Flashing BIOS

B

Blakes7

New Member
Hi! I have an ASUS M2V-MX SE motherboard and want to flash the BIOS to update it. The driver disk has a utility---ASUS update utility. I installed that, started it up, and selected update BIOS from the internet, hit next, and the select a site to download from appears. I click next and get----A newer version application is detected, please click "Next" to update it first, and there's a checked box in the lower left that says---Make a clone of newer application ZIP file. I click next and it downloads the file, then nothing happens. I click cancel a few minutes later, and unzip and look at the file. It has a couple of cab files, some ini files, and 2 setup files---AsusSetup.exe and Setup.exe. I'm guessing this file replaces the current ASUS update utility, but which exe file do I double click? And if this is a newer version of the utility, am I correct in assuming that this will update the BIOS if I install and use it? Any and all responses will be greatly apprecuated. Thanks.
 
DO NOT USE THE UNILITY!!

Flashing the BIOS from the OS is asking for trouble.

Not sure what files you have or where you are up to (i read it and all, but can't remember the extensons for the files), so will do a step by step of it.


1. Depending on your operating system, download the latest bios version from here:

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

Change the operating system from the drop down menu accordingly

2. If you have a floppy drive and floppy disc, do the following (if not, go to 3.):

Put the floppy disc in the drive.

Go to start>my computer

Right click the floppy drive, click format and for mat the floppy disc.

Now put the downloaded bios files onto the floppy disc (just drag and drop)

3. If you don't have a floppy drive, you will need a memory stick, flash drive etc. Once you have the memory stick, put it in when windows is up and do as you did with the floppy drive in step 2, only instead you will format the memory stick.

4. Rename the file that is on the memory stick or floppy disc as (and this must be EXACT):

M2V_MX SE.ROM

5. Find your current BIOS version. There are 2 ways to do this:

First, go to http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

On the left click download CPU-Z 1.51 .zip and open it up with winrar or something similar and run the cpuz.exe file. It will scan your system and give you information about it. Click the mainboard tab. Under bios it is Version you are looking for, and more specifically the revision.

The link in step 1 to your motherboard BIOS download page, go to it and download the version that you currently have. If you have another floppy disc or flash drive (whichever you used), put it on that, again under the name

M2V_MX SE.ROM

That is the backup incase anything goes wrong when flashing.

6. Restart the system with the memory stick or floppy disc in and when it is posting press alt+f2

It should find your floppy drive or flash devicce and automatically flash your BIOS.

If you have any other problems then all of what i just typed is explained in your manual (not quite as extensively) but it is there. If you don't have your manual for whatever reason then the link in step 1 has, under the manual sub menu, a link to your motherboard manual download which is a .pdf file, so you will need adobe reader to open it
 
lots of info there.
i also suggest visiting the site and read what the flash will do for you. if it does not make the board faster, or deal with memory and make it more efficient or fix an issue with specific software your using, then don't do it.
it will shut you down if something bad happens during the process.
will this flash fix your problem?
No..........then leave it alone.
 
Aastii, ive used this utility numerous times, its a solid updater, it hasn't failed me yet. Read the directions OP it should be quite simple.
 
mx344 said:
Aastii, ive used this utility numerous times, its a solid updater, it hasn't failed me yet. Read the directions OP it should be quite simple.
Click to expand...

I know several people that have used it, however, there are alot more risks with using it from your OS than from the bios. There is too much risk as it is and should only be done as a last resort or if you know for a fact it will work, you'd have to be a right numpty to make it even riskier
 
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Thanks for the responses. I checked the ASUS site, and the upgrades don't appear to be any improvement. The reason I'm considering this move is that I've tried to do a fresh reinstall of XP, and the install locks up after---Setup is is inspecting your configuration...I've tried 3 different installation disks, all with the same result. I've use microscope, pc pitstop, and sisoft sandra to check the hardware, and everything checks out. I've run scans with AVG anti-virus and spybot search and destroy, and the computer is clean, I can't figure out why the install locks up there. I did a fresh reinstall several months ago with the same disk and had no problems. I recently tried to update the video driver, which didn't work, so I rolled back the driver. I even uninstalled the driver and reinstalled it. The only other thing I've used lately was a flash drive several times, and I safely removed it after each use. I just wondered if the flash drive changed something in the BIOS, although I've looked and can't see any changes, I never really looked at it before, except to change the boot order, but it's fairly simple , so I think a change would be evident. So, I thought if I updated the BIOS, that problem would be eliminated. Should I try it, or leave well enough alone? Thanks.
 
flash drives can't just change the bios, if it isn't a boot priority it won't interact with the bios at all because before it even thinks about finding it it has already jumped to the floppy or cd or hard drive or whatever is above it.

If you haven't already, run memtest, you can download it from here:

http://hcidesign.com/memtest/download.html

Let that run for about 8 hours, but the longer the better. If it finds and errors, your RAM is the issue.

Does CPU-z find your setup alright?

If it does then you are probably looking at a dodgy anything. The tests that you did, if they came up with nothing then you can rule out whatever they were testing, memtest would clear your RAM for example.

Reply back with the results from all of the tests that you have done and if anything came up
 
Thanks for the response. I ran the western digital diagnostic, and the hard drive passed. I ran memtest, and no problems. I ran microscope, the motherboard, hard drive, display adaptor, memory, nic--- everything passed. I've run AVG anti-virus and spybot, and the computer is clean. I ran CPU-z---no problem. I just can't come up with anything else to check. Thanks..
 
Thanks for the response. I ran the western digital diagnostic, and the hard drive passed. I ran memtest, and no problems. I ran microscope, the motherboard, hard drive, display adaptor, memory, nic--- everything passed. CPI-z ran with no problem. I've run AVG anti-virus and spybot, and the computer is clean. I just can't come up with anything else to check. Any ideas?Thanks.
 
do you have a spare dvd drive or another system with a dvd drive that you can put in that system?

Because it boots from the DVD to scan your system and that, if it has decided to go tits up and stop reading discs properly then it will possibly not be able to use that part of the disc properly, if you get me :P
 
Thanks for the response. I just reinstalled the video drivers from a cd, so the drive is working. I've tried 3 different install disks with ythe same result.
 
Blakes7 said:
Thanks for the response. I just reinstalled the video drivers from a cd, so the drive is working. I've tried 3 different install disks with ythe same result.
Click to expand...

I would still say change the drive, it may have an issue with just the windows install disc, it sounds crazy, but it happens.
 
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