K7SEM bios question

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September 4th, 2004, 07:00 PM
JKirk

K7SEM bios question

I downloaded the newest bios for the K7SEM mobo 1.0. It was v. 1.2b or something like that... I was using winflash and I backed up my old bios to a file on the hard drive. I then proceeded to try and update the bios... it said it wasn't correct. I went ahead and tried anyway since I had the back up. Well, when it was updating, it got to about maybe 5% and then stopped and said verify error.
I figured that was bad, so I decided to reload my old bios. Unfortunately it did the exact same thing. I was a bit freaked but figured I'd be alright and then shutdown the PC. BAD MISTAKE. Now it won't boot. It just gives me a couple wierd beeps and then nothing... I tried clearing CMOS but that didn't help. :( Am I S.O.L.? Is there any way to get the bios fixed? Or do I need to buy a new BIOS or mobo? (btw, the capacitors look fine, so I don't think they had anything to do with it).

-JKirk
September 4th, 2004, 11:23 PM
nerd86

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKirk

I downloaded the newest bios for the K7SEM mobo 1.0. It was v. 1.2b or something like that... I was using winflash and I backed up my old bios to a file on the hard drive. I then proceeded to try and update the bios... it said it wasn't correct. I went ahead and tried anyway since I had the back up. Well, when it was updating, it got to about maybe 5% and then stopped and said verify error.
I figured that was bad, so I decided to reload my old bios. Unfortunately it did the exact same thing. I was a bit freaked but figured I'd be alright and then shutdown the PC. BAD MISTAKE. Now it won't boot. It just gives me a couple wierd beeps and then nothing... I tried clearing CMOS but that didn't help. :( Am I S.O.L.? Is there any way to get the bios fixed? Or do I need to buy a new BIOS or mobo? (btw, the capacitors look fine, so I don't think they had anything to do with it).

-JKirk

Your board should have a jumper to block flashing make sure it is disabled, download the bios below and flash utility.
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/bios/awd822a.exe
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/k7sem.html

RECOVERING A CORRUPT AWARD BIOS
With AWARD BIOS the process is similar but still a bit different. To recover an AWARD BIOS you
will need to create a floppy diskette with a working BIOS file in .BIN format, an AWARD flash
utility and an AUTOEXEC.BAT file. AWARD BIOS will not automatically restore the BIOS
information to the SYSTEM BLOCK for this reason you will need to add the commands necessary
to flash the BIOS to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The system will run the AUTOEXE.BAT file at
startup, which will in turn flash the BIOS. This is fairly easy. Here are the steps you need to take.
1) Create a bootable floppy disk. If you use Windows 95, 98 or DOS, this can be done by
going to the DOS prompt and typing the command. (Be sure to insert a disk first)
FORMAT A: /S
The /S switch specifies that the system files should be copied to the diskette to make it
bootable. If you are using Windows ME, Windows NT or Windows 2000 then you can not
use the /S switch with the FORMAT command. If you are unable to create a bootable
diskette because of the operating system you are using then you may download a
bootable diskette image from the BootDisk.com web site at (http://www.bootdisk.com)
2) Copy a working BIOS ROM (.BIN) file for your motherboard and an AWARD flash utility
to the floppy disk. You can usually download these files from the motherboard
manufacturer. If you need help finding these files call the motherboard manufacturer for
technical support.
3) Use a text editor or the ‘edit’ command at the DOS prompt to create a text file named
‘AUTOEXEC.BAT’ and save it on the floppy disk. Make sure that the file name is
AUTOEXEC and that the extension is .BAT (nothing else). If you create this file from
RECOVERING A CORRUPT AWARD BOOTBLOCK BIOS (Cont.)
4) within Windows using a program such as NOTEPAD, you may need to change the file
extension from .TXT to .BAT
5) With the text editor add the following commands to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the
floppy disk and then save the changes.
@ECHO OFF
@AWDFLASH BIOSFILE.BIN /py
NOTE: The ‘/py’ switch will cause the flash utility to automatically reprogram the BIOS
without any user intervention. Be sure to change the ‘AWDFLASH’ to the name
of the flash utility that you are using and change the ‘BIOSFILE.BIN’ to the name
of the BIOS ROM file you are using.
If you are not sure what the command line switch to automatically flash your
BIOS is, type the name of the flash utility with the ‘/?’ switch after it at a DOS
prompt and a list of the available switches will be displayed.
6) Insert the diskette you created into the floppy drive A: on the system that you need to
restore the BIOS on. Turn on the system. The computer should startup, read the floppy
disk, run the commands in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and restore the BIOS.
At this point if everything went well then the BIOS should have been restored and the
computer should restart normally.
Good luck!

:thumbs:
September 5th, 2004, 05:10 AM
confus-ed

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKirk

.. I then proceeded to try and update the bios... it said it wasn't correct. I went ahead and tried anyway since I had the back up. Well, when it was updating, it got to about maybe 5% and then stopped and said verify error.
I figured that was bad..

:knife: .. mmm maybe it said that for a reason ? :eek2:, you ain't the only one however that's learnt this way.. ;)

You may be able to get away with the process described above by nerd86 above, also you can replace the actual chip & you can 'hotswap' the chip if you access to other equipment, it depends what part of bios is wrong (for anyone wanting to know about hotswaps search this forum for the member name RUSLAN, some really good posts by him here on this). You might be able to get away with RMAing the board (if its in warranty) & feigning ignorance, don't tell 'em what you did for sure ! :p
September 5th, 2004, 09:50 AM
NooNoo

Ruslan's bios tips in this thread
September 5th, 2004, 05:56 PM
JKirk

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

You are so incredibly freaking AWESOME!!!! :) It worked. You saved me money and most important time.... :) Thanks so much. I never knew you could do this...I thought it was just toast.... :)

Thanks again!

Quote:

Originally Posted by nerd86

Your board should have a jumper to block flashing make sure it is disabled, download the bios below and flash utility.
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/bios/awd822a.exe
http://www.ecsusa.com/downloads/k7sem.html

RECOVERING A CORRUPT AWARD BIOS
With AWARD BIOS the process is similar but still a bit different. To recover an AWARD BIOS you
will need to create a floppy diskette with a working BIOS file in .BIN format, an AWARD flash
utility and an AUTOEXEC.BAT file. AWARD BIOS will not automatically restore the BIOS
information to the SYSTEM BLOCK for this reason you will need to add the commands necessary
to flash the BIOS to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The system will run the AUTOEXE.BAT file at
startup, which will in turn flash the BIOS. This is fairly easy. Here are the steps you need to take.
1) Create a bootable floppy disk. If you use Windows 95, 98 or DOS, this can be done by
going to the DOS prompt and typing the command. (Be sure to insert a disk first)
FORMAT A: /S
The /S switch specifies that the system files should be copied to the diskette to make it
bootable. If you are using Windows ME, Windows NT or Windows 2000 then you can not
use the /S switch with the FORMAT command. If you are unable to create a bootable
diskette because of the operating system you are using then you may download a
bootable diskette image from the BootDisk.com web site at (http://www.bootdisk.com)
2) Copy a working BIOS ROM (.BIN) file for your motherboard and an AWARD flash utility
to the floppy disk. You can usually download these files from the motherboard
manufacturer. If you need help finding these files call the motherboard manufacturer for
technical support.
3) Use a text editor or the ‘edit’ command at the DOS prompt to create a text file named
‘AUTOEXEC.BAT’ and save it on the floppy disk. Make sure that the file name is
AUTOEXEC and that the extension is .BAT (nothing else). If you create this file from
RECOVERING A CORRUPT AWARD BOOTBLOCK BIOS (Cont.)
4) within Windows using a program such as NOTEPAD, you may need to change the file
extension from .TXT to .BAT
5) With the text editor add the following commands to the AUTOEXEC.BAT file on the
floppy disk and then save the changes.
@ECHO OFF
@AWDFLASH BIOSFILE.BIN /py
NOTE: The ‘/py’ switch will cause the flash utility to automatically reprogram the BIOS
without any user intervention. Be sure to change the ‘AWDFLASH’ to the name
of the flash utility that you are using and change the ‘BIOSFILE.BIN’ to the name
of the BIOS ROM file you are using.
If you are not sure what the command line switch to automatically flash your
BIOS is, type the name of the flash utility with the ‘/?’ switch after it at a DOS
prompt and a list of the available switches will be displayed.
6) Insert the diskette you created into the floppy drive A: on the system that you need to
restore the BIOS on. Turn on the system. The computer should startup, read the floppy
disk, run the commands in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file and restore the BIOS.
At this point if everything went well then the BIOS should have been restored and the
computer should restart normally.
Good luck!

:thumbs:
September 6th, 2004, 02:22 AM
confus-ed

Nice one, the bootable floppy did it :thumbs:, as a postscript to this then as I know that way often works, the simple version of the instructions are this;-

Make a bootable floppy with whatever runs your flashing tool without confirmation as an entry in it, try & boot from it, wait a bit, & hope ;)..

Using this general interpretation will let folks with other bioses try this, & also of course there are versions of the award flashing tool where the switches are different to the bits quoted .
September 6th, 2004, 03:01 AM
NooNoo

here is the original document nerd86 quoted from

This also contains the AMI bios recovery as well as explanations on how to flash a bios. It is a well written 6 page pdf file. I will put the link in the bios recovery sticky I think.
September 6th, 2004, 04:20 AM
confus-ed

Quote:

Originally Posted by NooNoo

... I will put the link in the bios recovery sticky I think.

Oh you've done one of them too ? (I'm glad you've caught on to the notion of stickies, we seem to have more & more of 'em :))- well yeah then definately :thumbs: