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    New BIOS released, 7811FX support NOT confirmed

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by mistargill, Sep 3, 2008.

  1. mistargill

    mistargill Notebook Consultant

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    mistargill, Sep 3, 2008
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  2. mistargill

    mistargill Notebook Consultant

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    Oh my.... The link just disappeared as I posted... But we do have driver download section for our product...

    NOW available!!!

    I downloaded it just in case
     
    mistargill, Sep 3, 2008
    #2
  3. douglaz

    douglaz Notebook Evangelist

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    Cool :) I can see the bios update too. Hmm. It is wierd that the only supported OS's are Vista 32bit and XP. But our laptops came with 64 bit!
     
    douglaz, Sep 3, 2008
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  4. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    bios' arent 32 vs. 64 bit dependent. when i had my old toshiba x205, i would download bios updates for 32-bit vista, even though i was running vista ultimate 64 bit.

    taken from gateways website, though its interesting to see that its BIOS update 94.28.00, but the BIOS that i have is 94.29.00
    also, if you cant see the bios download, i've uploaded it to rapidshare. here
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  5. plazmic

    plazmic Notebook Consultant

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    Your right in that the BIOS is independent code, but the Flashing utility is more than likely 32-Bit only.
     
    plazmic, Sep 3, 2008
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  6. douglaz

    douglaz Notebook Evangelist

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    Cool. But if I go to the drivers section and pick my model and stuff, at the OS selection, it doesn't give me the 64 bit version of any drivers tho.
     
    douglaz, Sep 3, 2008
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  7. douglaz

    douglaz Notebook Evangelist

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    douglaz, Sep 3, 2008
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  8. mistargill

    mistargill Notebook Consultant

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    mistargill, Sep 3, 2008
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  9. douglaz

    douglaz Notebook Evangelist

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    Mistargill, what Bios did your computer come with? 94.28.00 or 94.29.00?
     
    douglaz, Sep 3, 2008
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  10. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    +rep maybe?
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  11. mistargill

    mistargill Notebook Consultant

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    I just gave you that... lol I'm new here.. just registed today and you are the first one I'm giving this to lol.

    to "douglaz" I don't have this laptop yet.. I orded online from bestbuy and is arriving tomorrow. I'll give you the information tomorrow when I get it.
     
    mistargill, Sep 3, 2008
    #11
  12. fire268

    fire268 Notebook Consultant

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    That's weird, my BIOS says 9C.05.00 (Phoenix Bios dated 7/10/08). What did you guys have shipped with your systems?
     
    fire268, Sep 3, 2008
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  13. douglaz

    douglaz Notebook Evangelist

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    Sounds good.
     
    douglaz, Sep 3, 2008
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  14. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    my apologies for jumping the gun. *tips hat*
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  15. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    another thing, i am about to be the guinea pig to see if this is actually a viable option for the P-6860's. and as far as i can tell, the instructions that gateway gives for flashing from usb drive are really lacking in depth. i've already tried it once with no success (doing it gateways way) so now im trying it my own way to get the bios to flash from usb drive.
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  16. mistargill

    mistargill Notebook Consultant

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    Give me rep+ too :)
     
    mistargill, Sep 3, 2008
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  17. narsnail

    narsnail Notebook Prophet

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    This will work, the readme says so, I have 94.26 and this is 94.28, I am just about to flash it.
     
    narsnail, Sep 3, 2008
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  18. douglaz

    douglaz Notebook Evangelist

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    What is the best way to flash it? I don't have the Power2Go software anymore since I did a frsh install of Vista 64bit. Do I have to have that software?
     
    douglaz, Sep 3, 2008
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  19. fire268

    fire268 Notebook Consultant

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    I just noticed you guys with 94.xx bios have 683x gateways. Can anyone that has a 7811 tell me what BIOS your computer came with?
     
    fire268, Sep 3, 2008
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  20. douglaz

    douglaz Notebook Evangelist

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    I would but I'm not at home so I don't know what BIOS it says on mine. Anyone else?
     
    douglaz, Sep 3, 2008
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  21. MadHatter01

    MadHatter01 Notebook Consultant

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    After trying booting of a CD, i tried using a usb drive. I get the following error.
    Could not find BCP DMI block in bios rom file image.
    Im stumped, any one else got it to work?
     
    MadHatter01, Sep 3, 2008
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  22. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    i tried the usb drive first, and then cd (well, dvd as i dont have any blank cd's) and neither way worked.
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  23. MadHatter01

    MadHatter01 Notebook Consultant

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    I think they put out a bad update. I tried to find it again on their site and its gone.
     
    MadHatter01, Sep 3, 2008
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  24. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    paging Mr. Dook. Mr. Dook you are wanted at the customer service desk
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  25. narsnail

    narsnail Notebook Prophet

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    ok, got it to work, but I used a flash drive.

    You need to follow this guide to make a bootable flash drive, but do not make it a *Quick Format*.

    After you have created the bootable drive, copy all of the files you downloaded from the BIOS to the flash drive. *BUT DO NOT REPLACE ANY FILES*, as it will terminate the update. So if it says this file exists, would you like to replace it, you click NO. PS, when it is done updating, there is an extremely loud beeping sound so dont be stupid and jump like I did. :) Good Luck.
     
    narsnail, Sep 3, 2008
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  26. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

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    What did the BIOS update do?

    Is it worth the hassle or is it something that isnt worth the time?
     
    Kamin_Majere, Sep 3, 2008
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  27. narsnail

    narsnail Notebook Prophet

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    I dont know what it did lol, I know it worked though, I didnt see any release notes, Ill have a look see now. I am *ASSUMING* it enabled raid and possibly raised multipliers for higher OCing on the X seires CPUs, but mine will not go higher then 3.0 still.....
     
    narsnail, Sep 3, 2008
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  28. plazmic

    plazmic Notebook Consultant

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    Is RAID a selection for SATA Controller in the BIOS now?
     
    plazmic, Sep 3, 2008
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  29. narsnail

    narsnail Notebook Prophet

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    I wouldnt know, as RAID is enabled on the 6831FX anyways, someone with a 7811 would have to check.
     
    narsnail, Sep 3, 2008
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  30. WozniakMac

    WozniakMac Notebook Consultant

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    Does this enable RAID
     
    WozniakMac, Sep 3, 2008
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  31. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    try it and find out.
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  32. MadHatter01

    MadHatter01 Notebook Consultant

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    Has anyone with a 7811 got it to work?
     
    MadHatter01, Sep 3, 2008
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  33. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    dammit....i almost had it the first time 'round then. except i replaced the files it had duplicates of. dammit.

    on another note, im not sure if it is a downgrade or an upgrade, but i now have BIOS version 94.28.00 instead of 94.29.00 like it originally had.

    @nars...the warning for the loud beep doesnt help. i still jumped.
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  34. MadHatter01

    MadHatter01 Notebook Consultant

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    I think that this update is not for the 7811. The chipset is different then the 6800 models.
     
    MadHatter01, Sep 3, 2008
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  35. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    chipset does not matter when you are updating the BIOS. Basic Input Output System. the chipset, ironically enough, reads the bios first. quit naysaying and repeating questions and try the d@mn thing
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  36. mistargill

    mistargill Notebook Consultant

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    mistargill, Sep 3, 2008
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  37. WozniakMac

    WozniakMac Notebook Consultant

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    I tried it using a flash drive and I get this error:

    "Could not find BCP DMI block in BIOS ROM file image."

    What is that?
     
    WozniakMac, Sep 3, 2008
    #37
  38. Diablo

    Diablo Metalhead

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    did you try this first?:
     
    Diablo, Sep 3, 2008
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  39. WozniakMac

    WozniakMac Notebook Consultant

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    Yes, I used that guide.
     
    WozniakMac, Sep 3, 2008
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  40. MadHatter01

    MadHatter01 Notebook Consultant

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    If you look at my post you will see I tried, but it failed. I even posted the error. Also I understand what a bios is and yes chipset does matter. That why a bios is motherboard specific. Go to Asus's web site, you will see hundreds of bios updates in support. Not one for every Intel or Amd motherboard.
     
    MadHatter01, Sep 4, 2008
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  41. Quadzilla

    Quadzilla The eye is watching you

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    Burned with IMGBURN on a cd not a dvd worked perfect :).
     
    Quadzilla, Sep 4, 2008
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  42. Kamin_Majere

    Kamin_Majere =][= Ordo Hereticus

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    Have you noticed a difference between them and the ones the 6860 came with?
     
    Kamin_Majere, Sep 4, 2008
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  43. Quadzilla

    Quadzilla The eye is watching you

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    TBH i havent noticed anything good nor bad but i just flashed it and really never had any problems with my system other then when i OC my video card to much the screen takes a crap but havent tested that yet and for some reason doubt it fixed that issue.
     
    Quadzilla, Sep 4, 2008
    #43
  44. E-wrecked

    E-wrecked BANNED

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    I cant get to flash either.. BCP DMI issue.. going to try and flash thru windows using winphlash

    EDIT: bout to flash, wish me luck that I dont brick it. :)
     
    E-wrecked, Sep 4, 2008
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  45. tallan

    tallan Notebook Deity

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    Waiting to hear what if anything new or different this does on a P-7811FX; got the missing file failure also, which makes me wonder if this update is really for the 7811 or if the model was simply included as being part of the FX "family" by an administrative rather than technical type at Gateway.
     
    tallan, Sep 4, 2008
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  46. free2roll

    free2roll Notebook Enthusiast

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    Be careful, when I goto gateways support site with my desktop it shows the bios upgrade and says it's not compatible with my system (which is correct).

    If I goto the same URL using my p-7811fx there is no bios download available, meaning it's probably not for the p7811fx and although they do have it clearly shown it in the compatibility list, the os listed says 32bit vista / xp only
     
    free2roll, Sep 4, 2008
    #46
  47. Jakamo5

    Jakamo5 Tetra Vaal

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    So, in conclusion, Gateway accidentally released it as a bios update with 7811 inclusion, realized their mistake (that the models associated do not include the 7811), and removed it from the 7811 update list. Wasn't it being removed a clear indication that you should NOT try to use it regardless?
     
    Jakamo5, Sep 4, 2008
    #47
  48. E-wrecked

    E-wrecked BANNED

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    Hmm.. Well, i successfully ruined my bootmgr on the C: drive..fortunately I had the original HD sitting here from the 7811FX. Im going to load 32bit vista on here and flash the BIOS thru windows. Looks like gateway has NEVER released a 64bit BIOS. Ill let ya know how it goes.
     
    E-wrecked, Sep 4, 2008
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  49. E-wrecked

    E-wrecked BANNED

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    It still shows as supported and a driver for 7811fx..32bit only.
     
    E-wrecked, Sep 4, 2008
    #49
  50. DestruyaX

    DestruyaX Notebook Evangelist

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    There is no such thing as a "64-bit" BIOS. BIOSes are BIOSes. You don't see desktop boards with two different BIOS files for different OSes. The only time OS/CPU architecture would come into play is the compatibility of the executable used.

    The inclusion of the 7811 on a BIOS list that includes pre-Centrino 2 laptops is a huge blunder. Thank God you really have to know what the hell you're doing to screw your laptop up doing it.
     
    DestruyaX, Sep 4, 2008
    #50
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