G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

After following the posts in http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/485568-g73jh-bios-209-your-risk.html with interest, I got really tempted to do the update to the 209 Bios beta version.

I have never updated a Bios before, although I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable on computers, so I really went into this with a lot of trepidation. (And no, I had not been drinking )

Thankfully everything went well, and I am up and running with Bios v209.

Everything seems to be working correctly, including my keyboard lights.

This tutorial is in response to a request,

and having learned so much from others, the least I can do is give this back.

Thanks to everyone who has been of help to me in these forums, both in open threads and also through im's. I would never have had the confidence to do it without all your help.

 

PLEASE NOTE: THESE ARE THE STEPS THAT WORKED FOR ME. I CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK FOR YOU, NOR CAN I TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY IF IT DOES NOT. ANY UPDATES TO YOUR BIOS ARE AT YOUR OWN RISK!

I must also mention that my G73JH is pretty stock, as regards to drivers. Also most of the bloatware is off, including all the Creative software, that was causing all the sound issues. I don't know if this is relevant or not, but I thought I would mention it up front.

- First thing to do is download and unzip the BIOS update file (in this case, 209 Bios beta version).

Thanks to rick07, it is available at: http://forum.notebookreview.com/6271142-post92.html

- Save the Bios on a flash drive.

- Turn off keyboard lights, as well as blue bar light under screen and blue lights on the 3 buttons top left of keyboard (Is this necessary? I really have no idea, but this is exactly what I did).

- Stick the flash drive back into a USB port and restart the notebook.

- When you see the Asus splash screen, press the F2 key to enter Bios.

- In the Bios, navigate to the Advanced tab.

- In Advanced tab, select "Start Easy Flash" (should already be selected), and hit enter.

- This should bring you to the Asus Tek. Easy Flash Utility page.



Under "Current Platform" you should have your current Bios (I took this image after I had done the update).

- Navigate to the right middle pane, and select G73JhAS.209 (or whatever version you want to flash to and is on the flash drive), and hit enter.

- It will ask "Do you want to update BIOS", and give you options "Yes and No".

- Obviously, select Yes, and the update will begin, and run through to completion.

- When finished, the notebook will shut down, and you're done.

- Go ahead and restart your notebook, which should now have the new, updated Bios.

 

Couple of points to note!

- I first tried to do the update with the new Bios file saved in a folder on my desktop. On entering the Easy Flash Utility, I was able to navigate to where I had the file saved, but when I clicked on it, I got an error message: "Error! Read File Failly!!"

I was able to exit the Bios, and start the notebook normally. This is when I put the file on a flash drive, and proceeded with the update as described above.

- After the update, I have noticed that the Bios > Advanced > Asus Easy Over-Clock is set to "Normal", with an option for setting it to "Turbo". I am waiting to hear whether this should be set to "Turbo", and will update this tutorial when I do. Other than that, all the other Bios settings appear to be correct.

EDIT: Please read the post from MarkS below. This means that no changes are needed in the Bios settings after the update. Thanks MarkS.

Well that's it........ quick, easy, straight forward Bios update, using the Easy Flash Utility.

Any comments and/or additions welcome.

 

That's the same Twin Turbo setting that the turbo button (middle button, top left) sets.

The BIOS setting will reflect the last state of the Twin Turbo mode if changed using the button. Set the Twin Turbo mode on/off from the BIOS will set the initial state when the machine boots.

 

OK great. So no changes are needed in the Bios settings.

Fully understood.

Thanks a lot MarkS

 

Good Guide stubbornswiss, +1 rep for ya laddie!

 

another newbie question.. what is the BIOS update for?

 

Do you mean what does it fix or why is there such a thing as a BIOS update? As the title says, it's for the G73JH.

 

yes, what is it for? what does it do? is this like an OS update for phones that give you more features and fixes bugs?

 

The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) software is the beating heart of the computer and resides inside a reprogrammable chip attached to the Motherboard. When the computer is first powered up, the BIOS software performs a Power-On Self-Test (POST), sets up the devices and controls all the hardware. Updating the BIOS can improve how the computer works. It can also make a perfectly fine computer sick, or in the worse case, dead. Updating the BIOS is not without some risk. For more information on the risk associated with updating the BIOS, please click the link in my sig and go to The Journey section and scroll down.

 

BIOS is a firmware, the first thing that the processor does is it copies the BIOS into the RAM and executes it, BIOS tests if all hardware works correctly, and initiates all hardware, usually modern operating sytems don't rely much on the BIOS and re-initiate he hardware themselves. BIOS also permits the booting, and it remains in RAM at all times, it registers some interrupts, such as the power button one .

 

modern motherboards have a special read-only zone in the flash to protect from a corrupted BIOS flash.

 

Explain that to MarcusTaz.

 

Bios updating is like changing the breaks in your car. Do it right, it's easy and occasionally required. Do it wrong, and you'll have problems.

It's not any more dangerous than that.

 

Unfortunately there are too many stories out there of people bricking their computers from Bios updates that went wrong.

However, like you said, do it right, and it's easy.

And on the Asus notebooks, with Easy Flash, it couldn't be any easier.

 

to who?
I know BIOSes as old as 1996 have a recovery mode(you think people designed it without that in mind?)

 

there are recovery procedures.

 

Interesting.......I never knew that. Thanks for the information.

Maybe you could be kind enough to start another thread explaining how to recover from a failed Bios. Like a "Failed Bios Recovery Tutorial"

I do believe there are quite a few people who would appreciate it.

 

I am lazy and have exams till friday.
besides I am too depressed to do it.

 

Ah.......lazy, depressed, and exams.

Not a good combination.

Good luck!

 

Does anyone know what this update actually fixes? I saw a couple others asked this and all they got was an explanation of what a BIOS is and why you should update it.

I would never, ever do an update unless I knew what it was fixing or changing. Many times the new ones have more bugs than the last ones so it is not smart to blindly update it.

 

How in the heck to you thing MarcusTaz feels? Do you think people in MarcusTaz's current situation want to RMA their laptop when you can offer them what it is they need? If I knew how to help other G73JH users recover their BIOS, the last thing I would be is incredibly selfish. I wouldn't hesitate at all to help others, but that's me.

Because that's what was asked? In addition, what's known about the update is already listed in the link that was included in the first post, I suggest you click the link and read for yourself.

Agreed, but it looks like when ASUS releases this BIOS, at least at this point in time, it's going to be worth it.

 

This update (209 Bios beta version) and its fixes are fully discussed in the thread which I linked in the first post.

Here it is again:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus/485568-g73jh-bios-209-your-risk.html

 

who the hell is MarcusTaZ?
what LAptop does he have I can try to help him reflash his bios/

 

Update: Just added a line in my post #2, regarding turning off the keyboard lights before starting the flash.

Is this necessary? Don't know, but it's what I did.

 

Hey, just wanted to say thanks stubbornswiss, used your method and everything worked just fine, I'm now running on BIOS v209, keyboard lights unchanged and my boot problem I was having fixed. Add me to another successful update.

+rep to ziddy123 for spreading the news, +rep to rick07 for finding it, and +rep to stubbornswiss for writing this fine guide. May it help others as it has helped me.

 

Wow......if this has helped even one person, then it was well worth my effort.

You are more than welcome.

And thanks to everyone who has helped me to learn so much, by sharing their knowledge and experiences through these forums.

 

Just used this method and everything is perfect here. Seems like the keyboard issue is fixed which was my reason for updating and using your method. My biggest worry was the KB lights but they are still working!!! +rep

 

yep, thanks for the guide, and thanks for helping out!

 

Rorage, I have a G73JH that appears to have bricked after the bios flash... won't turn on, no lights, power button doesn't do anything, tried the reset button on the bottom. Can you help me reflash or provide any advice?

 

Hi there.
kds... you're not alone. Same cause (flash from bios but file on HDD, the 2nd one to be precise) same consequence : laptop totally bricked.
I've already the RMA agreement, but I'm willing to consider any other option, balancing the risk of compared to RMA constraint.

Then Rorage, if you have any advice, even a short one which gave me an idea about what I could do or I could look for, it would be greatly appreciated.

 

I guess rorage needs a PM or an email....

 

Thanks for the straight forward guide, out of curiosity would it be possible to use an external USB drive opposed to using a thumb drive?

 

I'm really not sure, as I have not tried it. But I don't see why not.

However, I think it best to stay with what has been tried and tested.

 

Rorage, If you really know something to help those who had bricked their mobo, Can you please give them procedures how to fix it? I think you don't even know how to fix a bricked mobo.

 

I posted some links a couple of days ago about bios recovery and blind flashing. Most were related to desktops and I have no idea if they work for laptops, especially in these newer partially EFI machines.

Cheers,

 

In theory you should be able to use the hard drive in the computer, but that method doesn't work properly. I personally would NOT take the chance that a USB hard drive would work. It's your laptop, take the risk and let the rest of us know how it turned out.

 

** Deleted **

 

Ok, I bricked mine. Care to list those recovery procedures? From what I've read there is no emergency flash key combo at power-on for the G73 to get it to read the bios from a thumb drive. I guess it's RMA for me.

 

First time post!

I have tried to update my 206 vBios to the new 209 vBios. I have followed every step posted on this guide and on the one Kalim made. (thanks by the way!!) However, once I am in Easy flash the thumb drive and the file are not present and are not a selectable option.

I have tried using two separate thumb drives (both FAT32 format) and all available USB ports to no avail.

I really have no idea why this is happening. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I will be happy to provide more information when requested. Thanks in advance!

 

Dajohu, On mine it fixed 4 issues
1. an I/O conflick in device manager under keyboard- keyboard device filter
2. Throttling on battery (now when battery is low and I plug in the speed returns, it did not on 205)
3. wake from sleep - fans used to go full blast on 205, on 209 they do not!
4. the key combo Fn and ESC no longer locks my machine.

PS my flash drive was FAT formatted
thanks again to Stubbornswiss Kalim Great guides!

 

Go into the BIOS and under the "Advanced" tab make sure that "Legacy USB Support" is enabled. You know what? I'd probably first go to the "Save and Exit" tab and first use the "Restore Defaults" option. Then, recheck it.

 

Kalim thank you for the help but it is still not working. I Restored Defaults and checked if "Legacy USB Suport" was enabled. Any other suggestions?

 

GuiltyVerdict, is the BIOS file at the root of the thumb drive?
Also does the update file look like my attachment?
Last, my thumb drive was formated FAT
I am showing this not to over rule any of the experts, just showing what I did successfully.
Also this was the only file I had on the drive, but I know this does not matter!

 

JOSEA (thanks)- Is the BIOS file at the root of the thumb drive? YES
Also does the update file look like my attachment? YES
I did try formatting it to FAT still nothing and yes it was the only file on the drive.
Also if it helps... When I am in the Easy flash Utility it reads with or without my thumb drive inserted
FSO - .. / INTEL / PREFLOGS
FSO1 - ..
FSO2 - ..
FSO3 - .. / "my computer name" / Windowsbackup (or something like that)

 

Anyone please??

 

Swiss, just flashed the BIOS to official 209. GREAT guide. Very easy, only a little anxiety.

 

Glad to hear it worked well for you.

And yes, I know about that Anxiety.....

 

So, I tried one more time with a third and different thumb drive and it has finally worked. Lights and all.... Thanks for the guide!

 

Glad to hear it eventually worked for you.

Hmm.....I wonder what it was with the other thumb drives. Do they normally work as they should?