BIOS Update: Biostar N61PA-M2S

Patchmeup

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Jan 30, 2014
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I know this feels impossible but I'm trying to update the BIOS of this motherboard:
Biostar N61PA-M2S. From CPUID, here's a bit more detail:

DMI
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

DMI BIOS
vendor Phoenix Technologies LTD
version 6.00 PG
date 12/05/2007
ROM size 512 KB

DMI System Information
manufacturer BIOSTAR Group
product N61PA-M2S
version 1.0
serial unknown
UUID {894DE000-1F4D-FFFF-FFFF-FFFFFFFFFFFF}
SKU unknown
family unknown

DMI Baseboard
vendor BIOSTAR Group
model N61PA-M2S
revision 1.0
serial unknown

OS: Windows 7 32-bit

I don't know if that's all that needed but I just need to find a place where I can download the BIOS and I will try to flash it using the WinPhlash software of Phoenix. I've searched all around the net and it's either I get NOTHING for this board or there's a chance on only the PAID sites. I've looked into BOTH the Biostar and Phoenix websites but I can't find this anymore.

I know it's OLD but it's the only computer that the family I'm helping has. I've upgraded most of the parts of the PC and transferred it to a new casing even to make it look brand new but the problem is, their BIOS never saves anything that we write on it. I've replaced the CMOS battery and it will always reset to the defaults. It's obviously old because the BIOS only shows a floppy method to update the BIOS.

Anyway, long story short, I just want to update the BIOS for this old board. Please don't suggest for me to buy a new board for them as that's going to be a last resort already in case I can't do this BIOS update.

Thanks! :)
 
Solution
How did you update the BIOS? The BIOS update instructions says that after you update: While the system boots up and the full screen logo shows up, please press the <Delete> key to enter BIOS setup. After entering the BIOS setup, please go to the Save & Exit, using the Restore
Defaults function to load Optimized Defaults, and select Save Changes and Reset to restart the computer. Then, the BIOS Update is completed.

Here is the link to the instructions: http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/manual/bios_update.pdf

Hopefully that is the correct BIOS. Does the model number on the motherboard in the picture (MCP6P-M2) match the one that you are updating?

Patchmeup

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hey! i saw that already but my question is, that's a different model number from what i got from my motherboard (although CPUID is the only source i used).

the BIOS is very similar, it shows N61PM507.BSS vs. N61PA-M2S but I'm not sure if that's okay either.\

do you reckon it's the same eventhough they're not exactly the same model number?
 

Patchmeup

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Ok ... hmm. It was kinda successful from Windows, in updating the BIOS but when it rebooted, well, it's now stuck on a blinking Biostar screen :(

Am I screwed? :(

I've removed/reinserted CMOS battery, removed/reinserted the CMOS jumper... well, nothing. :(

Is there still a way out of this?

Thanks...
 

rehed21

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Aug 9, 2013
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How did you update the BIOS? The BIOS update instructions says that after you update: While the system boots up and the full screen logo shows up, please press the <Delete> key to enter BIOS setup. After entering the BIOS setup, please go to the Save & Exit, using the Restore
Defaults function to load Optimized Defaults, and select Save Changes and Reset to restart the computer. Then, the BIOS Update is completed.

Here is the link to the instructions: http://www.biostar.com.tw/app/en/manual/bios_update.pdf

Hopefully that is the correct BIOS. Does the model number on the motherboard in the picture (MCP6P-M2) match the one that you are updating?
 
Solution

Patchmeup

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Yup I read that guide thoroughly and I've updated other computer's BIOS before though just 4-5 times but this is a first on an old PC.

Here's exactly what happened:
1) Used the TBios updater from Biostar itself.
2) Downloaded the Beta BIOS, the later one (there's only 2 anyway).
3) Ran the BIOS updater (it's a Windows flasher) and did a backup first.
4) Did the update and used the Beta one.
5) The update ran fine (no errors, all bars went 100%) and prompted that it needs to restart.
6) It rebooted automatically.
7) The VERY FIRST POST screen with the Phoenix Award section CONSTANTLY blinks to infinity.
8) No other screen, just stuck there blinking forever. It does NOT respond to ANY keypress, including DEL.
9) Tried resetting CMOS via battery and jumper on mobo: SAME.
10) Tried holding CTRL+HOME: SAME.
*The ONLY change after I did steps 9 & 10 was it now showed the BIOSTAR logo instead of the Phoenix one. BUT it's just stuck on blinking indefinitely.

When I wrote down the stuff on the POST screen when booting up, I found out it matches the one on the website.
 

rehed21

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Aug 9, 2013
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The motherboard may be useless now, but I don't know enough to offer any helpful advice. You should probably do another post about the current situation to see if anyone more knowledgeable can help.