G73JH BIOS 209 Now Available

Those who don't want to regret upgrading the bios, Don't do it. It's not worth it to brick your laptop just for fixing the Fn+Esc issue. If some other major fixes come up with this new bios, Maybe you can try it. But kalim did a pretty good guide. Just don't blame anyone if your laptop gets bricked.

 

bios 209 + cat 10.5 works fine with me...

i didn't read the thread about how to upgrade using ez flash,
i just using winflash which other people who did the same way have their keyboard led dead too...
if you want to upgrade use the way the guide from kalim... many succeed.

edit:
do unplug and pulg in keyboard led cable can fix this?
or a clean install can fix this?

 

Oh, I know!

That wasn't against BB, it was more of a shot at Asus haha! But everything is fine for the time being, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed...

 

If the cable came loose then maybe.

Clean install of Windows? No.

 

Well said! Kalim's guide is great, but I don't want to take the risk. My BSOD was probably only a random crash... (since everything still works)

 

I wish I had looked further on the forums before upgrading my laptop from 206 to 209...now it's effectively bricked. I've looked everywhere for any hint of a solution and tried everything (resetting CMOS, praying, sacrificing a goat, etc).

How the hell does Asus' BIOS brick their own computer? Seriously? This thing has no power at all. No LED lights come on, no fan turning, nothing. This is the absolute first time I've dealt with a bad BIOS (been tinkering with computers since mid '90's). I just updated my TV and printer with their own BIOS updates...no problems, LOL.

 

Well goodluck. Because i had a g72gx before that i got in best buy, and i experienced blue screens so i returned it and have it replaced with a new one then still, It does blue screens so it means that really is an issue for that laptop. I had at least 3 bsod's since i owned my g73jh now. Well at least im not experiencing GSOD's. Well let's just hope that one bios will solve all of our issues.

Hell yeah. If there is a solution to unbrick the bricked mobo then i will start to update my bios. I don't want to take any chances to brick my beloved g73jh. :

I'm sorry dude. What method did you use? Kalim's guide is working smooth according to those who tried to update. Have you contacted Asus support?

 

Flashing the BIOS is always a risky proposition, and not just for this laptop. Any time you do it you have to be exact and methodical in your approach or you can brick the machine. Take heart in the fact that ASUS still supports the laptop as some places won't take back electronics that have been bricked as a result of flashing the BIOS.

As far as the "it should just work"... well, it does. However many of us tweak for better performance or more features, which is why we flash the BIOS or install new drivers.

 

Did you update your bios dude?

 

Very good point. These machines work fine right out of the box for most people. It's tweaking the system for better performance on the latest games that sometimes gets us in trouble.

Cheers,

 

Because some of us wants to be updated and wants the best out of their laptops.

 

Yup, as soon as it was available and as soon as I got home to do it. Been running on it for approximately a week (probably less) with no issues thus far.

Just because I say something doesn't mean I follow my own advice. It's just that I think people are dismissive of the risks that occur with flashing and updating drivers / etc. We had a lot of people jumping to the 206 BIOS without knowing what they were fixing and it killed a lot of keyboard lighting. I held off on that one.

 

Always exits the risk of brick your hardware. Because of this I'll be stick on the 206. Eveything works fine and I'm not user of Fn+Esc (actually I never touched that combination)

 

I'm with you on that now...I fedex'd my lappy today and when it comes back, I'm leaving the BIOS alone. Asus has shown me that their software can effectively trash their own products. That's just insane.

 

I know, They didn't even put up a guide on how to install a proper bios update.

 

I got the same message, but went ahead anyway because I have a lot of experience in flashing and I'm not bothered by HUGE WARNINGS.

Guess what... I bricked it good. That makes me about 50 and 3 for good vs. bad flashes in my 15 years of flashing.

So have we all come to the conclusion that there is no magic key combination at power-on that causes the G73 to read the BIOS off a thumb drive?

Anyone who sent their's in for RMA, can you describe the cost (if any) and the time frame for getting it back from the repair center? I may play dumb (I'm obviously good at it) and tell them I don't know why it stopped working if they want to charge me.

 

Hi, please, solved you case? And how? I have completely same problem. And me will not send this NB to complain.
Thanks for answer..

 

9 business days for me, in the same state as the service center.

No cost - it's got a good warranty.

No need to play dumb when SOP for Asus tech support is to recommend trying a BIOS update to fix everything

Asus could save some money by publishing a way to restore a bricked machine!

 

I ordered my lappy not too long ago... I guess I should stay away from the 209 update or will it already be updated when it comes?

edit - also, these are the correct instructions right? I mean, if I can update without no problems then I'll do it.

 

Has anyone gotten ThrottleStop to work after going below 25% battery? Mine doesn't unpark (is that the right term?) the cores anymore after upgrading to 209.

 

I'm sorry to hear that happened.

You mean after bricking? Not that I'm aware. Besides RMA, there was a poster that claimed to be able to recover from a failed BIOS, but I've seen no indication that this is true in the case of the G73JH.

This question goes out to anyone reading who had an issue updating the BIOS.

Did you change the format on the thumb drive from what it was sold with?

 

As far as what drive I used, I had installed an Intel X25m SSD that I bought for the G73. I found this forum, and the suggestion to use a thumb drive after the fact.

BTW, my Win 7 experience rating for the HD went from 5.9 to 7.5 when I changed to the SSD. Mine boots in 25 secs, or more correctly it used too... sniff.

 

Ah, okay. Anyone else who had a failed BIOS update that used a thumb drive, did you changed the format?

Yep, WEI considers the spinner as the bottleneck. Mine boots in 40 seconds.

 

Hi, not i use flash drive and failed BIOS update too...

 

Has anyone seen improved success over the keystroke problem by upating to BIOS 209?

I was planning on updating my BIOS later on today, however I just wanted to clarify if it was worth the update that would fix the keystroke problem. Rather not take the chance to brick my laptop to fix FN+ESC that I don't use and having working keyboard lights, to an update I didn't need.

Please clarify for me! Thank you

 

I have replaced the first harddisk too with an Intel SSD and saw that weird message so I didn't flash.

Moved the BIOS to a USB flash drive and the flash went OK. It looks like the message you and me got is Intel SSD related.

My opinion is that the best thing to do is to at least flash during your warranty period because Asus has to properly reflash your machine for free. A failed flash is the problem of Asus and not yours. Looking at all these failed flashes it looks like Asus has seriously borked the flashing mechanism.

I think the BIOS flash is important for everyone because it will at least solve the battery throttling issues.

I'm a bit disappointed with Asus quality and support. Instead of bringing out multiple versions of the G73 design why not first fix the existing model properly.

 

I suggest not to if you don't want to regret it. I mean, It's not worth it to brick your laptop just to fix the throttling issues or the FN+ESC-fail. But its still up to you.

 

The only bios recovery tools I could find were for desktop systems (using blind bios update) and were at least 18 months to two years old. Seems these newer quasi EFI bios have no failed update recovery.

Cheers,

 

My brother thought he was helping and flashed my bios using WinFlash...unfortunately I've tried all methods, and have no working keyboard lights...

This is obviously Asus's fault, but what is there official word on this? They released it, it has bricked people's G73 or screwed their keyboard lights up, but don't believe I've really seen any response from them. Now the consumer has to go through the hassle of RMA'ing a system back because of Asus's screw up. Some people use this laptop not only for gaming, but for other purposes. Why should the consumer be penalized and be without their laptop because of Asus's lack of testing.

 

Well, most people are able to flash their laptops without problems. Chances are, you didn't doublecheck the md5 hash against a known good download, and flashed a slightly-corrupted bios. Or had a power failure. Or one of the many, many things that usually don't happen and can be prevented if you try but aren't common enough to bother doublechecking...

 

Actually, AMI wrote the BIOS and flash utilities.

 

Asus didn't tell me to send in my power supply. Do I? I still have the original package so I can send it back just as I got it.

 

Not sure why this is a difficult question, but here it goes again.

Did you change the thumb drive format after purchasing it?

 

A good inquiry, might the failed flashes be because of the NTFS format instead of FAT32?

 

I flashed from a FAT formatted thumbdrive. 1GB SanDisk Cruzer Micro.

So far no issues. Although I get random hard freezes when certain sounds play though at the weirdest times. Some MSN sounds, and pidgin sounds. No steam, Ease of Access center lockups though.

Creative software all uninstalled and Realtek drivers updated to 2.48. Gets annoying when I have to hard reboot.

 

I sent mine in both times, but I'm not sure if I had to.

They give you a form to document what you send - use it! This form should be filled out and included with the returned notebook. I would (and did) make a copy of the filled-in form just in case you don't get everything back that you sent (unlikely, but possible).

 

hmm someone had an ant lodged in their screen...maybe check for birds?

 

I looked. Seems the jet engine turbines had sucked in a few.

Haven't locked up in 2 days though.

 

*edit* Wrong thread.

 

My thumb drive is NTFS so that might be the cause.

 

Thanks guys for your replies. While it's inconclusive due to the lack of additional feedback, I have gone ahead and added a warning to be on the safe side.

Maybe I should create a poll?

 

Mine USB was Sandisk formatted FAT32. Worked fine.

Cheers,

 

I used flash formatted NTFS. And BIOS broken...

 

i rarely post, but this forum is a lifesaver... my co-worker and I got the exact same model G73 from Best Buy. He tried BIOS 209 1st with a USB stick formatted in NTFS. His laptop turned into a brick and he had to RMA. I tried using the EXACT same stick, but formatted in FAT32. SUCCESS! DO NOT TRY THE BIOS WITH ANYTHING FORMATTED IN NTFS!!!

 

Instead of RMA, why not just return to Bestbuy and get a new one??

I just a sandisk 16GB usb drive formatted in NTFS for bios update...

everything seems fine, but i did turn off all the light before flashing bios.

 

You mean that the atmosphere must be spooky as the process is obviously haunted?

 

i am sorry. im sick with reading 15 pages...
i hear any issue that using 10.xx ATI Catalyst CC will cause GSOD (i'm not sure what it is) and you should turn off the KB lights and the blue light before installing 209. is that right?

by the way my own ship with 206.. and if am not wrong there is no RMA around in Indonesia, so please help me out..

sorry with my english

 

lolz

I'm so glad I found this place, though. I just ordered my G73 the other day, and I'm learning all the quirks now before I get my hands on it and screw it up.

 

please answer me

 

I'm sorry I don't understand what you want help with. Did you try the bios update and now the system will not boot? What is the issue you need help with?

Cheers,