how to flash your bios with dos using a usb stick:

WILL BE UPDATING THIS THREAD now that i can edit it.. i have new info and some new boot files for those stubborn bios' that dont like himem.sys

also a how to tell what command to use to flash different bios' for different types (afudos, phoenix etc) etc... will hopefully be done this weekend..


this is a very easy and simple process.. and here's how..

first get yourself a usb stick. they are so cheap now imo everyone should have at least one of them instead of a floppy drive.

you will need to download 2 pieces of software in order to do this. ive uploaded both of them for you.

the first is a small utility from hp to make a usb stick bootable:
http://rapidshare.com/files/112382685/SP27608.zip

the second is the actual bootable files you need to add to the usb stick:
http://rapidshare.com/files/112382778/bootme.zip

this can also be done with any burning program that can burn a bootable cd/dvd disc. once you select make the disc bootable you will need to add the bootme files to that disc.

Making a bootable DOS USB Key:

first: Extract and nstall the HP USB Drive program.

second: Extract the DOS boot files somewhere just remember where you extracted them. Let's for now say we extracted them to C:\bootme\ (if you do not have this directory it will prompt if it should make it answer yes or extract them someplace you know where they will be. remember we will need to find these in a minute)

third: Now run the hp utility. VISTA: You need to start the HP Drive Key Program as an administrator by RIGHT CLICKING the icon and selecting "Run as Administrator".

fourth: Insert a USB stick and it should install the drivers automatically if this is the first time using it, if not they should already be installed now.

fifth: in the hp "drive key" program Choose FAT32 as the filesystem. call the volume whatever you want i call mine dosboot, but it doesn't matter. Under "Format Options" check the box next to "Quick Format" and "Create a DOS startup disk" . Choose the button next to "Using DOS system files located at:" and click the little browse button "..." next to the blank and navigate to C:\bootme (or wherever you extracted the DOS boot files earlier). Click OK.

Now click "Start" and the HP Drive Key utility will turn your USB device into a bootable DOS disk! It will popup a window asking you to confirm! answer ok and it will continue.

now if you check the usb stick there should be 3 files installed on it. command.com, io.sys and msdos.sys. if you do not see them you may have to unhide them if they are "hidden" files. or just simply dont worry about it they are there now so no big deal.

personally i like to make a folder on the stick for my new files. but this does require changing to that directory once at the c: prompt. so for this example lets make a folder on the stick called "clevo". now copy the files for flashing to the stick in this folder you just made.

now you are ready to flash.

reboot your system and it should recognize the usb stick. it if bypasses it and goes right to windows you will need to reboot and enter the bios. for this example the sager uses the f2 key for this. so reboot and hit f2 when prompted.

once in the bios move over to the boot tab. here you will be able to move up or down the order of you boot devices. make sure the "usb stick" is before any of your hdd's or cd/dvd drives. for now lets make it first on the list. now tab to the exit tab (i believe thats what it is in the bios.. its the last one) move down to save and exit and hit enter.

this time it will reboot to the usb stick and you are now at a c: prompt. for our example we will need to move to the directory where we put or bios files to flash with which was "clevo". to do this we type cd\ clevo and then hit enter. now you will be at a prompt the says c:\clevo>

this is where our files are we need.

now you will type at the c:\clevo> prompt "refresh" without the quotes and hit enter. this will automaticaly start your flash. sit back and wait and enjoy the annoying beeps and when it finishes hit any key to reboot. if for some reason it does not reboot when prompted to hit any key simply turn off the system and turn it back on.

if for some reason the refresh command does not start your flash you will need to use the phlash16 command.

to do this again we will need to be at the c:\clevo> prompt and now simply type "phlash16" again without the quotes and hit enter. this method is used usually only if the version you are flashing is newer than what is on the system. but normally the refresh command works either way.

once again when prompted to hit any key pick one to hit and it will reboot. now you NEED TO REMOVE THE USB STICK FOR IT TO BOOT TO WINDOWS!!! or it will boot back to the c: prompt once again.


thats all there is to it. pretty easy imo. if you have any questions please ask.

 

Thanks z!
....

 

Thanks for the directions. I managed to update to .08 with no problems.

Isn't the new bios supposed to come with fan controls though? (pressing fn+3 in windows doesn't seem to do anything, are the controls hidden in the bios or something?).

 

Good article.

 

fn+1 once is hig setting, fn+1 twice is auto setting

Fn+3: Mid Fan Speed (however fan will still automatically adjust speed up to full speed if temperature reaches our preset High throttle point, and back to Mid speed when cooled down.) i.e normal setting

Fn+2: remains as system original default to enable / disables SRS audio.

 

Wow Shyster1 , running out of speeches?
Z,awesome work. I feel more confident knowing that there is a guide how to do this, since the hour of the 8800M GTX is at hand

 

hahaha so you ordered one i assume!! you will love it if you did!!

 

Not yet, but I will in late June/early july after the last finals.
I`m getting the upgraded mobo and a new CPU also probably since I won`t have the time to do it myself and I`ll be pretty busy after that.
Thinking about either a T9500 or better if chance will show up...

 

Orator without a cause...what are you speechifying about, I dunno, whaddya got?

 

Say Z, can you get the BIOS screen in a different color? Like,red or pink for that matter?

 

This would be useful in the near future.. Thanks!

 

i am trying to flash my fan's firmware through this method, but it is iso file. what should i do?

 

if it is a iso you must simply burn it to a disc using a program that can burn it as a bootable iso. i recc imgburn myself. love that program i use it instead of nero for everything. and its free!!!

http://forum.imgburn.com/index.php?showtopic=61

 

I have nero already. but i am curious if i can use USB instead since I don't have any blank CD left.

 

Just extract the WPH file from ISO Image and flash it in DOS.

 

doesnt work with the one downloaded from sager.. its a ames bootable img..

 

i tried to copy the file(s) with daemon tool with no succeed.

 

Here is the 07SH FW.

 

nice that one i can use. thanks kaltmod.. the sager one cant be extracted to usable files..

 

Z, u can check the WPH file with Phoenix BIOS Editor, it´s a full BIOS but i dono why only the KB FW updated not the entire BIOS....It should be a engineering release with 1.00.06c, and under Advance option u´ll see the option x3.

 

well once extracted its a .7sh file. i renamed it to .wph and opened it. it is a full bios file. im looking around now..

 

Hopefully u can find a way to update the entire BIOS.

 

hmmmmm i see where the cpu overclocking is disabled or enabled...

 

so updating to 1.00.08 does not add the keyboard firmware i thought it did?? i never checked for that because i thought it was part of the .08 bios??

it IS a full bios file once renamed to .wph and will flash that way... not sure whats been changed from .06 since i dont have that, im looking for the gpu overclocking lockout stuff now. i see where we can change the overclocking of the cpu though... it can be changed but not sure at what expense of heat but yeah i see where its set to 3x now. and i can change that but i dont think id try more than that with this cooler as i know my x9000 gets hot now not even overclocked..not sure what you meant for me to look at under advanced tab?..looking to see what they did to lock out the gpu overclocking now that i have this and .08 open at the same time

 

here is 1.00.07sh with the keyboard fix and full flash. simply use refresh command. i have not tried it since im not home but it should work fine.

this is for those that didnt want to go to 1.00.08 this does have the style note logo but that can easily be changed out for something else:

http://rapidshare.com/files/112839512/1.00.07sh_full.rar

 

Hi Z, u didnt understand what i mean, sorry for my bad english. This 07SH is a full BIOS file, but when u flash it, it will ONLY update KB FW, not the full BIOS.

 

i just used it and my bios said 1.00.07 ???? i went from .08 to .07 but i flashed it renamed as the .08 bios ??? not sure why it worked then my settings went back to default also.. i guess maybe its the same as the .06 bios and maybe all that was changed was the fan firmware?? not sure since i dont have the 06 to look at.. im playing with the oc options now

 

Did u get the 3x option?

 

no. there has to be something else going on. im looking at it more now. i changed the bios to include the options and i could see them but they were greyed out on me. so at least that is a start. they were all listed there but i could not select them. im going to work more on it tomm.. but it did show the options on the list. just cant figure out why they were greyed out like that

 

That´s strange....I cant even update the entire BIOS. When type phlash16 it only updated the KB FW, only a few seconds... How did u do that full flash?

 

try refresh not phlash16 at least thats what i did

 

Thanks zfactor for the info.
I made a bootable usb but with the 1.008 bios found on this thread:
http://www.laptopvideo2go.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=17753
I'm able to update video driver without downclocking (167.46, xp sp3)
The problem is that I still see the white border on the post screen, I don't have any overclocking features and worse of all I don't have any way to control fan speed, so this is loud as hell.
Do you know what can be happening?

 

not sure.. was it one of my bios' i made with the boot screen? if so i dont know why you would have a problem i have sooo many people using them with no issues.. if not then we would have to start over.

what i would suggest doing is to flash the newest keyboard firmware 1.00.07sh this is NOT THE BIOS.. but a update for the keyboard and fans control.

then i would reflash the bios with a 1.00.08 FULL VERSION.. meaning do not use a phlash backup copy. and i mean a CLEVO COPY.. not one they made over there. you need the original one.

that should fix the issues but may restrict you from oc'ing again, if so you will have to try that bios again..

it sounds like that version may not have done a full install of the new bios and instead "refreshed" it..

 

You are right, I used the bios update from the link I posted.
Just one question to make sure I understood you:
If I run the KB update and then apply the clevo 1.008 full bios update, will I keep the Fan control, while being able to use newer vga drivers without downclocking?

Actually two:
Does the 1.007sh that you posted have downclocking problems?
(Is the only reason why I use 1.008)

Thanks in advance

 

okay ill try this again lol..

there are two separate bios' you HAVE TO HAVE. one is the keyboard "firmware" and the other is the actual system bios.

you will need to flash BOTH of them in order to have the bios at version 1.00.08, and then after that flash the 1.00.07sh and this DOES NOT CHANGE THE 1.00.08 that remains the same the only thing that then changes is the keyboard firmware.

does that help maybe more???

 

absolutely, thanks

 

Great info on the usb drive thing but just so you know.
This place Rapidshare SUCKS TO HIGH HEAVEN.
PLEASE for the love of sanity don't ever use it again.
You can't read the stupid security codes . When you get them wrong
it's back in the queue for another min. AND after 3 failures you get knocked completely out for "a few minutes" however long that is.
Can't even find a way to tell them they are losing business.
Use something else like yousendit or something.
"was that too negative?"
anyhow great article

 

wow i dont know to many who hate rapidshare.. they dont love it but dont hate it either. ill see where else i can add them

 

Rapidshare sucks if you dont have a premium account.

 

So I have a Sager NP5792 and I was told that updating to .08 will fix any DC issues on the newest drivers. I followed the instructions exactly (even made the clevo folder), but when I get to c:Clevo> and type prompt refresh or prompt phlash16.... no flashing? All that happens is the word refresh or phlash16 appears a line below. Am I doing something wrong? I tried with and w/o spaces between words. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thnx!

If possible could you send an e-mail to [email protected] .

 

c:\clevo> prompt "refresh"
btw you can use the .iso file from sager web site, much easier.

 

I was told not to put quotations around refresh... can you link me to the .iso please.

 

yes just use the refresh command no quotes flashing from dos this way is MUCH safer than from windows.. last i saw only the keyboard firmware was on the website unless they updated it

at the c: type cd\clevo then hit enter

the next line should say c:\clevo> now type refresh

 

just checked there is no bios on the website

 

For those who want some simplicity... Get an PCExpress Drive Card, like the Lexar ExpressCard. Install the Card and add the SYS.com DOS file to your USB Thumbdrive. Make sure that the file command.com is also on the thumbdrive. Reboot to your Thumbdrive. Use Dir/w X: [where X is a drive letter] to check for the correct Drive [the Expresscard] to Update. -DOS will read a FAT drive, but not the NTFS Drives-.
Type SYS X: [where X represents the Expresscard designation]. DOS will place the boot strap, io.sys and msdos.sys; and should add command.com also. But you can simply copy this yourself from the Thumbdrive to the expresscard thru DOS or by booting back to Windows and using explore. *But the System files need to be installed by DOS*...
You now have a DOS booting PCEpresscard [a reason to have the slot] which 1) performs the flash operations by changing the boot priority in bios and 2) adds some additional hard drive space to your system, while filling that wasted slot.
Be aware that for some strange reason BIOS may re-arrange the boot sequences as you add and remove bootable thumb drives with the PCExpresscard also present. Simply F2 and fix the boot sequence in bios and then save on exit.

Cheap Tip: If you leave the DOS PC Expresscard as higher priority in the boot sequence, newbies will boot to this rather than you Windows, probably frustrating them to quit playing with your Laptop When you boot simply press to disengage the PCExpresscard [you don't have to remove it or mess with BIOS]. Then press it in to restore the Drive as Windows is booting up. After all it's a plug-and-play device. It's a cheesy privacy security, but is it's also cheap security.

The advantage on the PCExpresscard over the USB Thumbdrive is the flush mounting. No more digging for your flash drive for experimental updating....

 

For some reason the refresh and phlash16 commands come up as "bad command or file".

 

sounds like you didnt copy or move something right this has worked for TONS of people. or maybe your download is corrupt??

 

I am going to try redownloading the files, although I did have all of them on the flash drive . Hopefully it works out this time, as I am anxious to try out the newest drivers. This is a very helpful guide by the way... things usually work out the first time for me, but this should be well worth it in the end.

 

Well... I am stumped. I redownloaded both files and ran them, checked to make sure the files were on the stick, but still getting the same problem. Is there any possible reason this could be happening? I don't know what to do...

 

^^email sager, they should able to send you the .iso file.