How To Update Motherboard BIOS Chipset and LAN

Guest · Mar 12, 2016

Hi,

I have an ASUS Z170-A and I don't know how to update my chipset and LAN and I need to. Please help

Mobo: http://www.asus.com/us/Motherboards/Z170-A/HelpDesk_Knowledge/

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

The easiest way is to download the file. Usually it's zipped, unzip it and copy it to a USB key that is formatted FAT32. Next restart your computer with the USB key plugged in. Go into your BIOS and there should be a tab for Tools, click that and you should see something called EZ Flash 2 (or something along those lines), click that. From there you navigate the tool to the file you put on the USB stick and select it. It will flash the BIOS file and reboot.

As for you drivers, from the link you provided, select Drivers and Tools, then select the correct OS version. Download the Intel Chipset drivers and the Intel Management Engine (the newest versions of each). These are zipped, so you will need to extract the contents. There will be a setup executable there, run it. Do the chipset first, then the Management Engine. The same thing for the LAN driver, download, extract, and run the setup.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

Okay well before this I did all of that just without unzipping the files, ill check it out thanks

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

Okay well before this I did all of that just without unzipping the files, ill check it out thanks

Just right click each file and select Extract from the menu.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

Just right click each file and select Extract from the menu.

So I tried again and nothing happened. Each Zip was converted into a file but when I tried to press on it on the BIOS nothing happened

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

OK, did you put the file on a USB stick. The file should look like this some-name.cap, it should be on a USB stick that is formatted FAT32. Then you go into the BIOS and navigate to the Tools > EZ Flash 3.

Look at your manual starting page 2-63, there are illustrations and it walks you through it.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

ok, I really do appreciate ur help. Ill try it out in the morning

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

No problem, be sure to update us in this thread and let us know how you make out.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

Im about to attempt to update my drivers agian, I just have one quick question though. I don't know what you mean by "Formatted32" I have a USB and thats about all I know

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

Ok well first off, you don't need the USB stick to update your drivers, this is just for the BIOS. The drivers can just have the setup file run from within Windows (from the file they were extracted to).

As for formatted FAT32, if you are unsure of what this means, then in all likelihood it is formatted FAT32. The reason I say this is most BIOS's can't read from a NTFS formatted filesystem. So you'll know you're OK when you get into EZ Flash 3 and navigate the "file explorer" (for lack of a better name) to the USB stick and you can see you BIOS file (some-name.CAP) on it.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

So I formatted my USB FAT32 but it still doesnt work. Heres what my screen looks like: http://imgur.com/8DEPMkd

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

What I see there is two folders, one for your chipset drivers, and one for your ethernet adapter. These are Windows drivers and need to be installed in Windows. The BIOS update will be a file that has this naming structure some-name.CAP. I'm using some-name as the file name as a placeholder, since the name of the file is usually a combination of the motherboard name and BIOS version.

This is the direct link to the BIOS update, it's the latest for your motherboard (1702), extract it. Go into the folder that is extracted and find the file, put it on the USB stick. Then go into your BIOS and EZ Flash it.

Z170-A BIOS Update 1702

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

I already updated the BIOS version to 1702, what I'm struggling on doing is updating its chipset and LAN, but ill check out the file

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

I just went into File Explorer on my PC and these are here: http://imgur.com/uMSvMZ7

What do I do now? Also fyi I don't have internet connection as of now

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

OK, you see that Setup file that has the little computer icon, that will install your chipset drivers.

This isn't the BIOS update, but that's OK, we can get to that.

You will have something similar in the Intel_Gigabit_Ethernet... folder, there will be an executable file in it that needs to be run. This will install the ethernet driver and should make it possible to connect to the internet. Do the chipset first though, then the ethernet drivers.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

My friend you are a legend. That seemed to fix it, I can't thank you enough.

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

No problem.

Now if you want to update the BIOS, use the explanation I gave you about EZ Flash. Make sure you put only the file some-name.CAP on the USB drive, no need to put the whole folder.

If this is a new computer, you should also install the Intel Management Engine, the audio drivers, Intel AHCI SATA drivers, the ASMedia USB 3.1 / 3.0 drivers as well.

Also it looks like there is a ASMedia firmware update too, that can also be done.

If you need any further assistance with each of these, just keep posting in this thread.

My suggestion is to not install any of the ASUS utilities.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

No problem.

Now if you want to update the BIOS, use the explanation I gave you about EZ Flash. Make sure you put only the file some-name.CAP on the USB drive, no need to put the whole folder.

If this is a new computer, you should also install the Intel Management Engine, the audio drivers, Intel AHCI SATA drivers, the ASMedia USB 3.1 / 3.0 drivers as well.

Also it looks like there is a ASMedia firmware update too, that can also be done.

If you need any further assistance with each of these, just keep posting in this thread.

My suggestion is to not install any of the ASUS utilities.

Okay, I do have one more question but its not about the BIOS. I have 16gb of Corsair Vengeance 2400MHz ram but my system is only recognizing 8gb, would you know anything about that?

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

Can you provide a link to the RAM kit you bought?

If I am correct in my assumption, you are using a 2 X 8GB kit. These should be installed in the grey slots (1 DIMM in each) to get it to run in dual channel mode.

If you are seeing only 8GB in Windows, it's likely that one of the DIMM's isn't fully inserted. If you go into your BIOS, you should see on the main page when you enter a heading DRAM Status. This will show you which slots are populated. If you see only one 8GB DIMM, then you'll know which slot RAM is being detected, therefore you'll know which one isn't being detected. Turn you machine off and remove and reseat the RAM in the slot where it's not being detected.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

Just re-installed my Ram, and your right I didnt put it in correctly but now everything is working. You are truly a saint.

Guest · Mar 13, 2016

techgeek :

Also one last question. For the BIOS updates should I just download each update except for "Utilities"?

techgeek · Mar 13, 2016

BIOS Update:

BIOS Update 1702

I've already listed how to do this.

You've done the chipset and ethernet, Intel Management Engine:

IME

Intel SATA AHCI Driver:

Intel SATA Driver

Then audio:

Audio Driver

AsMeidia USB Drivers:

AsMedia

If you've already done any of these please skip them. Some of them (like Intel SATA AHCI Drivers) are going to require a reboot afterwards. Re-boot and just continue the driver installing from where you left off.

Do you have a graphics card, or are you using the Intel on-die graphics?

How To Update Motherboard BIOS Chipset and LAN

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