Need advice on flashing BIOS!

[beezelbubba]

I want to flash updated bios on my Abit be6-2 mobo.Problem is,I cant find instructions that are really cut and dry(I.E.,step 1:do this,step 2:do this),it all seems so confusing and disjointed.The instructions in the manual preface the section by saying how easy they make it for the novice user to do.Then they go on to confuse the shit out of you(or a dumbass like me,anyway).
I did go and d.l. the updated bios,and made a floppy,but I don't have the balls to attempt flashing without clear instructions!I want to do this right the first time,and I can't afford to fuck up my mobo.
If anyone can help me,or stear me to someone who can,I'd surely be much obliged!
Yours truely,
Frightened little computer dumbass

 

[kirkhere]

Your only concern is the possibility of installing the wrong BIOS file for your mobo. If you've got that right, you're fine. If not, then it *may* or *may not* be something you can recover from. (Tip: if unsure, and if you have access to only one computer, then download the 2 or 3 BIOSes that you think might be right, and make a bootable install floppy for each. This way, if one is wrong, then you mght be able to recover from one of the others.) It's best to doublecheck the mobo versions carefully. If you have, don't sweat it from here.

I took a look at the latest BIOS file for version 2 of your mobo and saw that Abit kindly packages everything you need into the BIOS file itself, along with a startup bat file that runs the update process for you.

If your BIOS file contained several .bat files, the awdflash, and the .bin file, and you put them on the floppy, you're all set to go. It's been scripted to run itself. Just your system with the floppy disk in the drive. (Note: You may need to set your BIOS to boot from the floppy drive first. Otherwise, it may skip the floppy and boot from the HD.)

Watch the update happen. When done, remove the floppy and reboot. That's it.

kirkhere

 

[Sangram]

You really shouldn't be updating your BIOS unless you're having big-time problems with the machine. It's a troubleshooting step, not nessecarily a performance enhancement.

That said, You need to:

1. Make a bootable floppy from 95/98/ME/XP. For Win2K, you need to locate a boot floppy. Search on the net. You should get a decent image file maker.
2. Copy the flash utility (awdflash.exe) and the .bin file to your floppy. When doing this, you may need to rename the .bin file to within 8 characters so that you can remember it easily. I like new.bin personally.
3. Reboot the machine
4. Set up the computer to boot off floppy, if it isn't already. I'ts in the BIOS setup: Look under 'Advanced BIOS features' and look for 1st boot device.
5. When the machine boots up, you should get a command prompt. Type 'AWDFLASH'.
6. When it asks you the filename of the new BIOS, type in new.bin
7. It'll ask if it should save the old BIOS. I have one boot floppy with the flash util and three versions of my BIOS, so I don't bother. If you don't, you should always say 'yes' and give it a nice filename. Like 'old.bin' for example.
8. I suggest you run through this area once before continuing, so you're familiar with the program. You can choose to stop here and the program will not have flashed your BIOS.
9. On the next pass, you can continue and the program will flash the BIOS. Ensure that the power supply is not interrupted and don't reset the computer while it's flashing. On some computers it may appear to hang after a while, let it keep going and come back after 5 mins. or so. If you reset it, you will not be able to boot and your compuuter will be shot for sure.
10. Remove the floppy and reboot the machine. It is advisable to go once into the BIOS and load the Setup defaults for at least one run. This way you'll be resetting everything to default, so you'll have to come back later and tweak up the BIOS to where it was. Sometimes after a BIOS flash the computer may not start. Clear the CMOS (either by provided jumper or in case of old computers, by removing the battery for ~10 minutes) and restart.

Sang