Updating BIOS with bootable CD or USB memory stick

[Snakefoot]

I successfully flashed the SP35P BIOS using a bootable USB stick created with the simple "HP USB disk storage tool"

Also used this for my SP35P2 and it worked like a charm (WinFlash froze my computer when just trying to backup the BIOS, so I never dared using it to update the BIOS). One just have to go into the motherboard BIOS under "Advanced BIOS features" and select "Hard disk boot priority" where the USB stick should be present.

[talk show host]

Hey Everyone.  I am getting my SP35P2 Pro today and I want to make absolutely sure I do this correctly. (I am running vista 32) I have seen several different links and different methods here on the "best" way to flash the BIOS.  I am afraid of doing anything incorrectly and screweing my system up.  Does everyone think the simplest/easiest way would be to just do what the official shuttle website shows?

[hnyman]

Hey Everyone.  I am getting my SP35P2 Pro today and I want to make absolutely sure I do this correctly. (I am running vista 32) I have seen several different links and different methods here on the "best" way to flash the BIOS.  I am afraid of doing anything incorrectly and screweing my system up.  Does everyone think the simplest/easiest way would be to just do what the official shuttle website shows?

And what is actually the flashing advice there?

Some people dare to use the Winflash utility directly from Windows, others have had bad experiences with it and want to flash from DOS prompt using Awdflash. There is no single easy and sure way to do the flashing.

If you are asking: "is using Winflash the easiest way?", then my answer is that probably it is. However, I would personally not like to it that way and did flash my SP35P with a bootable USB memory stick (with DOS and Awdflash) as explained in post 24.

[satyrical]

Well, my sp35p2 pro with a qx9650 in it was working fine and I installed vista 64 on it (after hours of frustration trying to get various combinations of bootable cd to work with my external usb cd rom drive).  

As it came from the shop it had a BIOS on it dated 30th October.  I saw that the latest sp35p2 BIOS had fixes for 45nm processor support.  I downloaded the winflash utility and flashed it and now I get the problem where it boots for about 3 seconds, then powers down and keeps doing that, never reaching post.

I RMA'd it to shuttle who claim that it ran fine for them through their full burn in test.

So it would seem the latest BIOS will actually stop the sp35p2 pro from working with a qx9650.  Sigh.  Because it is not on their list of 'supported' processors, it seems I need to either eBay my sp35p2pro or maybe try getting a down graded BIOS.

Can anyone tell me what BIOS chip model I would need to order from the various BIOS suppliers ?

Also - has anyone else been successful in running an sp35p2pro with a qx9650 chip ?

(ps.  The latest winflash utility seemed to work for me on a vanilla vista 64 ultimate install.  Completed a backup then updated the BIOS and passed BIOS 'verification' then prompted that it was complete and rebooted.)

[satyrical]

Ok.. so shuttle RMA'd my shuttle, said there was nothing wrong with it.

The man in the shop was nice enough to put in a stock cpu and flash my shuttle back to the n bios rather then the latest and my QX9650 is now working in it again...

Wonder when shuttle will release a BIOS for the sp35p2pro that actually works with the qx9650 ?

[Dunwa]

I successfully flashed the SP35P BIOS using a bootable USB stick created with the simple "HP USB disk storage tool" pointed in the following page:
http://www.thepcspy.com/read/bootable_usb_flash_drive
(the archive also contains the needed minimal DOS boot files)

A newer version 2.1.8 of that HP tool (without DOS boot files) can be found e.g.:
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

Very simple tool to use: use the tools to format the USB stick and it will automatically include the needed DOS files (io.sys, msdos.sys, command.com) from the locations you point, and then just add the BIOS file and awdflash.exe.

After the boot from USB to the DOS prompt, I used the newest AWDFLASH 8.87 available from Shuttle and had no problems.
I used parameters /PY/CC/CD/CP (and also /E as I wanted to return back to DOS prompt after flash in case the flash would have failed. I wanted no forced auto-boot)

Just to say thanks, Flashed my SP35P2 using this method and it worked a charm.

[reasoN]

I successfully flashed the SP35P BIOS using a bootable USB stick created with the simple "HP USB disk storage tool" pointed in the following page:
http://www.thepcspy.com/read/bootable_usb_flash_drive
(the archive also contains the needed minimal DOS boot files)

A newer version 2.1.8 of that HP tool (without DOS boot files) can be found e.g.:
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

Very simple tool to use: use the tools to format the USB stick and it will automatically include the needed DOS files (io.sys, msdos.sys, command.com) from the locations you point, and then just add the BIOS file and awdflash.exe.

After the boot from USB to the DOS prompt, I used the newest AWDFLASH 8.87 available from Shuttle and had no problems.
I used parameters /PY/CC/CD/CP (and also /E as I wanted to return back to DOS prompt after flash in case the flash would have failed. I wanted no forced auto-boot)

This seems to be the easiest way to do it. I will give this method a try after I build my SP35P2 in a few days. Just to make sure, when I boot to the command prompt all I have to type in is "awdflash.exe /py/cc/cd/cp/e" correct? Should there be spaces between each parameter?

Since hnyman's method seems to be easily understood and confirmed in the new SP35P2 models , I would recommend an exclusive sticky "easiest way to flash bios in dos: usb bootable stick". This thread is a bit messy and full of ideas, I'm sure people would prefer one easy and confirmed solution. Just clear up the actual command input for dos noobs like myself. Make sure to host the HP USB disk storage tool to secure it's existence\convenience.

[hnyman]

I successfully flashed the SP35P BIOS using a bootable USB stick created with the simple "HP USB disk storage tool" ...

This seems to be the easiest way to do it. I will give this method a try after I build my SP35P2 in a few days. Just to make sure, when I boot to the command prompt all I have to type in is "awdflash.exe /py/cc/cd/cp/e" correct? Should there be spaces between each parameter?

I actually created a flash.bat file to the USB stick, but the single command in that bat file was:
awdflash SP35S10O.BIN /cc/cd/cp/py/E

[reasoN]

Im curious to know how to create a flash.bat file and where to put it afterwards, I'm guessing in the same folder as the 2 flash files?

[hnyman]

Im curious to know how to create a flash.bat file and where to put it afterwards, I'm guessing in the same folder as the 2 flash files?

Nothing special there. It is just a normal DOS batch file, if anyone still recognizes the term. Just DOS commands in plain ASCII text format. Just google for "DOS batch".

1) Just open any ASCII text editor like Notepad.  (Do not use WordPad or Word or any other "formatting" editors)
2) write the needed command line, e.g.  awdflash SP35S10O.BIN /cc/cd/cp/py/E
3) save as flash.BAT to the same folder as awdflash and the BIOS file.

X) Then you can run it by writing 'flash' at the DOS prompt.

It is easier than trying to remember all the switches at the flashing moment ;-)

[reasoN]

Thanks hnyman. I'm a gamer so this is like creating an autoexec.cfg file that sets certain commands in games.

[talk show host]

Ok, there is alot of stuff here and I am wanting to update my bios to Q in the next couple of days.  It seems that the method here is the most recommended.

[http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

I looked on the website, and downloaded the win98boot package and don't see clearly what i should do.  there is a short readme.txt file that isnt very helpful either.   There are several applications in the folder, but i dont even know which one to use.  Even looking at the info on the linked page above, i dont know for sure what my file system would be.  Ahd how does the shuttle boot file figure into all of this.  I dont see instructions anywhere on what i am supposed to do with the shuttle bios update from their website.  

Is there any good natured soul out there who wouldn't mind posting step-by-step instructions on what I need to do? If the method in the link above isnt the easiest, then perhaps you could provide step by step instructions for an easier method.  I am sorry to ask for all this, but shuttle's website offers no help on what to do to upgrade our BIOS in vista... only older versions of windows thru xp.  This is very poor support in my opinion, as vista is becomming the most popular OS out there - heck, shuttle recommends it on all the complete systems they build!

[Lat47]

Talk Show Host,

Here is the steps I followed.

The page you cite has all the information you need. Go to http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197.

Download the HP stuff. Run the set up program in the HP stuff. This installs the “HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool�.

Download the Windows 98 System Files from here http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197.

Unzip the windows system files to a directory.

Put your USB thumb drive in the USB port. Run the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool.

Under Device, select your USB thumb drive.

Under File System, select FAT 32.

Click Quick Format.

Click “Create a DOS startup disk. Also select “using DOS system files located at:� Click the “…�, navigate to the directory where you unzipped the windows 98 files and click OK.

Click “Start�. A few seconds later it will be done. You now have a bootable USB drive. Looking at the drive will not show anything. The files msdos.sys, io.sys, and command.com are hidden.
Download the bios you want from the Shuttle website. For me it was SG31S10I.bin. Copy this to the USB drive.

Download the awdflash utility from the Shuttle website. Unzip the file and copy it to the flash drive.

Getting the Shuttle to boot from the USB drive is a little tricky. I tired all the USB drive permutation “First Boot Device�. No luck. Turns out you need to modify the “Hard Disk Boot Priority�. Plug in the USB drive, start the computer, and enter the bios by hitting “Delete�. The Hard Disk Boot Priority should now show your USB drive. Make this the first priority. Hit ESC. Then hit F10 to save and exit.

The machine should not boot to the old dos “C>� prompt. Do “dir�. This should show awdflash.exe and SG31S10I.bin.

Enter the following command: “awdflash SG31S10I.bin /cc/cd/cp/py/E� (without the quotes). The awdflash fires up and asks if you want to save the current bios. Say yes and give it a file name. awdflash with then flash the new bios.

Reboot. Hit “delete� to enter setup. Load Optimized Defaults. You’re good to go.

[Jimmy Little]

i need to flash my shuttle, to hopefully fix my bugs..... i have WinXP with sata HD & sata DVD, what would say is the best way for me to do it? i could plug in a IDE cd drive

[Shadowtester]

You could use an IDE cd after you made a boot disk or if you have access to a USB flash drive that might be easier with the hp flash disk utility its very easy to create a bootable dos bootable USB flash drive just like formating a floppy disk basically.

[scuba_steve]

Well, I have updated multiple Shuttles over the years with WinFlash and never had an issue, but I haven’t updated my SP35P2 Pro since buying it because enough threads here scared the heck out of me.

I finally decided I needed to update the BIOS because I was growing very tired of the machine restarting every time that I tried to shutdown...so I read this thread and pieced some other things together and got it working.

I created the USB flash drive as documented above with the HP Utility.  Worked fine...although I did have to google to find HPUSBFW_BOOTFILES.zip.  I also copied the latest BIOS and AwdFlash.exe (downloaded from Shuttle) to the USB flash drive...and created a batch file as described above...ensuring that the filename matched the filename of the BIOS that I downloaded.

I then spent 30 minutes trying to figure out how to boot my Shuttle from that USB flash drive before I finally figured out how to get it to work...so this may help others:

.

- Insert your USB flash drive with your PC off

- Boot your PC and hit DEL to get into the BIOS

- Select the “Integrated Peripherals� menu item

- Select the “USB Device Setting� menu item

- Set the “USB 2.0 Controller� to “Enabled�, “Operating Mode� to “High Speed�, and the “USB Storage Function� to “Enabled�

- You should now see your USB flash drive show up on this screen (perhaps named by manufacturer)...change its default value from “Auto� to “HDD�

- Hit F10 to save and exit...and then come back in (yes, annoying, but it was required on my PC for the next step to work)

- Go to “Advanced BIOS settingsâ€Â� and select “Hard Disk Boot Priorityâ€Â� and “+â€Â� up the USB flash drive so that it is first in the list.  If it is not in the list (yet), you most likely skipped one or both of the preceding steps

- Hit F10 to save and exit...and reboot

.

Your system should then boot from the USB flash drive.  If it does not, shutdown completely (unplugging the unit briefly) and try booting again.

BTW, the flash worked great.  Thanks for the help!

[Zut50]

I need to flash my BIOS as I'm upgrading to a 45nm CPU, but I must admit that I am absolutely terrified about this.

I don't have a USB flash drive... can I use a USB floppy drive? Plus will it make a difference that I use Vista x64?

Cheers.

[Xanonymous]

First of all - DO NOT FLASH BIOS UNDER WNDOWS!  It is always the safest way to use a minimum DOS boot floppy.  And yes, you should be able to use a USB floppy drive - just make sure to set the BIOS to the right boot sequence.

In Vista x64 you can simply create a boot floppy by right-clicking it in explorer and choosing "Format..." from the contextual menu and selecting the appropriate option.  Then delete every file on the disk except IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS and COMMAND.COM to make room so you can copy the BIOS file and flasher utility to the disk.

It might also be advisable to reset the current BIOS to default values and only set the correct boot sequence for the floppy disk drive prior to flashing, as not to risk a bad flash due to e.g. a slightly unstable OC.

Good luck!

[Zut50]

Hooray! I did it!

Thank you so very much guys. I was very nervous about this but it went very smoothly in the end.

My floppy drive turned out to be broken, but I managed to get hold of a USB drive and used the HP boot disk utility.

[Vesh007]

Sorry to bump this thread (not really) I just wanted to say this board is the best computer resource I've ever had. I'm a super-noob and I flashed my bios for my new SP35P2v2 to fix the sleep resume issues using this guide. If there are any other noobs out there I'd love to help, and as always so will this board.

[Mizzhell]

Hey, I was just wondering when the update is finished will I get a message that says so, or am I supposed to guess when it is finished? I'm using the metod mentioned above. I type in what I want to name the old bios, and press enter, and then nothing more happens.

EDIT: never mind, I figured it out. Said "no" to save the old bios.

[ForresT]

The BIOS boot through usb key works like a charm, although flashing the bios SP35S20B for the SP35P2v2 resulted in a freeze right when I typed in the filename to save the backed up bios to. I waited 10 minutes and then reset the computer, It appears the bios was not flashed and no changes occured at all.

I am now a little freaked out about flashing the BIOS since I already had a broken BIOS (flashed with vista) and I definitely need this computer to work.

Any advices?

[hnyman]

The BIOS boot through usb key works like a charm, although flashing the bios SP35S20B for the SP35P2v2 resulted in a freeze right when I typed in the filename to save the backed up bios to. I waited 10 minutes and then reset the computer, It appears the bios was not flashed and no changes occured at all.

I guess that your PC was actually waiting for you to still press something (Y or enter or...), as the AWDFLASH is somethimes a bit confusing.

Why would you actually want to backup BIOS? You can download the same BIOS versions from Shuttle homepage, so there is no actual use for backup BIOS.

If you really want to do that, the easiest way is to write the whole command to a batch file (xxx.BAT) and then just run that bat file from command line. See my earlier message in this same thread:
http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/forums/viewpost/878524/

Typing "AWDFLASH /?" to a command prompt gives the advice for usage:

Code:

AWDFLASH v8.94 (07/09) (C)Phoenix Technologies Ltd. 2008 All Rights Reserved

 Usage:  AWDFLASH [FileName1] [FileName2] [/[/...]]
      FileName1 : New BIOS Name For Flash Programming
      FileName2 : BIOS File For Backing-up the Original BIOS
     ?: Show Help Messages
   py: Program Flash Memory               pn: No Flash Programming
   sy: Backup Original BIOS To Disk File  sn: No Original BIOS Backup
   Sb: Skip BootBlock programming         Wb: Always Programming BootBlock
   cd: Clear DMI Data After Programming   cc: Clear CMOS Data After Programming
   cp: Clear PnP(ESCD) Data After Programming
   LD: Destroy CMOS Checksum And No System Halt For First Reboot
       After Programming
   QI: Qualify flash part number with source file
    E: Return to DOS After Programming     R: RESET System After Programming
  cks: Show update Binfile checksum  cksXXXX: Compare Binfile CheckSum with XXXX
 vgaXX: Change to VGA mode XX(Hex value). ch: Update HOLE.
    Hx: Only update the specified Hole(0~7). custid:xxxxxxxx
 NVMAC:XXXXXXXXXXXX                   NVGUID:XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
       Support nForce Input MAC,GUID Function,with "/wb" to update MAC and GUID.
 MacAdd0~7:XXXXXXXXXXXX    Common input MAC address support.
 Example: AWDFLASH 6A69R000.bin /py/sn/nvmac:xxxxxxxxxxxx/wb

So, the command line would be something like:
awdflash NEWBIOS.BIN BACKUPFILENAME.BIN /cc/cd/cp/py/sy/E

[agogley]

I used the USB method to flash my BIOS with success.  It was extremely easy.  I wish we could make a sticky thread from this.

[hnyman]

I used the USB method to flash my BIOS with success.  It was extremely easy.  I wish we could make a sticky thread from this.

It actually is part of the sticky notice about helpful links: http://www.sudhian.com/index.php?/forums/viewthread/104087/

The moderators decided a while ago that they did not want so many separate sticky notices, and Tino collected the links to helpful threads into one thread.