BIOS Flashing

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)

Before I ask, be forewarned that I AM a newbie when it comes to updating the
bios. I know my way around computer hardware, just not updating the BIOS.
Please be nice.


My MSI board is currently using BIOS v1.5. I would like to get the latest
BIOS up date but I have been skeptical due to my inexperience in such
things. MSI has two described methods for updating/changing the systems
BIOS. The first is via Live Update and the other is by a bootable floppy.
Which is better/safer/easier?

Recommendations?

If it is highly suggested that I leave the current version on the system, I
am cool with that. Its just that I (like other PC buffs) want to get the
most out of my system.

My current system configuration is as follows;

Thanks in advance.

CK

AMD 64 3500 Socket 939
MSI Neo 2 Plat
NVIDIA 5950 Ultra
1 Gig OCZ DDR PC-3200 Premier Dual Channel
Western Digital 80 Gig SATA (Operating System/Drivers)
Western Digital 160 Gig SATA (Programs/Games)
Lite-On 48x CD-Rom
DL-DVD Burner 16x/52x
Cooler Master Aerogate 2 Fan Controller
Audigy 2 ZS with 7.1 surround speakers
Aspire 550W PSU
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream
No Overclocking

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)

If you want to update your bios the live update thing is very simple and
quick, a lot simpler than the DOS flash process IMO. I'd copy the original
bios onto a floppy in case it all goes wrong while you're at it though. The
live update procedure will let you do that before you flash and will tell
you how to recover in the event of failure so you should be OK.... I've used
the live update procedure to get from 1.3 to 1.8 and have had no problems
with any of them. Good luck!

Mick
"Mr. Mustang" <mr_mustang01gt@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:Fzjze.1691$Xp6.1357@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
> Before I ask, be forewarned that I AM a newbie when it comes to updating
> the bios. I know my way around computer hardware, just not updating the
> BIOS. Please be nice.
>
>
> My MSI board is currently using BIOS v1.5. I would like to get the latest
> BIOS up date but I have been skeptical due to my inexperience in such
> things. MSI has two described methods for updating/changing the systems
> BIOS. The first is via Live Update and the other is by a bootable floppy.
> Which is better/safer/easier?
>
> Recommendations?
>
> If it is highly suggested that I leave the current version on the system,
> I am cool with that. Its just that I (like other PC buffs) want to get
> the most out of my system.
>
> My current system configuration is as follows;
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> CK
>
> AMD 64 3500 Socket 939
> MSI Neo 2 Plat
> NVIDIA 5950 Ultra
> 1 Gig OCZ DDR PC-3200 Premier Dual Channel
> Western Digital 80 Gig SATA (Operating System/Drivers)
> Western Digital 160 Gig SATA (Programs/Games)
> Lite-On 48x CD-Rom
> DL-DVD Burner 16x/52x
> Cooler Master Aerogate 2 Fan Controller
> Audigy 2 ZS with 7.1 surround speakers
> Aspire 550W PSU
> Thermaltake Tsunami Dream
> No Overclocking
>

 

[mark]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)

The DOS method is a whole lot safer....but if you do not need the update to
fix some problem your having, I would leave it alone.

Mark

"Mick B." <gragravar@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:5KKdnU5_26FnTVDfRVn-3g@rogers.com...
> If you want to update your bios the live update thing is very simple and
> quick, a lot simpler than the DOS flash process IMO. I'd copy the original
> bios onto a floppy in case it all goes wrong while you're at it though.
> The live update procedure will let you do that before you flash and will
> tell you how to recover in the event of failure so you should be OK....
> I've used the live update procedure to get from 1.3 to 1.8 and have had no
> problems with any of them. Good luck!
>
> Mick
> "Mr. Mustang" <mr_mustang01gt@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:Fzjze.1691$Xp6.1357@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
>> Before I ask, be forewarned that I AM a newbie when it comes to updating
>> the bios. I know my way around computer hardware, just not updating the
>> BIOS. Please be nice.
>>
>>
>> My MSI board is currently using BIOS v1.5. I would like to get the
>> latest BIOS up date but I have been skeptical due to my inexperience in
>> such things. MSI has two described methods for updating/changing the
>> systems BIOS. The first is via Live Update and the other is by a
>> bootable floppy. Which is better/safer/easier?
>>
>> Recommendations?
>>
>> If it is highly suggested that I leave the current version on the system,
>> I am cool with that. Its just that I (like other PC buffs) want to get
>> the most out of my system.
>>
>> My current system configuration is as follows;
>>
>> Thanks in advance.
>>
>> CK
>>
>> AMD 64 3500 Socket 939
>> MSI Neo 2 Plat
>> NVIDIA 5950 Ultra
>> 1 Gig OCZ DDR PC-3200 Premier Dual Channel
>> Western Digital 80 Gig SATA (Operating System/Drivers)
>> Western Digital 160 Gig SATA (Programs/Games)
>> Lite-On 48x CD-Rom
>> DL-DVD Burner 16x/52x
>> Cooler Master Aerogate 2 Fan Controller
>> Audigy 2 ZS with 7.1 surround speakers
>> Aspire 550W PSU
>> Thermaltake Tsunami Dream
>> No Overclocking
>>
>
>

 

[stan]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)

If it ain' broke don't fix it - but if you must, avoid liveupdate and flash
from a DOS disk. From experience I have the MSI utilities to be 'flaky'.
"Mr. Mustang" <mr_mustang01gt@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:Fzjze.1691$Xp6.1357@newssvr33.news.prodigy.com...
> Before I ask, be forewarned that I AM a newbie when it comes to updating
> the bios. I know my way around computer hardware, just not updating the
> BIOS. Please be nice.
>
>
> My MSI board is currently using BIOS v1.5. I would like to get the latest
> BIOS up date but I have been skeptical due to my inexperience in such
> things. MSI has two described methods for updating/changing the systems
> BIOS. The first is via Live Update and the other is by a bootable floppy.
> Which is better/safer/easier?
>
> Recommendations?
>
> If it is highly suggested that I leave the current version on the system,
> I am cool with that. Its just that I (like other PC buffs) want to get
> the most out of my system.
>
> My current system configuration is as follows;
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> CK
>
> AMD 64 3500 Socket 939
> MSI Neo 2 Plat
> NVIDIA 5950 Ultra
> 1 Gig OCZ DDR PC-3200 Premier Dual Channel
> Western Digital 80 Gig SATA (Operating System/Drivers)
> Western Digital 160 Gig SATA (Programs/Games)
> Lite-On 48x CD-Rom
> DL-DVD Burner 16x/52x
> Cooler Master Aerogate 2 Fan Controller
> Audigy 2 ZS with 7.1 surround speakers
> Aspire 550W PSU
> Thermaltake Tsunami Dream
> No Overclocking
>

 

[nOm]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)

Mr. Mustang wrote:
> Before I ask, be forewarned that I AM a newbie when it comes to
> updating the bios. I know my way around computer hardware, just not
> updating the BIOS. Please be nice.
>
>
> My MSI board is currently using BIOS v1.5. I would like to get the
> latest BIOS up date but I have been skeptical due to my inexperience
> in such things. MSI has two described methods for updating/changing
> the systems BIOS. The first is via Live Update and the other is by a
> bootable floppy. Which is better/safer/easier?
>
> Recommendations?

The LiveUpdate program works just fine - I work in I.T. and I've flashed
hundreds and hundreds of BIOSs over the years, in both DOS and Windows, and
*never* had a single problem of any kind. There isn't really anything that
can go wrong, unless you get a power-cut in mid-flash.

Worst-case-scenario is that the new BIOS isn't as good as your old one. In
which case, just flash the older one back.

It really is that simple !

 

[tester]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)

Well, based on comments here, and the slight hassle of doing a BIOS update
using diskettes and DOS, I decided to roll the dice and update through
LiveUpdate. Worst case would have been going out and getting another mobo
and all the hassles of rebuilding this computer.

Upgrade went flawlessly, but I did check all BIOS settings and made notes in
my manual, which did come in handy. My SATA drive was not recognixed, but I
threw one switch in BIOS and all is well.

Of course, this does not mean that I chose the wisest path, but I figured if
Nom could do it hundreds of times, I could once (with fingers crossed).

In many years of doing this, I only flashed one BIOS before, and it really
was a pice of cake, but I didn't feel like opening the case and verifying
the BIOS version. I took the lazy way. Don't flame me, I just figured the
value was there to try the ez way.

Later,
tester
"Nom" <Nom@Somewhere.Somewhere> wrote in message
news:dbfo2j22vdc@news3.newsguy.com...
> Mr. Mustang wrote:
> > Before I ask, be forewarned that I AM a newbie when it comes to
> > updating the bios. I know my way around computer hardware, just not
> > updating the BIOS. Please be nice.
> >
> >
> > My MSI board is currently using BIOS v1.5. I would like to get the
> > latest BIOS up date but I have been skeptical due to my inexperience
> > in such things. MSI has two described methods for updating/changing
> > the systems BIOS. The first is via Live Update and the other is by a
> > bootable floppy. Which is better/safer/easier?
> >
> > Recommendations?
>
> The LiveUpdate program works just fine - I work in I.T. and I've flashed
> hundreds and hundreds of BIOSs over the years, in both DOS and Windows,
and
> *never* had a single problem of any kind. There isn't really anything that
> can go wrong, unless you get a power-cut in mid-flash.
>
> Worst-case-scenario is that the new BIOS isn't as good as your old one. In
> which case, just flash the older one back.
>
> It really is that simple !
>
>

 

[nOm]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.msi-microstar (More info?)

Tester wrote:
> Well, based on comments here, and the slight hassle of doing a BIOS
> update using diskettes and DOS, I decided to roll the dice and update
> through LiveUpdate. Worst case would have been going out and getting
> another mobo and all the hassles of rebuilding this computer.
>
> Upgrade went flawlessly, but I did check all BIOS settings and made
> notes in my manual, which did come in handy. My SATA drive was not
> recognixed, but I threw one switch in BIOS and all is well.
>
> Of course, this does not mean that I chose the wisest path, but I
> figured if Nom could do it hundreds of times, I could once (with
> fingers crossed).
>
> In many years of doing this, I only flashed one BIOS before, and it
> really was a pice of cake, but I didn't feel like opening the case
> and verifying the BIOS version. I took the lazy way. Don't flame
> me, I just figured the value was there to try the ez way.

A job well-done then