How do I flash the bios?

[kurtdriver]

I bought a pair of 2Gb ram chips and installed them this morning, but the motherboard (ECS Geforce 7050M-M v2.0) won't boot at all with both of them in it. It boots with either one of them, but not with two. Flashing the bios will, according ECS's page: "increase the compatibility of memory module." but how do I do so? The instructions on the net seem to be for dos programs. Not a few of them require win 98 to make a boot disk. Is there not an open source tool for that purpose, one that I could run from a cd or usb key? I can't believe I've never done this. Regards, Kurt

[PseudoPlasma]

In my experience you should never flash the bios. It the motherboard you have has default memory limits then this is what they made the board for. You should post if the chips have the same bus speed. If not it won't work. I would just get a new motherboard for that memory.

[Demz]

you wanna flash your BIOS, do you like to flash fire :D

[kurtdriver]

I usually try to avoid fire. the motherboards "default limits" is 16 Gigs. Perharps flashing it is not required, a guy in a computer shop suggested it, but the manufacturer provides updated software. Is it as scary as people say? Kurt

[PseudoPlasma]

Well if it doesn't work your done
I used to read horror stories on newsgroups
And these days where can you go to get a new motherboard
without paying a stinking load of money
Only on the net

[Demz]

I usually try to avoid fire. the motherboards "default limits" is 16 Gigs. Perharps flashing it is not required, a guy in a computer shop suggested it, but the manufacturer provides updated software. Is it as scary as people say? Kurt

your better off not to flash your BIOS, just update your BIOS, dont flash it

[kurtdriver]

your better off not to flash your BIOS, just update your BIOS, dont flash it

What's the difference? This sounds important cause I thought to flash was to upgrade. We aren't talking about the same thing?

[Noblacktie]

Since the computer boots with a single module, do a memtest on each to ensure that they are on the up and up. They should just fail to be recognised if bad, instead of causing a failed POST but this will save you from some additional troubleshooting later on.

Also try moving the RAM sticks around first. I bought a pair of 1GB OCZ that were finicky about where they'd like to sit. They would cause a POST failure when located in one pair of slots but would work fine in the second pair.

BIOS update procedures vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Go to your mobo manufacturer's support page to find the detailed instructions. Invariably for Linux, this should involve a usbkey or floppy, freedos, and the BIOS update utility and image.

[Firewing1]

Regarding the BIOS horror stories, you could look at it this way: If you don't flash, you're getting a new motherboard anyways so may as well give it a try. But for the record, I've flashed (aka updated) the BIOS on many machines, as well as updated the firmware on HDD/DVD-RW drives with no ill effects. You just have to be completely certain you have the right file to flash, since if you update with the wrong file you're toast! Also, try to avoid power loss (I know, to a certain extent this is impossible to do...) by making sure that everything is plugged in securely to the wall sockets and if you have a UPS system, that the computer is connected to it and it is working properly.

[kurtdriver]

I have the right file, and some ideas for after work tomorrow. Thanks everyone!