P67A-UD4 BIOS & Sata6 Power Mgmt

[DemoniK]

just set up a new (from scratch) build using the P67A-UD4 at the center.

having a few issues - 1 that I've posted about in a similar thread, but 2 I can't find solutions.

First up - BIOS updates.
I've followed the advice here and tried to get from F3 to F7B. However, both F6 and F7B files aren't accepted by either @BIOS or QFlash. From F3 only QFlash would do the F4 update, and then @BIOS worked with F5. Neither will work with F6 or F7 saying it's an invalid BIOS and not for this board?!
Any Ideas?

Second issue is 2x 2TB seagate drives I have on the 6Gbps ports. These are my mass storage drives and are mostly used during video editing, and other infrequent tasks. I've turned off almost every power option I have in Windows 7, and what ever I can do in BIOS, but still the drives power down - well I think so because explorer takes about 20-30secs to open the drive when I click on it - like it's been powered down.
Is there a way to completely disable the power management for these ports/drives?

Final Q..
Has anybody else tried 4GB memory sticks on this board? Board is a little unstable (have added to that thread), but curious if others are running with similar configs..

Note: All specs in my sig....

[DemoniK]

hope you don't mind Dark Mantis - just don't want to ruin the hand/crash thread with my other issues, so copying your replies over here.
My bad in adding my other problems in that thread...

I also have difficulties with BIOS updates (have gotten to F5, but can't move beyond that with @BIOS or QFlash despite downloading about 20times at this stage - keep getting  this flash isn't for this board!).

Have you tried using FlashSPI instead to run the updates. It comes with the BIOS files when you download them.

No - FlashSPI requires a 32bit runtime - I only have 64bit (OEM version).

I've disable every power save utility I can find in windows, BIOS, everywhere.
Yet, if I open explorer I still have to wait for my harddrives to power up?!

Are your hard drives the "green" power saving versions ?

Hadn't considered that.
They're not meant to be - more "High-performance PC gaming systems" so I wouldn't have thought so.
I see seagate have an app to tune the drive - might try that to see if there is something I missed...

[Dark Mantis]

Yes no problem with the move at all.

No - FlashSPI requires a 32bit runtime - I only have 64bit (OEM version).

It doesn't matter what your OS is 32 bit or 64 bit as it works in the DOS environment before anything else is loaded.

Have you downloaded the latest version of @BIOS from the website because the included one is duff (techniclal term).

As for the drives powering down I know exactly what you mean as I have hte same problem/issue on my system and I am sure there must be a registry hack or whatever to stop it happening but offhand I must say I don't know what it is. If you find it please post here.

[DemoniK]

Yes no problem with the move at all.

No - FlashSPI requires a 32bit runtime - I only have 64bit (OEM version).

It doesn't matter what your OS is 32 bit or 64 bit as it works in the DOS environment before anything else is loaded.

emm... 64bit win7 only allows a 64bit command prompt mode..
I'lll look into getting an old DOS boot disk if I can and see if that works.

Have you downloaded the latest version of @BIOS from the website because the included one is duff (techniclal term).

yep - done that..
Although when I tried to install it told me it was already installed.. So might try uninstall/install and see if that works.

As for the drives powering down I know exactly what you mean as I have hte same problem/issue on my system and I am sure there must be a registry hack or whatever to stop it happening but offhand I must say I don't know what it is. If you find it please post here.

yeah - gotta find it.. it's so annoying.

Will keep plugging away. jsut removed the crossfire and 2nd card and it is definitely a little bit more stable... will let it run the night, see what happens.

[DemoniK]

ok - complete removal of @BIOS and reinstall from website sorted BIOS issue
Now finally on F7B.

will now see if removing the crossfire has fixed the instabilities - and look into the drive power down issue

[Dark Mantis]

emm... 64bit win7 only allows a 64bit command prompt mode..
I'lll look into getting an old DOS boot disk if I can and see if that works.

I probably didn't explain myself well and I am sorry for that. I didn't mean a command prompt from within Windows  but a boot driven command prompt from a bootable drive with FlashSPI on there as well as the BIOS update file.

Oh I see you have managed to do it now anyway so no problem.

[DemoniK]

drives aren't powering down anymore
Under Power options in Windows 7 you can change the settings of your given profile, and then click for advanced.
Under there is the option to stop the harddisk cutting out..

For some reason the profile reset after updates - so one to watch for.

I ended up creating a "carbon burner" profile which just disables every power save option for now...

[Dark Mantis]

drives aren't powering down anymore
Under Power options in Windows 7 you can change the settings of your given profile, and then click for advanced.
Under there is the option to stop the harddisk cutting out..

For some reason the profile reset after updates - so one to watch for.

I ended up creating a "carbon burner" profile which just disables every power save option for now...

Nice one! I always use the High Performance power setting and must have just missed that option for the hard drive.