Warning! This file is not Asus's BIOS, etc

[klosters64a]

Sheesh. I'm trying to update the BIOS of my new Asus A7S-VM(it's a Socket A budget mainboard with the SiS 730S chipset). Got a problem, though. I get this after saving the present BIOS, and attempting to proceed with the flash.
"WARNING!
This file is not Asus's BIOS.
This BIOS model doesn't match with the one currently used."

Naturally, I escape out of the flashing process at this point. If it's any help, the board has a Mosel BIOS chip, and the Checksum is B9BB. I Dl'd the BIOS update from Asus. Seems funny that they'd call their own BIOS not one of their own.

I'd sure love some help on this! TIA!

 

[wild_andy_c]

Since the board is relatively new, the problem here is that the BIOS you have is quite possibly a in-house BIOS that hasn't been cleaned for the public. When the staff clean the BIOS, the create the checksum and validity tags which lock off the BIOS - for obvious reasons this isn't done in house.

Mail ASUS about it. They will probably not reply (they stink like that) but they need telling.

 

[robjustice]

Andy is right on both. The bio's is "in house" and asus will not answer you. I ran into the same thing and they never got back to me. However they do know about the problem and they suggest that you delete your asus flash program, and download the newest on. You can check here.

Asus also had this problem with the A7V-133-some of the bio reported kt133 without the "a" all the newer bio's reported kt133a, so when you tried to flash it would not-as it thought it was the wrong bios.

I like using aflash better. If you are interested here is the info.

BIOS:
This entire process usually takes about 5 minutes to perform; however I have incorporated all I can into this for the purpose of describing what to do and not to do.

I could make a list 1,2,3,4, etc, etc.. but without the details, this can be a confidence nightmare for someone new to doing it, so I have given all I can here to help.

If after reading this, you don’t want to do it... DONT

It ain't my fault if somethin goes wrong here and I feel like I have loaded a gun and handed it to a newbie, but I would rather you know how to shoot the gun properly even if you do shoot yourself in the foot.

That is my way of saying I hope this helps but please don’t blame me if something goes wrong.

A BIOS flash can be dangerous because if something goes wrong, you can take out the information from BIOS eprom chip which means the putter don’t sputter no more.

The BIOS chip holds the Basic Input Output System programming that allows the unit to start and recognize the hardware it is connected to. When you flash, you are replacing that programming with new instructions.

With an Asus A7V revision 1.02 motherboard, you will find complete instructions to flashing your BIOS on page 47 of the manual. You can read over the procedure there however I will simplify the best I can here and provide the links to the BIOS files.

First, you will need the program necessary to do the job. It is called AFLASH.exe

 

[robjustice]

PART 2

You will find this program on your CD with the drivers that came with the board however; here is the link you can also download it from:
ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/mb/flash/aflash.exe (cut and paste it form here)

You will need the BIOS you wish to flash as well. They can also be found at the Asus site here: http://www.asus.com.tw/products/mot...bios_socka.html

Flashing a BIOS not designed for your board can be dangerous so don’t just jump on a bandwagon because everyone else has seemed to do it. There are some cases when this will work, but if you are not sure, don’t do it unless you are VERY confident in the source of the information and even then, be ready for anything.

You will find the most current BIOS's on the page listed in the above link.

You will need a total of 2 items to flash your BIOS:
1. A clean floppy with the AFLASH.exe program and the UNZIPPED BIOS file on it.
2. A windows emergency start disk OR The Windows ME installation floppy. Either will work.

If you do not have an emergency start disk, you can make one with a blank formatted floppy. Go to the control panel in windows and select "Add and Remove Programs". When the window appears, select the tab at the top that will allow you to make a startup disk. Simply follow the instructions.

This disk will serve to clean boot you into a DOS prompt.

Make sure you unzip the BIOS file from its download zip format.

Next, with a second formatted floppy, copy the program AFLASH.exe and the UNZIPPED BIOS file (1005c.awd) onto the floppy and keep this floppy as your BIOS floppy in future flashes.

When you copy the unzipped BIOS file to the floppy, make sure you write down the name of the file EXACTLY as it appears on the screen, including the extension. EXAMPLE: 1005c.awd OR 1005c.bin
The extension can be anything, just because it is not a ".bin" file or a ".awd" file does not mean it will not work, it can have almost any extension but most Asus BIOS files will be either .bin or .awd.

The important thing is to write it down for later.

MAKE SURE "BYTE MERGE" AND "VIRUS PROTECTION" ARE DEACTIVATED IN THE CURRENT BIOS BEFORE PRECEDING ANY FURTHER. ALSO MAKE SURE "BIOS UPDATE" IS ENABLED.

Assuming your system will recognize a floppy disk on reboot and not bypass it, you are now ready to flash your BIOS. If not, you will have to enter the BIOS and set the floppy to be the first boot device in the list.

another one.

 

[robjustice]

Part 3

Once done, use these steps:

1. Put the emergency start or the Windows ME setup disk in the floppy drive.

2. Reboot the computer

3. The items on the menu list will depend on which OS you made the emergency disk from or if you are using the Windows ME setup disk. You want to be in a TOTALY clean environment so:
a. If it is from Windows98 or 98SE, select: "Command Prompt Only".
b. If it is a Windows ME setup disk, select: "Minimal Boot".

4. Once the command prompt appears, remove the start disk and replace it with your BIOS disk.

5. Type: aflash.exe Follow the instructions on the screen for each move you make and READ carefully.

6. The BIOS program will appear. It will give you 2 choices:
a. Save the current BIOS
b. Flash or install a new BIOS

7. You ALWAYS want to save your current BIOS to disk first, in case something goes wrong here. Select the save option. (1)

8. Name your saved BIOS file. I suggest it be short and easy, like 1004d.old (the name of the current BIOS with an ".old" extension.) Also, WRITE it down now EXACTLY as you typed it on the screen and confirm the spelling and extension before you save it. Once confirmed, then continue.

9. It will confirm a successful save, if not REPEAT the save until it does and if it wont save it, STOP here... there is something wrong, do not continue and simply remove the disk and reboot the computer. Leave it go until you find out what is wrong.

10. After the successful save, return to the main menu and select the second option (2) to flash the BIOS. Follow the instructions.

11. It will ask for the name of the new BIOS file. Type in the name EXACTLY as you wrote it down EXAMPLE: 1005c.awd

12. It will ask for confirmations throughout the next steps. It is VERY IMPORTANT YOU READ THE WARNINGS AND ANYTHING ELSE IT DISPLAYS... READ IT CAREFULLY

13. There will be warnings if the BIOS is older than the one you are currently running and if you are flashing down to an older BIOS, this is ok.

14. There may be other warnings if the file you have is corrupt or if it is not designed for your motherboard... If you decide to stop anytime before you have flashed, you can...ONLY AS LONG AS YOU HAVE NOT FLASHED THE BIOS.

AFTER YOU HAVE FLASHED, IF A WARNING COMES UP SAYING A CORRUPT FILE ERROR, CHECKSUM ERROR OR THE FLASH WAS "UNSUCCESSFULL" OR ANY MESSAGE OTHER THAN:

"FLASHED SUCCESSFULLY"

IF ANY AND I MEAN ANY ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS, DO NOT.. REPEAT; DO NOT SHUT DOWN FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER OR YOU MAY END UP COMPLETLY DEAD.

*** WHAT TO DO ***
If you receive and error message, return to the main menu of the flash program and proceed with option (2) again, this time flash the BIOS you previously saved by typing in the name you wrote down for your old BIOS exactly as you saved it earlier

example from earlier: 1004d.old

Follow the instructions again. If this is unsuccessful you have 3 options:

a. Continue trying to flash several times, either BIOS file, over and over until successful. I have heard of people doing it as many as 20 times before. (in very RARE cases)

b. If it just wont flash and you have tried over and over, DO NOT shut down and have a tech or service come in to continue the process, EVEN if it means leaving the system on for days exactly where it is.

c. Shut down and cross your fingers it reboots, if not, remove the AC power plug and try shorting the points on the motherboard with a clean flat blade screwdriver (2 small solder dots, next to the battery as shown on page 14 of the manual, look for: CLRTC )
This will clear the CMOS, then reboot. If it doesn’t start, try again but your BIOS chip may probably wiped and you will need to order

 

[klosters64a]

Wow! Talk about big time help, delivered like lightning. You'se guys is da best!

OK. I'll unzip the new "stock" BIOS file before I put it on the floppy. I'll use the Aflash.exe that was recommended.

Q. Am I stuck with this "in-house" BIOS forever?
This would suck, obviously.
Q. Would the latest Beta BIOS from Asus in Germany be a better bet?
Q. It looks like I'll have a daid mainboard if I elect to proceed and ignore the Warning message. I wrecked an Asus BIOS a loong time ago. Replacing it would have cost $75. If this is true today(with extra added for inflation)I might as well buy a new $100 A7S-VM. Or save up for a A7A266.

Thank you VERY much for your assistance! Your replies took a lot of work! Thanks again!!

 

[klosters64a]

UPDATE It's a no-go. Neither "final," nor Beta BIOS's will successfully update the present non-cooperative "custom" PITA POS BIOS. The good news is that I didn't mess up the current BIOS. Whew!

How the hell will I ever update this board's BIOS?
Thanks Asus, you guys rock. Looks like I'll NEVER buy a brand new design mobo again---at least for a few months after its release.

Thank you very much for your help!

 

[robjustice]

I will be tied up the next couple of days, but maybe Saturday I will do some digging to try and help you some more. I know you have to be frustrated, but hang in there. We will figure something out.

 

[Nagorak]

klosters64a (Jul 04, 2001 04:19 p.m.):
Wow! Talk about big time help, delivered like lightning. You'se guys is da best!

OK. I'll unzip the new "stock" BIOS file before I put it on the floppy. I'll use the Aflash.exe that was recommended.

Q. Am I stuck with this "in-house" BIOS forever?
This would suck, obviously.
Q. Would the latest Beta BIOS from Asus in Germany be a better bet?
Q. It looks like I'll have a daid mainboard if I elect to proceed and ignore the Warning message. I wrecked an Asus BIOS a loong time ago. Replacing it would have cost $75. If this is true today(with extra added for inflation)I might as well buy a new $100 A7S-VM. Or save up for a A7A266.

Thank you VERY much for your assistance! Your replies took a lot of work! Thanks again!!

They now charge you $20 for a replacement BIOS chip I believe.

 

[Goldwing]

If you want to play with beta Bios's it might pay to take precautions like spending the ~$20 for a "Bios Savior". Their site is http://www.mwave.com/mwave/bios.html . You might want to check it out. 8)