Cannot Flash Bios

Perhaps the floppy disk isn't any good. Try using another preferably new disk to load the flash onto.

I did it with a different disk and it said "Divide Error!" on the right side of the screen before stopping.  Maybe I should buy some new floppy disks.   Weren't they supposed to be obselete several years ago?

>>>Divide Error

When did you get this error, when booting to DR-DOS or when trying to flash?

trying to flash.  it was right after i entered the new file name and pressed enter.  however, now its back to its old behavior (no output of any kind)

Hmmm can you get into your BIOS and check around if there is anything to has locked it so it can't be flashed. I have no idea what to tell you look for or if it even exists.

Here are all the fields I could find that appear to be relevant:

Bios Update = Enabled
Reset Config Data = No
Boot Virus Detection = Disabled
Boot Up Floppy Seek = Enabled

I once came across a mobo that had a jumper to move to a "Flash BIOS" position, before attempting an update. How about your mobo?
/RID

I checked the manual and the readme docs about flashing the bios, and neither said anything about jumpers.  I'll inspect the board to see if I can notice anything, but I don't think that is the problem.

I had seen that error once when I tried to flash with the wrong binary - are you sure that the binary is the correct version, and that the download was not corrupted?

Asus' site says 1013-001.zip dated 2003/08/15 is the latest BIOS for the A7A266 motherboard with Athlon 1400 (266 FSB).

I was hesitant to go to the 1013 since I only found it under the "beta" tab.

Other questions -- some of the bios files I have seen have different extensions (.001,.bin,.AWD)  What's the difference?

Also, should I be using aflash.exe or awdflash.exe?

When I get home from work tonight, I'll re-download the 1013 along with the newest aflash off the asus site and give it another try.

Being dated 2003/08/15 and with today 2003/12/11, I would say it is past the beta stage.  The extensions for data files make no difference for rarely used programs - they are useful only for Windows associating an extension with a program (ie, .doc with Word, .xls with Excel, .bat with DOS batch).  Use the program Asus recommends.

You should use AFLASH.EXE not AWFLASH.exe
Yoú'll find instructions here
http://taiwan.asus.com.tw/support/english/techref/bios/index.aspx

Motherboard - AFLASH BIOS Update Procedure (For A7A, A7M, A7S, A7V, P2, P3, P4B, P4S, P5, TU, TX97 Series)  

Ok, here is what happens:

1.  I insert boot disk with aflash.exe and 1013.001 and command.com.
2.  Turn on machine and boot to DR-Dos.
3.  Type "aflash"
4.  Press 2 to 'Update BIOS without boot block or ESCD' *NOTE THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM PICTURE
5.  Enter Filename for NEW Bios: --  I enter A:\1013.001 and press enter.
Then it starts to get weird.
6.  It says "Please enter filename to save"
This seems kind of normal, but the prompt is sort of on top of the other prompt so that I can no longer see my A:\1013.001
7.  Undeterred, I enter something like old.bin and press enter.
8.  It reads the disk for a while.
9.  Then it flashes a whole bunch of random characters -- musical notes, letters, smiley faces.
10.  "Error - File Write Failure"
11.  "Press Esc to Continue"
12.  I press escape
Repeat steps 10-12 for a while.
Finally it just runs a cursor along the bottom of the screen like someone is holding down the tab key on a blank screen.
13.  I get fed up and reboot.

That does not sound good - that file is the correct one, and something is happening to prevent the flash.  You are sure the motherboard is an Asus A7A266, and not an Asus A7A266-E (the E version uses a download named 1013e001.zip)?  The E version has 5 PCI slots, as opposed to 4.

Interesting.  I have 5 PCI slots on my motherboard, but it doesn't say 'E' on it anywhere.  Should I try the A7A266-E flash?

Since the current flash is not working and it sounds like you have the E version, yes, try it.

The E version didn't work.  Same thing as with the other one.

Is it possible that I might have a bad bios chip or something?  Do you think it could be a floppy disk problem?

>>>Is it possible that I might have a bad bios chip or something?  Do you think it could be a floppy disk problem?

It could be either. Floppy drives are cheap but from you description of what is going on you either have a flaky BIOS or a CMOS virus. If you live in an area that have computer repair shops it may be worth the money to have them check the BIOS and the mother board.

One last resort is to swap the floppy drive, but that is a low probability source for what is going on.  I think we have come as far as we can - it sounds like a faulty piece of hardware somewhere, but we can't isolate it.  For all the time you've spent on this, if you were paid the cost of the equipment, you would be making below minimum wage ;-)

Would it be possible for me to use the bios chip from a different type of motherboard?  I have an old m7mia mobo that isn't getting any use these days.

I never tried it but I would suspect it wouldn't work and lot of the chips are soldered in.

No, a BIOS is very specific to a motherboard.  Even flashing the wrong image to a BIOS can result in a non-functioning motherboard.  Your motherboard seems to refuse all images, whether right or wrong.  If you found another motherboard with the same BIOS, you probably could replace it, if it wasn't soldered in place, but it would have to be the same exact model chip.

I don't know Callandor I have known people to swap BIOS chips from different mother boards but they were from the same mother board vendor but different models and got them to work.

Why not get another mother board and be done with it. As Callandor said you invested more time than it is worth. Cut your losses and either have a computer repair shop have a look at it or get another board or machine. :)

I guess I'll try for a repair shop.  This motherboard is pretty out of date, so there aren't too many people selling them these days.

>>>This motherboard is pretty out of date

Upgrade to a newer on or some shops carry used boards you might find one that suits your needs or even check www.ebay.com

>>>but it is not for the fainthearted

Whole heartedly agree. :)

Pointing out CrazyOne comments.
Goto you BIOS Setup
Goto Advanced Settings
There is a line with "Flash protection" or Flash BIOS Protect"
Disable this setting.
Then proceed with the flashing methods.

Shaharidzal -- The closest thing to what you describe appears to be 'Bios Update', which is already set to enabled.

Igiwwa:
Try the following

Use built-in EZ Flash BIOS Procedure to begin BIOS Update process

Download latest ASUS BIOS from ASUS WWW/FTP for newest version BIOS, please change the BIOS name into "xxxxxx.ROM" (xxxxxx represent the motherboard model, eg : P4C800, then the BIOS file should be named p4c800.ROM) and save it in the diskette.

in your case A7A266

Reboot.


After reboot, when the system is still in POST state, hold down <Alt> + <F2> to enter the screen as shown below to begin EZ Flash process. Please place in the diskette with the latest version BIOS files into the floppy drive.




Warning If you do not have If you did not place any diskette in the floppy drive, you will see a warning message such as   "Floppy not found" message. If the BIOS utility cannot find the correct file from the diskette, it will show an error message such as   "p4c800.ROM not found!"  (If your motherboard is P4C800).


The system will auto-detect whether floppy disk is placed inside the floppy drive and all the files necessary. If there is no proble, EZ Flash utility will begin update the file automatically. Upon completion, the system will reboot automatically . The procedure can be seen in the illustration below. (Note: Please don't shutdown or reboot the system during the process of BIOS update! Such action will damage the system!)


The previous instructions are from http://taiwan.asus.com.tw/support/english/techref/bios/aflash.aspx#section2

I already tried this and alt-f2 didn't do anything.  I don't think my motherboard supports EZ flash.

Hey, as long as people keep giving me suggestions I'll try them.  I am going to take that hunk of crap to a shop soon, but I want to do some other tests before I start putting money into it (i.e. make sure that everything else works besides the bios).

:)

I broke down the machine and found other uses for most of the parts.  I also found a use for the motherboard - sitting in the trash.

Ah, the sad end to a saga...

"I broke down the machine and found other uses for most of the parts.  I also found a use for the motherboard - sitting in the trash."

No no no send it to meeeee, LOL
I know this topic is closed, but when I flashed my ms-6312 (gateway)
the instructions stated NOT to use a floppy disk that was formatted with WinXP
only with 9x, or on a brand new one (disk)
It has errors and won't work unless you applied the bios files to a floppy while using 9x
(Me/98 ect..)
I'm not shure if this applies to your A7A266 Asus, but its worth posting I guess
:)

Thanks for your thought FallenKnight.  The machine that created the boot disk was running 2000, so maybe that was part of the problem.  Even so, the machine is now in the following places:

sold on Craigslist
sold on Ebay
in my other computer
in my closet
in a landfill somewhere

So it has about as much chance of getting back together as the Beatles. :)