Updating my IP35 Pro Bios - step by step instructions?

[Dreaming]

Hey Guys,

Sorry to be a noob, but I can't remember how to do this properly and so rather than **** everything up, thought I'd come here! I'm upgrading in anticipating of a q6600 which is quite fast on the fsb so I understand you need a bios upgrade?

Anyway;

step 1: Identified motherboard & Revision - check
step 2: download files - check
step 3: extract files: runme.bat ; abitfae.bat ; awdflash.exe ; m629b_14.txt ; m629b_14.bin - check
step 4: erm, use a floppy? I have no floppy drive, so consult text guide - ok
step 4.1: consult text guide bundled with bios - links to website guide Universal abit > Motherboard, Digital Speakers, iDome, AirPace, Multimedia - ok
step 4.2: consult website guide, - erm, help

Here's a bit confusing - it says to create a bootable floppy, but then says

6. Boot from the floppy disk, usb flash driver and boot able CD disk.

with instructions on setting the CD as the first boot device. So, theoretically, it can be done. I know you can flash from a usb stick, though I don't know how. Before I've always done it from windows, but it's my first time with an abit bios and although there's a utility, I noticed in the sticky it said in big capital letters, DO NOT USE THE WINDOWS UTILITY.

The guide on abits website is a bit confusing because the quality of English isn't brilliant - no offense to anyone just sometimes it's not very clear at all what it's telling you to do.

I'm running Vista 32bit, currently with the first drivers that came out with the first revision of the board, can get exact numbers if you need them. Also, although I sound it, I'm not a complete amatuer, just can't remember how to do it properly and didn't want to break anything! And I gather the pros here must reflash their bios at least once a week

[DratUK]

The original bios release supports the Q6600, built 2 of them recently.

I have updated the bios many times in Windows inc Vista 32 bit without any issues at all.
Just ensure when doing so you uncheck the boot block option in settings in FlashMenu.

No overclocking everything set to default.

If you want to do it under "Dos" and you have no floppy then usb is probably the way to go.

Have a look here

[Dreaming]

The original bios release supports the Q6600, built 2 of them recently.

I have updated the bios many times in Windows inc Vista 32 bit without any issues at all.
Just ensure when doing so you uncheck the boot block option in settings in FlashMenu.

No overclocking everything set to default.

If you want to do it under "Dos" and you have no floppy then usb is probably the way to go.

Have a look here

Only thing is if I leave it at default my board doesn't boot because it only gives the memory 1.8 or something and they need 2.1 volts.

I don't mind using flashmenu, was just told not to by the sticky

[BUFF]

Only thing is if I leave it at default my board doesn't boot because it only gives the memory 1.8 or something and they need 2.1 volts.

it's going to get set back to default when you clearCMOS as part of the flash anyway.

I don't mind using flashmenu, was just told not to by the sticky

Flashing in Windows is inherently more risky.

As well as the DFI forum guide linked above to using a USB memory stick there's also http://forum.abit-usa.com/showthread.php?t=121953

[Dreaming]

it's going to get set back to default when you clearCMOS as part of the flash anyway.

- in that case, I may remove 1gig first. I don't know why, but with 2 gigs it just doesn't boot, stops on code 25 I think which is memory or something. You need to use just the 1 stick, then change the voltage, and it's happy. But someone said it should do the voltages automatically? *shrug*

Flashing in Windows is inherently more risky.

As well as the DFI forum guide linked above to using a USB memory stick there's also How to boot an Abit board from a USB flash drive - Universal abit USA Forums

All I need to do really is get it to drop me at the dos prompt, then I'm happy to go hunt the files down on my C: and do it from there. Just seems faffy to do it with the usb memory stick, having to install a floppy disk boot image to it and so on.

What's wrong with the windows flash method and causing a high failure rate? It was designed by Abit so logic dictates (perhaps wrongly) they should work together?

[marknhl]

Hi, I am new to this forum and this level of computer work. Dumb questions may follow but specifically for that reason, your answers will be appreciated all that much more. PLEASE HELP. I tried to flash my bios and used the utility that is in Windows. Definitely did something wrong and the computer froze at 35% of some process and after it stayed there for awhile i pulled the plug. My mouse wouldn't move, no response from anything or the power button on the pc. Now I tried to boot and it says:

Award BootBlock IO v1.0
Copyright (c) 2000, Award Software, Inc.

BIOS ROM checksum error

I have tried to boot to a floppy and I downloaded the new flash file "flashmenu 1508" and the latest bios "mb629b17" and they both do not fit on a floppy. I tried to follow the directions on the files that need to be on the floppy but if I understand correctly, I don't even use the flash file. I notice that the motherboard supports floppy drives up to 2.88mb. Do I need to get a bigger floppy than the standard 1.44? Could someone please provide very basic and detailed instructions so that I can get back to having an awesome computer? Thanks in advance. By the way I have the Q6600.

[BUFF]

it sounds like your mobo is trying to recover from the bootblock so see http://pages.sbcglobal.net/jefn/bootblock.html

if using a floppy you don't use FlashMenu.

Also see http://forum.uabit.com/showthread.php?t=129825 & http://forum.uabit.com/showthread.php?t=133291

[marknhl]

Thank you for the help! I took my computer in to work and with a little help, got it fixed. I will do more reading though and increase my knowledge base for next time. Had I seen the information you just provided before I gave up on my own, I would have been able to take care of it myself. Thanks again, you provided some great info.

[format]

Bit of a massive bump here, but I want to flash my bios to the latest version using a memory stick. I can make on one bootable just fine, but after that is it just a matter of sticking the BIOS files in and booting off that? Will my windows installation be affected?

[BUFF]

http://www.theraptorpit.com/forum/in...-step-by-step/

why would your Windows OS be affected?
youi aren't in it whilst flashing via DOS ...

your boot priority etc. will get reset to defaults when you clearCMOS as part of the procedure but only if you are running something like RAID should that potentially be a problem.

[format]

Great, I'm going to try that out tonight.

Means I'll be able to use my wolfdale CPU too

[format]

Does anyone have the latest AWDFLASH? All the links from the abit site are broken.

Much appreciated.

[Theo_Rehtisch]

The Abit download section works fine, everything offered there is downloadable.

BUT:

BIOS-downloads (=including the awdflash.exe) only work when you klick either on the ASIA-localized link, or on the US-localized one.

I you're trying to download driver files or the uGuru tool use the BIG BLUE symbol (arrow) above the localized links to start a download, do not use the localized links themselves.

[format]

I had been trying to localised link. Thank you.