Supermicro X7DA8 board with dual Xeon BIOS flash issue, trying to change processors and get a blank screen

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chixwithtrix

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Apr 3, 2013
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Setup:
Supermicro X7DA8 server board
Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
Currently running Xeon 5130 2.0 ghz dual core processors and it works fine. Bought two Xeon X5460 3.16 ghz quad core processors and installed them and the computer would turn on, but only have a blank black screen. Pulled the 5460s and reinstalled the 5130s.

I wanted to try and re-flash my BIOS since my last version was my original one in 2006 to see if that helped my issues with the new processors. So I set up a boot USB (took forever to learn all the steps, not sure if I did it right), changed the priority in the BIOS for the USB to be first, but the computer won't boot from the USB. Not sure why, or where my problem is.

The Supermicro BIOS update is here: http://www.supermicro.com/products/motherboard/xeon1333/5000X/X7DA8.cfm

I followed this guide: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/46707-ms-dos-bootable-flash-drive-create.html and downloaded the MS-DOS WIN98 Boot stuff and made a boot USB with the HP USB Format program. Then I put the Supermicro downloaded files onto the USB.

Can't seem to get anything to work.

I'm stumped and very very frustrated.
 
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kfarris

kfarris

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Oct 1, 2012
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Lol you are doing it wrong....


================================================
FOR <filename>.exe
================================================
1. Run the <filename>.exe file under Windows to create the BIOS flash floppy disk.
2. Insert the floppy into the system for which you wish to flash the BIOS.
3. Boot up the system for which you wish to flash the BIOS.
4. The BIOS utility will run automatically and begin flashing the BIOS WITHOUT any prompts.

** Warning: Flashing the wrong BIOS file on your
motherboard can cause harm to your system. **

================================================
FOR <filename>.zip
================================================
1. Boot to a DOS prompt and type flash.bat filename.rom


** If the BIOS flash failed, you can contact our RMA dept. to order a new bios chip.
The RMA dept's email address is rma@supermicro.com

this is how it should be done but instead of using a floppy disk as that is out dated you can use a usb flash drive but format it as fat32 then follow these steps and you should be good to go...
 
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chixwithtrix

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Apr 3, 2013
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How am I doing it wrong? I don't have a floppy drive so that is why I tried to make the bootable USB instead. I tried to follow the Supermicro instructions with a USB, but as I said, my computer won't boot from the USB I made following the link I provided even once I put the USB as # 1 in the boot order.

On another forum someone said that my 2006 era BIOS is not able to boot from a USB and that the only way is to get a floppy drive...?
 
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kfarris

kfarris

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No no no....your still thinking about this all wrong...

It's simple you boot into dos mode! And you half to format your USB stick to fat32! for it to work...
You do not make it a boot device you boot into dos not the bios or os but dos...
Dos is built into (every bios) It may be out dated now cuss everyone uses UEFI but for you you half to do it the old way but because you do not have a floppy disk and it is out dated people just use USB sticks but you half to format that USB stick as FAT32! my god people I swear can't even follow simply instructing's how can you not do it if you do not even try! God kids these days I swear...


Step one format usb stick to fat32
step two put new bios on USB
Step three plug in the USB device
Step four boot into bios and load up dos
Step five use commands to tell DOS where the file is and then tell it to update
Let it run and it'll reboot that's it simple you need no further info I already told you how to fix your problem if you cannot follow these simple instructions then take the dam thing in to someone who knows wtf there doing...
 
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chixwithtrix

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Apr 3, 2013
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Woah, no need to get hostile, I'm just asking some questions, chill :)

I did format it to fat32, then put Supermicro's files onto the USB stick. You say it is simple, but from other info on the web I've seen including Supermicro's instructions, the BIOS utility starts once it detects the USB drive itself as it says in step 4. Which my computer is not doing with the Supermicro board; it's not doing anything automatically. Heck, someone on another forum told me that it's impossible to use a USB with this old of a board...so forgive me if my questions are irritating, but I will look for clarification when I get varying answers to the same question.

1. Run the <filename>.exe file under Windows to create the BIOS flash floppy disk.
2. Insert the floppy into the system for which you wish to flash the BIOS.
3. Boot up the system for which you wish to flash the BIOS.
4. The BIOS utility will run automatically and begin flashing the BIOS WITHOUT any prompts.
Click to expand...

So my confusion is with the Supermicro instructions not being clear in step 4. What you are saying is I need to ignore step 4, open a DOS prompt and enter the step 5 info to begin the flash?
 
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kfarris

kfarris

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Oct 1, 2012
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Okay well if its not working on a USB stick then try partitioning a small say 5gig of space from a HDD and format that to FAT32 put the files on that and then see if you can boot into it and preform the update...
================================================
FOR <filename>.exe
================================================
1. Run the <filename>.exe file under Windows to create the BIOS flash floppy disk.
2. Insert the floppy into the system for which you wish to flash the BIOS.
3. Boot up the system for which you wish to flash the BIOS.
4. The BIOS utility will run automatically and begin flashing the BIOS WITHOUT any prompts.

** Warning: Flashing the wrong BIOS file on your
motherboard can cause harm to your system. **

================================================
FOR <filename>.zip
================================================
1. Boot to a DOS prompt and type flash.bat filename.rom
 
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