Re: Can't go back to original BIOS on P5KC ?

Steven Stone wrote:
In article <Vq4Ci.29196$4A1.25038@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, Venom@xxxxxxxxxxxxx says...
|Let's try a different approach. What is the problem with the serial port?
|
|

I use the serial port to load programming to Ham radios and police scanners. The software used does not like USB serial port dongles. Has to be a real serial port.The serial port worked fine when I first powered up the motherboard. Shortly after the BIOS update the software refused to talk to the radios, saying it could not find anything attached to the port.. but the port exists in device manager. I tried different cables, connectors, and devices (old external modem, etc) and Hyperterm, setting port speeds in device manager, etc... still refuses to acknowledge anything is connected. Don't see anything obvious.. unless the heating / cooling cycles on the motherboard stressed a bad solder joint ???

Steve

The latest "downgrading" recipe is here.

http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus/msg/1cfd0c8da057a4d5?dmode=source

Note that the method suggested, is only "safe" if the BIOS tool you
are interrupting in mid-flight, is *NOT* programming the boot block.
If the boot block is being programmed at the time, the motherboard
will no longer be able to POST. The desired effect, is to interrupt
the programming of the "Main BIOS" block, while leaving the "Boot
Block" intact. Then, the next time the computer POSTs, the Boot Block
code will checksum the Main BIOS block and find a checksum failure.
Then the CrashFree 3 module (described in the BIOS section of your
manual) takes over.

Put a copy of P5KC.ROM or whatever the sample file name is that is
listed in the manual, on a CD at the root level (like it is on the
motherboard CD), or use a USB flash. CrashFree 3 will then read the
file and update the Main BIOS code, using the "downgraded" file you
provided.

Is it dangerous ? Why, of course :-) Even if you get all the details
right, you might find yourself sending $25 to badflash.com for a
replacement programmed BIOS chip and socket extraction tool.

Just for fun, you could ask Asus Tech Support for their latest
advice. Maybe they don't even know that downgrading is broken.
Normally, they'd tell you to "tick a box" on the Windows version
of the flasher, but that likely no longer works. Ask them if
they've tested it lately...

HTH,
Paul
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Cant go back to original BIOS on P5KC ?
    ... I use the serial port to load programming to Ham radios and police scanners. ... Shortly after the BIOS update the software refused to talk to the radios, saying it could not find anything attached to the port.. ... is *NOT* programming the boot block. ...
    (alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus)
  • Re: Cant go back to original BIOS on P5KC ?
    ... I use the serial port to load programming to Ham radios and police ... The software used does not like USB serial port dongles. ... is only "safe" if the BIOS tool you ... is *NOT* programming the boot block. ...
    (alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus)
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