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ATI Graphics Cards Discuss AMD/ATI Radeon Graphics Cards from the Radeon HD 5000 Series right back to the ATI Radeon 9700 Pro and earlier!

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Old Jul 6, 2005, 08:54 PM   #1
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ATi bios flashing: the proper way.

I thought I'd wright a little thread on the "proper" way of flashing your Ati bios with ATiflash v3.09 seeing that I've seen alot of people who don't know how to flash their cards and want too. Driverheaven or myself are not liable for any damages that might ensue while flashing your card.

1. Make sure that all drivers from ATi are removed, the proper way to do this is in Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > Uninstall ATi drivers > Uninstall ATi Control Panel/Catalyst Control Panel > Uninstall ATi software (after each uninstall do NOT reboot computer until all software/drivers are removed from the control panel). Then if you haven't got Drivercleaner, I'd suggest you get it because it's an amazing program for getting rid of all the crap and registry files that install with your ATi vga card. You can find this program at www.drivercleaner.net and make sure you read the readme before using the program.

2. Make sure that whatever overclocking program/software you are using to overclock your card, it is set back to it's original defaults.

3. Choose the appropiate ATi bios from http://www.techpowerup.com/bios/ along with ATiflash v3.09 and make a Windows XP startup disk extracting the ATiflash and biosname.bin files into the floppy disk.

4. Once your computer boots you want to get into the bios of your motherboard, most motherboards have a key to get in which are the Delete & F1 keys, if these don't get you in then consult your computer manual for the correct key to enter your motherboard bios. Once you have achieved this go to were your boot sequences (usually in your "Advanced BIOS setup") and make the floppy your first boot up device. Then save and exit your bios.

5. Now you should boot into DOS and you'll be shown a black screen with the A:\ command, I always hit A:\Dir which will take you into the Directory of the floppy disk. Once you have done this you'll see your biosname.bin file it might not be the same name as you saw on your windows desktop so right down whatever it says in the Directory because DOS can only make so many characters. If you want, just rename the biosfile.bin name to "mybios.bin" which will make it all that more simpler.

6. Now we want to save your orginial bios because if something goes wrong you want to be able to convert back if things don't go smoothly. The way to do this is "A:\atiflash -s 0 oldbios.bin" this will save your original bios, if you want to save the file under any name feel free.

7. Now we're ready to flash your ATi vga card with the new bios that we downloaded, make sure you've done your research about which bios is the correct one for you to get. Being either samsung, infineon, hynix, along with the proper meg size that being 64, 128, 256, etc.

8. The command line to flash your new bios is A:\atiflash -p 0 -f newbios.bin (newbios.bin being the bios you downloaded and extracted onto your floppy). Once this is done you will see that the new bios has been matched to your old bios and you might get a flicker or not depends on the card, then hit your power button and shut your computer off. Then you want to reset your system and to do this you either shut your power bar off or hit the switch on the back of your tower.

9. You have successfully just flashed your new bios onto the ATi vga card and now your ready to install a new set of drivers for your ATi card.

10. How to recover from a bad BIOS flash: Use an old PCI card to boot your system while your AGP card with the corrupted BIOS is still installed. Your system should initialize the PCI card first. If this does not happen, remove the AGP card and turn the computer on with only the PCI card, go to your BIOS Setup and change the "Init Display First" option to "PCI". Now reinstall the AGP card. Your system should boot normally with the PCI card as primary display adapter. You can now re-flash the corrupted BIOS or use another one. Make sure you are flashing the right card by using the -i (ati) command line option.

I hope this helps with people wanting a little more out of their cards or just to get the annoying lock removed on the core and memory speeds that plague some ATi video cards.

Peace
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Last edited by Đamage™; Jul 7, 2005 at 05:05 PM.
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Old Jul 6, 2005, 09:05 PM   #2
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Nice guide, I'm sure that many will find this helpful. I will sticky this for a while, but people remember that you're doing this on your own risk. Driverheaven can't be held responsible if anything goes wrong.
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Old Jul 6, 2005, 09:18 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Asmoday
Nice guide, I'm sure that many will find this helpful. I will sticky this for a while, but people remember that you're doing this on your own risk. Driverheaven can't be held responsible if anything goes wrong.
Thanks Asmoday, and happy flashing people.
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Last edited by Đamage™; Jul 7, 2005 at 02:33 AM.
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Old Jul 10, 2005, 10:24 AM   #4
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Hey Damage,
You have made a simple guide for simple people.....thx m8....hehe. Here is a Q for you. I have searched everywhere for a Bios update for my card, but I cant find one anywhere, Ive checked the link above and others any suggestions ?
My card details are in my sig and my Bios is;
Make.......Jetway
Version ...008.015.073.000
Part No ...BK-ATI VER008.015.073.000
Date........2004/04/21

Laters M8
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Old Jul 10, 2005, 02:31 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SexPistoL
Hey Damage,
You have made a simple guide for simple people.....thx m8....hehe. Here is a Q for you. I have searched everywhere for a Bios update for my card, but I cant find one anywhere, Ive checked the link above and others any suggestions ?
My card details are in my sig and my Bios is;
Make.......Jetway
Version ...008.015.073.000
Part No ...BK-ATI VER008.015.073.000
Date........2004/04/21

Laters M8
Hey SexPistoL, Thanks and I'm going to need more information. If you can get me information on what type of ram it uses i'll be able to help with that, it'll be either samsung, infenion, hynix and what memory speed it is.. 2.8 or 3.3 ns and so on.. the way to find this out is to take your card out and look right on the ram, then i'll be able to help you bro.

peace

Also if you have a saved copy of your bios that would really help too.. either or.
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Old Jul 10, 2005, 03:41 PM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SexPistoL
Hey Damage,
You have made a simple guide for simple people.....thx m8....hehe. Here is a Q for you. I have searched everywhere for a Bios update for my card, but I cant find one anywhere, Ive checked the link above and others any suggestions ?
My card details are in my sig and my Bios is;
Make.......Jetway
Version ...008.015.073.000
Part No ...BK-ATI VER008.015.073.000
Date........2004/04/21

Laters M8
I mean there are no BIOS "Updates" per say just "Upgrades"(examples being 9550 to 9600,9500Pro to 9700,9800Pro to XT,X800Pro ViVOs to X800XT/PE) etc.

In your case Sex Pistol there really isnt much to "upgrade"
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Old Jul 11, 2005, 12:30 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by INSTG8R
I mean there are no BIOS "Updates" per say just "Upgrades"(examples being 9550 to 9600,9500Pro to 9700,9800Pro to XT,X800Pro ViVOs to X800XT/PE) etc.

In your case Sex Pistol there really isnt much to "upgrade"
I think what PistoL is tryin to say instg8r is that he wants to "update" his bios.bin to a newer version. So really it would be an update but I know what your tryin to say as far as modding his card into another one. heh

peace
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Old Jul 13, 2005, 09:04 PM   #8
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Hey damage,
how do I save a copy of my bios ?
I Cant look at my ram as I have put a heatsink on them.
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Old Jul 13, 2005, 11:19 PM   #9
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A:\ atiflash -s 0 original.bin
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Old Jul 14, 2005, 12:14 AM   #10
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Thx M8,
I'll do it tomorrow and I'll post it.
l8rs cheers for your help......again
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Old Jul 14, 2005, 01:54 AM   #11
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No problem PistoL, anytime bro.

Cheers
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Old Jul 14, 2005, 02:33 AM   #12
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Nice guide! Can I make one suggestion. . .

Instead of relying on the availability of a PCI gfx card in the event of a bad flash, flashers should create a bootable floppy that will automatically (through 'autoexec.bat') reflash the bum card to the original BIOS, as follows:

1. Create bootable floppy
2. Copy FLASH program to the floppy
3. Boot to floppy, use flash program to create backup image of BIOS (follow instructions with flash program) OR use a Windows-based BIOS dump such as ATi Tool
4. Create a new file on floppy using a text editor, and name it "autoexec.bat"
5. Open autoexec.bat and enter on the first line, the flash command to restore your old BIOS (for example, 'atiflash -p 0 -f backup.bin'), save & close
6. Label this floppy and set it aside. . .if you ever mess up a flash, pop it in, reboot, and your old bios will be restored auto-magically!

rasta
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Old Jul 14, 2005, 05:01 AM   #13
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Excellent stuff rasta, *BAM* some more knowledge into the guide. Thanks brother and I am very appreciative of that information for my own brain heh. I'm sure that'll go good for anyone else interested in recovering from a bad flash, due to a simple mistake that we can all make once in awhile.. (not me of course.. lol)

Danke Monsta
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Old Jul 15, 2005, 01:26 AM   #14
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Hi Damage,
I have been too busy today to sort out the bios, will do tomorrow ! (Wife permitting)
L8rs m8
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Old Jul 16, 2005, 08:41 PM   #15
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Hey Damage,
Ive read yours and Rasta's guides on how to save your original bios.......A lot of it has gone right over my head. Could you give me a "real idiots guide" on how to do it really simply, as I have not done this before. :confused thx m8
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Old Jul 16, 2005, 10:58 PM   #16
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Hey SexPistoL, It's easy.. just get the 3.09 atiflash program and create a startup disk in windows. How to do this is to get a floppy that your going to use and throw it into the floppy drive and right click it > then select format, when it comes up then select "Create an MS-DOS startup disk" and press start. Once this is done you want to extract the bios file you downloaded and the atiflash 3.09 onto the floppy. Once you have achieved this reboot your computer and get into your BIOS, once there.. you want to make your 1st boot sequence the floppy 2nd boot sequence the HDD (Harddrive - IDE 0) and so on.. save this by pressing F10 and selecting yes. Make sure the floppy in question is in and your computer.. this will automatically take you into DOS due to the fact that we made a MS-DOS startup disk. Once in there type "A:\atiflash -s 0 original.bin" and your done.. that is how you save your bios bro. Good Luck and tell me how things go.

Cheers
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Old Jul 16, 2005, 11:25 PM   #17
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Hey M8 thx for your patience,
I've done as instructed, there are loads of saved files on the disk. As well as the "original Bin image" (I take it this is the saved ati bios its only 52kb is this correct?)
How do I post it here?
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Old Jul 16, 2005, 11:37 PM   #18
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Hey Damage,

I think this is what you are looking for.....see attachment
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Last edited by SexPistoL; Jul 17, 2005 at 12:12 AM. Reason: Sending attachment..again hehe
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Old Jul 17, 2005, 12:57 AM   #19
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Sorry M8,
I can't send the attachment as "it's too large".........my arse its only 32kb for fcuk sake.
Any suggestions ?
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Old Jul 17, 2005, 01:14 AM   #20
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Hey PistoL, ya they are exactly 52kb so your good to go. If you want download msn messenger and add me so I can help you further if you need it. I don't mind at all with helping you.. I knew when I wrote the guide what I was getting into bro, I just want to help where I can.

Cheers
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Old Jul 17, 2005, 01:21 AM   #21
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Cheers M8,
Ive just added you......i'll not bug you too much
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Old Jul 17, 2005, 02:20 AM   #22
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Thumbs Up!

Hey M8,

are you still about ? MSN me when you get a minute
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Old Jul 17, 2005, 07:42 PM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SexPistoL
Hey M8,

are you still about ? MSN me when you get a minute
I'm sorry PistoL, my brother came over last night like I said and I totally gapped.. my apoligies bro.

I'm on now heh
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Old Jul 17, 2005, 07:55 PM   #24
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No problems M8,
I'd had too many squashed red grapes anyway hehe
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Old Jul 18, 2005, 11:14 AM   #25
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Hey Damage,
Did you manage to check out the email I sent you, with the bios recovery disk. I value your oppinion and I know you will put me on the right track if it is wrong. Also did you find a better bios, or know where I could get one.
L8rs M8
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Old Jul 19, 2005, 12:39 AM   #26
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Yes I did
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Old Jul 19, 2005, 01:27 AM   #27
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Hey Damage,
I got that new Bios you sent me, I followed your guide to the letter!
Man it worked like a charm. I always thought that flashing the GFX bios, was supposed to be dodgy!!!
You hear all those horror stories about "blue screens of death" and fried cards, not with your guide M8 it was so easy......All you have to do now is teach my wife to cook hehe.
Thx again M8 for all your time and effort.
L8rs M8
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Old Jul 19, 2005, 03:35 AM   #28
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I'm glad I could help you PistoL, and thanks for the props on the guide. Take care and I'm sure I'll be talking to you soon. haha

Peace bro
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Old Jul 19, 2005, 07:41 PM   #29
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Wink

Hey M8,

Did I just find a cheeky little OC on that bios your a little
It's running like a dream, thx again Damage.
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Old Jul 20, 2005, 09:24 PM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SexPistoL
Hey M8,

Did I just find a cheeky little OC on that bios your a little
It's running like a dream, thx again Damage.
Not a problem PistoL, and yes.. I added a little something I hope you like it.
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