MSI NEO2 Bios Update ????????

[Syd]

Right, thanks to alot of research and alot of Hexus help I have finally got my new rig together.

Trouble is that sometimes on startup the system boots,registers memory, hard drives controllers etc and then before it gets to the Windows XP splash screen I get a black screen with a few dots and thats where it stays, If I then restart it will usually startup OK. Now I have been applying a mild overclock on my 8400 (3.0 - 3.2) by purely upping the FSB. The RAM is way under its rated speed and I have a Scythe Mine cooler so everything is nice and cool. And it's only intermittent.

So............I thought I would update the Bios (which is currently 1.5 and 1.8 is available) and a fix in 1.8 does relate to the 8400 in some way ('S3' I think) So I have downloaded the bios from MSI's site
and the instructions seem to point at creating a Dos boot floppy - err I don't have a floppy drive.
OK next step I tried MSI's 'liveupdate' solution - and that just goes over and over with a loading bar

Can anyone please give me any hints - can I use a usb stick instaed of a floppy disk - and how does that work? It is AMI bios if that makes a difference.

[Syd]

RIGHT - I have done some more digging, and it appears that Bios can be updated with a USB key - BUT............. MSI's site does not appear to demonstrate how. I have these 3 files from a Zip dl from MSI:

7345v1x.txt
A7345ims.180
Afud408.exe
How to flash the BIOS.DOC

Just not quite sure what to do with them, this is what the last doc says:

Special Note:
The BIOS and DEVICE DRIVERS contained here are exclusively for Micro-Star products only. Micro-Star assumes no responsibility for any damages resulting from improper use or lack of technical expertise.

WARNING!!!!!
DON'T FLASH FROM A FLOPPY DISK!!!!
DON'T FLASH WHEN YOUR SYSTEM IS RUNNING FINE!!!!
DON'T FLASH IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!

AMI BIOS Flash Procedure
1. Know your model number
a. Open your case and look for the MS-XXXX number on the motherboard between the PCI slots, also check the version number that is written there as well. (some motherboards are named like 945G Neo2, make sure you have the right version number)
b. Boot up your system & take a look at the top left screen during POST, you should see something like “MSI 945P/G Neo 2 A7176IMS V3.3 Date: 04/26/06” This means the board is MS-7176 with BIOS version 3.3
Hint: Many systems are clearing this message very fast, the bios version is then unreadable, you can either press “PAUSE” or disable the “Quick Boot” in the BIOS setup.

2. Download the BIOS that matches your motherboard AND version number (some motherboards are named like 945G Neo2, make sure you have the right version number). BIOS can be found according to the CPU type of your board like if your CPU is Intel 775 type then look here
MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO.,LTD.)
if you cannot find the BIOS that matches your board, try here MSI -- MICRO-STAR INT'L CO.,LTD.

3. Extract the BIOS-archive that you have downloaded by double clicking to c:\test

4. Boot your system from a Win98 or WinME boot-floppy.
How to make boot floppy in case your don’t have it ready:
For Win9X, You can type [C:\ format a:/s] from the DOS prompt.
For WinME, You can make a boot floppy from control panel--> add/remove program-->make boot floppy. Remove autoexec.bat & config.sys file if there's any.
For Win2000, there's no way to make boot floppy, so you have to either use Win9X or WinME boot floppy.
For WinXP, you can make a DOS boot disk. Go to Your Computer, right click drive A:, select Format, select copy system files.

5. When you get the A:\ prompt, type the following sequence:
C: <enter>
cd\test <enter>
C:\test> adsfi719 BIOS file
(to save or not to save old BIOS is the user’s decision)

6. Reboot your system when prompted

[Max Tractor]

MSI forums have a "Forum USB flashtool"

MSI HQ User to User Forum - Index

[Syd]

Will go and have a look at that now - thanks

[atmadden]

I have the same board as you and have flashed with the following method.

1 boot into dos by floppy/usb/cd
2 go to directory on HDD where bios files are
3 type afud408 A7345ims.180

and it will flash update.

[Syd]

MSI forums have a "Forum USB flashtool"

MSI HQ User to User Forum - Index

Perfect, thank you, followed the instructions and now up to date

I have the same board as you and have flashed with the following method.

1 boot into dos by floppy/usb/cd
2 go to directory on HDD where bios files are
3 type afud408 A7345ims.180

and it will flash update.

Sorted now but thank you for the input