufacturers of BIOS update utilities, such as Award Software. In the recent past, an attempt by all means to reduce the size of the flash utility, even at the expense of quality and capabilities, looked logical. After all, the file size is limited by the size of the FDD drive, which in the "old times" was 360 KB. However, now, when the FDD capacity of 1.44 MB has long been familiar, such a "traditional" approach looks somewhat strange.

Secondly, AMIFlash can be used to upgrade not only AMI BIOS, but also any other manufacturer (although this possibility, of course, is not stated anywhere). This is achieved due to the presence of support modules for the corresponding chipsets and FlashROM chips. Apparently, American Megatrends focuses on distributing this utility among its partners, who deliver the software product to end users. This is confirmed by the fact that the utility itself appeared on the AMI website quite recently, and its description is not there at all (there is only a small readme file that comes with the program itself). In addition, the latest version is not always available on the utility manufacturer's Web site, so you can find it at http://ic.doma.kiev.ua/inside/ami/flash.htm. Note that, despite the general versatility, AMIFlash does not currently support the Award BIOS update on motherboards equipped with Intel i810 and i815 chipsets.

And finally, thirdly, the program has a modular structure that allows you to quickly and painlessly add support for new types of microcircuits and chipsets. The value of this approach is becoming increasingly clear as the number of types of Flash chips used in motherboards continues to grow exponentially. Thus, the latest version of the utility includes 92 chipset support modules, including such exotic ones as SMSC VictoryBX-66 and Transmeta TM3200/TM5400, and 59 FlashROM chipset support modules.

Keys to Success

Now let's look at the rules for using this powerful BIOS upgrade tool. As you know, before proceeding with updating the BIOS, it is necessary to perform a number of simple manipulations that are the key to a successful update. Therefore, we will briefly describe the procedure for the actions preceding the launch of the utility itself. This assumes that we already have the required BIOS update file and the utility itself.

So, first you need to prepare your computer for the upgrade process. To do this, do the following.

1. Be sure to transfer the system to normal mode if it is overclocked.

2. Disable in BIOS Setup all functions designed to protect the BIOS from reprogramming. As a rule, this feature is provided to prevent unauthorized writing to the BIOS FlashROM, and is used to protect against viruses such as CIH.

3. Set the BIOS write control jumper, if available on the motherboard, to the enable position.

Naturally, after a successful BIOS upgrade, all settings changed in this way must be returned to their original state.

Then you can proceed directly to updating the BIOS. To do this, you need to boot from a system floppy disk, on which, in addition to system files, the utility itself must be present ( amiflash.exe) and the BIOS update file ( newbios.bin). An important note should be made here: if you plan to use AMIFlash to upgrade the BIOS 4 Mb (524288 bytes), then saving the previous BIOS version on a 1.44 MB floppy disk will be impossible, since the program itself takes a little more than 500 KB, and free space on the boot there will be no diskette left.

The AMIFlash utility can work both in dialog mode and in command line mode. Unlike AwardFlash, the dialog mode provides the same wide configuration options as the command line, so both modes of launching the program will be considered in parallel (using version 8.26.14 as an example).

The main screen of the program consists of four parts (Fig. 1).

• main menu— available menu items.
• go ahead— options available for the current menu item.
• information- information about system components important for updating the BIOS (chipset, type and size of FlashROM). If an inscription appeared in this window in any of the items unknown do not perform programming, otherwise the BIOS firmware may be destroyed. Typically, this situation occurs if the given version of AMIFlash does not contain the required chipset or FlashROM components installed on the motherboard, or the preparatory steps described above are not completed. In addition, do not forget that the board or FlashROM may simply be faulty.
• Help/Message— a small hint on the current menu item.
  Since almost all information entered in the dialog mode can also be passed using launch parameters, we will immediately describe the command line syntax of the utility and, in the future, along with the dialog capabilities, we will provide descriptions of the corresponding switches.

So, AMIFlash from the command line is launched as follows:

Most of the options can be either enabled or disabled by putting a "-" sign (minus, without quotes) immediately before the key (i.e. immediately after the slash). This feature is necessary because the program can remember the current state of each key and write it to the internal configuration file. Accordingly, if the option is enabled by default, it can always be disabled from the command line. Help on all available keys can be obtained in the traditional way by running the utility with the /? or /H.

Now let's briefly dwell on each of the program menu items and their corresponding keys.

go ahead - start the BIOS update procedure. However, you must first specify the name of the upgrade file and, if necessary, the file name to save the current BIOS version. For these purposes, the following menu item serves.

file- setting filenames with the new BIOS and for keeping the old version. Note that pressing Enter in this screen starts the BIOS update. Therefore, if there is a need to pre-set some upgrade parameters, you just need to enter the file names in the appropriate fields and press the key Escape. You can only specify a name for the new BIOS file using the command line. To do this, you need to run AMIFlash as follows: amiflash.exe newbios.bin. Passing a save file name to the program is not supported, but you can save the current BIOS to a file using the /S switch: amiflash.exe /Soldbios.bin. When using this key, the dialog mode is not activated, i.e. immediately after saving the file, the program exits and returns to the command line.

switch- used to set BIOS update options (Figure 2). Each option has a corresponding command line switch (see the box for more details).

The next two menu items are − Part List and Chipset List - allow you to manually set the types of system components required for a correct BIOS update: the FlashROM chip and the chipset on which the motherboard is made. The practical need to use these two menu items may arise only if these components are not detected automatically or are identified incorrectly. Needless to say, it is worth setting the type of microcircuits manually only when you are absolutely sure of the correctness of the actions performed. To re-initiate the automatic detection of the FlashROM chip and the chipset, there is a separate item Auto Detect.

module- as already mentioned, the program has a modular structure. Each supported chipset (ID = 0) or FlashROM chip (ID = 1) is represented by a separate module, with which you can perform a number of operations: delete, save to a separate file, or add a new module from an external file. The last operation can also be performed using the command line switch /U, where file is the name of the file containing the module to be added. Unfortunately, the description of the module format is classified information, so adding new modules by the user is not possible.

Additional features

In addition to those listed above, AMIFlash also has a number of features that are only available when using the command line.

Key /A[+] initiates a BIOS update in automatic mode without any user intervention. The chipset and the installed FlashROM chip are detected automatically. The use of the "+" postfix enables the windowed interface, otherwise the update occurs in command line mode. The use of this switch implies that the name of the BIOS update file must be specified on the command line. All settings in this case should be carried out only using command line parameters, since the interactive mode becomes unavailable.

Key /T[n] can only be used in combination with the /A switch and sets the number of attempts to reprogram the BIOS in case the first attempt did not lead to the desired result. The value of the parameter n varies from 0 to 65535.

Key /Q disables the display of any messages during a BIOS update.

Key /X Specifies a mode that disables the default automatic detection of the FlashROM type and system logic set.

Key /P opens the "secret" menu item security(Fig. 3), allowing:

• set a password to enter this menu item at the next launch of the program;
• remove this password if it was previously set;
• specify which menu items will be available at the next launch of the program;
• change the message that is displayed at the bottom of the screen (the default is "For PCI system board only").

It is obvious that motherboard manufacturers who distribute AMIFlash along with their products can get the maximum benefit from this feature.

After a detailed description of the capabilities of AMIFlash, we will present the optimal configuration of the BIOS upgrade utility - mainly for those readers who do not feel completely confident among the numerous keys, options and parameters.

So, to update the system BIOS, follow the preparatory steps 1-3 described earlier and create a .bat file (for example, ami.bat) with the following content:

The operation of the parameters in both cases is transparent: the Boot Block will not be reprogrammed, the set passwords will remain active, before programming, the integrity of the file with the new BIOS will be checked and its compliance with this motherboard, and after flashing the BIOS, the CMOS Setup settings will take on the default values ​​and automatic system reboot. It remains to be hoped that if the above recommendations are followed, this last point will be completed successfully, already with the new BIOS version. Happy upgrading!

P.S. When the article was almost finished, AMIFlash version 8.27.0A was released. Although the number of possible command line options has been reduced to four (according to the /? switch), the options described in this article have become undocumented and continue to work the same way as in version 8.26.14. In addition, the "BIOS functions are called by ROM file" option has been removed and "Check Feature ID/Check BIOS ID" has been added.