Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to?

lost n spaced · 04-18-2008, 05:34 PM

I have an ECS P4S5A/DX+ motherboard. I just upgraded my hard drive from a 25G to a 160G but my computer doesn't recognize that much memory. The hard drive manual said my BIOS may need upgraded if this happens, a guy at a computer store said the same thing.
I went to ECS's site and downloaded the newest BIOS update (30402) and AMINF330 flash utility. I got an error when trying to flash that said "Chipset/flash part isn't available. The function will be invalid."
ECS's flash help page showed the example upgrades as .rom files but the file I downloaded is an .exe file. I got an error when trying to run it (the .exe file) from DOS without the flash utility, should I put it on my desktop and double click it?
I am totally confused. Can anybody help me out with this, please?

**blackduck30** · 04-18-2008, 05:37 PM

I'll go take a look and see if I can interpret what they are saying.
Give me a bit too have a look

**blackduck30** · 04-18-2008, 05:48 PM

Ok, I have had a look and if you extract the bios file with something like winrar or such and extract it, you will get your "ROM" file you need to flash the bios from the flash utility they provide on the site using these instructions

http://www.ecs.com.tw/extra/flashutl/amiflash.htm

The bios its self should be "ROM" file EG: e030402s.ROM

lost n spaced · 04-18-2008, 06:05 PM

blackduck30,
Thanks! I can't believe I didn't realize it was a compressed file and needed opened first. It had an exe extension so I never even considered the possibilty. I just extracted it with Winrar and there's the .rom file! Time to try it again.

PS do you think I should use the DOS way or Windows?

**blackduck30** · 04-18-2008, 06:11 PM

DOS for sure, far more reliable than a windows utility

have read of this first and make sure you have the right PCB( board rev )

Please make sure your M/B PCB version number at first then download the right BIOS for the upgrade. (How to recognize the M/B PCB version).

http://www.ecs.com.tw/extra/productinfo/MB.htm

the bios is for (PCB:5.1A)

lost n spaced · 04-18-2008, 06:29 PM

Thanks, I'm going to give it a shot with the DOS method in a bit. I'll post my results here, so if I'm not on for a few days you'll know I made a little mushroom cloud in my apartment!

**blackduck30** · 04-18-2008, 06:31 PM

hahahaaa, take your time and follow instructions and you should be fine

lost n spaced · 04-18-2008, 07:32 PM

I tried it and got this same message again: "Chipset/flash part isn't available. The function will be invalid."

My boot disk has these files on it:
Command.com
Autoexec.bat
Aminf330.exe
E030402s.rom

I tried both of these at the A: prompt (not at the same time)
AMINF330 E030402S.ROM
AMINF330.EXE E030402S.ROM
and got that failure message both times.

The first 1 looks like what the install file shows on ECS's help page, so I don't get it.

lost n spaced · 04-18-2008, 07:48 PM

Whoa! I just tried it using the Windows method. It flashed BIOS but when I rebooted I got the following message:

CMOS/GPNV Checksum Bad
Press F1 to run setup
Press F2 to load default values and continue

I hit F2 and am still running but I must be doing something wrong. This motherboard is old and was given to me so it is no big deal if I need to buy a new board that can handle bigger drives and faster CPUs (which I also bought and it is also having problems with).

**blackduck30** · 04-18-2008, 08:10 PM

If your board is not (PCB:5.1A) I doubt you will have any luck.
I didn't see any other bios's for any other revision of the P4S5A/DX+ only the P4S5A.

You still have the option of partitioning the drive into separate partitions, go into disk management and you should see unallocated space on the drive listed.

lost n spaced · 04-19-2008, 06:06 AM

I think it isn't a V5.1. There's no sticker saying it is but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I just looked at the BIOS chip and the date on it is 1999, so it is older than the board I replaced! Guess I'll go back to what I had until I get a new board. Thanks for the help and advice!

04-18-2008, 05:34 PM	#1 (permalink)
lost n spaced Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 13 OS: XP SP2	Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? I have an ECS P4S5A/DX+ motherboard. I just upgraded my hard drive from a 25G to a 160G but my computer doesn't recognize that much memory. The hard drive manual said my BIOS may need upgraded if this happens, a guy at a computer store said the same thing. I went to ECS's site and downloaded the newest BIOS update (30402) and AMINF330 flash utility. I got an error when trying to flash that said "Chipset/flash part isn't available. The function will be invalid." ECS's flash help page showed the example upgrades as .rom files but the file I downloaded is an .exe file. I got an error when trying to run it (the .exe file) from DOS without the flash utility, should I put it on my desktop and double click it? I am totally confused. Can anybody help me out with this, please?

04-18-2008, 05:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
blackduck30 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,227 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? I'll go take a look and see if I can interpret what they are saying. Give me a bit too have a look __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

04-18-2008, 05:48 PM	#3 (permalink)
blackduck30 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,227 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? Ok, I have had a look and if you extract the bios file with something like winrar or such and extract it, you will get your "ROM" file you need to flash the bios from the flash utility they provide on the site using these instructions http://www.ecs.com.tw/extra/flashutl/amiflash.htm The bios its self should be "ROM" file EG: e030402s.ROM __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

04-18-2008, 06:05 PM	#4 (permalink)
lost n spaced Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 13 OS: XP SP2	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? blackduck30, Thanks! I can't believe I didn't realize it was a compressed file and needed opened first. It had an exe extension so I never even considered the possibilty. I just extracted it with Winrar and there's the .rom file! Time to try it again. PS do you think I should use the DOS way or Windows?

04-18-2008, 06:11 PM	#5 (permalink)
blackduck30 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,227 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? DOS for sure, far more reliable than a windows utility have read of this first and make sure you have the right PCB( board rev ) Please make sure your M/B PCB version number at first then download the right BIOS for the upgrade. (How to recognize the M/B PCB version). http://www.ecs.com.tw/extra/productinfo/MB.htm the bios is for (PCB:5.1A) __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All Last edited by blackduck30 : 04-18-2008 at 06:16 PM. Reason: added bold text

04-18-2008, 06:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
lost n spaced Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 13 OS: XP SP2	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? Thanks, I'm going to give it a shot with the DOS method in a bit. I'll post my results here, so if I'm not on for a few days you'll know I made a little mushroom cloud in my apartment!

04-18-2008, 06:31 PM	#7 (permalink)
blackduck30 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,227 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? hahahaaa, take your time and follow instructions and you should be fine __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

04-18-2008, 07:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
lost n spaced Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 13 OS: XP SP2	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? I tried it and got this same message again: "Chipset/flash part isn't available. The function will be invalid." My boot disk has these files on it: Command.com Autoexec.bat Aminf330.exe E030402s.rom I tried both of these at the A: prompt (not at the same time) AMINF330 E030402S.ROM AMINF330.EXE E030402S.ROM and got that failure message both times. The first 1 looks like what the install file shows on ECS's help page, so I don't get it.

04-18-2008, 07:48 PM	#9 (permalink)
lost n spaced Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 13 OS: XP SP2	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? Whoa! I just tried it using the Windows method. It flashed BIOS but when I rebooted I got the following message: CMOS/GPNV Checksum Bad Press F1 to run setup Press F2 to load default values and continue I hit F2 and am still running but I must be doing something wrong. This motherboard is old and was given to me so it is no big deal if I need to buy a new board that can handle bigger drives and faster CPUs (which I also bought and it is also having problems with).

04-18-2008, 08:10 PM	#10 (permalink)
blackduck30 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,227 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? If your board is not (PCB:5.1A) I doubt you will have any luck. I didn't see any other bios's for any other revision of the P4S5A/DX+ only the P4S5A. You still have the option of partitioning the drive into separate partitions, go into disk management and you should see unallocated space on the drive listed. __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

04-19-2008, 06:06 AM	#11 (permalink)
lost n spaced Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 13 OS: XP SP2	Re: Trying to flash bios with no luck, do I even need to? I think it isn't a V5.1. There's no sticker saying it is but that doesn't necessarily mean anything. I just looked at the BIOS chip and the date on it is 1999, so it is older than the board I replaced! Guess I'll go back to what I had until I get a new board. Thanks for the help and advice!