BIOS. Questions about flashing and restoring BIOS. How to restore old software
In the world today modern technologies Smartphones play a huge role in our lives. It is already difficult to imagine how people did not use telephones several decades ago. Not even modern smartphones, which have a huge amount useful functions, but simple phones to just call. Of course, you won’t surprise anyone with new devices; they have simply become a necessity.
Unfortunately, smartphones can break at any time, not even fall and break, but simply pick up a virus and stop turning on. What to do in this situation? If the phone does not turn on or freezes, then it needs to be reflashed. Let's look at how to flash Android via Recovery.
Troubleshooting. or freezes?
It doesn’t matter whether you have a new device from Samsung or an old phone from a Chinese company, they can start freezing at any moment or stop turning on altogether. Before flashing your device, you should try resetting your smartphone to factory settings. Of course, this can only help if your memory is full or there is a software glitch. How to do this? Go to settings, go to the “Restore and reset” tab (maybe it’s called differently for you) and click on the “Reset to factory settings” button. After this, your smartphone will clear all memory and reboot.
If this does not help you, then you should try installing new firmware. What could this be connected with? As a rule, various phone malfunctions are caused by viruses that cannot be cleared by simply resetting the settings. Malicious files get into system files, which are not cleared during system recovery. The new firmware contains other files that will not contain viruses. If you do everything correctly, you will get rid of viruses and problems associated with them. First you need to consider how to flash Android via Recovery.
What is "Recovery"?
Flashing a phone is quite simple, so don’t immediately run to service center for troubleshooting. This way you can save a considerable amount. Reflashing the device will cost you 500-1000 rubles. How to flash Android from a flash drive using Recovery? Before we look at this, it is necessary to understand what Recovery is. This software, with which you can return your smartphone to factory settings or reinstall the system. It is found in all devices running Android OS. If you haven't installed additional files, then you will have a simple “Recovery”, which is enough to install the firmware. If you want to install converted software, you will have to install custom Recovery.
How to flash Android via Recovery? Menu
Before installing new software, you must enter Recovery. It resembles the BIOS that is found on a regular computer. To find out how to flash Android via Recovery, you need to enter the menu of our software. How to do this? First, turn off our smartphone. To enter the required mode, you need to press the “Volume +” button, the “Home” button and after a few seconds the power button. You may not be able to log in using this method, since there are various combinations for logging into Recovery (the article describes the most common method).
What else do you need?
Before you proceed to installation new firmware, you need to scour the Internet and find a suitable version. As a rule, they are not on official websites, so many users create backups, which are subsequently reinstalled on their device or posted for other users. You can find the firmware on special sites, the most popular is 4pda. Perhaps you are an advanced user and you are already tired of the usual firmware. It is for such people that some changes are made to the standard set. To install the converted firmware, you need to install custom Recovery.
How to flash Android via Recovery? Instructions
You must understand that you are flashing the device at your own peril and risk. If something goes wrong, your phone will not be fixed under warranty. Of course, if you are determined to reflash your smartphone, then you need to find suitable firmware.
The installation process is quite primitive. First, download the appropriate software and move it to the device’s memory or memory card. Then go to “Recovery” and select Apply update from external storage. You must confirm your actions for the installation to begin.
As soon as the flashing is complete, you need to click on the Wipe button. This will clear all information about the old software.
At the last stage, all you have to do is click on the button. Your device will start booting with the new firmware. That's all. How to flash Android via Recovery? Now you too can answer this question. There is nothing complicated, you just need a little time and care.
How to restore old software?
Perhaps you installed a custom version of the firmware and you didn’t like it. How now to return everything to its place? Unfortunately, there is no button that can simply return the old settings. To return stock firmware, you need to reinstall the software on your device. You download the regular firmware that will fit it and install it through Recovery.
Conclusion
How to flash an Android phone using Recovery? As you have already noticed, there is nothing complicated about flashing the device. The main thing is to follow the recommendations. Within an hour you will receive an updated phone that will work perfectly.
Before touching on questions about BIOS (Basic Input Output System) firmware, it is worth recalling what a BIOS is and why it is needed.
When you turn on a laptop or computer, the first thing that is loaded is a small program that checks whether all devices are working, configures these same devices, and it is this program that launches the bootloader operating system. Simply put, BIOS is a very important piece of software. Without it, a laptop or computer simply will not boot. The procedure for checking and setting up equipment is also called POST (Power On Self Test).
While the main BIOS is running, it is also possible to execute other similar programs. Usually this is the BIOS of the video card, as well as BIOSes of other complex devices like some RAID controllers. At the end of execution, control is transferred back to the main BIOS.
The program itself (BIOS) is stored on a memory chip on motherboard. This chip can be reflashed by updating the same program.
Like any self-respecting program, the BIOS has settings. These are the ones we can change when entering the settings menu. On Acer laptops, eMachines and Packard Bell This menu is called up by pressing the F2 key. Only a small part of the settings is available to the average user. There are actually a lot of them. All these settings are stored in EEPROM memory. They are the ones that are reset when you remove the small battery on the motherboard or switch the corresponding jumper.
So, we seem to have found out what BIOS is. Now let’s decide on the question of why it should be updated at all, i.e. Why flash the BIOS?
Flashing the BIOS of a laptop is recommended in case of any problems that may be related to the laptop devices; it is not worth chasing just the new version, because In some cases, the firmware may cause the laptop to not work. As they say, it works - don’t touch it))
This is on the one hand.
In the latest BIOS version, developers usually fix identified bugs previous version and they add new features that give rise to new bugs, and so on in a circle, until the developer gets tired and the flow of indignant letters from users dries up.
Usually, new BIOS versions fix many errors and add support for new devices.
They usually add support for new hardware for a laptop, such as new types of processors, video cards, more memory, and also eliminate problems such as spontaneous password occurrence, processor operation only at a reduced frequency, display inoperability after resuming from sleep mode, incorrect operation function keys, dusty, cloudy screen, change in fan speed depending on the load, these can be various errors that are associated with the operation of the video card, Wi-Fi adapter, sound, Web camera and many other devices, etc.
This is from the other side.
In general, it is up to the user to decide whether to flash the BIOS or not. And he and only he is responsible for this decision.
The latest BIOS version for your laptop model can be found on the manufacturer’s website in the section Drivers. For Acer This .
Download latest version just for YOUR laptop models. This note is very important to take into account!
If you don’t accept it, you’ll have to part with your laptop and be on your way to a repairman’s house))) In the best case, you’ll have to “dance with a tambourine” to restore the BIOS, or the flasher will simply refuse to flash the chip due to incompatibility of BIOS types.
The description of the changes is usually located in a file called release in the BIOS archive or just a couple of lines of description on the BIOS page.
Need to flash ONLY BIOS from OWN laptop models.
Instructions for the firmware are also located in the archive with the BIOS in a file called readme. Usually you need to run a file with the bat extension from the same archive, or exe, if the developer has packaged the BIOS, instructions for the flasher, and the flasher itself in it for the convenience of users. Like, one click and you have new firmware.
A flasher, also known as a flasher, is a program that flashes the BIOS.
A collection of flashers for DOS and Windows from Phoenix And InsydeH2O can be downloaded from the link: download
You can flash it from Windows or from DOS. It is believed that DOS is much safer, but the author of these lines has repeatedly flashed the BIOS from Windows without fatal consequences. You just need to follow some simple safety rules:
- close all running programs, antivirus;
- turn off everything network connections, Internet;
- charge the battery, connect the mains power;
- disconnect (if connected) all (except the mouse) devices connected via USB
If you are flashing in Windows Vista or in Seven - run the executable file as administrator. The battery must be inserted and charged at least 30%, or better yet, fully charged. The process itself takes a minute or two.
It is advisable to run the file with the bat extension from the BIOS archive. The archive with the BIOS can first be unzipped in separate folder. The fact is that for some models, for example Acer Aspire 5530, it specifies non-trivial actions when flashing the firmware.
@echo off bioschk3.exe if errorlevel 1 goto SouthBridgeROM:ECROM echo EC Side... PHLASH16 jalb111.wph /c /x /s /bbl /pn /mode=3 goto exit:SouthBridgeROM echo SB Side... echo EC Updating ... call spi /flash -bFD60 -v20000 -i -nid k26a111a.rom PHLASH16 jalb111.wph /c /x /s /bbl /pn /mode=3:EXIT
I think that if in some versions of this laptop model you simply flash the BIOS (without additional firmware for the keyboard controller k26a111a.rom) something terrible will happen (for the owner;)) By the way, from this bat it is also clear that when flashing the firmware, the bootblock(which is not common), which means that if problems arise during the firmware, then the likelihood of recovery using Crisis Disk decreases.
However, this is rare. Usually, just flashing your BIOS is enough.
Phoenix BIOSes have the file extension .wph, .rom, and InsydeH2O .fd.
It should be noted that if the archive contains both .wph and .rom files, then the latter is a BIOS backup (image) and cannot be flashed - it does not have service information for a flasher at the end of the file, but it is quite suitable for a programmer.
By the way, if you downloaded from the Acer website latest firmware BIOS for yours model, but the flasher refuses to flash it - it says that the version is incorrect (and your BIOS is almost the first available version, “from the time of Ochakov and the conquest of the Crimea”), you can try, following the example, try first to flash not the latest version, but some intermediate one.
BIOS firmware
If you do not want to run the bat file from the archive (perhaps you are smarter than the developers, or they forgot to put it there), then:
(The following applies to the Phoenix BIOS, although with the InsydeH2O BIOS the procedure is approximately the same)
1) you can flash the BIOS from DOS
Just in case, prepare a Crisis Disk, it will be discussed below.
Create a bootable USB flash drive, according to the article
We write a flasher and a BIOS file to it
Launch the flasher, examples:
If the bios is from Phoenix:
phlash16 /x /c /mfg /mode=3 my_bios.wph
If the BIOS is from InsydeH2O:
flashit my_bios.fd /fe /b
These are almost standard options, more about them below. If you need something specific, add additional firmware options to your liking. But, generally speaking, it is better to look into the bat file, which should be in the archive in the DOS firmware, and copy the options for the flasher from there.
Options command line for Phoenix Flash Utility for DOS - Version 1.7.0.0 Phoenix16.exe
USAGE: Phlash16 [@rspfile] romfile Override the default BIOS image name BIOS.WPH with "file". @rspfile Response file containing more options /A:address 32 bit address where to put the File Image. /B:file Override the default BIOS image name BIOS.WPH with "file". /BBL Program boot block. /BU[=name] Backup flash memory into BIOS.BAK before programming. If "name" specified, override the default filename BIOS.BAK. /C Clear CMOS checksum after programming. /CS Verify BIOS.WPH image checksum. /DMC:string Specify chassis manufacturer DMI string. /DMM:string Specify motherboard manufacturer DMI string. /DMS:string Specify system manufacturer DMI string. /DOxx:string Specify OEM DMI string number xx. /DPC:string Specify chassisasser tag number. /DPM:string Specify motherboard product ID DMI string. /DPS:string Specify system product ID DMI string. /DSC:string Specify chassis serial number DMI string. /DSM:string Specify motherboard serial number DMI string. /DSS:string Specify system serial number DMI string. /DUS:string Specify UUID DMI string. /DVC:string Specify chassis version DMI string. /DVM: string Specify motherboard version DMI string. /DVS:string Specify system version DMI string. /DESC Check the descriptor mode. /DEV Display device information from WPH file. /EXIT Exit without rebooting. /E2 Generate a new UUID when current UUID is (FFF...FFF). /H or /? Help screen. /I Verify image size matches flash part size. /MODE=n Specify mode n (0, 1, 2, 3). /MFG Manufacturing mode - Automatically reboot without keypress. /N Program only if BIOS.WPH is different than system BIOS. /NOB Do not allow an older BIOS to be flashed to the platform. /NIC Update network controller driver with *.lom files. /NOBIOSINFO Do not display BIOS date and part number while flashing. /O Override (disable) all options from BIOS.WPH. /P Production mode (minimize messages and delays). /PF=string String to pass on to command line. /PN Program only if same BIOS part number. /REMOTE Specify remote operation over RS232 /RO[=name] Read contents of flash part and save to a file. /R=n Retry flashing a block n times if flash fails. /S Silent operation (turn off speaker). /SWAP=NO Disable Axx autodetection. /T Show debug timing info (Warning: flash is done TEN TIMES!) /V Verify each block after programming it. /VBL Show warning for Vista Bitlocker. /VGA Update VGA module with *.dat files. /X Ignore XMS memory manager check. /Z Zero before erasing a block. /UUID Generate a new UUID . /DOSKEY Ignore DOSKEY check . /Mod:filename Update current system BIOS with the module specified by filename. /Fbin:filename Update current system BIOS DMI with the interface file specified by filename, do not need image file. /FileUUID Generate a new UUID to BIOS image(Will not flash). /ShowFileUUID Show UUID of a BIOS bin file. /Force Update BIOS from image file directly without any modification. To update the entire system BIOS you also need the following file: BIOS.WPH (the interface file with the BIOS image) /BB Update recovery (BootBlock) section only. /BC Clear the BIS Persistent Storage Area. /BR Preserve the BIS Persistent Storage Area . /CC:xx Change country code (language) with xx /CF Copy customer data area from file (CDABIN). /CR Preserve the customer data area. /CPU Update CPU microcode with the newest revision. /E:2 Turn on the enhanced security option. /E:4 Turn off the enhanced security option. /E:8 Turn on binding on the POV card. /E:16 Turn off binding on the POV card. /L Preserve the Logo . /L:xx Replace the Logo with xx (image logo file) . /MB Update both Bios and Bootblock. /PD Copy preboot notification from file (PBNTXT). /PR Preserve the preboot notification. /VCPU Update variable size CPU microcode. /W:xx Administration password xx (7 bytes ASCI string).
Command line options for InsydeH2O Flash Utility for DOS - Version 1.3i FLASHIT.exe
USAGE:Flashit filename /? , H This flash utility help /1 Save current BIOS to file (1Mbits from memory) /2 Save current BIOS to file (2Mbits from memory) /4 Save current BIOS to file (4Mbits from memory) /8 Save current BIOS to file ( 8Mbits from memory) /16 Save current BIOS to file (16Mbits from memory) /AB Check battery life percent /AC Do not check AC plug in /ALL Flash all /B Flash PEI volume /BEEP On flashing beep /BIOS Flash BIOS region / C Clear COMS /DC Disable comparsion in normal flash process /Desc Flash DESC region /DI Disable ID display /E:Offset(Hex), Size(Hex), Address(Hex) Update fix size from file offset to physical address /EC Flash EC (by applicaion) /EC:String Flash EC (by applicaion) and BIOS (by IHISI) /ECB Flash EC (by applicaion) with BIOS (by IHISI) /EV Erase variable (ASCII) /EVG:GUID Erase variable (ASCII) ) by user"s GUID /FD Flash DXE /FE Flash EC /FILE:FILENAME Before Flash to erase variable from file. /FL Flash logo /FM Flash CPU Microcode /FN Flash OEM NVS /FP Flash password /FT:value Flash OEM special type /FV Flash Variable /G Save current BIOS to file (from IHISI). /GbE Flash GbE region /GU:String Compare GUID with current BIOS /I:String Update logo. (may need Himem.sys) /LF Load Fd file by another floopy disk /LG:String GUID. Update small logo required.(Must use with /I, /WV, /WU) /MC Skip all platform model check /ME Flash ME region /N Do not reboot after flash /O:String Output file (Must use with /I) /PI Dump BVDT protection MAP /PMCA:ModelName Used to check Platform model name /PMCAF:FileName Used to check Platform model name /PN Flash non-SPI flash part /PQ Query ROM protection MAP in current ROM /PR Query region MAP in current ROM /PS Flash SPI flash part /RB:Filename Read variable (To a binary file) /RM Protect the region who is not in the same address /RV Read variable /S Shutdown after flash /SE:String Compare serial number with current BIOS /U Show confirm message /UU:String Compare UUID with current BIOS /V Verify file integrity /WB:Filename Write variable (From a binary file) /WH:Filename Write HDCP key /WU:String Write variable (UNICODE) /WV: String Write variable (ASCII) Attachment: Your usergroup does not have permission to access attachments
After flashing the firmware, the laptop reboots and voila - you have new firmware. This is if everything went smoothly. By the way, before flashing the new one, you can make a backup of the old BIOS, the key is /BU.
2) you can flash the BIOS from Windows
Close all running programs, disable antivirus, disconnect from the network and the Internet
The BIOS file should be in the same folder with the flasher. YOUR laptop models
Run Winflash or Winflash64 as administrator
First, make a BIOS backup without flashing
If you need something specific, click the Advanced button
Flashing the BIOS
Restoring BIOS in case of unsuccessful firmware
What to do if everything goes wrong? While flashing the firmware, the laptop froze and had to be turned off, they flashed the BIOS from another laptop model, someone accidentally launched an antivirus, the music played well during the flashing, but not for long...
It’s worse if you do everything according to the instructions, but it turns out like a crooked idiot, although, in general, you’re not like that (okay, let’s respect the equality of citizens - you’re not like that)!
In general, if after rebooting or turning on the laptop (immediately after flashing the firmware) you see a black screen, the system does not boot, although the cooler is working, and the indicators are lit or blinking, or the laptop beeps - you have two options.
1) make a Crisis Disk and use Crisis Recovery Mode try to restore the BIOS.
Attempts almost always end successfully (if the BootBlock BIOS was not damaged during the previous firmware)
2) flash the BIOS on the programmer by unsoldering it yourself or taking it to a service center.
In principle, you can also make a programmer yourself, example No. 0, example No. 1, example No. 2, example No. 3, ...
A little explanation of the meaning of the process.
Recovery procedure Phoenix BIOS uses boot-block. Boot-block contains code that allows you to boot the system in Crisis Recovery Mode (CRM). loading BIOS after turning on the laptop, it queries all devices of the laptop and if all devices critical for operation are identified, the system boots. In this case, the results of the Power-On-Self-Test (POST) diagnostics can be seen if you have the so-called. POST card. The BIOS signals some POST codes with a beeping sound. Table of POST and Beep codes for PhoenixBIOS
If you boot into crisis recovery mode (CRM), then the devices are not polled; the BIOS firmware starts immediately, unless, of course, a USB FDD (floppy disk drive) is connected to the laptop or USB Flash(flash drive) with a crisis disk. Only work in CRM basic systems laptop. You won't see anything on the screen, the keyboard and hard drive won't work.
So, how to flash the BIOS in Crisis Recovery Mode.
First you need to disconnect all devices from the laptop (mouse, keyboard, USB devices, printers, external monitor, etc.), remove disks and floppy disks, and also remove the battery.
00 - disconnect the power adapter from the laptop
01 - connect to laptop USB FDD or USB Flash with Crisis Disk
03 - connect the power adapter to the laptop
04 - turn on the laptop (press the Power button).
05 - in about 10-15 seconds. release the and buttons (after the activity indicator on the FDD drive lights up, goes out, and lights up again, and reading from the floppy disk (or flash drive) begins).
06 - the system should start booting from the FDD (or flash drive)
07 - the process takes ~ 3-5 minutes. and GOES WITH A “BLACK” SCREEN! (i.e., nothing is displayed on the screen; the fact that the process is in progress can be seen by the activity indicator of the FDD drive (or flash drive))
08 - at the end of the process, reading from the FDD drive will first stop, the FDD drive activity indicator will go out, and then after some time (~ 1-2 minutes) the laptop should automatically reboot.
InsydeH2O
The BIOS flasher from InsydeH2O is built-in, so there is no need to copy it to a flash drive.
Prepare a working computer with a USB FDD drive or USB Flash
- insert a blank floppy disk (or flash drive into a USB port) into the drive and format it to FAT32
- copy the BIOS file for YOUR laptop model, previously renamed, onto it.
You can find out the name from Acer support or look it up in the service manual, ask here on the website, in the topic "Prabivis..." :), and you can also run PhoenixTool(the latest version can be downloaded from the link here), feed it your BIOS file, get this picture
"?" - this is a glitch, it's actually "d".
You can also then look into the BIOS folder and open SLIC.txt
Those. in this case, the correct BIOS file name for flashing the firmware in Crisis Recovery Mode is BIOS.fd
Next:
00 - disconnect the power adapter from the laptop.
01 - connect a USB-FDD drive with a floppy disk or USB Flash to the laptop
02 - press and hold the and buttons (hold until step 06).
03 - connect the power adapter to the laptop.
04 - turn on the laptop (press Power Button).
05 - in about 10-15 seconds. release the buttons and
(after the activity indicator on the FDD drive or USB Flash lights up, goes out, and lights up again, and reading from the floppy disk begins).
06 - the system should start booting from FDD or USB Flash
07 - the process takes ~ 3-5 minutes. and GOES WITH A “BLACK” SCREEN!
(i.e., nothing is displayed on the screen; the fact that the process is in progress can be seen by the activity indicator of the FDD drive or USB Flash)
08 - at the end of the process, reading from the FDD drive (or USB Flash) will first stop, the FDD drive (or USB Flash) activity indicator will go out, and then after some time (~ 1 minute) the laptop itself should turn off.
09 - press the Power button - the system should work.
If the BIOS is not flashed, it means the file name was incorrect.
P.S. If the reading indicator blinks for more than 15 minutes, the laptop can be turned off, which means something went wrong.
What to do if you can’t log into CRM.
Happens. If you are sure that your boot block is safe and sound, you can try different “shamanic dances with a tambourine”:
Try installing a fully charged battery before starting the BIOS recovery process;
- try a small capacity flash drive (such as 128-256Mb, up to 2Gb is also suitable), and also better USB FDD (for bios from Phoenix);
- try to remove the hard drive and DVD drive;
- try connecting the device with Crisis Disk to different USB ports of the laptop;
- try different versions Wincris.exe (for bios from Phoenix);
- try different versions of phlash16 (can be found in the first part) (for bios from Phoenix);
- try other key combinations Fn + B, Fn + Home, Win + B or Win + Esc, Ctrl + Home (although for Acer Fn + Esc or, sometimes, Fn + B or Fn + Home are usually suitable).
Pressing the Power button again helped someone.
Someone found it helpful to press the Esc key again after pressing the Power button.
Installing a battery helped someone after connecting the power cord.
Jerking the BIOS battery helped someone.
And for some, installing only one memory stick in the lower (first) slot.
Firmware on the programmer will help everyone))
Conclusion
I hope that this text was useful to you.
I also hope that the 3rd part of the text will never be useful to you)))
I want to express my gratitude Fuzzy, lovelissimo, Dimas
If you notice an inaccuracy or error, do not hesitate to tell the author about it))
Errare humanum est.
P.S. Discussion of successes and failures in firmware, where to find required file bios, how to rename the bios file from InsydeH2O, etc. etc. It’s better to post in the appropriate forum topic
Edited by: reylby- December 27, 2016
Reason: added a way to find out the correct file name
Helps update Motherboard BIOS boards in cases where other methods cannot be used. She is a more modern version AFUDOS utilities.
If your ASUS device is implemented on a modern motherboard, then you can use the instructions How to flash ASUS BIOS (ASUS EZ Flash 2)(in this case you will not need to create a bootable USB flash drive)
To prepare for the firmware, you need to download the utility itself and the firmware file.
After this, you need to write the bupdater.exe utility and the BIOS file itself (a file with the extension .ROM or .CAP) onto the bootable USB flash drive. If the files were downloaded as archives, they must first be unzipped. It is advisable to shorten the name of the firmware file to 6 characters.
Attention! Before flashing the BIOS, it is strongly recommended to connect the device to be flashed to the source uninterruptible power supply, and in the case of laptop firmware, fully charge its battery. An unexpected power outage during firmware installation can lead to device failure!
Connect a bootable USB flash drive to the switched off computer.
Boot your computer from the bootable USB flash drive. To do this, after turning on the computer, you need to press the F8 key until the fast boot menu appears on the screen with a selection of boot devices. After selecting the flash drive from the list of devices and pressing the Enter button, DOS will load.
In this case, the following message will be displayed on the screen: C:\>(the drive letter may be different - this will not affect operation).
To start the firmware process you need to enter the command: bupdater /i bios.cap(where instead of bios.cap you need to enter the name of the new firmware file along with the extension) and press the Enter button.
Attention! Do not restart the computer or turn off its power supply while flashing the BIOS - this can lead to failure of the motherboard!
When the BIOS flashing operation is completed, the same DOS window will appear again as before flashing.
This completes the BIOS firmware. Bootable USB flash drive You can turn it off and restart your computer.
After the firmware new version It is advisable to go into the BIOS settings and reset them (set to the default value).
If, when trying to flash DOS, it gives an error or the flashing operation simply does not start, try the following:
- Check the correct spelling of the command (the command contains only one space - after the word afudos) and whether the name of the firmware file is written correctly (do not forget to indicate the file extension)
- If the firmware file name is long, try renaming it to a shorter one (For example: instead of P5K-EPU-0406.rom, change the file name to 0406.rom).