"What to do in case of an unsuccessful flashing, after which, as a rule, it is impossible to turn on the computer and load the operating system?"
Let's try to describe the options for possible actions in this situation.
Flashing at the service center
In most Russian cities, many computer firms offer BIOS flashing service.
You can usually save money by bringing them a faulty microcircuit and a firmware diskette.
If the service center employees have to search for the firmware on the Internet, they will charge a couple of dollars more.
The service center of this company has a programmer - a rather expensive device connected to a computer via an external port (usually LPT), which allows flashing several different types of microcircuits.
To remove the BIOS chip from the socket on the motherboard, pry it out of the corner with a needle or awl.
On motherboards of MicroATX, Flex ATX standards, the microcircuit is usually tightly soldered to the board.
If you have just such a board, the chances that it can be reflashed are few even when contacting a company.
Most likely, you will have to use Boot Block or change the entire motherboard.
Boot from Boot Block
New motherboards have a so-called Boot Block - a small part of the BIOS that is not erased when flashing.
Boot Block in the Award BIOS boots the computer from a floppy disk, and in the AMI BIOS it looks for the amiboot.rom file on the diskette and flashes it.
To restore Award BIOS, create a bootable floppy disk on another computer with the firmware file and the awdflash utility on it.
The autoexec.bat file must consist of one command to start awdflash with the parameter - the file name of the working firmware.
ASUS boards with Award BIOS use a different flashing program (not awdflash), so you need to look for this program for them.
For AMI BIOS, you just need to rename the firmware file to amiboot.rom and place this file on a floppy disk.
When you turn on the computer, you will see that the BIOS is accessing the floppy disk (the LED blinks, a characteristic noise is heard).
The screen will remain black as Boot Block does not support modern graphics cards (only graphics cards for the ISA bus, which are now completely outdated).
In about three to four minutes, the firmware should complete.
Some BIOSes beep after flashing.
Now restart your computer and restore the CMOS settings.
Chip replacement
Find a second motherboard with a working BIOS chip of the same size and from the same manufacturer (for example, AMI BIOS in 11x13 mm package, as in the photos).
Pull the IC out of the socket on this second motherboard and tie it with strong thread so that it can be easily removed.
First, it is better to practice pulling the chip by the thread with the computer turned off.
Then turn on the computer, boot under DOS and carefully, without touching the metal contacts on the board, remove the working microcircuit.
Since the BIOS is cached into RAM when the computer boots, the computer will continue to operate without the chip.
Just carefully insert the unsuccessfully flashed microcircuit and start the flashing.
After completing this procedure, insert the flashed IC into the socket on the first motherboard.
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Hello dear readers.
Any computer is a complex system. Sometimes during the operation of the device, some problems may appear related to the correct execution of its functions in an area such as BIOS. There are several ways to solve this ailment - it all depends on the type of error. Later in the article I will tell you how to restore BIOS on a laptop, depending on the type of problem.
Restore to factory settings
If suddenly the device has ceased to function normally, and you have a suspicion that the reason for this is incorrect settings in the area mentioned above, you can try to return them to the factory settings:
In most cases, this procedure helps. True, sometimes you can come across a simple error that does not allow the OS to start normally. It can be corrected simply:
If you have a password
Sometimes users may come across a situation when someone or they themselves have previously set a password for the area we need, and have safely forgotten it. As a result of several incorrect attempts, the device will simply stop functioning.
Then it is necessary to open the mobile computer itself. By the way, this method will help if it doesn't include:
Important!Before heading any further, there are a few key points to clarify. So, in some laptops, for example, Acer Aspire, there are not two, but three contacts. In this case, set the jumper to a different position and wait a few minutes.
In addition, sometimes you can find a special small button that performs the same function. You just need to press it with a pencil for a few seconds.
Another way out is to remove the battery, which supports all important data in memory. If you remove it, everything will be reset.
Recovery after firmware
If problems appear as a result of an unsuccessful installation of a new software version for the corresponding component, you need to perform a series of movements.
I happened to be faced with the fact that I damaged the ami bios on one of the old computers. I often had to flash bios, but this was the first time I "broke" it. There is a lot of information on the Internet about how to restore it, but it did not help me. As it turned out later, not everything is written there that needs to be done in order for the resuscitation to be successful or even begin.
A little introduction. BOOTBLOCK
Almost all modern BIOSes have BOOTBLOCK - a special section of memory for system recovery. This section contains instructions and information for initializing the minimum critical devices.
Preparing for recovery
Very important information that I did not find at all while looking for a solution to the problem. It is necessary detach all devices unnecessary for BIOS recovery from the motherboard.
what not necessary: mouse, all usb devices, hard drives, optical drives, PCI devices, video cards, and so on. I even needed to remove one bar (and leave one) of RAM on one of the computers.
what need to: floppy drive, keyboard, RAM and processor.
BIOS recovery
- Format floppy disk and write a file with the required BIOS version there
- Rename it to AMIBOOT.ROM
- Be sure to turn off your computer from the network, and not just turn it off via the POWER button
- Hold key combination CTRL + HOME
- Turn on the computer and do not release the key combination until the system starts reading information from the floppy disk
- Wait. At the end, the computer will either give 4 short beeps, or it will not say anything at all and will reboot itself
If everything went smoothly, then good. Problems may appear, for example 5 short beeps - the system cannot read the file.
Full list of signals during AMI BIOS recovery:
| Number of beeps | Index |
|---|---|
| 1 | Media not detected |
| 2 | ROM file not found in root directory |
| 3 | Insert the next volume of media |
| 4 | Flash programming completed successfully |
| 5 | File read error |
| 7 | Flash EPROM not defined |
| 10 | Flash erasing error |
| 11 | Flash program error |
| 12 | ROM file size issue |
| 13 | ROM image does not meet BIOS requirements |
I hope this information will be useful to someone.
Guess the riddle: it stands like a beehive hums. But the smoke does not come from the chimney, because this is not a native plant, but a computer on which the BIOS is damaged. And he hums because he is only capable of this now. Without bios, it's just a bunch of lifeless iron. Is it worth worrying about this? Of course not. After all, now you have a great bedside table!
A system unit as a bedside table? Well, I do not! We know how to make it work. Today we'll talk about how to restore the BIOS if it crashed.
What leads to a BIOS flashing
In IOS and its "descendant" UEFI, which modern motherboards are stitched with, these are special computer programs necessary for the initial configuration and control of PC devices until the operating system starts. They are stored in special flash memory chips on the motherboard, one of which is shown in the picture above. It seems to be a good storage place, reliable, but sometimes the BIOS gets uncomfortable there and it escapes. More precisely, it gets damaged and stops performing its tasks.
There are not too many reasons for damage to the BIOS, in some cases they are obvious, in others they are not. Here is a list of the most common ones:
- During the power outage of the computer occurred.
- The flasher program (flasher) does not interact correctly with the firmware or flash memory chip.
- The BIOS version is flashed, not suitable for this motherboard. Yes, .
- If the update is carried out from under a running operating system - a system failure or software interference, for example, antivirus blocking.
- Incorrect user actions, for example, restarting the computer before the update installation is complete.
- Failure of the flash memory chip.
- Hidden errors of BIOS firmware. Sometimes this explains spontaneous “gatherings” that occur for no apparent reason.
- Electrical problems on the motherboard.
How do BIOS damage appear?
In most cases, the BIOS firmware is damaged partially, so the symptoms of failure can vary:- When you press the PC power button, only the cooler turns on, which immediately starts rotating at maximum speed. Occasionally, the LED indicators on the case and keyboard light up.
- One or several seconds after switching on, a cyclic restart begins. Externally, this is manifested by a cycle of spinning up and stopping the cooler, which are repeated while the power is supplied.
- When turned on, the power indicator lights up, the cooler does not spin.
- The computer shows no signs of life. This happens when the boot block, the BIOS bootloader, is damaged. This is the worst case.
There is no image on the screen. Not even the manufacturer's splash screen appears.
There are other forms of BIOS damage, more precisely, its area, which stores the configuration of the ME controller (a part of the chipset) on motherboards working with Intel processors - the so-called ME-region. If there is a problem in this area, a computer or laptop may:
- Incorrectly loaded or not included at all.
- Shut down or restart at regular intervals.
- It is incorrect to adjust the rotational speed of the cooler, for example, to turn it at high speeds regardless of the load.
Elimination of such failures consists in reading the BIOS dump, replacing the ME-region with a clean one and re-flashing it using the programmer. Since this is usually done by repairmen, not computer owners, we will not dwell on this. Better to do something that can be done at home without special equipment and the risk of finally sending your "iron pet" to the kingdom of eternity.
BIOS recovery without a programmer is possible only if you save the bootloader. It is sometimes possible to determine whether it has survived or not by indirect signs: flashing of the screen backlight, sound signals from the system speaker, reaction of the motherboard to switching on without RAM (sound or flashing of indicators), etc. If the BIOS bootloader is intact, the first moments of work computers run normally, the failure appears a little later.
How to restore functionality to a motherboard with a failed BIOS
Asus
Many Asus brand desktop motherboards support USB Flashback, which is designed to quickly update and restore BIOS in case of failure. This does not require anything, except for a USB flash drive with a capacity of up to 4-16 GB and the BIOS file itself, which must be downloaded from the manufacturer's website from the section about your mother's model.After downloading, the firmware must be renamed. For example, the file "Sabertooth X79" (model name) is renamed to "SABERX79.ROM", the file "Sabertooth Z77" to "Z77ST.CAP". Information on how the firmware file for your model should be named is most likely on the Asus website, but if you don't find it, check it out on the forums or in support.
Next, save the renamed BIOS on a USB flash drive formatted in FAT32 and connect it to the USB port marked “ Flashback" or " ROG Connect". It is advisable to turn off the computer before this, this will increase the chance of a successful recovery.
After connecting the flash drive, turn on the PC and press the " BIOS". Hold it down for about 3 seconds until the indicator light on the board flashes. Blinking indicates that the file has been successfully read and is being stitched into memory. When the firmware process is completed, the indicator will turn off.
If your board is from the budget segment or not too new, that is, does not support USB Flashback, most likely you can restore it in another way. If the computer is equipped with a floppy drive or optical drive, write the renamed BIOS file to the root directory of a blank floppy disk or CD, place it in the drive, turn off and then turn on the PC. The firmware will be completed when the drive indicator turns off. If there is no drive, use a USB flash drive.
Gigabyte
On Gigabyte motherboards with Dual (dual) bios, failures rarely occur, since if the firmware in the main microcircuit ( Main_ BIOS) the dump from the backup ( Backup_ BIOS). As long as the main flash memory is functional and contains firmware, even damaged, the board remains operational.
Problems with starting the board with Dual_BIOS are possible in the following cases:
- The main microcircuit is missing or out of order.
- The microcode in the main chip is completely erased.
- The contents of both chips are damaged.
Some Gigabyte mothers can boot from the backup flash memory and use it as the main one. Another group of boards from this manufacturer uses a dedicated area on the hard disk as a backup media for BIOS. This is a less reliable option, but also better than nothing.
Gigabyte BIOS recovery from a backup is usually performed automatically, but if this does not happen, try turning off the computer from the outlet, wait a little and turn it on again.
MSI and others
Most motherboards from Micro-Star use a firmware recovery technology very similar to ASUS's - using a flash drive, floppy disk or CD. Copy the BIOS to a blank media, connect it to the PC, press the shutdown button for 4 seconds, hold down the combination on the keyboard leftCtrl +Home (or Alt +Ctrl +Home) and without releasing the keys, turn on the computer. The beginning of the firmware process can be judged by the blinking of the flash drive or drive indicator.
BIOS on MSI board. On the right is the JSPI1 port for firmware on the programmer On motherboards from MSI and some other brands that are more than 8-10 years old, the BIOS is flashed from a floppy disk. The instructions for AWARD and AMI BIOS are slightly different.
To recover the AMI BIOS, do the following:
- Rename the BIOS file downloaded from the motherboard manufacturer's website to AMIBOOT.ROM.
- Transfer it to the root of a blank floppy disk. Insert the floppy disk into the drive of the turned off PC.
- Press the left Ctrl + Home on the keyboard and turn on the computer.
To restore AWARD BIOS:
- Place the flasher and BIOS files on a floppy disk (usually downloaded in one archive).
- Create a text document on a floppy disk, which contains the name of the BIOS file with the bin extension. Rename the document to autoexec.bat.
- Further actions are similar to those given above.
By the way, some motherboard manufacturers publish on their websites BIOSes only in exe format - in one bottle with a flasher for updating from under Windows. Sometimes such a file can be unpacked as an archive, but users often do not understand which of its contents is the firmware. There is no universal solution for such tasks. In order not to aggravate the problem, it is better to consult on specialized forums or in the manufacturer's technical support.
On some boards, before restoring the BIOS, you also need to remove the real-time clock (RTC) battery from the socket or rearrange (remove) the clear CMOS jumper. It is important to clarify these points before starting the procedure.
Features of BIOS recovery on laptops
On laptops, as on Gigabyte boards, the BIOS is also often stored in two flash memory chips. But this is not Dual and it has no backups. Both chips contain different parts of the firmware, or one contains the main BIOS, and the other contains the multicontroller program. To prevent the device from turning on, it is enough to damage the microcode in at least one of them.
The recovery method for a failed BIOS on laptops is approximately the same as on desktops. The firmware file and the flasher program downloaded from the manufacturer's website (the latter is not always needed) are placed on a clean USB flash drive formatted in FAT32 / 16, connected to a de-energized device (just turning off the laptop is sometimes not enough, you need to disconnect the power supply and remove the battery), insert a charged put the battery back in place, turn on the device and clamp the key combination. Different laptops use different keyboard shortcuts for this, for example:
- Ctrl (left only or both) + Home
- Windows + B (this and other letters are in the Latin keyboard layout)
- Windows + F
- Windows + M
- Windows + Esc
- Fn + B
- Fn + F
- Fn + M
- Fn + Esc.
The main work is to unpack and rename the BIOS files. Again, there is no single rule. In most cases, you have to get the firmware from exe-files, but! Many manufacturers include BIOSes for different revisions of the same platform or a whole series of platforms in their programs, and it can be very difficult to select the only file you need. In order not to be mistaken, read the instructions for the firmware of your particular model and the platform revision on the specialized forums. And feel free to ask questions.
I deliberately do not include in the article instructions on how to restore BIOS's by flashing on a programmer with and without desoldering, closing various contacts, hot swapping removable flash memory, etc., since all these methods are unsafe and require certain knowledge. However, among the readers, there are likely to be those who have done something similar on their PC and got good results. It will be great if you describe your actions in detail in the comments to the article. You are also encouraged to share negative experiences so that other readers, thanks to you, can avoid mistakes. In the comments, be sure to include the model name and revision of your motherboard, as well as the BIOS version you worked with.
