[gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
utility via wine with no luck.

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[ubiquitous1980]

Grant wrote:
> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
> utility via wine with no luck.
>
> - Grant
>
>   
I'm not surprised wine won't work: it is a non privileged program
(besides its incomplete nature).  Does the flashing program open a cmd
session?

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>> utility via wine with no luck.
>>
>> - Grant
>>
>>
> I'm not surprised wine won't work: it is a non privileged program
> (besides its incomplete nature).  Does the flashing program open a cmd
> session?

Unfortunately no, just a little GUI.

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Dirk Heinrichs]

Am Dienstag 19 Januar 2010 17:26:40 schrieb Grant:
> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
> utility via wine with no luck.

Did you try the flashing utilities from the coreboot project?

HTH...

	Dirk

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>> utility via wine with no luck.
>
> Did you try the flashing utilities from the coreboot project?

I looked into that, but the only Biostar motherboard in their list of
supported hardware is an old Pentium II/III:

http://www.coreboot.org/Supported_Motherboards

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Dirk Heinrichs]

Am Dienstag 19 Januar 2010 20:23:53 schrieb Grant:
> >> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
> >> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
> >> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
> >> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
> >> utility via wine with no luck.
> >
> > Did you try the flashing utilities from the coreboot project?
> 
> I looked into that, but the only Biostar motherboard in their list of
> supported hardware is an old Pentium II/III:
> 
> http://www.coreboot.org/Supported_Motherboards

That's the list of supported boards for coreboot itself. I was talking about 
their flashrom tool (www.flashrom.org).

Bye...

	Dirk

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

>> >> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>> >> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>> >> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>> >> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>> >> utility via wine with no luck.
>> >
>> > Did you try the flashing utilities from the coreboot project?
>>
>> I looked into that, but the only Biostar motherboard in their list of
>> supported hardware is an old Pentium II/III:
>>
>> http://www.coreboot.org/Supported_Motherboards
>
> That's the list of supported boards for coreboot itself. I was talking about
> their flashrom tool (www.flashrom.org).

I should be able to use flashrom to flash my motherboard's BIOS?  Do I
need to check compatibility, or do I just go for it?

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Dirk Heinrichs]

Am Dienstag 19 Januar 2010 23:58:24 schrieb Grant:
> I should be able to use flashrom to flash my motherboard's BIOS?  Do I
> need to check compatibility, or do I just go for it?

This exercise is left to the interested reader ;)

Seriously, of course you should check compatibility before you use it. The 
devs also state on the project web site that you would get help quite fast via 
IRC, if you'd run into problems.

Bye...

	Dirk

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Mark Knecht]

On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 8:26 AM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
> utility via wine with no luck.
>
> - Grant
>
>

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>> utility via wine with no luck.
>>
>> - Grant
>>
>>
>
> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html

XP on a USB stick....  It sounds like a Windows machine is necessary
to build it, but once it's built it would be really handy.

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Mark Knecht]

On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 11:34 AM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
>>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>>> utility via wine with no luck.
>>>
>>> - Grant
>>>
>>>
>>
>> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html
>
> XP on a USB stick....  It sounds like a Windows machine is necessary
> to build it, but once it's built it would be really handy.
>
> - Grant
>
>

I keep one around. It works sometimes, as long as your Windows machine
hardware doesn't need anything terribly unique. It's helped me with
flashing firmware on RME sound cards. They require Windows also.

Just thought I'd mention it. It's a bit of work, but once it's done
you don't have to mess with Windows on the disk.

Good luck,
Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

>>>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>>>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>>>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>>>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>>>> utility via wine with no luck.
>>>>
>>>> - Grant
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html
>>
>> XP on a USB stick....  It sounds like a Windows machine is necessary
>> to build it, but once it's built it would be really handy.
>>
>> - Grant
>>
>>
>
> I keep one around. It works sometimes, as long as your Windows machine
> hardware doesn't need anything terribly unique. It's helped me with
> flashing firmware on RME sound cards. They require Windows also.
>
> Just thought I'd mention it. It's a bit of work, but once it's done
> you don't have to mess with Windows on the disk.
>
> Good luck,
> Mark

Hi Mark,

What's wrong with hardware that needs unique software?  Doesn't the
USB key work just like XP on an HD?

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Mark Knecht]

On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 2:55 PM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>>>>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>>>>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>>>>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>>>>> utility via wine with no luck.
>>>>>
>>>>> - Grant
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html
>>>
>>> XP on a USB stick....  It sounds like a Windows machine is necessary
>>> to build it, but once it's built it would be really handy.
>>>
>>> - Grant
>>>
>>>
>>
>> I keep one around. It works sometimes, as long as your Windows machine
>> hardware doesn't need anything terribly unique. It's helped me with
>> flashing firmware on RME sound cards. They require Windows also.
>>
>> Just thought I'd mention it. It's a bit of work, but once it's done
>> you don't have to mess with Windows on the disk.
>>
>> Good luck,
>> Mark
>
> Hi Mark,
>
> What's wrong with hardware that needs unique software?  Doesn't the
> USB key work just like XP on an HD?
>
> - Grant
>
>
Sure, but if you set this up on one machine and then try to use it on
another machine that has different hardware then it may or may not
work. My experience is mostly it doesn't.

I've wanted to learn to set up a little library of USB images of which
I'd load the one I wanted into the flash drive when I needed it, but
the flash drives are so cheap these days that it's just easier to have
5 or 6 of them laying around. Then the only problem is remembering
which one works with a specific machine.

- Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Stroller]

On 19 Jan 2010, at 19:34, Grant wrote:
> ...
> XP on a USB stick....  It sounds like a Windows machine is necessary
> to build it, but once it's built it would be really handy.

I have found my attempts at building this or a CD-based PE very  
frustrating indeed. It seems like an awful lot of aggro when you could  
just download exactly the same thing that someone else has already  
built, if only the license permitted it.

Perhaps it's just seemed like a lot of work because it's never been a  
goal of mine to make a bootable Windows CD or USB stick - I've always  
been trying to build them in order to help me achieve some other goal,  
and it's been far more faffing about that I've been prepared to  
tolerate.

There used  to be plenty of PE builds available by the usual pirate  
sites, but I have no idea whether that's still the case. I seem to be  
getting more efficient at not needing them.

Stroller.
  
  

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

>> XP on a USB stick....  It sounds like a Windows machine is necessary
>> to build it, but once it's built it would be really handy.
>
> I have found my attempts at building this or a CD-based PE very frustrating
> indeed. It seems like an awful lot of aggro when you could just download
> exactly the same thing that someone else has already built, if only the
> license permitted it.
>
> Perhaps it's just seemed like a lot of work because it's never been a goal
> of mine to make a bootable Windows CD or USB stick - I've always been trying
> to build them in order to help me achieve some other goal, and it's been far
> more faffing about that I've been prepared to tolerate.
>
> There used  to be plenty of PE builds available by the usual pirate sites,
> but I have no idea whether that's still the case. I seem to be getting more
> efficient at not needing them.
>
> Stroller.

Has anyone tried winbuilder:

http://winbuilder.net/

It's supposed to be great.

- Grant

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Stroller]

On 19 Jan 2010, at 18:24, Mark Knecht wrote:

> On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 8:26 AM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>> utility via wine with no luck.
>
> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html

Isn't it the case that you need Windows to install that?

Yay! I love recursion!

Stroller.

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Mark Knecht]

On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 2:52 PM, Stroller
<stroller@stellar.eclipse.co.uk> wrote:
>
> On 19 Jan 2010, at 18:24, Mark Knecht wrote:
>
>> On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 8:26 AM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>>> utility via wine with no luck.
>>
>> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/windows-pocket,1113.html
>
> Isn't it the case that you need Windows to install that?
>
> Yay! I love recursion!
>
> Stroller.
>

Yep - it's absolutely recursive. However how can you use Windows if
you don't own a copy to use? I have licenses. If someone doesn't have
a license then this isn't a good solution.

- Mark

[gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Nikos Chantziaras]

On 01/19/2010 06:26 PM, Grant wrote:
> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
> utility via wine with no luck.

Most motherboard vendors also offer a bootable ISO image that will flash 
the BIOS automatically once booted from it.  Did you check whether 
Biostar offers this?

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Xi Shen]

On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 6:39 PM, Nikos Chantziaras <realnc@arcor.de> wrote:
> On 01/19/2010 06:26 PM, Grant wrote:
>>
>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>> utility via wine with no luck.
>
> Most motherboard vendors also offer a bootable ISO image that will flash the
> BIOS automatically once booted from it.  Did you check whether Biostar
> offers this?
>
>
>


i just wonder why we do not have BIOS flash program on linux.


-- 
Best Regards,
David Shen

http://twitter.com/davidshen84/
http://meme.yahoo.com/davidshen84/

[gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Nikos Chantziaras]

On 01/20/2010 01:53 PM, Xi Shen wrote:
> On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 6:39 PM, Nikos Chantziaras<realnc@arcor.de>  wrote:
>> On 01/19/2010 06:26 PM, Grant wrote:
>>>
>>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>>> utility via wine with no luck.
>>
>> Most motherboard vendors also offer a bootable ISO image that will flash the
>> BIOS automatically once booted from it.  Did you check whether Biostar
>> offers this?
>
> i just wonder why we do not have BIOS flash program on linux.

Because most people use Windows so that vendors don't bother creating 
Linux versions? :P

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Dirk Heinrichs]

Am Mittwoch 20 Januar 2010 12:53:23 schrieb Xi Shen:

> i just wonder why we do not have BIOS flash program on linux.

Who says we don't?

Bye...

	Dirk

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:53:23 +0800, Xi Shen wrote:

> i just wonder why we do not have BIOS flash program on linux.

I wonder why we have BIOS flash programs at all.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

If man ruled the world:
Daisy Duke shorts would never go out of fashion.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Alan McKinnon]

On Wednesday 20 January 2010 20:13:11 Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:53:23 +0800, Xi Shen wrote:
> > i just wonder why we do not have BIOS flash program on linux.
> 
> I wonder why we have BIOS flash programs at all.

<facetious reply>
because without them we couldn't flash stuff?
</facetious reply>

-- 
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:23:27 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:

> > I wonder why we have BIOS flash programs at all.  
> 
> <facetious reply>
> because without them we couldn't flash stuff?
> </facetious reply>

Don't tell my motherboard that or it will refuse to update next time
unless I run some program or other.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

teG I sdrawkcaB eroM ehT oG I sdrawroF eroM ehT

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Alan McKinnon]

On Wednesday 20 January 2010 22:19:13 Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 21:23:27 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:
> > > I wonder why we have BIOS flash programs at all.
> >
> > <facetious reply>
> > because without them we couldn't flash stuff?
> > </facetious reply>
> 
> Don't tell my motherboard that or it will refuse to update next time
> unless I run some program or other.

So without a program to do flash updates (or at least some code somewhere that 
might not be in .exe or ELF format) how does your motherboard do flash 
updates?
 

-- 
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:39:46 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:

> > Don't tell my motherboard that or it will refuse to update next time
> > unless I run some program or other.  
> 
> So without a program to do flash updates (or at least some code
> somewhere that might not be in .exe or ELF format) how does your
> motherboard do flash updates?

There's code somewhere of course, but no program to run. I just put the
update file on a USB stick and hold down a key while booting. The code
runs direct from the motherboard, there's no operating system
requirement, it's a very civilized system.

Yes, I plug the stick in too, but I hope you'd already worked that bit
out :)


-- 
Neil Bothwick

The trouble with doing something right the first time is that nobody
appreciates how difficult it was.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Alan McKinnon]

On Thursday 21 January 2010 00:40:26 Neil Bothwick wrote:
> On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:39:46 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:
> > > Don't tell my motherboard that or it will refuse to update next time
> > > unless I run some program or other.
> >
> > So without a program to do flash updates (or at least some code
> > somewhere that might not be in .exe or ELF format) how does your
> > motherboard do flash updates?
> 
> There's code somewhere of course, but no program to run. I just put the
> update file on a USB stick and hold down a key while booting. The code
> runs direct from the motherboard, there's no operating system
> requirement, it's a very civilized system.

Yes, very civilised.

I have a hacked-up-too-gazooks android phone that works the same way

-- 
alan dot mckinnon at gmail dot com

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Mark Knecht]

On Wed, Jan 20, 2010 at 11:36 PM, Alan McKinnon <alan.mckinnon@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thursday 21 January 2010 00:40:26 Neil Bothwick wrote:
>> On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 23:39:46 +0200, Alan McKinnon wrote:
>> > > Don't tell my motherboard that or it will refuse to update next time
>> > > unless I run some program or other.
>> >
>> > So without a program to do flash updates (or at least some code
>> > somewhere that might not be in .exe or ELF format) how does your
>> > motherboard do flash updates?
>>
>> There's code somewhere of course, but no program to run. I just put the
>> update file on a USB stick and hold down a key while booting. The code
>> runs direct from the motherboard, there's no operating system
>> requirement, it's a very civilized system.
>
> Yes, very civilised.
>
> I have a hacked-up-too-gazooks android phone that works the same way
>

It doesn't help Grant (at least directly) but the new Intel MB I got
to replace my 5 year old Asus which fried last week lists 4 ways to
update BIOS:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18509&ProdId=3142&lang=eng

The fourth is specifically for Linux systems.

- Mark

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[ubiquitous1980]

Alan McKinnon wrote:
> On Wednesday 20 January 2010 20:13:11 Neil Bothwick wrote:
>   
>> On Wed, 20 Jan 2010 19:53:23 +0800, Xi Shen wrote:
>>     
>>> i just wonder why we do not have BIOS flash program on linux.
>>>       
>> I wonder why we have BIOS flash programs at all.
>>     
>
> <facetious reply>
> because without them we couldn't flash stuff?
> </facetious reply>
>
>   
Coreboot has a flashing utility I believe.

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Paul Hartman]

On Tue, Jan 19, 2010 at 10:26 AM, Grant <emailgrant@gmail.com> wrote:
> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
> utility via wine with no luck.

Some Biostar motherboards have a flashing utility built-in. Try to
press F12 or something during POST, or check the manual to see what
the key might possibly be if your motherboard has such a function.

Re: [gentoo-user] {OT} Flashing BIOS with Windows utility

[Grant]

>> I need to update the BIOS on my Biostar motherboard, but the utility
>> is said to be "Windows 2000 / XP / VISTA".  I've flashed the BIOS in
>> other systems by booting a FreeDOS CD, but that won't work for a
>> Windows (not DOS) flashing utility, will it?  I tried running the
>> utility via wine with no luck.
>
> Some Biostar motherboards have a flashing utility built-in. Try to
> press F12 or something during POST, or check the manual to see what
> the key might possibly be if your motherboard has such a function.

Thank you, this is how I ended up doing it.  It sounds like most
modern motherboards are including an OS-independent flashing method so
that's great.

An XP USB key only working on one system doesn't sound as good as I
thought, and it doesn't sound like there is much history of coreboot
working out with people here.  Maybe it just isn't necessary much any
more?

- Grant