EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

[Vinster]

This is a continuation from this post; http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...n-restart.html

I'm starting a new thread as alamakluke's title was for a different issue and troubleshooting left off from his last post.

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I'm starting to think the only thing left to try is an @Bios update :(

this is what I've done

- Took the board out of the case
- Tried multiple CPU's (P4-540j, PD-805, P4-519K, P4-521) all of which ended up in an endless boot loop... this was frustrating and will be a problem as Luke bought the board to bench
- installed an e4500 and got it to boot, but still could not flash using Q-Flash
- used a Floppy drive (Dos Boot Disk, Win95 Boot Disks and Win98 Boot Disks) and still would get flash errors...
- - When trying to flash to FFB
- - - using a bios pulled from the US I get flash error FFF00000
- - - using a bios from Finland I got a flash error FF5FFFFC
- - - I also tried the different sub links from both US/Finland sites (Asia, China, America) and got the same error's as above.

all flash errors happen when trying to erase and fail at 64KB

I have tried different RAM, both sticks, single stick and different slots.
- Kingston 800Mhz Value ram
- Kingston 800Mhz HyperX
- Mushkin Enhanced 1066Mhz
- Patriot 1150Mhz

I have also tried Loading Fail-Safe Defaults and also Optimized defaults with both e7200 and e4500 CPU's prior to flashing and had the same end results...

I swapped out the Ultra450W PSU and used my benching Ultra750w PSU and had the same results with all CPU's

I have tried different manufacturer USB sticks..

my KB is a PS2 unit that I have used for years...

I've tried recovering the backup Bios and it too also has FD installed. :(

the Bios Part number from the Bios System Information is: 7A69PG0V

I don't know if anyone knows what or can find out what that bios part number is/means...

So I am at a loss of what else to try. I've been at this thing for a total of about 8 hours now... if anyone else can suggest what I have not already tried I'll give it a go... but I'm really starting to think it was updated using the @Bios previously and I have read in the past that once you update using this method you are stuck with that method.

let me know your thoughts, I'd love to be able to get this thing going properly for Luke.

Vin

EDIT: sorry I had also tried replacing the GPU. the original GPU was a Radeon HD 6670 and I tried with my 8800GTS-640MB and again with no change in the results with either e7200 or e4500

[CDS Foley]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

Have you read through this thread? http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ng-failed.html

[Vinster]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

Have you read through this thread? http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ng-failed.html

yep I have I've done that, that's how I confirmed that both bios's had the same FD versions installed.

Vin

[alamakluke]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

I just wanted to add that I created a incident with Gigabyte technical support and there response was to use @BIOS to flash the BIOS in Windows and that's it, nothing more.

[Vinster]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

Well, I wouldn't do it in Windows7, I'd install WinxpSP3-32bit. thinking of flashing from windows is making me feel dirty...

Vin

[CDS Foley]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

I just wanted to add that I created a incident with Gigabyte technical support and there response was to use @BIOS to flash the BIOS in Windows and that's it, nothing more.

Well go for it then no matter what windows your in. Just use the latest @BIOS. Good luck. Next step either replace bios chip or burn board till nothings left but ashes... and cuss prev owner for no full disclosure and post his/their ebay details so the rest of us can steer clear of them...

[Vinster]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

I am handy at electronics, wonder what would happen if we were to swap the bios chips? I wonder if we would fare properly if Bios_B was actually Bios_M? the chips aren't small and the pin spacing is wide. wouldn't be hard.

Vin

[profJim]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

Check out http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte...ash-guide.html and look at last half of post #3 and the beginning of post #4 where Lsdme discusses using a FAT32 floppy and manually flashing using AWDFLASH, FLASH985, or FLASHSPI. As I recall, FLASHSPI seems to ignore the optional flash options and immediately starts the flash with no user prompts.

A web search using: Award 6.0 BIOS - BootBlock Recovery
should provide some additional information that might help.

[Vinster]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

thanks, I'll check that out, but I already tried AWDFLASH and it resulted in an immediate lockup of the system once started tried with a USB and floppy disk, same result both times... I'll check Flash985 next.

Vin

[profJim]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

Swapping the Main and Backup bios chips might work, but only if the Main bios chip can't be written to and the Backup bios chip is OK.
Your next best bet would then be to check out Award 6.0 BIOS - BootBlock Recovery on the web to see if that will provide any useful information.

If needed, you should be able to buy a brand new pre-flashed bios chip (or two) on the web.
If the problem is with the mobo and not the bios chips, you're out of luck.

Good Luck!!

[Vinster]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

that's why I was thinking of swapping them, Main Bios is bricked I think... It boot and I can get in the bios but it's doing weird things and I cannot flash it, Backup Bios I don't know it's state, when I short the pins on the main bios I get the checksum error, it does it's thing and then I'm back to where I started. I can't tell is the backup successfully updated the main bios.

as for getting a preflashed bios, I found a load of them on e-bay for $16, free shipping; BIOS CHIP:GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3P rev 1.0 rev 1.1 rev 1.6 | eBay.

Vin

[profJim]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

If you can't flash the main bios chip, I suspect that there is a strong possibility that jumpering the main bios chip's pins won't let the backup bios be copied to the main bios. I'd be tempted to remove the backup bios chip first and then try to flash the main bios chip from a floppy, followed by using a flash drive if needed. I don't know if the EP45-UD3P can boot with only the main bios chip installed.

[Vinster]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

Ya, using Q-Flash all I get is flash failed with no error... using FlashSPI I get the following;

- - When trying to flash to FFB
- - - using a bios pulled from the US I get flash error FFF00000
- - - using a bios from Finland I got a flash error FF5FFFFC
- - - I also tried the different sub links from both US/Finland sites (Asia, China, America) and got the same error's as above.

all flash errors happen when trying to erase and fail at 64KB

Googling these errors brings me to alamakluke's thread and this thread.... that's it. :(

also this isn't my board, I'm waiting for alamakluke to chime in before I do anything drastic. I have not talked to him in a few days, he might be arranging a return with the seller, who knows....

Vin

[profJim]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

If it were me, I wouldn't put any money into the motherboard unless you can confirm that the mobo is stable using the current bios settings and that all of the board's features work reliably.

[stasio]

Re: EP45-UD3P (v1.6) - Unable to update Bios to FFB from FD

the Bios Part number from the Bios System Information is: 7A69PG0V
I don't know if anyone knows what or can find out what that bios part number is/means...

This is BIOS ID Code (same as on the BIOS chips on mobo),so BIOS must match with BIOS chip.
Did you try to flash FEa or FE first?
(or maybe go back to FB/FA,so is problem with FFb).

As you can boot from Main BIOS,it's mean is not bricked.

Googling.......
EP45-UD3P Success! - Page 4

If it were me, I wouldn't put any money into the motherboard unless you can confirm that the mobo is stable using the current bios settings and that all of the board's features work reliably.