Bios firmware via flash drive. Flashing BIOS firmware from DOS from a floppy disk or flash drive. Firmware and BIOS flashing of motherboards

How to flash BIOS?

BIOS (basic input/output system) is a set of microprograms, a basic system for input and output of information. It holds the entire operating system and software of the computer.

Every time you start the computer, we can see the BIOS screen for a few seconds. This means that the system checks the health of all controllers and firmware that ensure the operation of the processor and operating system. If there are any errors, the BIOS finds and informs us about the errors and possible ways to correct them.

When you want to update the software for your computer, you often have to update the BIOS along with it. This must be done as carefully as possible and without errors, since this can lead to failures in the program and even breakdown of the computer.

Why do you need to flash the BIOS?

“Flashing” the BIOS means that we are updating the existing database in order for the motherboard to support all the innovations. After all, the factory settings of the motherboard may already be outdated if the computer was purchased a long time ago. New items in software and in the field of computer technology in general come out almost every day.

Therefore, first of all, this is done in order to improve your computer. Also, the newly released BIOSes eliminate some problems that you may have observed on your computer with an old motherboard.

What will you need to flash the BIOS?

Motherboard markings

This data is “stuffed” on the motherboard itself. But in order to recognize them, it is not necessary to disassemble the computer system unit or laptop. There is a program that will provide you with such information - AIDA64 Extreme Edition.

So, let's do the following:

Download the program.
We install it on our device (computer or laptop).
After installation, launch the program.
Go to the “Motherboards” menu, then “Motherboard” again.
When the menu opens, we will see all the information about the system elements of our computer. In the “Motherboard Properties” field opposite the “Motherboard” line we will see the name and markings of our board - manufacturer, letters and numbers.
Right-click on this line - “Copy value”. The value is now on the clipboard.

Browser

open a browser window (this can be done in any browser);
in the address bar we write the name of the manufacturer of our motherboard - the first word in the marking;
we find the official website of this manufacturer;.
the site will prompt you to select your language and location;
in the search bar on the website we paste the value of the motherboard marking, which we have copied to the clipboard;
in the results, select the line with our number and go to the page;
on the page we see information about our motherboard model, all its specifications. Select the “Download” tab and look for it on the BIOS page. This may need to be selected from a drop-down list, since the site may offer to download not only BIOS updates, but also drivers, programs or instructions;
We download the BIOS version and, while the download is in progress, perform the following actions.

Flash card

Now you need to format the flash card. To do this, connect it to the computer.
Open “My Computer”, find the flash drive, right-click on it and then “Format”.
In the formatting window, click “Restore default settings”, then click “Start”. Remember that formatting will delete all data that was on the flash card, so if you store something important on it, transfer this data to your computer in advance.
We are waiting for the formatting process to complete.

BIOS flashing process

While we were going through the preparation stages, we loaded the firmware for the BIOS.

Click on it (run it) - the “Extract” window opens (extract, unpack). Click “Browse” and extract the BIOS to our already formatted flash card.
We check for the presence of an unpacked file (or two or three) on the flash card.
Then you need to restart your computer.
When the computer starts, in order to enter the BIOS, you need to hold down the F2 button or the Delete button.
In the BIOS system, we see a control panel on the right - all the keys with which you can move around the system are written on it.
Various utilities are used to flash BIOS, for example, Q-Flash (for Gigabyte motherboard) or Z-Flash (Asus). To enter the utility, press F8.
In the utility, select our flash card (Select Device - name of the card). Next, select the BIOS file in the flash card folder. The system begins to download the file. After scanning, the motherboard asks if we want to update our BIOS. Press “Yes” (with the Y key) and wait until the updates are downloaded.
After downloading the updates, select the following system actions in the dialog box: “Turn off the computer” (Power off) or “Reboot” (Reboot).

Thus, we are flashing our BIOS for updates. You can also use a CD instead of a flash card for this. The procedure is the same, only we unpack our BIOS file onto a disk and when starting the computer in BIOS mode, we also select the disk and the file on it. Now you know how to flash the BIOS, and you can do it without any problems.

Any modern digital technology, both computer and household, works according to a specially written algorithm of actions. This algorithm, in the form of program code, is written in a special program, otherwise called device firmware. Sometimes, for example, when the equipment was turned on without a surge protector during a thunderstorm, this firmware crashes.

Dual Bios SO-8

The program code that was written into the chip's Flash memory begins to malfunction, and the device can no longer function normally. What to do in this case? Read the site instructions and find out. And here we need to find the firmware, in other words, the same program, in the format required for flashing, clear the chip’s memory, and then rewrite the new program. In order to upload the firmware into the chip's memory, we need a programmer. Sometimes, if a device was released with “crude” firmware, flashing it to a more recent one will allow you to add new functions to the device, or get rid of unpleasant bugs that were poisoning your life when using this technique. Let me give you a simple example: on motherboards, the manufacturer has provided the ability to update the firmware by simply reading it from a flash drive, going into the BIOS and selecting .

Then beginners will have a reasonable question: why do we need any other programmers at all, if everything is solved so easily and simply in the BIOS? The fact is that this is only possible when we can go into the BIOS and select the desired option, or in other words, when our motherboard is somehow functioning. In case of problems with the BIOS, the motherboard can supposedly start when you press the power button on the PC, but there is no image telling us that the motherboard self-test was successful. How to be here? Did our firmware fail in this case, or something else?

POST card

Here, first, you need to make a digression and talk about what a POST card is and why it is needed here. This is a special board for the PCI connector, which plugs into it, and has an indication of POST codes, or in other words, an indication in the form of an alphanumeric code, ongoing software processes, activation of the motherboard, on two seven-segment indicators. These POST codes, of course, each have their own decoding, by which we determine, in the event of a breakdown, at which stage the failure occurred. And if we see that testing freezes on one of the POST codes, we can assume with a certain degree of probability that a failed BIOS is to blame for the malfunction. Of course, before flashing, you must first perform all the standard procedures in case of poor contact in the memory or processor connectors.

CPU socket

Insert the processor into the socket, raise and lower the lever 20 times, and the oxides, if they were on the connector contacts, will be erased. Use a soft white eraser to go over the RAM contacts on both sides for the same purpose. Take a toothbrush and run it 5 times along each of the memory slots, along the connector, along it. As practice shows, sometimes this is enough for the computer to work.

By the way, if you changed the battery on the motherboard, do not forget to clear the CMOS by closing 2 Clear CMOS contacts on the motherboard with a jumper for 10 seconds.

How to reset CMOS

If the motherboard was an Asrock model, such as the widespread N68 or G31 series, and the like, then you will need to remove the RAM modules and reinsert them, after replacing the battery, read about shadow RAM, if anyone is interested in what this is done for.

If you still need to reflash

So let's get back to our sheep). You have done all these procedures, but the motherboard, as before, does not want to work properly, and you decide to flash the BIOS. Here you need to know about what types of microcircuits and in what cases you may find on motherboards. We will not particularly consider the types of memory chips that were found on outdated motherboards from the Pentium 4 era, in the PLCC32 package. They require a different type of programmer, much more complex to manufacture, and expensive if you buy a ready-made one.

Programmer TL 866A

If someone really needs to flash such a memory chip, you will need a TL 866A programmer, which can be ordered from Ali Express, this is only the programmer itself, without adapters and adapters, and it will cost about 2.5 thousand rubles. A complete set will naturally be more expensive. But as it turns out, there is an even cheaper solution to this problem, although less universal. This is a NANO USB Programmer, from E-bay, on Ali Express, for some reason I didn’t find it.

NANO USB programmer

The decision to purchase it, due to its lower versatility compared to the TL866A, is probably very controversial, but it also costs about half as much, about a thousand rubles. We are now interested in memory chips with an SPI interface, which require much cheaper and simpler programmers.

Ddip-8 Bios chip

The fact is that starting around 2007, on motherboards of AMD and Intel platforms, a gradual transition began from BIOS chips in the PLCC32 package to chips with an SPI interface, having 8 legs, and produced in Dip-8 and So- 8.

BIOS PLCC

The latter, as you already understand, are released in the SMD version. So, these same microcircuits, on modern motherboards, are very often produced in Dip-8 packages, and are installed in a special socket.

Programmer CH 341A

In this case, all we have to do is remove the chip from the socket, install it in the ZIF programmer adapter, flash it, and then install it back into the motherboard. By the way, before erasing the microcircuit and flashing it with new firmware, be sure to save the current firmware on your hard drive. This will allow you to upload it back without any problems if the new firmware does not work stably, or turns out not to be suitable for this device at all.

But where can I get the firmware for the programmer, because it must be in *. bin or *. hex, these are the firmware formats that the programmer understands, and on the manufacturer’s official website to update the firmware via a flash drive, you can only download some completely incomprehensible format. As practice has shown, this is most often the same binary format *. bin, only with a different extension, and to flash it we just need to change the file extension to *.bin. How simple it all turns out)...

But that was not the case, we were happy early)... For example, manufacturers of monitors and other equipment do not make firmware publicly available, and access to them is only available in service centers, or you can ask someone to take a dump from a working monitor. But fortunately, the world is not without good people, and these firmwares, if you look very hard, can still be found on specialized equipment repair sites. What should we do if the BIOS chip is in an SO-8 case? Is it necessary to desolder it before flashing? No, at least not always... The Chinese industry produces a special adapter, a clip, which, by attaching it to the contacts of the microcircuit from above, we can flash it without desoldering. But let me make a reservation: this option does not always work.

In this case, you will need to unsolder the memory chip and flash it, soldering it to the adapter pad, or use a clip, holding the chip in it, or these adapters, which have different widths for the installed chip, 150 and 200 mil.

Adapters 200 and 150 Mil

How can you desolder an SO-8 chip without using a soldering gun? You can use Rose or Wood alloys, as a last resort, you can take a lower temperature solder than lead-free soldering, POS-61, apply it to the contacts of the microcircuit, take a medical needle made of stainless steel, and hook it under one of the contacts of the microcircuit, heating it with a soldering iron tip , lift it up.

Then this procedure must be done one by one with all contacts. Then you need to remove the old solder from the contact pads on the board by applying flux using a dismantling braid. I lost my programmer and clip a long time ago by flashing the BIOS on just one motherboard. And now he often helps me when I have doubts about what the problem is, in the BIOS or not. If for some reason it is not possible to purchase an SPI programmer, you can solder a simple circuit yourself for flashing microcircuits in a Dip-8 package, most likely for one-time work, it will be enough for you.

Electrical diagram

The stabilizer is 3.3 volts, in this case, if there is an emergency, you can replace the tablet with a lithium battery, 2016-2032, it, fresh of course, produces about 3 volts, and such power will be enough for one-time firmware.

Instead of output

This conditional software repair of motherboards is one of the simplest types of repairs, and does not require any experience in soldering, nor the presence of a soldering gun, or other expensive tools and devices. I recommend the SPI programmer from Ali Express, and the clip for it, as an inexpensive solution for flashing the BIOS of motherboards, to all beginners who cannot yet afford to purchase a TL866A programmer for various reasons. Happy repairs everyone, AKV was with you.

If your ASUS device is implemented on a modern motherboard, then you can use the instructions How to flash the ASUS BIOS (ASUS EZ Flash 2) (in this case you will not need to create a bootable USB flash drive)

Preparatory stage:

First of all, go to the ASUS website.
Select your product (laptop or motherboard), then the series and model, then press the Enter key or the Search button.
The site will prompt you to select an operating system, if possible, select the one you are using, if it is on the list.
Go to the BIOS section and download the latest BIOS version.
Download the utility for flashing the BIOS - AFUDOS. This can be done on the same ASUS product page in the BIOS Utilities section. Or
Create a bootable DOS USB flash drive (optional - another way to create a bootable DOS USB flash drive)
I also recommend connecting the device to be flashed to an uninterruptible power supply (for a laptop, fully charge a working battery), because If there is a power failure during the firmware process, the device will have to be taken to a service center for restoration.

We open our bootable USB flash drive, write the afudos program (afudos.exe file) and the BIOS itself (example: p4c800b.rom file) onto it.
We reboot and when the first picture appears on the monitor, press F8. We get to the quick launch menu and select our flash drive. Either at startup, press F2 for laptops or Del for desktop PCs, go to the Boot tab and put the flash drive in first place, usually for this in the 1st Boot Device item you need to set Removable Device, then press F10 and confirm that we want to save the changes in the settings.
The computer will boot from the flash drive and will prompt you to work C:\> on a black screen. (or another drive letter - it doesn't matter)
To start the firmware process we write afudos /i p4c800b.rom and press the Enter key. Launching BIOS firmware
Note: Do not turn off the power or reboot the system while updating the BIOS! This can cause serious damage to your system.
After the BIOS update is completed, the utility will return to DOS. Remove the floppy disk (flash drive) and reboot the system to enter the BIOS menu. BIOS flashing completed
Go to BIOS and reset settings to original values.

Usually, there is no need to replace the BIOS firmware of the motherboard - the device works great, and risking the performance of the device for the sake of a higher firmware version number is at least stupid.

However, it happens that a motherboard enters the market with “raw” microcode (manufacturers are in a hurry to beat competitors at a turn), or problems arise with integrated devices, or it turns out that the motherboard refuses to work with certain memory models, or new, more modern equipment comes out ( for example, the list of supported CPUs has been expanded), etc.

Then new batches of motherboards go on sale with updated firmware, and owners of earlier devices are left to reflash the BIOS.

New firmware versions appear on manufacturers' websites with a list of corrections and changes made compared to the previous version.

If there are any problems with the motherboard or there are shortcomings in its operation, you should look at the manufacturer’s website and study the lists of these changes - perhaps the answer will be found there.

There are also firmware versions upgraded by craftsmen that allow you to enable one or another function blocked by the manufacturer in the microcode for a budget model of the same chipset.

If the need to change the firmware version has become obvious, get ready to flash it, and we will try to tell you what awaits you and how to proceed.

How to sew?

To flash the BIOS, specialized utilities from the motherboard manufacturer or third-party programmers are used, which write the firmware image to the CMOS chip.
CMOS in modern mothers is a flash memory in which the microcode itself and BIOS settings are stored.
Thus, to flash the firmware, you actually need a file with the required BIOS version and a flasher program.

There are flashers for both Windows and DOS.
Flashing from Windows is much more convenient, but DOS is traditionally more reliable.
To identify all aspects of the BIOS flashing process, we flashed from both Windows XP and DOS.

First, using a flasher program, you need to backup the installed BIOS version to a floppy disk.
In case of unsuccessful flashing, this floppy disk will be very useful to you. At first, the macro program was replaced using utilities supplied by the manufacturer itself.
You can always find such a utility on the disk that comes with the motherboard, or on the website of its manufacturer.

We do not recommend using third-party programs unless necessary, since there is a high chance of later going to a warranty workshop.
We also do not recommend installing the latest firmware version right away.

It is better to look for information regarding your motherboard in the relevant forums and look at the reviews of users who have installed one or another version of the firmware.
This should be done because the firmware is sometimes not fully debugged, and serious malfunctions may occur in the mother’s work.

Process Features

First of all, we advise you to take care of a stable diet.
The ideal option is to have an uninterruptible power supply.
If there is no such miracle, then it is best to choose a time for flashing when power surges are least possible, that is, at night (after all, your neighbors don’t drill into the walls with an electric drill at night?).

The second point is the choice of the operating system from which the flashing process will take place.
If you want beauty and peace, then you can safely do it from Windows.
The Windows XP system is already quite stable, so firmware updates can be carried out under it without much fear.
Just in case, it is recommended to close all applications and disable the antivirus.
Under other versions of Windows (with the exception of the Windows NT line), knowing their buggy nature, it is better not to reflash.
It will be safer to do this from DOS.

As for DOS, this method can be used by those who are not too lazy to spend a little more time on configuration.
For this we get a little more reliability.
The preparation itself consists of creating a boot floppy disk.
Additionally, you will need to write a flashing program onto it (for example, the awdflash program is used for Award microcircuits, and amiflash for AMI BIOS) and the firmware itself.

You can create a bat file with the parameters for launching the flasher, and all that remains is to insert the floppy disk and boot from it.
For those who have ever worked in DOS, it will not be difficult to understand everything.

The third method of updating firmware is not common.
Firmware updating is carried out using the BIOS itself.
Just go to the update menu and specify the desired firmware, previously recorded on a floppy disk.

However, regardless of the chosen flashing method, be sure to first make a backup of the old version!

How to flash a computer?

BIOS is an important component of any computer. This is a program recorded in a ROM chip. It contains information about all the settings of your computer; you can make changes to it if necessary.

Do you need to flash the BIOS yourself? There is no clear answer. On the one hand, many manufacturers themselves recommend doing this immediately after purchasing a computer: this measure will help avoid errors in the operation of the device and expand its functionality. However, flashing the BIOS yourself can lead to errors that will disrupt the operation of the computer. And sometimes the motherboard fails after an unsuccessful update - you will have to contact a service center, where they may refuse free repairs under warranty if an updated BIOS version is detected.

It may be worth contacting advanced friends or a service to have your software updated correctly. If you decide to act on your own, study this issue as deeply as possible so that unpleasant consequences do not arise.

When should you flash your computer's BIOS?

It is worth flashing your computer in a number of cases. First of all, correct firmware of the program will increase the overall performance of the computer. This is never superfluous, especially if you constantly use it at work.

An update is necessary if there are noticeable problems - for example, the computer starts to slow down, the operating speed drops, or the sound disappears. Then it might be worth flashing the BIOS. Another kind of problem may also arise. Let's say you bought new equipment - a processor or hard drive. But the motherboard does not support it - the computer simply does not “see” the device.

In this case, you can reflash the BIOS to an improved version - then the board will be able to recognize the processor, hard drive or other equipment. And you don't have to buy a new motherboard.

Where can I find the firmware?

The simplest thing is to go to the website of your motherboard manufacturer and download the latest version of the program. You also need to know the BIOS version that is installed on the computer. To do this, restart the computer, and when loading data, the BIOS version number will be displayed, among others. To have time to record it, press the Pause Break key: it will slow down the download.

Use the search engine and find the version number of the desired manufacturer. Go to the official website and download the latest BIOS.

Flashing BIOS: step by step

The update itself can be done in several ways. Let's consider the most common of them - through DOS mode.

In some cases this is available through a special utility, but not every board manufacturer provides this function. It is not recommended to reflash in Windows, since the OS may freeze while loading the file - then nothing will work, and only contacting a service center or buying a new board will help.

Download the firmware - for example, AmiFlash, and a program for formatting a flash drive - HP USB Tool. The program will format the flash drive, making it bootable.
Also download the MS-DOS image, when starting HP USB Tool, specify the path to it on your computer.
Drop the file with the firmware into the root of the flash drive, renaming it to flash.bin. Move the flash driver there, writing it as amiflash.exe.
Now all that remains is to register the text document. You create it on your flash drive. Call it amiflash.bat - this file will help start the flashing process. The file contains the following data: amiflash flash.bin /b /d /e /g. These launch options work in most cases.
The main work is completed. Now restart your computer, open the BIOS, and there is the Boot tab. There, specify your bootable media first to boot. In the console, issue the command amiflash.bat.
During the BIOS update process, do not overboot or turn off your computer, otherwise you will simply lose the board.
After the firmware is completed, you can restart.

This is how you can flash your computer yourself without spending a penny. But be prepared for failure, since firmware is still a serious and risky business.