BIOS problem

Where to begin? I had issues installing BIOS on a new MB & had to return it. The replacement was one model higher. When it arrived I did a clean install (this time! ) of Windows 10 64-bit. All seemed stable so re-installed all my software. All looked very stable. Then I rendered a short video & wasn't impressed that the new system was much faster than my old. It was suggested that the new Ryzen 7 1700 could be OC without issues to 3.7 (normal is 3.0). But, to do this I'd need to update the BIOS. This is where all blew-up with the other MB.

The MB is a Gigabyte GA-AB350 Gaming 3. I figured the experts at Gigabyte tech could advise me & walk me through the process safely so I contacted them. Late Monday they returned my call & we began the process. The new BIOS is version F7. F6 was currently installed. I explained to the tech I had previously unzipped the BIOS download file but keep the original unzipped file on the FAT32 formatted USB drive.

The 3 file were;
Efiflash.exe
AB350G3F7
autoexec.bat.

(These were the files on the flash drive before Gigabyte tech had me delete all but the AB350G3.F7 file.)

He said to delete all but the AB350G3.F7 file. Before I left the desktop I asked what else was needed? He said we were good to go. Restart the PC & enter BIOS settings. Once there I explained & hadn't OC & as far as I knew all BIOS settings were at defaults. We're good he said. From there he had me press F8 to get into Flash. I selected the AB350G3.F7 file & began the update. It completed at 100% after a minute or two & rebooted. There wasn't a window that said "New BIOS has been installed, enter to check BIOS settings" as when I first installed the new MB. I entered BIOS & found the original F6 BIOS was still there, not F7! He had me repeat the BIOS update only this time it would not reboot at all. For the next 1/2 hour I was instructed to remover the system battery for several minutes but to no avail. Because the MB was less than 30 days he suggested returning it to Newegg for exchange.

So, it's a long weeping story but I honestly feel I sought "expert" help in doing this & it failed the 2nd time as well. I figured if any expert could help in case something went wrong, Gigabyte would know what to do but that wasn't the case.

Tomorrow the replacement MB arrives. I'm hoping, but doubtful, the latest F7 BIOS will be preinstalled. At the moment I hesitate to even re-install another Gigabyte MB. But, I don't want to go through the clean install process again & all that software as well. As only the MB brand would change, maybe that wouldn't be needed as it will be the same CPU, GPU & memory. Not sure.

I guess I'm hoping to understand what may have happened. Any ideas?

Samuria said:

On a lot of their boards they have duel BIOS doesn't yours have that?

Yes, it's dual BIOS. I'm not sure what happened. The Gigabyte tech had me run the update twice. Apparently one BIOS was deleted after the 1st attempt. When, after the 1st attempt, the PC rebooted there wasn't an indication that the BIOS was reset. No info window as the PC booted. It just went to the post screen & I selected delete & entered BIOS again. BIOS said it hadn't changed to newer F7, still was F6. He had me run update again. After that - nothing, dead.

Well I trust GB boards and flashed from autoexec - maybe they know something is wrong with the Windows flash? IDK, but a new board will invalidate Win10 DL activation, if that's your worry..

Just curious. When I installed the new MB three weeks ago, there was a window that popped up on FIRST boot (before post screen) stating, "A new BIOS had been installed. Press DELETE enter BIOS to reset settings". At this point I hadn't even installed Windows 10.

So, If I flash the BIOS at anytime, shouldn't that window popup on reboot before post screen stating "A new BIOS had been installed. Press DELETE enter BIOS to reset settings"?

That didn't happen with the Gigabyte tech's help. Does that mean it deleted one of the two BIOS? If that's the case, what do you do to regain that original BIOS so two are safely installed?

Superfly said:

Well I trust GB boards and flashed from autoexec - maybe they know something is wrong with the Windows flash? IDK, but a new board will invalidate Win10 DL activation, if that's your worry..

Thanks Superfly. I trust GB boards as well. That's why I purchased another one on my second ever build.

I'm a layman so patiences please. I'm not sure what you mean by "flashed from autoexec". I know there was a autoexec.bat file in the BIOS update zip folder but the Gigabyte tech had me delete that & the Efiflash.exe.

How do you do a BIOS update using the autoexec.bat?

And, I understand I'll probably need to verify my MS Windows license again. I was counting on not having to re-install Windows 10 & all my software again. The replacement is the exact same MB model, original CPU, GPU & memory. And, if I switched MB brands but keep the new MB a AMD 350 type, would all have to be re-installed? I'm thinking maybe not as the main drivers would all be AMD, just Asus or whatever MB. Don't know.

Autoexec is a file that will execute from a boot scenario (or by right-click ..run) - in this case it will start Efiflash.exe - We are assuming that you have the correct firmware update...

Superfly said:

Autoexec is a file that will execute from a boot scenario (or by right-click ..run) - in this case it will start Efiflash.exe - We are assuming that you have the correct firmware update...

Thanks. So, I'm reading I would need to first create a bootable flash drive, drop just the Efiflash.exe to the drive, then restart the PC & select the flash drive as boot & follow on-screen instructions? Is that it?

Or... right click from the desktop the Efiflash.exe file & "Run"?

It seems I preformed the BIOS update incorrectly, even with the support from Gigabyte Tech Help to install it.

When updating within Q-Flash reaches 100% it will self reboot. The user should be aware even though the install reached 100% it's NOT finished! There is still more to be done. Don't touch ANYTHING. The PC will restart & the update will finish & reboot again, maybe several times.

When the POST screen is seen it means it has finished, in fact there should be a message stating for the user to enter BIOS & reset settings. BIOS version should read the new version now.

My mistake was thinking the update was complete within Q-Flash when the update reached 100%. When it rebooted I hit the DELETE key to enter BIOS so the actual update hadn't completed.