Aaargh - BIOS update???

Aqua_lung said:
In the asus forums they recommend you only use the bios utility not the windows app when updating, I've never had problems with it.

The reason why it refused to boot is a settings incompatibility most likely and required a cmos reset.
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I thought that link WAS to the ASUS forums? Didn't look like they liked it much there?
 
I had a similar experience with my P5WDH Deluxe earlier this year, which was almost 2 years old at the time. After updating the BIOS sucessfully, it would not reboot afterwards. I stripped down to the most basic components, borrowed a Celeron chip, took battery out, reset dip switch, list goes on.

Eventually I had to take the board back to Axiz, where it appears they got it started, but it was unstable for them. They luckily replaced it with the same model but the last revision which was more stable.

When I did the BIOS upgrade to support my Penryn Quad core, I used a USB stiffy drive and flashed in DOS. I wasn't going to take chances with the flash utility in the BIOS again. Before and after flash I used the most stripped down components, and reset dip switch and removed battery between doing it. I got that advice of the Extreme Systems forums thread on that board.

I have to agree with Gary, it's a pants browning moment indeed.
 
I love our USB EPROM programming machine at work. Saved many boards from death with it already :D
 
I've used the Asus flash utility from the BIOS probably around 20 times no issues (It's for a Asus M2N32 SLI Wireless Deluxe mobo), weird that you guys are having so much problems. Everytime there's a BIOS update, I download it save onto my USB flashdrive and then update, no problems whatsoever.

Personally I'll just say that updating from Windows has caused problems for me before with many other motherboards, safest has always been using a Windows 98SE bootdisk. I usually use a flash-drive with Windows 98SE bootdisk on and flash using that, more reliable than a floppy and safer than any other option IMHO.

Btw. there is always the BIOS hot swap option, I've done it before a few times, once was actually when we flashed from Windows and it failed (didn't freeze or restart it just reports that it failed no matter if you try flash the backup or what). Anyway I had another BIOS chip handy put that BIOS chip in the mobo, boot up onto a floppy, put the old BIOS back in and flash, scary as hell :D Works like a charm tho.
 
If you mess up your BIOS Upgrade on that motherboard you can pretty much throw it away. I know that some modern motherboards have a backup BIOS that you can restore if you mess it up... but you'll have to check up on that.

As a rule I've never done a BIOS update, because if the slightest thing goes wrong.. Motherboard = R.I.P.
 
foozball3000 said:
If you mess up your BIOS Upgrade on that motherboard you can pretty much throw it away. I know that some modern motherboards have a backup BIOS that you can restore if you mess it up... but you'll have to check up on that.

As a rule I've never done a BIOS update, because if the slightest thing goes wrong.. Motherboard = R.I.P.
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Err, yeah or you can order a replacement BIOS chip, better than throwing it away ;)
 
Garyvdh said:
I thought that link WAS to the ASUS forums? Didn't look like they liked it much there?
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I read it here but applies to all boards.
http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...=1&model=P5W+DH+Deluxe&page=1&SLanguage=en-us
**** Use EZFlash to update your BIOS by hitting alt+f2 during POST. See page 4-2 of the manual.
<<<< DO NOT use AsusUpdate to update the BIOS, it may corrupt the BIOS chip!!!!!!!!!!!!>>>>>

A link to all old BIOS revisions can be found HERE.

****UPDATE: try holding down the INSERT key during POST if you think you have had a bad BIOS flash and the board seems dead
If you can't get into BIOS then do some testing:
Connect a speaker (like THIS one) so that you can hear the POST beeps.
Disconnect all hardware except main board power connection and the cpu+HSF.
1.)Remove the power cord from the PSU and clear the CMOS leaving the battery out and jumper moved for ten minutes (600 seconds). Now try booting with no memory, but with video card installed--- you should get 'no memory detected' beep code, no beeps at all here means the video card may be faulty
2.) try booting with no video, but with a single stick of memory installed in slot B1 (you can try all slots if no beeps)---you should get 'no VGA detected' beep code, no beeps at all here means that the memory may be faulty or it may have a conflict with the board
3.) try booting with both the single stick of memory and the video card installed-- you should get a single beep indicating a good POST---if so, go into BIOS and set the memory speed, timings, and voltage manually to manufacturer's specs

If you get no beeps during 2 & 3 then I would suspect the memory. If no beeps at all then try booting the board from a tabletop, lying the board on cardboard to protect it---this will test for shorts to the case---repeat the above scenarios. If no beeps or display at all ever then I suspect hardware compatibility, so verify the installed BIOS will support the cpu. A small list of AMI BIOS beep codes can be found HERE.

You can also try THIS. Post results if you happen to try it. Also try naming the file the same as the ".ROM" file that is in the root directory of the original Asus cd that came with your board. Don't forget that when using a flash drive for BIOS it should be formatted as fat32.

**** Some dead boards are revived by replacing the CMOS battery. Try this as a last effort to save your board.

If all of this testing has failed and you get no POST beeps during any of this then you should call Asus tech support and ask for an RMA.
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