Erasmus354 Posted December 19, 2005 Posted December 19, 2005 Ok, I want to update my bios from its current 310 to the 704-2BTA version. I have never flashed a BIOS before and I want to make sure I do everything correct the first time. I also do not have a floppy drive so I want to use the winflash utility. I have tried searching the forum and DFI site and am still a bit confused about certain things. First of all, I would like to keep the current settings that I have, will they be overridden when I flash the BIOS? If so is the best option to write down my current options and then reapply them after flashing the BIOS? I have read the guide to flashing the BIOS included in the winflash download, there are a lot of options I am not sure what to do with. Which options under the Update Option and CMOS Option should I select? Any help/tips on the appropriate steps to take in preparation and after the BIOS flash are greatly appreciated. The reason I want to update the BIOS is I am going to be installing a new Dual Core Opteron. I realise that the Opteron's are not supported by DFI, but does anyone have any additional tips of words of caution for changing processors (I have also never changed the processor on a computer before)? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reinvented Posted December 19, 2005 Posted December 19, 2005 You know, there is a Tmod's bios CD which has all the bios versions. It's much better than using Winflash. Comes in a burnable ISO file, and you just boot from CD drive. Must also clear your cmos before flashing. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thespin Posted December 19, 2005 Posted December 19, 2005 Flashing using Winflash appears to be bad idea from what I read on this forum ... Tmod has a CD iso image for your flash etc here: http://www.dfi-street.com/forum/showthread.php?t=22031 Burn it to a CD and boot from it. I don't advise you to flash to a beta bios since it voids your warranty - unless you want to assume the risk. Flash to the latest official bios, the 623-3 instead. Write down your settings. Before you flash, go to stock cmos settings that work and verify your memory is stable by memtest test#5 (x20). After you flash, you MUST do a cmos reset, "load optimized defaults", save to all 4 'cmos reloaded banks', and then re-enter your settings WHICH MAY NO LONGER work as before - it's a new bios with it's own quirks. Good luck ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnooP Posted December 19, 2005 Posted December 19, 2005 That's strange. DFi.com.tw suggests using it as an option. Granted your winxp install should be 100% stable, but otherwise not sure where the problem is. http://www.dfi.com.tw/Support/Download/bio..._FLAG=A&SITE=US Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest thespin Posted December 20, 2005 Posted December 20, 2005 Maybe because Windows, for other causes, could crash in the middle of the update ... don't know myself ... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wevsspot Posted December 20, 2005 Posted December 20, 2005 I've used WinFlash to update to the 6/23 BIOS and then again to the 0704-BT BIOS without any issues. Just make sure that you've got a stable Windows install and you're not trying to do it in the middle of a thunderstorm. All should go well if you follow the directions. However, T-Mods BIOS cd is very sweet. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus354 Posted December 20, 2005 Posted December 20, 2005 Thanks for all the replies : I understand why winflash would not be the preferred method of flashing the BIOS. I would use the tmods CD If I had any blank CD-R's around. My windows hasn't crashed since I tried overclocking (decided to keep everything stock cause my chip sucked balls). So I should be ok using the winflash then? If I were to use the CD I should clear the CMOS first, but I dont need to do that if I use winflash right? Once I flash the new BIOS I need to clear the CMOS and load optimized defaults and make sure I do it for all 4 slots, that way nothing from the old BIOS is left over? I am also going to use the 623-3 official BIOS instead of the beta BIOS. Is there anything I am missing? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PRJ Posted December 20, 2005 Posted December 20, 2005 Winflash works fine, i flashed more than 30 times with thisprogram. Still have not decided on wich bios is best ;o) PRJ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus354 Posted December 20, 2005 Posted December 20, 2005 Technology Hates me.... I flashed the new BIOS as per the winflash directions, I then cleared the CMOS upon reset. I then tried loading the optimized defaults and I got an immediate reset when it tried to load windows. I tried then loading manually my old settings (mostly the recommended safe boot settings) that didn't work either. Any ideas what might have happened? Am I going to have to reinstall the OS? Could I try to flash back to my old BIOS with the tmod CD? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wevsspot Posted December 21, 2005 Posted December 21, 2005 Yes, you can flash back using T-Mods BIOS CD. Alternately you can spend a little time in your current BIOS version and tweak to the settings that you had before you updated your BIOS (assuming that you jotted those down - the important ones at least). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erasmus354 Posted December 21, 2005 Posted December 21, 2005 Yea that was the first thing I did was tweak around to my old settings, I had written down pretty much all the important BIOS options. No dice on anything I have tried so far, it just seems weird to me that it doesn't even try to boot into windows. When I do boot into safe mode a bunch of file names scroll across the screen real quick and then the computer does an immediate reboot. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wevsspot Posted December 21, 2005 Posted December 21, 2005 Have you created T-Mods BIOS cd and tried to back flash? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.