Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (
More info?)
Personally I've always used 'Asus update' the windows based flash, worked
100% of the times I've done it and even on my old board where the flash
failed I just tried it again and it worked without having to reboot. The
only time I've resorted to a dos boot disc was to update the firmware on my
adaptec 19160 scsi controller.
Steve
"Paul" <nospam@needed.com> wrote in message
news:nospam-0607040339060001@192.168.1.177...
> In article <10ek64tcmkafj56@corp.supernews.com>, "Samantha"
> <ask@if.you.want> wrote:
>
> > ...I'm looking to get an AMD XP 3200+ running a 400 FSB ... however ...
> > my floppy drive controller doesn't work on my A7N8X Deluxe. How do
> > I get the BIOS **safely** updated without booting from a floppy disk?
> >
> > Any help on getting me to the latest BIOS would be greatly appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks!!!
> >
> > Samantha
> >
> >
> > My system:
> >
> > A7N8X Deluxe
> > AMD 2400+
> > 1 gig 3200 DDR memory
> > 52x CD R/RW
> > 8x DVD R/RW drive
> > Asylum 5800 Ultra Geforce FX video card
>
> You could try preparing a bootable CD with DOS on it.
> Boot into DOS, and then use the command line form of the
> programming command "awdflash /qi aw0702.bin". Bootdisk.com
> has some files, if you don't happen to have a way to do
> that. Try searching Google for "DOS bootable CD" for hints
> on how to do it. (No, I've never tried it. If you succeed,
> please post a recipe
))
>
> The absolute safest way to do it, would be to contact
> badflash.com and get a replacement BIOS chip with the
> release of BIOS code already programmed in it. (Contact
> Asus tech support and see how much they charge for one
> - I think they send the chip by pony express, so you'll
> have to wait a while to get it from Asus.) To remove
> the chip from its socket, you can get a nice PLCC puller
> from Radio Shack for $10, or you can use a sharp pointed
> object and pry at alternate corners of the device until
> it pops out. I've removed and inserted a couple hundred
> of these, using a sharp pointed object for many of them,
> but the tool is a good investment for a beginner. After
> four or five insertions, the retention force on the socket
> is a lot less, and further operations take less force.
>
> A second device which is nice to have, is the ioss.com.tw
> "BIOS Savior". This is a device that plugs into the flash
> chip socket, and the device has a socket of its own, which
> is used to hold the original flash chip, plus there is a
> second flash chip soldered to the assembly. This makes a
> "dual flash" BIOS, with a convenient switch to select the
> A or the B chip. You can experiment with programming the
> second chip, while knowing the first chip is there to
> bail you out if there is trouble. You have to select the
> correct model, and these run around $20, which is a
> reasonable price and comparable to badflash.com shipping
> you just one chip. Of course, you still have to program
> it, but you won't kill the motherboard trying. Basically
> you boot with the "A" chip, flip the switch to "B", try
> to program the chip, and if it fails, just flip to "A"
> again and push the reset button on the computer. If the
> programming works, you leave the computer running from
> the "B" chip with the new BIOS image in it.
>
> Here is the chip puller from Radio Shack. There is an edge
> on each of the two tips of the puller, that fit underneath
> diagonally opposite corners of the chip. The idea is to pull
> the chip out equally on all sides as you pull the chip out
> of the socket. This way, the legs on the chip don't get
> bent and distorted by the removal operation. Reinsertion
> is an easy job for your thumb, again pushing equally on
> all sides until the chip is seated. You should make a drawing
> of the orientation of the chip and where the "dot" is
> located on the chip and the alignment "triangle" on the
> socket. Those are typical markings used, and may vary with
> hardware.
>
> (PLCC chip puller for changing a PLCC four sided flash chip)
>
http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&product%5Fid=276-2101
>
> HTH,
> Paul