Making even a single mistake -- no matter how minor -- when upgrading the basic input/output system can "brick," or damage, an ASUS motherboard. If the computer is turned off during a BIOS update, or if the wrong BIOS software is installed to the PC, the motherboard will stop working altogether. Even if the the BIOS update goes smoothly, the new version of the BIOS can contain bugs that may render the system unstable. Rolling back the BIOS is often the only way to save the system.
Basics
The basic input/output system serves as a single, universal device driver. It links together the hardware and software, enabling the operating system to communicate with the all of the components connected to the PC. The BIOS is also responsible for testing, initializing and configuring hardware at startup. On the ASUS motherboard is a flash chip that contains the BIOS software. Companies like Phoenix-Award and AMI code the BIOS that ASUS installs to their motherboards. ASUS releases regular updates for the different BIOS software to repair bugs and sometimes add additional functions to their motherboards. However, you shouldn't update the BIOS unless the computer is malfunctioning or unless ASUS has released support for a processor that you want to install to your PC.
ASUS CrashFree BIOS
ASUS provides a built-in tool, called ASUS CrashFree BIOS, that enables you to roll back the BIOS to a previous version if a problem occurs when updating the motherboard. The tool reads the BIOS file stored to a DVD, floppy disk or USB flash drive, then overwrites the existing BIOS file with the file contained on the removable media device. To use ASUS CrashFree BIOS, download and transfer the old BIOS version to a DVD, floppy disk or USB flash drive. Note that, because the motherboard on your current computer isn't working, you'll need to use another PC to perform the above step. Once the transfer is complete, insert the removable media device into the ASUS PC. Turn on the computer and ASUS CrashFree BIOS will run automatically.
Clear CMOS
On most BIOS chips is another component, called a complementary metal-oxide semiconductor, stored within a battery-backed random access memory component. This CMOS contains the hardware parameters that the BIOS accesses each time the computer powers on. If the ASUS computer becomes unstable after upgrading the BIOS, reset the CMOS before attempting to roll back the motherboard to a previous state. If you're able to boot the computer, press "Del" or "Delete" after turning on the PC to go to the BIOS Setup Utility. Select the Load Setup Defaults or Fail-Safe Defaults option; then press "Enter." If you're unable to boot the PC, locate the CMOS reset pins on the motherboard. Move the jumper shunt to the last two set of pins. Wait 10 seconds, and then return the shunt to its initial position.
ASUS BIOS Updater
To prevent similar problems from occurring in the future, use the ASUS BIOS Updater to create a backup of the existing BIOS file before upgrading the motherboard. Format a USB flash drive in the FAT 32 or FAT 16 file system, then download and save the latest BIOS file and ASUS BIOS Updater to the drive. Press "F8" to load the BIOS Boot Device Select Menu after turning on the computer. Insert the support DVD into the disc drive and select "CDROM." Follow the onscreen directions to load the FreeDOS Command Prompt. Type "d:" into the prompt, and then press "Enter." To create a backup of the existing BIOS file, use the following syntax: bupdater /o filename.rom
Tags: BIOS file, ASUS CrashFree, ASUS CrashFree BIOS, CrashFree BIOS, ASUS BIOS, ASUS BIOS Updater, BIOS software