Updating Bios without floppy

[will_DLZ]

hi there.
i have just bought an XP 2600 processor to rplace my old one, but i was told at the shop to update my bios so the mobo could handle it(MB is an asus a7v333). trouble is, my floppy drive is screwed(i only found this out about 5 mins ago). is there any way i can update the bios without needing to use a floppy?

cheers for any help

 

[Julio Franco]

ASUS offers an utility that will let you update your BIOS 'on the fly' while in Windows. You will have to check if this is available for your model though.

 

[will_DLZ]

cheers Julio, i checked around, the utility is asusupdate. however i cant find a guide for using it. can anyone give me a link or some info on asusupdate?

 

[young&wild]

There should be a help file after you have installed the ultility.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

Your mobo will NOT take a 2600 processor, unless you have A7V333 revision 2.0 or higher.

Here are the instructions for AFLASH.EXE

Managing and Updating Your BIOS
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.1 Upon First Use of the Computer System
It is recommended that you save a copy of the original motherboard BIOS along with a
Flash Memory Writer utility (AFLASH.EXE) to a bootable floppy disk in case you need
to reinstall the BIOS later. AFLASH.EXE is a Flash Memory Writer utility that updates
the BIOS by uploading a new BIOS file to the programmable flash ROM on the motherboard.
This file works only in DOS mode. To determine the BIOS version of your motherboard,
check the last four numbers of the code displayed on the upper left-hand corner of your
screen during bootup. Larger numbers represent a newer BIOS file.

1. Type FORMAT A:/S at the DOS prompt to create a bootable system floppy disk.
DO NOT copy AUTOEXEC.BAT & CONFIG.SYS to the disk.

2. Type COPY D:\AFLASH\AFLASH.EXE A:\ (assuming D is your CD-ROM drive) to copy
AFLASH.EXE to the just created boot disk.
NOTE: AFLASH works only in DOS mode. It will not work with DOS prompt in Windows and will
not work with certain memory drivers that may be loaded when you boot from your hard
drive. It is recommended that you reboot using a floppy.

3. Reboot your computer from the floppy disk.
NOTE: BIOS setup must specify floppyÓ as the first item in the boot sequence.

4. In DOS mode, type A:\AFLASH <Enter> to run AFLASH.

5. Select 1. Save Current BIOS to File from the Main menu and press <Enter>.
The Save Current BIOS To File screen appears.

6. Type a filename and the path, for example, A:\XXX-XX.XXX and then press <Enter>.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

1.2 Updating BIOS Procedures

1. Download an updated ASUS BIOS file from the Internet (WWW or FTP)
(see ASUS CONTACT INFORMATION on User Ma for details) and save to the disk you created earlier.

2. Boot from the disk you created earlier.

3. At the A:\ prompt, type AFLASH and then press <Enter>.

4. At the Main Menu, type 2 and then press <Enter>.
The Update BIOS Including Boot Block and ESCD screen appears.

5. Type the filename of your new BIOS and the path, for example, A:\XXX-XX.XXX, and then press <Enter>.
NOTE: To cancel this operation, press <Enter>.

6. When prompted to confirm the BIOS update, press Y to start the update.

7. The utility starts to program the new BIOS information into the flash ROM. The boot block will be
updated automatically only when necessary. This will minimize the chance that a failed update will
prevent your system from booting up. When the programming is finished, Flashed Successfully will
be displayed.
NOTE: When you see the message "Boot Block is different" you may still press <Y> to update the BIOS.
Yet if the update fails, your system will run a greater risk of boot failure depending on
whether the boot block is damaged or not.

8. Follow the onscreen instructions to continue.

 

[young&wild]

RBS, I think he's refering to a windows based ultility not AZFLASH.exe.

I doubt he'll be able to use AZFLASH.exe since his FDD is not working properly.

 

[will_DLZ]

rofl, i wish people would tell me the truth. the guy in the shop and the ASUS website both said the MB would handle the new cpu after a bios update(to version 1017), so i've updated the bios and put in the cpu and now things dont work properly. PC starts up fine, everthing looks ok but every app or game i try to run gets a fatal exeption. i would put an error reporrt on here but they hapen all the time so i dont even know if ill have time to finish my post!

cheers for trying anyway ppl

 

[RealBlackStuff]

The description is in your mobo-manual on page 49
or get the manual here:
http://www.asus.com/support/download/item.aspx?ModelName=A7V333&Type=All

Immediately after the memory-counting press Alt and F2, which gets you into ASUS POST Flash. Should give you instructions on how to load it from there.
If I were you however, I would buy/borrow another floppy-drive and flash BIOS from there.

I have the same mobo with Rev.1.2
The best BIOS version is 1016, 1017 is a NONO and 1018 is a Beta-BIOS.

 

[RealBlackStuff]

For Asus A7V333 Mobo Rev. 1.01 or 1.02 the largest CPUs are:
Athlon XP 2400+(Model 8)(Thoroughbred) 1.01 1012
Athlon XP 2600+(266FSB)(Model 8)(Thoroughbred) 1.01 1012

For A7V333 Mobo Rev. 2.0 and up: these also support:

Athlon XP 2400+(Model 10)(Thorton) 2.00 1017

Athlon XP 2600+(333FSB)(Model 8)(Thoroughbred) 2.00 1015
Athlon XP 2700+(333FSB)(Model 8)(Thoroughbred) 2.00 1013
Athlon XP 2800+(333FSB)(Model 8)(Thoroughbred) 2.00 1013

Athlon XP 2500+(333 MHZ FSB)(Model 10)(Barton) 2.00 1016
Athlon XP 2600+(333 MHz FSB)(Model 10)(Barton) 2.00 1017
Athlon XP 2800+(333 MHZ FSB)(Model 10)(Barton) 2.00 1016
Athlon XP 3000+(333 MHZ FSB)(Model 10)(Barton) 2.00 1016


1012, 1013 etc. are the: since BIOS version ....

 

[genericuser100]

if you dont have a floppy drive....

Create a nero bootable cd, copy your flash files, new ROM onto it
(nero provides a dos image at C:\Program Files\Ahead\Nero\DosBootimage.IMA )


boot from the cd and then issue the SAVE, and then FLASH commands. (flashrom)
Note: save to c:\mybios.bin


Worked for me , but my 9800pro still has vertical lines, less than before though.