[GA-X58A-UD7 rev 2.0] Unable to downgrade from a 2M to 1 M BIOS image. [RESOLVED]

[nawk]

Hi,
After upgrading from factory BIOS version X58AUD7.FB (1MB) to X58AUD7.FD (2MB) (http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product...=3527#bios) I am unable to flash back to older 1MB BIOS images.    I've tried all three factory-recommended methods for BIOS updates: 1) Qflash 2) FLASHSPI.exe 3) @BIOS utility

When trying to flash to a 1MB BIOS using the above methods the utility program either tell me that the BIOS image file is bad or is of incorrect size.

With all factory-recommended methods failing I then tried to use the BIO Update method here at bios-mods.com but the AwardBIOS Flash Utility froze when I tried to flash X58AUD7.FB (from Gigabyte).


I need to revert back to an older (1MB) BIOS version; my problem has to do with a boot issue I am having with an LSI raid card when the onboard raid option rom is enabled. (Yes, I am certain this is the cause of my problem.)

The two eeproms for the dual BIOSes are soldered SOP's and not DIPs.

Any help is much appreciated.

[BDMaster]

Ok friend,
I don't know if your actual Bios is the same on both Eeprom Chip (I think not yet)
but DUALBios :

http://www.gigabyte.com/microsite/55/tec...albios.htm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HhI-t5lh_38

I haven't this MoBo and cannot say more but there is a switch on board to
enable or disable 2nd Eeprom Chip !
You have to find more googleing . . .

http://www.overclock.net/t/786190/how-to...e-dualbios

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/clos...y,397.html


I don't know much about this, but this user wrote . . .

"ok while jumping pins 4 and 7 on the main bios chip and powering on the comp
I was able to force the backup bios to boot and flash the main bios with its contents.... "

http://www.motherboards.org/reviews/moth...041_4.html

http://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pd...L1605.html

http://www.45it.com/weixiujq/200903/20587.htm

So You have to use a piece of cable to create a short-circuit with pin 4 and 7 on Main Bios Eeprom Chip,
so 4 = GND and 7 = VCC It's like put Power to ground just to power on the MoBo (switch on the PC) then
after this Procedure will start You can remove the connection on Pins and leave It to end !

let me know
Reagrds

P.S. I haven't tried and don't know, and I am not responsable of eventual Damage, but theorically has to work

[nawk]

I managed to have the backup BIOS to kick in and it reflashed the main BIOS EEPROM with the factory default BIOS version FB.

@BDMaster, the short-circuit method you described is EEPROM chip-specific, and according to the pinout diagram you've provided, do you perhaps mean to say shorting pin 8 (VCC) to pin 4 (GND)?  (Just to make sure we are on the same page)

From the information I have gathered there are three ways to invoke the BIOS recovery process:

Method #1:
1. Shut your PC down (if you're reading this guide, than your PC isn't working anyways) 
2. Hold the power button until the PC starts and shuts down again
3. Press the power button again, your backup BIOS should kick in now and should re-flash the main BIOS if there's anything wrong with it.

Method #2:
1. Shut your PC down
2. Hold the power AND the reset button for about 10 sec, than release.
3. Backup BIOS should kick in anytime soon now.

Method #3:
Had to use this one in order to get my 990FXA-D3 working again. Backup BIOS kicked in using method #2, but I was back to the good ol' no signal state once the procedure finished..
1. Short out pins 1 and 6 on the main BIOS chip (pin #1 should be marked with a red dot or whatever)
2. Tell a friend (or a relative) of yours to press the power on button
3. Remove the ghetto-like jumper you're holding between pins 1 and 6 as soon as you hear a beep.
4. Backup BIOS should kick in again and everything will (hopefully) be fine.

, the first two of which I've verified to work.



Btw, would you happen to know what "HPA" refers to?

Credits go to Wesley Macedo.
Special thanks to BDMaster.