Compal FL & IFL BIOS Flash Guide with USB-KEY

Please let me know

 

Check out:
http://bootdisk.com/pendrive.htm

Once you have the boot disk set up, just extract your BIOS file to it.

 

if it is that simple why do people come here with the request for help, support and other stuff regarding to the BAD Flash?

The idea is just to help people with making a flash guide, but then again i know more then enough.

 

Perhaps there are more people than we would care to think who try to flash while running on battery or during a potential power-outage situation?

I generally advise that my customers make a bootable CD using the Bootdisk.com instructions, but I also advise STRONGLY against BIOS upgrades unless all other options have been exhausted, since the warranty won't cover a bricked BIOS.

 

so that's maybe a reason to make a good guide on how to flash the BIOS.
What do you advise people that are stuck with a bad bios flash.

 

If the notebook has an easy CMOS clear, we try that, but most of the bad BIOS flashes I've seen have stuck the computer into a nonboot/nonPOST that required an RMA. Fortunately these are few and far between.

 

Correct, but then again compal made a CrisisBios tool which works for several people with a bricked, bad, 50% or no good Bios flash to load the system up again and get it working just fine.

 

Taking pre-caution steps is healthier than none. Often some unexpected event might happen during flashing bios such as power outage, unintentional laptop drop, airplane land into house(ok, can't really do anything with airplane crash ) and end up with big dead screen and very very unhappy face.

Before making flashing bios happen we'll need a bootable USB pen/stick. The guide I'm going to present in the following line is easy to use, requires no technical skill to do and even granny will appreciate it. Be hold,
http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

Once a bootable USB pen/stick is made, copy all neccessary files extracted from zip file downloaded from compal website onto usb pen/stick. Before attempting flashing bios the following steps should be learnt it will greatly increase flashing bios success rate because one fail attempt is too much.

Pre-Caution:
1. Make sure A/C power plug is attached to laptop and wall socket.
2. Double make sure battery pak is sitting happily and attached to laptop. Battery pak can act as backup power source in case of power outage happens.
3. Make a backup of older bios in the case of bad flashing.
4. Create a barrier/blockage around place the person is flashing bios that no dog/cat/man/woman/child/mother/father/sister/brother/granny/etc ... will lay a finger on that laptop. Using force is advisable but could only be taught by Jedi, high learning curve and needs serious years of dedication are what turn most people away.
5. Accidential plan coverage isn't neccessary, but if earthquake or tornado occured during flashing bios proccess without said coverage, it sucks.
6. Always always read the readme.txt file included in bios files and good understanding of what readme.txt is about.
7. Pray.

We do not ignore the importance of backup bios. It could turn a very very unhappy face into happy face again if recovery is made successfully. Making an easy to access file name is advisable for everyone not only reducing the typing stress but could also mean the extinction of laptop or a rebirth of miracle.
Example:
phlash.exe omgthisfilenameistoolongbutitkeepsgrowingicantstopitbecomingbiggernow.bin

make it shorter would ya:
phlash.exe newbios.bin

I usually name older bios file to old.bin and newer bios file to new.bin
Create 2 different folders with 2 different names: new and old, or whatever it works out for you the best. Place the bios file you want to flash in "new" folder and bakcup bios files in "old" folder.

*Compal bios made our life easier they simply made an batch executable file. They should look something like IFL000112.bat in this case do not rename xxxxx.bin file just rename the IFL00000112.bat into newbios.bat and backup bios file let's say IFL000010.bat into oldbios.bat

Reboot computer, make sure bootable usb pen/stick is inserted in usb slot. Hit F12 key as soon as seeing bios screen appears. Select bootable USB device/hadrive. Upon entering command and prompt screen something look like this:
A:\ or C:\

then type the correct command line in order to trigger flashing event.
In Compal's case:
A:\new\newbios.bat [enter] <=== hit enter once finished typing newbios.bat

After entering the correct command line screen will switch to bios flashing sequence. Do not interrupt laptop whatsever right now. Use pre-caution guide carefully. If everything went accordingly to plan the bios flashing should take couple minutes and then laptop reboots itself. A new updated bios laptop is born.



*A dead laptop:
If some unfortunate soul experiences some outter force to interrupt bios update sequence (this doesn't imply to user operation error but mah anyway) then neccesary steps need to be taken. DO NOT SHUT DOWN LAPTOP RIGHT NOW. Wait for 10 minutes to check laptop is completely dead. Hopefully that laptop didn't undergo completely shut down otherwise the recovery task will get harder. If the screen didn't come back and remain blank then it's time for next action.

Type
A:\old\oldbios.bat [enter] <=== hit enter once finished typing

Remember this is all being done in blank screen and use extreme care to type the command line correctly.


Check the system LED is responding or not. If it's blinking then it's likely that laptop is updating bios otherwise on next step.

Hit Ctrl key + Alt key + Del key simutaneously and count 3 (count to 1 if you count really slow). Hit F12 key repeately, then select Bootable USB pen/stick. Sharp memory will help immensely in here because everything is again being done in blank screen. Wait 10 minutes then type:
A:\old\oldbios.bat [enter] <=== hit enter once finished typing

If system LED is blinking then goddess of miracle is smiling upon you; not, someone will work overtime at factory.

My not so useful guide may contain typing error or misleading information anyone equips with better knowledge could point out the mistake I made.


EDIT: I have no experience with CrisisBios tool so please follow the instruction included in files.

 

i will test your post on my notebook, so if something is not working or unclear i will ask it and post it.
By this way whe can make the correct procedure for the BIOS flash.
Thx so far for the input.

The test will be done this night.

 

If there was anything didn't make sense or unclear to you RePaRaQu just let me know and I'll answer it as soon as possible. Don't wait till something is not working to happen because that'd be too late

 

No that's correct, if always start the flash tool from the USB stick (self made).
Then run the Phoenix flash utility, make a backup of the current BIOS.
adjust the bios flash file so it works with the CrisisBios file and with support for the latest bios.
Then start the flash utility to flash it with the newer bios, if everything is working fine I always make a new CrisisBios.

I just put up this post because more users on this forum and other forums are reporting bad flash issues with the xxxxFLxxxx & xxxIFLxxx.

So keep up the good work and we will end up with a good guide on how to flash the BIOS for th FL and IFL

 

How do you make it bootable ? Where can i find dos files please ?

 

I see that the Hel80 has a sticky for a bios flash guide. Anyway we can get one for the FL90. One that works well.

 

1. Fomat (bootable) the USB drive using the HP application, you can find it at http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197

2. Create a BIOS folder in the USB drive and extract the BIOS version into it.

3. Follow the instructions from this site to just get the DOS files that the HP application will ask you for. http://www.gamebeat.net/forum/showthread.php?t=1057

4. When booting press F12 so you chose to boot from the USB drive and then pray that everything goes well. It's the most stressing moment of a laptop guy, because you could end up creating a mess.

Is that simple.

 

Well done.