How to Update BIOS
 

Hi, I have an ACER 5040/Turion 64, how do I update my laptop bios through linux? I've found the .zip drivers, but no idea of how to start with.

Did you read the instructions on the page you downloaded the zip file from??? Chances are, if it's anything like 99% of other BIOS utilities, you'll need a Windows box to make a floppy/CD to run this from.

i have a hp6715b and when i wanted to update my bios i had to install windows on a vmware machine just to be able to do it, my guess is that you have to do something similar to this.

Debian Development

Hi,

Most BIOS updates can be done via a boot floppy or other device. Some manufactures are doing live updates. You should review the README that comes with the BIOS bin file.

Does anyone know how to upgrade the bios of a Presario F730US through Ubuntu 8.04 (Hardy Heron)?

I have some hardware issues with the laptop and HP tech seems to think the only way to fix it is to upgrade the bios. Problem is that the machine originally came with Vista pre-installed. Almost immediately, I wiped that and installed Ubuntu. The pc did NOT come with discs and now HP wants me to buy the os (at a greatly cheaper price) and re-install it on the laptop. If the upgrade doesn't work, I'll need to send the laptop to them for repair and they won't touch it without the original Vista installed.

As you can imagine, I'd much rather not wipe my hard drive, save the money, and determine if the upgrade of the BIOS works myself.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Typically if you get a hold of the BIOS ROM that needs to be flashed then you can do it from a DOS boot disk, that's how most of the BIOS update programs work anyway.

NOTE: Updating your BIOS is a dangerous procedure, I am not responsible for any damage that may come to your computer should you choose to follow the following instructions, it may just brick it, so be careful.

For the Presario F730US, do the following:
1) Get the exe from here (check the version and everything):
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...roduct=3548244
2) Use p7zip to extract it and you should get a file called '30D3F1F.WPH' among lots of other files, that's the BIOS file that must be flashed.
3) Make a DOS boot floppy or boot CD like it says here:
http://www.linuxinsight.com/how-to-f...ppy-drive.html
or
http://howflow.com/tricks/flash_your...ios_with_linux
Note that you should try to find out what kind of BIOS you have, is it an award BIOS ? If it is then that last link is good, if not you'll have to find a program other than awdflash, there exists uniflash as well as other DOS programs that can flash BIOS images, make sure your chipset is supported.

For the Acer Aspire 5040, extract the zip file and you'll notice an 'AB2.BAT' run that from the DOS boot disk.

H_TeXMeX_H,

Thanks for the help.

It's all clear except how do I determine what type of bios it is? When I boot, it says it's Phoenix, but then I later discovered that Phoenix makes award bios.

Thanks again.