Windows 10: Asus EZ flash 2 doesn't see usb I can't continue the BIOS update

I was just wondering if when Sara saw the black screen if she didn't wait long enough for it to complete the searches and find everything it needs. On one of the videos, it seemed like he waited for quite a while. If that won't work, maybe the keys you found will.

 

Good point , I did not watch the second video.

 

Do you mean something like this:

cite: Jonathan Fallon How does ASUS Crash Free BIOS 3 Work?

not sure what he means by directly plugged into the Mobo ( might be a clue to this mystery *Eek ), probably means not plugged into a 3rd party GPU. He indicates that both VGA and DVI are supported.

I don't think the dumber utilities check the firmware, they just flash the firmware.

Two other things I forgot:

Do you need / want to rename the extension BIOS file ?
.CAP is for the ROG Mobo flash (special USB port & FLBK button on Mobo)
.ROM is for other methods (I think)
Can someone confirm this for me ... I got turned around a few times.

The 2nd file on the flash drive has the abbreviated ~1 filename convention.
I'm not sure what the filename should be - H170P - seen in a previous post ???

 

@bobkn If I'll be able to see the requested filename, I will be able to tell which one (if any) is good. I have used the file as is H170-PRO-ASUS-1803.CAP and H170P.CAP name, renamed using the BRenamerl.exe.

That's the guy I think. Indeed, CrashFree it looks like do the right job but I'll try tomorrow to find a mobo buzzer and/or a vga to dvi plug in order to change the screen in the other output.

@Kbird that's a good supposition could be the reality.
@essenbe, @Slartybart
good post, I'll try to wait a little bit longer (~10 minutes) with "the light off" to see what's happen, DVD inserted USB with both files (rename and as is copied)

The DVI/VGA mobo's part looks dead but this could be due to the GPU driver missing fact.
According to the manual, there is no need to rename the extension, .CAP will be just fine.

 

My board is an Asus and not ROG and uses a .CAP file. I have an ROG board too. They both use .CAP files.

 

Sara, this may have been covered, but make sure your USB drives are in a USB 2.0 port and not USB 3.0 port. USB is backward compatible but only if legacy is enabled in bios. The black screen could be that Crash Free bios is set to go into DOS mode, which would have a black screen while it searches for the right file to load. Notice both the videos had a black screen until it found the bios file and started loading it.

Also, when you removed the CMOS battery, did you unplug the power and drain the residual charge by holding down the start button first?

 

confirmed , mine is X99 , but not ROG and uses .CAP my manual does say to use a particular USB Port , not sure if yours does?


USB must be only one partition and fat or fat32

Did you try other Progs such as HP Formatter 2.18 for the Key incase the Laptop is not formatting correctly?

 

@Kbird, do you think she has the USB Bios Flashback? I was not aware if she does. If her board has that, she can flash the bios without even starting it up. If she renames the bios and uses the bios flashback port for the USB, there is also a bios flashback button on the back as well. Just push that and hold it in until it starts flashing and just wait until it stops flashing.

 

No she doesn't have Flashback apparently even though the Board Overview says it does , but I may have looked at the wrong Overview originally according to SlartyBart.

Sara only has Crashfree , so the issue seems to be how to make it Run , as I don't think bios "thinks" it is corrupt.

 

That's what I thought. It wouldn't be the first time I missed something though. *Smile

 

Dear Gents,
I am taking seriously in consideration @bobkn 's tip. As far as I can see there are chips for H170 Pro too at a fair price.
There are too many variables . The only thing that I would like to know is that this could solve the issue 100% because if it's other piece a soldered one involved in this process things are getting pretty nasty.

Anyway meanwhile I'll try the above described solution too. Who knows ...

 

I don't know for sure as I have never had to buy another Chip , I would certainly call and email Asus 1st, even if they charge $30 to do it at least it is a 100% fix.

If I was at the point of buying a chip I would try Intel's FPT Tool and see if it worked , worst case scenario then is if it does program , yay ! but even if doesn't work but tries to program, you can turn the power off 1/2 thru like in the Video and hope that CrashFree is then forced to Run and you can fix it via the USB.

 

U're right. I'll try a few more described things ...
I appreciate it

LE: Short version, after good days of digging into this subject, I've managed in the end the issue flashing the original BIOS chip with a CH341A (black edition) device and using a regular downloaded bios file from ASUS; Now, I am getting back in Windows.

FIY, and for those who will need some details, I've followed the Margus's video using only the above mentioned USB Programmer, CH341A software programmer v1.17, FD44Editor.exe tool and everything is looking fine until now.

Thank you all for your support *Smile

 

I had the same problem the last week: ASUS H170 BIOS Update from 0903 to 2003, BIOS was burned, reboot, then either (with no storage device connected) "to finish BIOS update you have to select the same BIOS file (.cap file) again" or (with any storage device USB or SATA connected) a black screen.

I researched some hours, tried many things from this and other threads and from ASUS support, then I ordered a new BIOS flash chip (it's not soldered but on a socket - easy removable, one has just to remember the position of the notch on the chip).

For what I found in internet, in my opinion the problem arised because the new big BIOSes need two steps, one burn-step under EZ-Flash and an additional one at or after the first reboot.

As I remember, I removed the USB flash at the first reboot because I assumed BIOS have been burned complete after clicking the final EZ-FLASH "OK" message. But instead of continue booting into Windows 7, I got the black screen.

Every time, I removed all storage devices (USB, SATA) and even the external graphics card, the EZ-FLASH screen came again with the mentioned question for the BIOS .CAP file.
At this point, nothing worked (giving new BIOS, old BIOS, on USB stick, on CD).
Selecting "get BIOS from internet" lead also to a black screen.
Connecting the monitor by D-SUB (old VGA) instead of DVI didn't resolve the problem.

In my opinion, the second burn step after the reboot writes some BIOS I/O routines.
If these are missing, EZ-FLASH is shown but cannot access any storage or network devices.
So, if you put the BIOS on a harddisk, you may avoid never see problem ?!?
I recommend: don't remove USB sticks while burning until your operating system has been started again.

I thought about your solution to buy an USB BIOS burner, then I discovered a company that delivers FLASH chips - they come mainboard-specific with pre-flashed newest BIOS. The costs are 2-3 times the USB burner, but cheaper than RMA the board and no fiddling around with the USB flasher software (as I read in many threads) - just plugged it in, booted, crossed my fingers et voil : everything works again.

If my assumptions are correct, ASUS should state it either in EZ-FLASH or on the BIOS download page, that the BIOS file has to be present for the whole reboot process, not just for EZ-FLASH burning and ending with an "OK" button.

 

I'm Glad you solved *Smile More than that, you are a lucky guy because, as far as I've read, in some cases, issues could occur with pre-flashed bios chips taking in consideration the fact that these don't have the original windows activation code / network MAC that should be preserved/transferred when you (re)flash the bios chip. Actually that's why I've chose the Bios Chip programmer solution. U'll see that on Margus's video.

Take care,