BIOS Recovery procedures

[petar]

I thought it would be nice to start a thread like this to make life easyer for those of us who have to go thru recovery procedure.
So here is my litle contribution...
It will be nice if you add your expirience of how did you recoverd from a bad flash.

HP Tool:
http://rapidshare.com/files/113917960/HP_USB_Disk_Storage_Format_Tool.rar
MiniDOS:
http://rapidshare.com/files/113919628/MiniDOS.rar


Phoenix BIOS Recovery

Update: Boot-Block Jumper
http://rapidshare.com/files/14946637...ock_Jumper.pdf


This is the latest PHLASH16 I could find:
http://rapidshare.com/files/15674471...6.5.4.rar.html
Tool provided by @offon7544

Here is the Archive with all the files needed and How to for Phoenix BIOS Recovery.

Method 1.
http://www.box.net/shared/j2u98ci67f

How To:

1. Use HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool with MiniDOS files to make your Bootable: Flopy, USB Flopy, USB Flash Drive (Flash Drive works in rear cases).
When creating the boot Floppy, select from Folder Options to view the hiden and system files and delete or rename the file config.sys if present.
Couse we need DOS with no additional programs that are loaded, which could interfere with the operation of the BIOS flash application.
2. Copy all the files from Rescue to your: Flopy, USB Stick, USB Flopy.
3. Rename your BIOS file to bios.wph and copy it to your: Flopy, USB Stick, USB Flopy.
4. Remove the battery, unplug the computer from the power.
5. Hold down: Fn+B or WinKey+B (On some new Acer Laptop's Fn+Esc and on some new Fujitsu Siemens Laptop's Fn+F)and while holding plug the computer in to power (do not plug the battery) and pres the power button.
6. Now you should hear the flopy drive working, hold the keys for a while and then let go.
7. Leve the computer for at least 10 min. and if the computer does not restart it self turn the power down.
8. Plug the battery and the power sorce and if everything went OK the computer shold start normaly.
Note: This procedure is for Phoenix BIOS`es only and in some cases the USB Stick might not work.

Method 2.
http://rapidshare.com/files/105952250/Metod_2.rar

How To:

1. Click on the Phoenix_Crisis_Recovery.exe to make: Flopy, USB Flopy.
When creating the boot Floppy, select from Folder Options to view the hiden and system files and delete or rename the file config.sys if present.
Couse we need DOS with no additional programs that are loaded, which could interfere with the operation of the BIOS flash application.
2. Copy all the files from Rescue to your: Flopy, USB Flopy.
3. Rename your BIOS file to bios.wph and copy it to your: Flopy, USB Flopy.
4. Remove the battery, unplug the computer from the power.
5. Hold down: Fn+B or WinKey+B (On some new Acer Laptop's Fn+Esc and on some new Fujitsu Siemens Laptop's Fn+F) and while holding plug the computer in to power (do not plug the battery) and pres the power button.
6. Now you should hear the flopy drive working, hold the keys for a while and then let go.
7. Leve the computer for at least 10 min. and if the computer does not restart it self turn the power down.
8. Plug the battery and the power sorce and if everything went OK the computer shold start normaly.
Note: This procedure is for Phoenix BIOS`es only and in some cases the USB Stick might not work.

Method 3.
http://rapidshare.com/files/105952818/Metod_3.rar

How To:

1. Use HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool with MiniDOS files to make your Bootable: Flopy, USB Flopy, USB Flash Drive (Flash Drive works in rear cases).
When creating the boot Floppy, select from Folder Options to view the hiden and system files and delete or rename the file config.sys if present.
Couse we need DOS with no additional programs that are loaded, which could interfere with the operation of the BIOS flash application.
2. Copy all the files from Rescue to your: Flopy, USB Stick, USB Flopy.
3. Rename your BIOS file to bios.wph and copy it to your: Flopy, USB Stick, USB Flopy.
4. Remove the battery, unplug the computer from the power.
5. Hold down: Fn+B or WinKey+B (On some new Acer Laptop's Fn+Esc and on some new Fujitsu Siemens Laptop's Fn+F) and while holding plug the computer in to power (do not plug the battery) and pres the power button.
6. Now you should hear the flopy drive working, hold the keys for a while and then let go.
7. Leve the computer for at least 10 min. and if the computer does not restart it self turn the power down.
8. Plug the battery and the power sorce and if everything went OK the computer shold start normaly.
Note: This procedure is for Phoenix BIOS`es only and in some cases the USB Stick might not work.

Method 4.
http://rapidshare.com/files/105953337/Metod_4.rar

How To:

1. Click on the Phoenix_Crisis_Recovery.exe to make: Flopy, USB Flopy.
When creating the boot Floppy, select from Folder Options to view the hiden and system files and delete or rename the file config.sys if present.
Couse we need DOS with no additional programs that are loaded, which could interfere with the operation of the BIOS flash application.
2. Copy all the files from Rescue to your: Flopy, USB Flopy.
3. Rename your BIOS file to bios.wph and copy it to your: Flopy, USB Flopy.
4. Remove the battery, unplug the computer from the power.
5. Hold down: Fn+B or WinKey+B (On some new Acer Laptop's Fn+Esc and on some new Fujitsu Siemens Laptop's Fn+F) and while holding plug the computer in to power (do not plug the battery) and pres the power button.
6. Now you should hear the flopy drive working, hold the keys for a while and then let go.
7. Leve the computer for at least 10 min. and if the computer does not restart it self turn the power down.
8. Plug the battery and the power sorce and if everything went OK the computer shold start normaly.
Note: This procedure is for Phoenix BIOS`es only and in some cases the USB Stick might not work.

The HP Tool is located in the archive of the first metod.
Use the metods in order form 1 to 4, unless you think otherwise...
Hope you never use this and if you ever have to GOOD LUCK.


Insyde Recovery

INSYDE BIOS RECOVERY METHOD added 28/11/2009
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/showthread.php?t=13095


AMI BIOS Recovery


AMI has an embedded recovery technique in the 'boot block' of the BIOS. In the event that the BIOS becomes corrupt the boot block can be used to restore the BIOS to a working state. The routine is called when the 'system block' of the BIOS is empty or corrupt. The restore routine when called will access the floppy drive (1.44Mb floppy disk drive) looking for a file named AMIBOOT.ROM.
This is the reason the floppy drive light comes on and the drive appears to be in use. If the file (AMIBOOT.ROM) is found it is loaded into the 'system block' of the BIOS to replace the corrupted information.
To restore your BIOS copy the most recent version of your motherboards BIOS file to a floppy diskette and rename it AMIBOOT.ROM. The diskette does not need to be bootable or contain a flash utility. It will access the floppy from 2-5 minutes the system will beep four times. Remove the floppy diskette from the drive and reboot the computer. if when you turn on the system it does not try to access the floppy, press and hold the 'CTRL' and 'HOME' keys at the same time. This will force the system (assuming the 'boot block' isn't corrupted) to access the flopy and look for the AMIBOOT.ROM file.

Step by Step:


Method 1.
1. Rename the desired AMI BIOS file to AMIBOOT.ROM and save it on a blank floppy disk. e.g. Rename 12345678.ROM to AMIBOOT.ROM
2. Insert this floppy disk in the floppy drive. Turn On the system
3. If no floppy access occurs press and hold Ctrl-Home to force update. Follow insructions on the screen and it will read the AMIBOOT.ROM file and recover the BIOS from the A drive.
4. When 4 beeps are heard you may remove the floppy disk.
5. When there is no more activity, wait for a while and restart the computer.

If this does not work, try this:

Method 2. Asus only...
1. Create bootable flopy using the HP Tool and MiniDOS:
When creating the boot Floppy, select from Folder Options to view the hiden and system files and delete or rename the file config.sys if present.
Couse we need DOS with no additional programs that are loaded, which could interfere with the operation of the BIOS flash application.
2. Create new text document and type the folowing:
Afudos.exe /iamiboot.rom /pbnc /n
Autoexec.bat download link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/123981086/autoexec.rar
save it as autoexec.bat and copy it to the boot flopy you have created.
3. Rename your BIOS to amiboot.rom and copy it to the bootable flopy.
4. If no floppy access occurs press and hold Ctrl+Home to force update.
5. When there is no more activity, wait for a while and restart the computer.

Latest Afudos that I could find:
http://rapidshare.com/files/123979630/AFUDOS.rar
Tool provided by @offon7544

Method 3.
1. Create bootable flopy using the HP Tool and MiniDOS:
When creating the boot Floppy, select from Folder Options to view the hiden and system files and delete or rename the file config.sys if present.
Couse we need DOS with no additional programs that are loaded, which could interfere with the operation of the BIOS flash application.
2. Create new text document and type the folowing:
amif895.exe /iamiboot.rom /pbnc /n
save it as autoexec.bat and copy it to the boot flopy you have created.
Atoexec.bat download link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/115841024/Autoexec.rar
3. Rename your BIOS to amiboot.rom and copy it to the bootable flopy.
4. Start you computer.
5. If no floppy access occurs press and hold Ctrl+Home to force update.
6. When there is no more activity, wait for a while and restart the computer.

Latest amiflash I could find amiflash 8.95:
http://rapidshare.com/files/113925838/amf895.zip
Tool provided by @amiga

AWARD BIOS Recovery


The AWARD BIOS has a similar procedure to AMI. To recover an AWARD BIOS you will need to create a bootable floppy diskette and add the desired BIOS file (we recommend using the most recent). Award BIOS's generally are in .BIN format, where as AMI was .ROM format. You will also add an AWARD flash utility (usually awdflash.exe) and an AUTOEXEC.BAT file.
The AWARD BIOS does not automatically restore the BIOS information to the 'system block' like the AMI BIOS does. You will need to add the commands necessary to flash the BIOS in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The system will run the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, which contains the flash instructions.

Step by Step:
1. Create bootable flopy using the HP Tool and MiniDOS:
When creating the boot Floppy, select from Folder Options to view the hiden and system files and delete or rename the file config.sys if present.
Couse we need DOS with no additional programs that are loaded, which could interfere with the operation of the BIOS flash application.
2. Reaname your bios to bios.bin
3. Copy the BIOS file and flash utility to the diskette.
4. Create an text file with any standard text editor and add the following lines :
@ECHO OFF
awdflash893.exe bios.bin /py/sn/f/cc/r
and save it as autoexec.bat
Autoexec.bat download link:
http://rapidshare.com/files/156801980/Autoexec.rar
5. Copy it to the bootable flopy.
6. Start your computer and if no flopy acces occurs press and hold Ctrl+Home to force update.
7. When there is no more activity, wait for a while and restart your computer.

py = program yes
sn = save no
f = flash
cc = clear cmos
r = reboot

Here is the latest awdflash I could find awdflash v8.93
http://rapidshare.com/files/15674230...sh893.rar.html
Tool provided by @offon7544

__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________________

Here is one of the expirience of one of the mydigitallife forum memebers:
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/sho...79&postcount=5
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ____________________________________

U P D A T E
FOR SPI CHIPS WITH SPI-header (7pins INTERFACE)

As Dutchman01 stated, for all of us that own a board with SPI chips and have a SPI-header (7pins INTERFACE) there is a posible way of recovering after a bad flash and none of the recovery procedures have worked.
Although it's for a electronic enthusiasts here is the link to the thread and the info:
http://forums.mydigitallife.info/showthread.php?t=5503
http://richard-burke.dyndns.org/wordpress/tag/spipgm/

[reginakampher]

Excellent information. They should make this a sticky

[ancestor(v)]

sticky...

[reginakampher]

And for those of you that have AMI or Award bioses, check out the link below for bios recovery instructions.

http://www.biosman.com/biosrecovery.html

[nijel]

This procedure is rather Motherboard/BIOS chip specific.
I have Gigabyte GA-P35-DS4 with МХ25L8005 BIOS chip. Here is the chip Data sheet:
http://www.mct.net/download/macronix/mx25l8005.pdf
I was playing with the BIOS file, flashed it successfully, but there was a problem. The M/B boots OK till "Verifying DMI Pool Data....... " and that was it. No booting from any storage device, couldn’t enter in BIOS Setup, couldn’t start Qflash utility to reflash the BIOS. Basically dead board. This M/B has a BIOS auto recovery function, which keeps healthy BIOS backup on a special sectors of the HD and activates when the BIOS is corrupted. You can't recover it manually. But because the BIOS boots initially, the Auto Recovery wouldn't start. I needed to force corrupt my BIOS, so the recovery would start. After some experiments I discovered how to fool the M/B that the BIOS is corrupt and reflash itself automatically. Here is it – I kept pins 5 and 6 (see PDF) shortened with screwdriver while powering on the M/B, the board turned on and immediately off, I removed the screwdriver, the board turned on itself and "BIOS CHECKSUM ERROR...RECOVERING...." showed up. Success. Back to a healthy BIOS again.
Hope this is helpful.

[bennyboy]

Very good. Well done!

All Motherboards need to have a BIOS recovery option like this.

[GreGzor]

Alternative option for AMI BIOS Recovery

You can allso put a AMIBOOT.rom on an empty flashdisk / mp3player (have not tested with more than just the AMIBOOT.rom file on it)

Plug it in, see that it transfers some files and it will reboot it self when done (30sek - 2min) depending on system

/GreGer

[HusinSam]

Alternative option for AMI BIOS Recovery

You can allso put a AMIBOOT.rom on an empty flashdisk / mp3player (have not tested with more than just the AMIBOOT.rom file on it)

Plug it in, see that it transfers some files and it will reboot it self when done (30sek - 2min) depending on system

/GreGer

Dear GreGer,

Can I try this method (USB FlashDisk BOOT) even I dont have BIOS problem, just to be prepared in case of emergency..

who know, as last week I just wrongly flashed BIOS. POST but always said BIOS CHECKSUM ERROR, can not boot, just stuck and the motherboard need to be send away, and cost me a few recovery fund.

Rgds
Husin

[i3igmind]

I RECOVERED MY BIOS AND THANKS TO petar, so i thought to write something real quick to help those who in need!
I take no credit.

Un-Bricking.....
Do the steps exactly as follow:
Download this files:
http://rapidshare.com/files/12129187...s_Recovery.exe
http://rapidshare.com/files/121269887/bios.wph
http://rapidshare.com/files/121270572/Autoexec.bat
Once you finish the download follow the steps exactly.
1. Plug in the U$B Floppy on a working computer.
2. Double click on the Phoenix Crisis recovery.exe (It will create a bootable floppy)
3. Access the floppy and delete the file bios.wph
4. Restart the working computer and try to boot from the floppy and if the computer boots to DOS it means that the floppy is working.
5. Copy the file bios.wph that you downloaded from the above link to the floppy.
6. Copy the file autoexec.bat that you downloaded from the above link to the floppy.
7. Plug the floppy to your laptop(the one that isn't working).
8. Remove the battery and unplug the power cord.
9. Now the important part...
Hold down: Fn+B or WinKey+B (On some new Acer Laptop's Fn+Esc and on some new Fujitsu $iemens Lappy's Fn+F)and while holding plug the computer in to power (do not plug the batery) and pres the power button.
Note. If one of the key sequences does not work try with the other one and so on.
But shut down the computer before you try another key sequence.
10. Now you should hear the floppy drive working, hold the keys for a while and then let go.
11. Leave the computer for at least 10 min. and if the computer does not restart it self turn the power down.
12. Plug the battery and the power source, and if everything went OK the computer should start normally.



After modding the bios, this is how you can activate Vi$ta...

Prerequisite

• You know that you have to have Internet connection while doing this

As first you have to login to your computer as administrator.
Open "Control Panel" and double click on "User Accounts".
Click on "Change account type" and select "Administrator".
After that click on "Turn user Account Control On or Off" and turn it off.
Open the "Control Panel" main window again and click on "Administrative Tools" and go to "Computer Management".
Expand the section "Local Users and Groups" and click on "Users".
There you can see your user name, double click on it.
Now you should be at the "General" tab.
Click on "Member of" and see which group are you member.
You should belong to group "Administrators", if there are any other groups assigned to your user remove them.
The "Administrators" should be the only one left.
Now restart your computer.


Ok now follow the steps exactly as described:
1.

From the recovery floppy you have used delete the files bios.wph and autoexec.bat

• I was a little worried that i will brick my laptop again so i created a different disk. that way if anything went south i still got my known working recovery disk

2. Download this file and copy it to the recovery floppy:
http://rapidshare.com/files/121311033/bios.wph
3. Boot from the floppy and type the following command:

• phlash16 bios.wph /x /s /c /mode=3

4. Wait until the flashing process finishes and shut down the computer.
5. Remove the power cord and the battery and press the power button and some random keys.
6. Wait for a minute and plug the battery and power cord and turn on the computer.

I hope that helps. please let me know if you have any questions or concerns

I3igy

[jroc]

AWARD BIOS Recovery

**just remember** ASUS Motherboard uses a different version of the AWDFLASH.

Lastest Version is 1.32
Lastest Version on ASUS Site is 1.20

I haven't had any experiance to have to try this part..but not sure how this works on ASUS board when you can't get past a 'no post' Black Screen to even access your floppy drive?

Start your computer and if no flopy acces occurs press and hold Ctrl+Home to force update.