New BIOS released, 7811FX support NOT confirmed

Can I ask a serious question? Why, if there is no noticeable difference, are people taking the chance bricking their machines? I mean I'm all for taking chances if there is something radical to be found, but unless I'm missing something, there doesn't appear to be. I've been out of the loop for a couple days and I'm thinking I may be missing an important fact somewhere.

 

I just like to keep my hardware up to date, and I have a full warrenty

 

The 10 foot pole with which I would not touch this BIOS flash.


Congrats to Dook on the new record:
3DMark06- 6,378,924- NEW RECORD

 

I, too, have that same pole. It tends to keep me out of trouble.

And thanks for the congrats! I'm not stable at that score mind you(and may have possibly just made that number up), but everyone else is doing it!

 

I agree with Dook, especially for those with the 7811... no one is positive that this bios supports the 7811, so prob not a good idea.

 

doesn't the jump drive need to be formatted in floppy emulation or by using the hp usb flash drive format software?

jumper? what jumper? there is no jumper for allowing the flashing of the bios on these particular gateways. it would be a key combination like the ones i posted earlier. and yes, i have a usb floppy drive for flashing the bios. and i have an automated autoexec.bat file to flash with out me doing anything.

im just waiting on either the box for shipping comes or someone says...john, here is the bios recovery key combination. everything else is setup and ready to go....

if not, they will fix it one way or the other reprogram the chip/use a key combination/new motherboard/new computer. but we shall see....

 

You guys may use a pole, but I like the thumb method better...

 

guess you didn't catch why i was doing it.... not sure why others are though....

 

I actually dont know why I did it. Its kind alike watching something bizzare being born, you just stare.

 

good answer!

lol

 

I'm corn-fused - we have 6831, 68xx, 7811 people all posting on a 7811 BIOS thread about how and why they used "the new bios." Is there some new UBER BIOS that covers ALL Gateway laptops? Is there some person on the planet who actually and successfully flashed the new BIOS on their 7811 running Vista64?

Now we have people on the forum, anxious to be helpful and having 8 posts, recommending a 7811 BIOS flash. This is not a good thing, friends and citizens of NBR.

 

why would anyone flash a bios:

1 knows what it fixes and needs it.
2 in dire need of a paperweight.
3 want to test manufacturer repair services.
4 feel stupidly adventures (includes rep purposes).

as to this bios: the file dates 12/2007 and the version (94.28.00)corresponds to the bios released with the 6860fx(at least some of them). even as a 6831fx user i wouldn't recommend it, as hacking VT on this bios is less stable than on the 94.26.00.

 

+rep for
humor & wisdom

 

Awesome! That's kind of what happened when I was hatched.

I agree totally. And syn, ubercool Avy! I'd rep ya but I can't. I think I repped you back when God was playing the original NES.

 

That's OK - it's the thought that counts.
Thanks.

 

wow...attacking the bios up daters. the pioneers for those who'd rather sit back and wait. all very interesting to say the least. i know a few of you who have waited for people like us to jump out and test things for those who dont have the resources (extra laptops/tools/time/money/effort/ & a whole long list of other things that go with trying to find answers/upgrades that work/files that are clean and working) all i can say is....wow! but carry on

 

Hey..they all thought Columbus was crazy for wanting to fall off the edge of the world. Don't we Americans have a day to celebrate his original "ingorance and stupidity"? Takes a pioneer of some sort to ever accomplish anything spectacular. So john..lemme know when you figure out how I can flash my BIOS

 

I certainly wasn't attacking anyone. I had a legit question, as this "update" didn't(and still doesn't) make sense to me and was sincerely wondering if there was something I was missing.

 

My thoughts on the bios were this . Maybe the older bios was more stable and the decided to put it out there for people having problems . God knows in the past with my desktop and laptops they would release new bios that didnt always fix things but occasionally made things worse ie my XPS laptops 3 generations of those had quite a few updates and with my 680sli motherboard some of them fubared the ram and were frying sticks like nobodys buisness.

 

Allow me to break Champagne against the hull of your adventure and wish you bon voyage. Watch out for the natives.

We cowardly types will be waiting here in the port of safety and sensibility.

 

not saying everyone. and im incline to joke with the best of them as well, but if an opinion is you don't want to do anything to your computer then that's fine. more power to those that choose not to. but lets not try to beat down the people trying to find answers for those who don have them already. is all i was saying.

with flashing a bios for example. this is 2008 and generally speaking... most laptops have a bios safety net in place. (most of them) but here we find out that the 6860/6831/7811/172 and not to mention a few other gateway models that do not have this feature. so flashing an FX Series notebook is truly "flashing at ones own risk" if it had a bios recovery option, then most of us wouldn't even be having this conversation. it's still uncertain as to whether the 7811 does in fact.... not use a bios recovery option, since no one has confirmed this yet.

bios recovery option= fn+b or fn+r or win+b or win+r or crtl+esc or crtl+home.

these are the well known one's to invoke the bios recovery option. now if some one has any others they would like to add..then by all means..feel free to do so.

so far the people i have talked to from gateway seem to have never heard of this.... so who knows... im still trying to get the right tech on the phone who does know for sure.

 

LOL. You're great Syn, love the sense of humor!

 

Gateway's solution: "Have you tried reintalling the system using your restore CD?" That's where their script ends..
Then the next step is.. "Please, allow me to put you in touch with our how-to department for $69.99 a half hour, $99.99 an hour, or $159.99 for 11 annual uses." I believe that's the pricing I was quoted. Thanks, but NO THANKS!

Gone to Spore the New World Zoltar as E-God, the Creator. Should only take six days; Coming back here to rest on the 7th.

 

mind the Columbus sect, i for one used symcos on my bios, and quite happy with the result, moreover i respect john for trying to up his max o/c speed, he took his chances for an end. i said what i said so people who does not know the risks of flashing, will not follow the Columbus trend out of sheer coolness and brick their machines. by all means its your machine, do as you like.

 

Some people fear failure, therefore they don't take risks and hide under the guild of caution. Like you john, I agree..throw caution to the wind when value exceeds cost. 9.9 out of 10 times, the risk taker will prevail.

 

lol'd whered u get that stat, u been lied to!

 

I agree with 50% of the people 90% of the time. Unless those people are giving "half arsed" advice. Then my ratio drops to 30% of the people 70% of the time. This of course allows for an error margin of +/- 20%. And this only applies 37.33% of the time.

Yes, you may quote me.

 

so....has anyone found out whether or not the 7811 has the bios recovery option?

 

I pulled it out of my arse.

Well.. you're easily influenced eh? 1 out of 2.67881061 isn't bad +/- 20-%. Especially when that's after assessing a little less than half of what you see/hear, and then passing judgement based on the remaining options.

john, I've tried all the key combos you've provided.. I haven't had any luck. I think it's a gateway thing.

 

New personal record inspired by Dook. Thanks for your hatin'

 

thanks for checking that out.

and wtg on the new record!! thumbs up to ya!!

 

I hope this thing hangs in for the long haul. It is one terrific unit. I'm lovin' it. Kid in a candy store.

 

I think we should set a day where we all email Gateway tech support requesting a bios upgrade for the 7811. Maybe if they get enough of them at once they'll actually listen....

 

I'm up for this. Good idea!

 

I agree, even 10 or 20 messages coming on the same day might cut through the clutter. Can someone post the best address @ Gateway? Anyone got a direct link to a manager or upper-level tech support person?

 

Cool! Me too! I'm so excited!

 

Yea, too bad you don't have an orb link for it

 

No fair using Beta drivers!

And I'll bet you're on that new BIOS too.

 

ok lets play nice again

 

Given that there might be last minute buyers just finding this forum in the next few weeks, is there any way to change the title to indicate this ISN'T a BIOS for the 7811 so we don't have people bricking their laptops trying to shove a square peg the size of Nebraska into a circular hole the size of Rhode Island?

 

you can report a thread to a mod and ask it to either rename it or nuke it, as he sees fit. just did that.

 

Yeah, I just find it surprising someone hasn't already.

 

I changed the title so hopefully that helps.

 

we love you chaz....not really, but im sure ill be PM'ing you sometime in the near future for the senior users group. thanks chaz.

Boba Fett FTW!!!

 

@diablo - lol at your ativra.

 

just got off the phone with another gateway tech and they say....there is no "bios recovery mode" with this series of laptop (6831/6860/172/173/7811). and so far...and im inclined to agree so far.... i have tried about 100 different combination's and nothing thus far. they still haven't asked me for any 69.99 half hour tech support charges though...*LOL* so my warranty must be holding. lol

 

I think many of you guys miss the point that is being made here by several users. Just some background for an FYI........I am new to these forums but not new to computers. I am an experienced system builder (desktop) and subzero overclocker/benchmarker. I have flashed more desktop motherboard BIOS than I care to remember.

Yes, those of you who are "pioneers" should be commended. But there is a difference between being a pioneer and just flat out doing something stupid. Hey I think I can make my laptop fly let me throw it off the roof and see what happens! Now I am a "pioneer" as well!

Flashing your BIOS is not like changing your video card drivers, or reinstalling an OS, or even swapping out a CPU. As others have said this can and WILL brick your computer if even the slightest issue occurs during the flash. Any of these other things can be fixed quite easily.

I wholeheartedly agree that you should only, ever flash BIOS if:

1. You know EXACTLY what the BIOS contains.

2. You actually NEED the new feature. If you BIOS is not in need of the particular upgrade there is no reason to flash to a new BIOS "just because".

3. You are experienced with flashing BIOS and very familiar with the companies flash tool, creating usb boot devices, imgburning CDs, etc.... This is NOT the time to start figuring things out for the first time.

Also, to be honest I think it is inappropriate to screw around with your laptop just "because I have a warranty and I can". This is how the price of things escalate. If every person who has a warranty decided to experiment on their computer in weird ways "just because they have a warranty" and exchanges them, Im sure you will see how quickly prices start to rise. Someone has to pay for that!

This is not meant as a dig or rub or insult to any of the people who have allready flashed, or that contribute here on a regular basis and provide many users with new information.

 

@Dawgdoc - +1 rep just for the morality of it all, good common sense, and your glowing self endorsement (just kidding)

 

desktops huh? no laptops correct? overclocking/benchmarking..would that include laptops as well? and i have flashed and recovered my shared of desktops & laptops. this gateway would be the very first i have not recovered, simply because they did not include the option to do so nor do i want to buy an eprom programmer to reprogram it.

as for warranty. that's what you buy it for. to cover yourself as a user. and prices will rise and fall with the economy, but being an over clocker...this should have been pretty obvious though.

although i do understand what your saying, but not all of us fall under that.. and things not not always done because " i can"

1. You know EXACTLY what the BIOS contains.

yes

2. You actually NEED the new feature. If you BIOS is not in need of the particular upgrade there is no reason to flash to a new BIOS "just because".

yes. to change the speed of an extreme cpu.

3. You are experienced with flashing BIOS and very familiar with the companies flash tool, creating usb boot devices, imgburning CDs, etc.... This is NOT the time to start figuring things out for the first time.

yes. to all you have mentioned plus what you haven't mentioned


nice speech though.

edit: my post is to let you know..if your flash goes bad.. "you will have to send it back to gateway" and there is no way around this thus far. and the bios they are offering is 94.28 which is an older bios file than what you already have.

 

BIOS and anything that uses "flashing" shouldn't be done by an amateur. They are one of the few "no going back" things in the computer world.

Just be careful people. Don't go flashing things all willy-nilly like.