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Questions about GIGABYTE products => Motherboards with AMD processors => Topic started by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 12:22:11 pm

Title: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 12:22:11 pm
Hello, I have a motherboard GA-K8N Ultra-SLI s939 which is in a homeserver. Yesterday, I wanted flash the BIOS of the F1 version in F7h via the utility @BIOS. Only, 50% the BIOS flashing failed. >:(

After rebooting, I obtained this screen :

(http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4994/imgp0316.jpg)

This screen indicates that I am of course the F7h BIOS. But...

But if i press on F1 or Delete, I obtain this screen with flickering underscore :

(http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/2603/imgp0318h.jpg)

So, my motherboard has got the Dual-BIOS, and according to the manual, "After power on the computer, pressing <Del> immediately during POST (Power On Self Test) it will allow you to enter Award BIOS CMOS SETUP, then press <F8> to enter Flash utility.".

Impossible to carry out, I fall each time on the screen with the underscore after having pressed on Delete.

I removed the battery during 30min while shutting off the current, make a clear cmos but anything made there.


Is what somebody would have an idea to propose, is what I have badly make the operation to reach to it dual-BIOS?  ???

Thx a lot.


(Sorry for the English level, I am French-speaking) ;)
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 08, 2010, 12:41:53 pm
Hi and welcome to the forum.

Ouch, a failed BIOS update is one of the most frustrating things that can happen and unfortunately, using the @BIOS utility causes more problems than it solves.

I know you have tried to clear CMOS but I would suggest trying again remembering to remove the power cable from the mains supply and, once again remove the Motherboard battery. Remember to Clear CMOS using the CLR_COMS jumper on the motherboard (it is near the SATA headers).

Once you have gone through those steps, remove your Hard drive(s) and DVD from the system (just disconnect the power leads) and then try rebooting. If you can then get into BIOS use the QFlash Utility to re-flash BIOS.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 08, 2010, 12:55:03 pm
One other thing I would like to add to absic's good advice is that the PSU can hold a charge for quite a long time before being drained so after unplugging the mains from the  supply press the on switch on the computer to get rid of the residual charge.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 01:34:06 pm
Hi and welcome to the forum.

Ouch, a failed BIOS update is one of the most frustrating things that can happen and unfortunately, using the @BIOS utility causes more problems than it solves.

I know you have tried to clear CMOS but I would suggest trying again remembering to remove the power cable from the mains supply and, once again remove the Motherboard battery. Remember to Clear CMOS using the CLR_COMS jumper on the motherboard (it is near the SATA headers).

Once you have gone through those steps, remove your Hard drive(s) and DVD from the system (just disconnect the power leads) and then try rebooting. If you can then get into BIOS use the QFlash Utility to re-flash BIOS.

kthx, I will test that. :)

One other thing I would like to add to absic's good advice is that the PSU can hold a charge for quite a long time before being drained so after unplugging the mains from the  supply press the on switch on the computer to get rid of the residual charge.

I do it already ;)
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 02:14:07 pm
I removed the power cable from the mains supply and, removed the Motherboard battery. Cleared CMOS using the CLR_COMS jumper on the motherboard.

I given the battery, removed the jumper and given de powercable but I've already the screeen with the underscore. Impossible to enter in the bios setup. And the first screen is the same than this pics : http://img832.imageshack.us/img832/4994/imgp0316.jpg but without the DVD and hard drive... :-\
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 08, 2010, 02:29:10 pm
You've got yourself a nice doorstop.  :'(
I think your only course of action is to return the mobo to the factory for re-flashing or if it uses the plug in chips you can replace the chips.
As absic has alread mentioned the use of @BIOS is a dangerous tool and shouldn't be used lightly. Much better to use the Q-Flash utility in the BIOS.
One other point is that you should not flash too many updates at one time eg if you are running F1 and want to update to F8 update to F4 first and then F8. It is safer that way.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 08, 2010, 02:33:12 pm
OK so your BIOS is well and truly screwed and re-flashing is going to be difficult if not impossible. But before you take Dark Mantis's advice you can try this.

Can you access your HDD through another PC? You will need to be able to to be able to try this step.

If you can, go to the Gigabyte Site and download the original F1 BIOS that you were using. Extract the files from the folder and copy them to your Hard-drive. The files just need to be placed onto the C:/ drive not in a folder. Put the hard-drive back into your GA-K8N Ultra-SLI PC and then try and boot, with the HDD connected.

You might be lucky and if the BIOS sees the files it might restore itself but there is no guarantee.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 02:42:04 pm
F*ck :/

Btw, Yes I can reach it of another machine.

Do I have to format this hard drive? In a specific format before putting the files on it?
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 08, 2010, 02:46:13 pm
If your HDD is new you would need to format it or it wouldn't be seen, but if you use your main C: drive from the GA-K8N Ultra-SLI PC all you need to do is copy the BIOS files straight onto the drive.

As I said before it might not work but at the moment it is the best thing to try.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 03:03:55 pm
I can't replace the autoexe.bat on the k8n drive.

Do I have format this hard disk?
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 08, 2010, 03:07:32 pm
Do you have empty spare drive?

If you do it would be better to use that or you will be deleting your Operating System from the K8N drive.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 08, 2010, 03:13:18 pm
If not try using the command line to rename it.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 03:13:42 pm
I don't care to erase the OS from the K8N, because I was to pass from server 2003 to server 2008R2 in any way after the flash BIOS. ;)

(and I haven't an empty disk btw  :-\ )
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 08, 2010, 03:15:52 pm
In that case it might be a good idea to reformat the disk and then just copy the BIOS files onto it. You've nothing to lose and, if it works, a lot to gain.

Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 03:19:19 pm
Here, there are now only FLASH885.EXE and K8NUSLI.F1 on this disk.

Do I give it on the K8N and I boot quite simply without anything to make of other?
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 08, 2010, 03:22:22 pm
Yes,

just put the HDD back into your K8N and try and boot, if you are lucky the BIOS will read the files and restore itself. I'll keep my fingers crossed. Good Luck!
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 03:45:16 pm
... That didn't work  :'(

Why the second BIOS don't take the relay automatically >:(

That irritates me because it is not my fault, it's because of the utility @BIOS of gigabyte and I am not only one in this case. >:( >:( >:(
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 08, 2010, 03:48:10 pm
For the second BIOS chip to take over you would have had to have done it from the BIOS utility and then left it for 20 seconds to do the automatic reboot from the backup BIOS.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 03:53:32 pm
With Q-Flash utility?

And with is the safeguard of my old BIOS, nothing possible?

(I saved it in .dat/.bin/.rom)
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 08, 2010, 03:56:59 pm
I really don't think so because you need a working computer to read them. The BIOS acts as a translator between the hardware and the software and without it they just don't communicate. It basically what we used to call machine code.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 04:05:46 pm
Yes, i know but where there's life, there's hope... Now it's dead, so no hope :|

I found the self motherboard on ebay, but it's an error which costs me money stupidly. -_-
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 08, 2010, 04:07:46 pm
The only good thing about it is we tend to remember the lessons that cost us. ;)
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 04:10:14 pm
And don't Flash a BIOS since Windows >_<
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 04:12:29 pm
This solution is possible?

Quote
AWARD-BIOS:
We need our Bootdiskette and do only 1 Change on it:
Create (on a 2nd PC using a Texteditor) a File called: "AUTOEXEC.BAT", with only one Line:

"awdflash.exe updatefilename /py /sn" (without quotes!)

Now, boot from Diskette and listen to the Beeps
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 08, 2010, 04:19:52 pm
That is pretty much what you have just tried  with your hard disk. The trouble being that the disk isn't being read properly. If you have an a:\ drive then you can try it but I wouldn't hold out much hope.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Johnny Boy on August 08, 2010, 04:28:26 pm
I don't have an a:\ btw...

Thx a lot to you and absic115  ;)
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 08, 2010, 04:28:53 pm
Once the BIOS gets scrambled it is almost impossible to recover it.

I would suggest that you contact gigabyte Tech Support and ask them if they can help, especially as the problem has been created by the @BIOS utility.

Another thing you could try would be the French Gigabyte forum: http://forum.gigabyte.fr/ where you might be able to find some more local help.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: swanseajack on August 11, 2010, 04:16:19 pm
Looking at the photo's, the bios flash is fine, all thats happened is that it's reverted to default values and changed your boot order.  Thats why you get the flashing cursor as it can't find an OS.

Just go into bios and set all the settings back to what you had before.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 11, 2010, 04:21:32 pm
Yes swansejack that would appear to be the case but he has no way of getting into the BIOS. As soon as he presses Delete to enter all he gets is the flashing cursor. It just wont respond to the normal commands. Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 11, 2010, 04:23:33 pm
Curses, you just beat me to that DM. Go back and watch the Intel section!  :D
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 11, 2010, 04:24:48 pm
Curses, you just beat me to that DM. Go back and watch the Intel section!  :D
Sorry absic I though you must be napping.  ;)
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 11, 2010, 04:29:06 pm
No, just putting together a shopping list for when runn3R returns!  :D :D :P
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 11, 2010, 04:55:13 pm
Great idea! How many pages is it now? ;D
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 11, 2010, 05:01:44 pm
1376 pages all composed with type like this!
And I haven't used any line spacing just to make sure I can include everything!
 ::)
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: Dark Mantis on August 11, 2010, 05:04:09 pm
Well if you need help unpacking the lorry when it arrives just give me a shout. ;D I guess I had better get working on mine.
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: absic on August 11, 2010, 05:05:05 pm
Lorries not Lorry!!  :o
Title: Re: Help! BIOS flash failed
Post by: swanseajack on August 11, 2010, 10:22:51 pm
Yes swansejack that would appear to be the case but he has no way of getting into the BIOS. As soon as he presses Delete to enter all he gets is the flashing cursor. It just wont respond to the normal commands. Welcome to the forum and thanks for posting.

Opps, didn't spot that bit, another thing, has he tried a ps2 keyboard, as if he is using a usb then by default legacy is turned off, so the process will just continue until it fails to boot.

and thanks for the welcome ;)