YOU ARE GOING TO NEED A SPARE BIOS CHIP, SO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR SPARE BIOS CHIP IS COMPATIBLE WITH YOUR CORRUPTED BOARD.
Note: You could always flash your bad/corrupted BIOS chip in another motherboard that is compatible with the BIOS chip.
The Procedure (ONLY DO THIS IF YOU VERIFIED COMPATIBILITY):
1. You first need to make sure you have a boot-up floppy disk. Since most have WinXP, I will explain how to do it in that OS (if you have a different OS I’m sure you already know how to do it). To make the boot disk you put in a 3½” floppy disk into your floppy drive. You then go to the A: drive, which you can access from My Computer and right click on the A: drive. Go to Format…, and when the format window pops up you’ll see a few checkboxes that you can check. The one you want to check reads Create MS-Dos startup disk. Make sure you check that and nothing else, and click on Start. Once it is done formatting continue onto the next step.
2. Download the flash utility you will need to use (I use Awdflash.exe for my Abit board), and also download the bios you want to flash to (it should be a *.bin file). (You can check BIOS utilities and recommendations at your motherboard’s official website). Put these two files also onto the MS-DOS startup disk that you had just created. The easiest way to flash is to get one of those go.bat files (For more information about go.bat files check the bottom of this post –Note B.). If you really don’t know how to flash then just do a Google search on Flashing BIOS or just search for it on your Motherboard Manufacturer’s website as I stated earlier. Once you have put the necessary files onto the MS-DOS startup disk you can take out the disk and put it into the computer you are going to HotFlash.
Note: There are also modded BIOSes that you may want instead of the Official ones offered by the Motherboard Manufacturer. You can find these by browsing, or by asking in the correct Motherboard section in our forums here .
3. Pull the power plug out of the computer you’re going to HotFlash and take out the motherboard battery for at least a few minutes. After taking out the battery make sure you clear the CMOS. I do this by moving the jumper to the Clear CMOS position and then back to the regular position.
4. If you already haven’t bought a new one get a new BIOS chip out of another working board, making sure the power plug is out of that board. Verify that there is an existing BIOS on that chip or this will not work. If you need to buy a BIOS chip make sure you verify a BIOS exists on it. An empty one is no good.
5. Take out the BIOS chip in your motherboard and replace it with the new (or working) one. Keep your old one handy. You’re going to need it.
6. Put battery back in (if you already haven’t).
7. Turn on the computer with the boot-up floppy disk that you created in Step #1. (If you cannot get the floppy to boot go into your BIOS and enable floppy as 1st Boot up device).
8. Once you get into MS-DOS take out the new BIOS chip that you had put in (Yes, while the computer is on! That is why it’s called a “HotFlash”), and put in your old BIOS chip. Be careful you put this in the correct way. Match the little corner in the correct spot, making sure that the sticker is facing up toward you. (There is a corner that doesn’t come to a sharp point like the other three. Match that dull point with the BIOS socket’s dull point). Some people have a tool to remove the BIOS chip and some people don’t. If you do not have that tool handy (I didn’t have one with my first HotFlash), use a very pointy object, such as a pin or needle. You just need to slowly lift on the edges to get it out. Two of the four edges should have a very small opening to stick something into.
BE VERY CAREFUL. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY MALFUNCTIONS! THIS IS JUST A TUTORIAL.
9. You should still be in MS-DOS and should see A:\. Type in “awdflash” or whatever program you are actually using and hit ENTER. Follow the basic procedure on a normal flash. If you have a go.bat file just type in “go” and it’ll do it for you. (Just make sure that your go.bat file is edited correctly to the name of the BIOS you’re flashing to).
10. When it says that it is done flashing power off your computer. (Make sure the power plug is out, or if you have a switch on your PSU that it is turned to the off position). Now clear your CMOS and then put it back to the regular position. (I explained how to do this before. If you do not know how to just consult your manual on the procedure). Turn on your computer and you should be set. Go back into BIOS and fix whatever it is you want. Go to Save Changes and Exit which should reset the computer. You’re original BIOS should be back in business with the new BIOS you just flashed it with.
11. Put the other BIOS chip from the new board (or working board that you took it from) back into that board and it should be fine. Just make sure the spare board’s power plug was off the entire time.
Compatibility list
