Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => Hardware and Software => Topic started by: gatso on September 21, 2006, 02:59:45 PM

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: gatso on September 21, 2006, 02:59:45 PM

Hi all.

My laptop has been experiencing a couple of USB related problems recently, one of the things I want to do is update the BIOS to a newer version.

I don't have a floppy drive and I need to boot to a dos command prompt I guess.  How do I create a bootable CD?

Thanks

Gatso

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: gatso on September 21, 2006, 03:26:43 PM

This is driving me nuts! :mad:

Why do the idiots at variously Miscrosoft and Phoenix not make this a simple process.  Seems like they don't want you to be able to flash a bios if you own WinXP and no floppy drive.

Bah!

Gatso

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: Krusty on September 21, 2006, 03:35:38 PM

I've run into the same problem before. When I upgraded my PC last December I yanked the floppy drive. Who needs it, right? wrong.

I needed it. For stupid legacy stuff like this. The more things change, the more they stay the same, I think.

EDIT: I ended up putting in a new floppy drive, but this one had an 8-in-1 flash card reader built into the floppy drive (not taking up its own slot) so I think I came out better in the deal.

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: DustyR on September 21, 2006, 03:43:17 PM

I found this link -  http://www.pcbeginner.com/tools/pcdoctor.htm maybe this will give you some info. :noid

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: Schutt on September 21, 2006, 03:46:41 PM

For my bios there is an flash program which works from windows. Apart from that i think it is a possibility to create a boot cd which allows you to flash the bios.

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: Clutz on September 21, 2006, 04:00:06 PM

Unless u made some recent change that the current bios cant handle, I think its better to not update your bios if u don't have to. It a whole nother can of worms. Can u boot your system? U should be able to repair any usb problems without a bios update. Check your drivers in device manager. What makes u think u have usb problems? Are u sure its not the device u got connected to your usb? What kind of mobo/computer do u have? Maybe something as simple a system restore will fix your problem. Is your keyboard usb?

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: gatso on September 21, 2006, 04:27:26 PM

Hi all.

Yes the system boots.  I'm running the 1.0a bios that came with the system and have been making do for almost two years.  The release notes make mention of several fixes since then, some of which address USB issues.

Its a laptop, PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0 based around a Clevo D48U chassis. P4 3.0Ghz, 1024 RAM ATI 9600 and the troublesome SIS USB system off of which hangs my wireless and card reader - both of which are having issues.

How exactly do you create a dos prompt bootable CD?

Gatso

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: gatso on September 21, 2006, 04:57:16 PM

OK, managed it. Finally

http://www.bootdisk.com has an .iso image that can be burned to cd that gives you a command prompt and cd access.  Flashed OK. Didn't fix any of the problems  :D

USB is based around the SIS 7001 and is probably the culprit.  More reading reuired I think.

Cheers all.

Gatso

Title: BIOS Update
Post by: Clutz on September 21, 2006, 07:12:15 PM

Don't the release notes give u an idea what is wrong? I think your issue has to do with the way Xp (If that is what u are using) works with the SIS USB. I think???? Are u sure u got a good new up to date flash? Where did u get it from? I would try a windows update and see if that fixes it. It may not, but is is a simple thing to do. Try the easy thing first when in doubt.

http://update.microsoft.com/microsoftupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us


Also, did u get the chipset drivers and the usb drivers when u updated the bios?