I need help flashing a bios

[surfryde]

I am building a computer for someone, and they have a Shuttle AV18E motherboard. Currently the BIOS is version 1.x (AV18S98I). I am trying to flash it to the newest version 4 (AV18S403), but it doesn't work. I downloaded DrDOS7.x from Bootdisk.com to make a simplified boot disk w/o drivers, then copied the AV18S403.exe file to the floppy. When it boots to the a: prompt, I type in av18s403.exe and Awdflash starts. It comes up saying "file to be programmed AV18S403".... "do you want to save current BIOS?" <BR>if I hit Yes, it asks me to name the current BIOS to a file so it can be used later in case the new one doesn't work. So I enter AV18S98I and hit enter.<BR>It saves the info to the floppy under that filename, but then after it's done, it says the new BIOS doesn't match my hardware!<BR>What can I do to make it work?? I've tried everything I can think of, I even executed the AV18S403.exe to my desktop and put the files that came up on the floppy. They were AV18S403.rom and XEDFLASH.exe. Nothing works. Please help!!!!!!!!!

[TranceJunkieXL]

If it says the new BIOS doesn't match your hardware, then trying to force it to work will probably end up in a board that will not boot at all. Are you <u>sure</u> you have the correct BIOS update for that <u>exact</u> motherboard?<BR>Not sure what you are talking about running an .exe to your desktop. Usually a BIOS flash is supposed to be done with some form of AWDflash.exe and a .bin file named for the updated BIOS. I'm not familiar with the software you are using, so I'm sorry if this doesn't help. Did you download a .zip file that needs to be extracted before it is saved to floppy?

[Colin]

surfryde why do you need to flash the BIOS?<BR><BR>I was not able to find the AV18E folder on Shuttle's FTP site but I found the AV18 and AV18A. Did you try both of them?

[surfryde]

I haven't tried those yet Colin, but the BIOS in the AV18 folder is the same as the one for the AV18E. I will try the zip file though, as the one I found before this had a .exe extension only. <BR><BR>When I want to save the old bios, do I just enter the BIOS name (AV18S98I) for example, or do I have to put the extension (.exe, .rom) on it?

[TranceJunkieXL]

just the name you want to find it in later. My SOYO and my Abit saved them as another .bin file (ie, it ads the file extension). Does Shuttle have a BIOS utility that can be updated from Windows like ASUS and Abit do now?

[surfryde]

No, because that would be too easy. <BR>Right now, I'm downloading the necessary files onto my computer and transferring them to a floppy, and the error I'm getting is that it doesn't match the system. If I download the files to the computer being flashed, would that make a difference?

[surfryde]

[surfryde]

I tried both the av18 and av18a files, and it doesn't work. I'm following the directions to the letter from the shuttle website, and it isn't working. Maybe I should just buy an already programmed BIOS chip from online.<BR>

[Colin]

surfryde does your mobo have some sort of BIOS locking protection on it? I know that many boards today come wtih that feature, saves the BIOS from possible virus infection.<BR><BR>why do you have to flash your mobo? It's very mature already I doubt you'd gain anything from flashing it to something newer...

[surfryde]

I figured out why it won't work... I think. The motherboard I have is v1.3. The BIOS I was trying to use was for the v4 board, which is a little newer. I thought by flashing the BIOS with the v4, it would change the board to v4, but I was mistaken. This board already has the most current BIOS on it.<BR><BR>I was attempting to flash it because I wanted it to recognize faster cpu's, which the v4 BIOS flash did, but it's for the wrong board. Thanks for the help guys, it would've taken me a lot longer to figure it out without the help.

[TranceJunkieXL]

Yeah, new board revisions tend to have some physical differences and aren't compatible. From talking with Ginsu543 I know that his rev1.0 NF7-S doesn't have HSF mounting holes while my rev.2.0 does, and mine has the NForce2Ultra chipset while his has the older NForce2. It's amazing how much they have to change for a little detail like mounting holes (reroute PCB connections all over the place).

[Colin]

surfryde that's a shame. <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-sad.gif" border="0"> Oh well, at least you have a good reason to upgrade! <img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0">

[TranceJunkieXL]

ROFLMAO! Colin, this sounded to me like it <i>was</i> the upgrade. Way to rub it in man! j/k<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-tongue.gif" border="0"><img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-happy.gif" border="0"><BR>That is a shame that the latest BIOS doesn't recognize the latest CPUs though.