Can't flash my BIOS EPOX 8RDA+

[GreenGrinch]

Hei guys,
Maybe I'm dumb or something, but I can't seem to be able to flash my BIOS. I downloaded the .exe file on epox site, extracted it and put the whole content (.bin, awdflash, readme, update, & restore) to a floppy disk. Then I rebooted my computer, go to BIOS menu and select LOAD OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS, saved it rebooted again. I put the floppy in the drive. The instruction said that I should press ALT+F2 while booting. I did that, but nothing happen. I hold the ALT+F2, nothing. I hold ALT & press F2 multiple times nothing. So what gives? It finally get to the point that the comp tries to boot from the floppy and of course it fails. So how can I flash my BIOS using this ALT+F2 method??

 

[Mem]

Here you go,

The ALT+F2 Method

Download the required BIOS image file from the EPoX website.
Ensure the mainboard is set at LOAD OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS and is not overclocked in any way.
Copy or extract the BIOS image file (named xxxxxxxx.bin) to a blank floppy disk with no bad sectors on it.
Restart the machine with the floppy disk in the floppy drive
When prompted at machine initialization, press ALT+F2 to begin performing the flashing of the BIOS.
The BIOS will automatically flash and reboot the machine.
After this, press DEL to enter the BIOS setup and select to "LOAD OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS". After doing this select to "SAVE & EXIT"
Please note that this does not create a backup of the BIOS binary file.
This does not require you to have a bootable floppy disk.


The Boot Disk Method

Create a bootable floppy disk in accordance with the instructions laid out in the manual of your particular operating system. This bootable floppy needs to be able to boot to a DOS console capable of executing normal MS-DOS batch and executable files.
Download the required BIOS image file from the EPoX website.
Ensure the mainboard is set at LOAD OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS and is not overclocked in any way.
Copy to this floppy disk a copy of AWDFLASH.EXE and also a copy of the BIOS binary image file called xxxxxxxx.bin
Insert the diskette into drive A, reboot your system and boot from the diskette.
When booting is finished, type awdflash *.bin /sn/py/cc/ (dependant of the name of the BIOS image file) and then press return to run BIOS upgrade program.
The BIOS will automatically flash and reboot the machine.
After this, press DEL to enter the BIOS setup and select to "LOAD OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS". After doing this select to "SAVE & EXIT"
Please note that this does not create a backup of the BIOS binary file.
For Command line help on Award Flash utility, type AWDFLASH/? at the command prompt and press return.

 

[GreenGrinch]

Mem,
That's exactly what I did, but it didn't do anything. At what point are you suppose to hit ALT + F2? Here's my boot up sequence, in all these sequences, my floppy is inside the drive:
1. Blank screen
2. Display CPU
3. Memory Test
4. Display IDE devices
5. Display my IDE controller card
6. Trying to boot up from floppy. I got this message: NTLDR is missing. Press any key to continue.

At which sequence above should I press ALT + F2? Am I doing something totally wrong here?
What do you mean by: "When prompted at machine initialization" ?

 

[Mem]

At which sequence above should I press ALT + F2? Am I doing something totally wrong here?

Try depressing Alt+F2 a little earlier,also you might want to try the bootdisk method,also try making floppy first boot from BIOS,I`ve my floppy drive as first boot in BIOS as default.

Did you try a different floppy as well,could be a bad floppy disc?

 

[GreenGrinch]

Thanks for responding Mem.
I've tried 2 different floppy. One is just the .bin file, the other all of the extracted .exe file.
When I set the BIOS to LOAD OPTIMIZED DEFAULTS, it automatically set floppy as 1st boot device. That is why I get the "NTLDR is missing" error msg.

I'm using Win2K, and I don't know how to create a bootable floppy, so I can't try the other method. I don't know how to create bootable CD as well. I know you use Nero, but where do i get the image source?

 

[Mem]

You can get a bootdisk from here@bootdisk.com .


You could also try the

MagicFlash(beta) which updates the BIOS in windows ,as opposed to the DOS .

Also check "anti-virus warning" is disabled in BIOS as well.

 

[GreenGrinch]

Hi Mem,
I tried using the MagicFlash, and it flash the BIOS ok, but now I had a really strange problem. When the system loads up, it takes forever. It took literally about 5mnts. I always get Disk I/O error, but if you wait long enough it loads fine. I thought I was going to lose everything. I don't know what to do. I'm happy that it still works, but at the same time... 5mnts to load?? Anyone have any idea what's going on? Could it be just a bad BIOS?

 

[Mem]

Anyone have any idea what's going on? Could it be just a bad BIOS?

Normal if you have a bad bios flash it won`t boot,did you try clearing the BIOS?Btw you should load BIOS defaults again after BIOS flashing.