BIOS recovery question [Archive] - RedFlagDeals.com Forums

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mobile_mic

Oct 15th, 2007, 07:54 PM

I recently had the failure that I always dread - I had a loss of power during a BIOS flash update. So, now my BIOS is corrupt, I have no post, the mobo is NOT an Asus Crash-Free type, and I don't have access to a similar motherboard to try the 'hot flash' technique for recovery. The mobo is an Asus P4S533-VM with a removable EEProm Bios chip. Is there anyone in Canada / Globe who can re-flash my BIOS chip on the cheap? If the fix costs too much, then I'm better off buying a new mobo - but that seems sooooo wasteful since the mobo was working fine until this point. I'd rather blow $50 on a new board with warranty than pay $25 to get a new BIOS chip for a 5 year old board. Thanks.

Mic

dms70

Oct 15th, 2007, 09:37 PM

Jucius Maximus

Oct 15th, 2007, 09:41 PM

I'm not sure but the Bios Saviour (http://www.ioss.com.tw/web/English/RD1BIOSSavior.html) may be applicable to this situation.

If it does fit this kind of BIOS chip, then all you need to do is find someone with any model of motherboard that has the same type of chip. Then you can flash your own BIOS onto the BIOS Saviour and use that to recover your PC.

mobile_mic

Oct 16th, 2007, 06:34 AM

Call around to some computer shops or to the board manufacturer. Someone should be able to help, but at 5 years old, it may be time to get a new pc. It may be cheaper to get an old board with the same socket you have, but I have no idea how much it would cost for someone to flash the chip, although I've heard of it being done.

I hear ya on the 5yo issue. Corrupt BIOS this week, something else next week... LOL I actually have a small herd of computers under my care, and this one is the oldest, but if I can get it to run I'd be happy. There's a firm in the UK that you can mail your BIOS to for re-flashing, but I was hoping for something more local and less costly. I'm more the $10 solution type ;)

I'm not sure but the Bios Saviour may be applicable to this situation. If it does fit this kind of BIOS chip, then all you need to do is find someone with any model of motherboard that has the same type of chip. Then you can flash your own BIOS onto the BIOS Saviour and use that to recover your PC.

Thanks for that info. I suspect finding a guy with a P4S533-VM mobo will be the limiting factor! My lesson of the day is... never flash BIOS outside of warranty ;)

Mic

mobile_mic

Oct 16th, 2007, 06:57 AM

Jucius Maximus

Oct 16th, 2007, 06:26 PM

Thanks for that info. I suspect finding a guy with a P4S533-VM mobo will be the limiting factor! My lesson of the day is... never flash BIOS outside of warranty ;)

Mic
You don't need someone with the identical model motherboard. You only need someone with a mobo that uses the same physical type of chip.

The real lesson is to get a UPS. ;)

itcareer

Oct 16th, 2007, 06:55 PM

Heh I just found a Toronto-based BIOS recovery/repair operation (thanks to Professor Google). Here's the link:

http://biosxp.net/default.aspx

Has anyone here ever tried these guys? I might give them a spin for $15.

Mic

I used his service about 2 years ago. Cost ended up $50 after a week. My mobo bios chip had to be unsoldered. The newer chips just pop out to be replaced.

At the time $50 was a lot less expensive than buying a new mobo.

mobile_mic

Oct 23rd, 2007, 10:09 PM

I used these TO guys (biosxp.net), and my machine is back up and running! Thanks to Gerald of BIOSXP! It cost me $15, and a trip to Finch/Kipling. Gerald took about 30 seconds to install my BIOS chip (I removed it from the mobo and brought it with me) into a small IC board, flashed it, and I was on my way. I plugged it in, and my machine is now fully functional with the most current BIOS. And yes, I will never flash BIOS from a machine that isn't on a UPS again. Thanks for all your suggestions!

Mic