.png)
Award BIOS Flash Utility V8.99: How to Download and Use Awdflash 1.18
How to Update Your BIOS with Awdflash 1.18
If you have an older motherboard that uses Award BIOS, you may need to update your BIOS to fix bugs, improve compatibility, or add new features. One of the tools you can use to flash your BIOS is Awdflash 1.18, a DOS-based utility that supports a wide range of flash chips and motherboards. In this article, we will show you how to use Awdflash 1.18 to update your BIOS safely and easily.
awdflash 1.18 download
What is Awdflash and What Does It Do?
Awdflash is a utility program that helps you to update your BIOS - the code that runs the first moment you boot your PC. It was created by Award Software Inc. to support flashing Award BIOS based data files. The BIOS code is stored on the motherboards on Flash chips since its introduction in 1993.
Updating your BIOS can do everything from adding new features and functions, support for new CPUs, squashing bugs, refreshing a corrupted UEFI environment, and much more. However, updating your BIOS also involves some risks, such as bricking your motherboard or losing your settings if something goes wrong. Therefore, you need to use a reliable tool like Awdflash to flash your BIOS.
Why Do You Need to Update Your BIOS with Awdflash?
There are many reasons why you may want to update your BIOS with Awdflash. Some of the most common ones are:
You want to upgrade your CPU or other hardware components and need a compatible BIOS version.
You want to fix some issues or bugs that affect your system performance or stability.
You want to enable or disable some features or options that are not available in your current BIOS version.
You want to improve your system security or compatibility with new software or devices.
You want to restore your BIOS if it is corrupted or infected by malware.
Updating your BIOS with Awdflash can help you achieve these goals and more. However, you should also be aware of the potential risks of updating your BIOS with Awdflash. Some of the possible drawbacks are:
You may lose your current BIOS settings or data if you do not back them up before flashing.
You may encounter some errors or issues during or after flashing that may require troubleshooting or recovery.
You may damage or brick your motherboard if you use an incorrect or incompatible BIOS file or flash tool.
You may void your warranty or support if you update your BIOS without authorization from the manufacturer.
Therefore, you should only update your BIOS with Awdflash if you have a valid reason and know what you are doing. You should also follow the instructions carefully and take all the necessary precautions before flashing.
How to Use Awdflash to Update Your BIOS
In this section, we will guide you through the steps of using Awdflash to update your BIOS. Before you start, make sure you have the following items:
A blank USB thumb drive (bootable for DOS method)
Rufus (other options include HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool, MSI DOS Tool, UNetbootin etc)
<li The latest version of Awdflash 1.18 and the BIOS file for your motherboard (you can download them from the manufacturer's website or other sources)
A backup of your current BIOS settings and data (you can use Awdflash to save them to a file or write them down manually)
A stable power supply and a working internet connection (optional but recommended)
Once you have everything ready, you can proceed with the following steps:
Steps to Create a Bootable USB with Awdflash and BIOS File
The first step is to create a bootable USB drive that contains Awdflash 1.18 and the BIOS file for your motherboard. You will need this USB drive to boot your system into DOS mode and run Awdflash. To create a bootable USB with Awdflash and BIOS file, follow these steps:
Insert your blank USB thumb drive into your PC.
Download and run Rufus from its official website or another source.
Select your USB drive from the Device list and choose MBR partition scheme for BIOS or UEFI.
Select FreeDOS from the Boot selection menu and leave the other options as default.
Click on START to format your USB drive and make it bootable with FreeDOS.
Copy Awdflash 1.18 and the BIOS file for your motherboard to the root directory of your USB drive.
Rename the BIOS file to something simple and easy to remember, such as bios.bin.
Eject your USB drive safely and label it as "BIOS Update".
Congratulations, you have successfully created a bootable USB with Awdflash and BIOS file. You can now use it to flash your BIOS with Awdflash.
Steps to Flash Your BIOS with Awdflash
The second step is to flash your BIOS with Awdflash using the bootable USB you created in the previous step. To flash your BIOS with Awdflash, follow these steps:
Shut down your PC and disconnect any external devices or peripherals, such as printers, scanners, speakers, etc.
Plug in your bootable USB drive into a USB port on your PC.
Turn on your PC and press the appropriate key to enter the BIOS setup menu (usually F2, F10, F12, or DEL).
Navigate to the Boot tab and change the boot order so that your USB drive is the first option.
Save and exit the BIOS setup menu. Your PC will reboot and load FreeDOS from your USB drive.
At the FreeDOS command prompt, type awdflash bios.bin /py /sn /cc /cd /cp /f /r and press Enter. This command will run Awdflash with the following parameters:
/py: Program Flash Memory
/sn: No Save Current System ROM
/cc: Clear CMOS Data After Programming
/cd: Clear DMI Data After Programming
/cp: Clear PnP (ESCD) Data After Programming
/f: Flash Boot Block
/r: Reboot After Programming
Awdflash will start flashing your BIOS with the new BIOS file. Do not interrupt the process or turn off your PC until it is finished. You will see a message saying "Flash Update Completed" when it is done.
Your PC will reboot automatically after flashing. Remove your USB drive and let your PC boot normally.
Congratulations, you have successfully flashed your BIOS with Awdflash. You can now enjoy the benefits of having an updated BIOS on your motherboard.
Troubleshooting and Tips
In this section, we will provide you with some troubleshooting and tips for using Awdflash to update your BIOS. If you encounter any problems or have any questions, you may find the answers here.
How to Deal with Common Errors and Issues
While Awdflash is a reliable and easy-to-use tool, you may still face some errors or issues during or after flashing your BIOS. Here are some of the most common ones and how to deal with them:
Invalid BIOS file: This means that the BIOS file you are trying to flash is not compatible with your motherboard or flash chip. Make sure you have downloaded the correct and latest BIOS file for your motherboard model and revision from the manufacturer's website or another trusted source. You can also use Awdflash to check the BIOS file information before flashing by typing awdflash bios.bin /i at the command prompt.
Flash memory write error: This means that there is a problem with writing the new BIOS data to the flash chip. This could be caused by a faulty or corrupted flash chip, a low battery, a power surge, or a virus infection. Try to flash your BIOS again with a different USB port, a different USB drive, or a different power source. You can also try to erase the flash chip before flashing by typing awdflash bios.bin /e at the command prompt.
Flash memory verify error: This means that there is a mismatch between the new BIOS data and the flash chip data. This could be caused by a bad BIOS file, a bad flash chip, or a bad flash tool. Try to flash your BIOS again with a different BIOS file, a different flash chip, or a different flash tool. You can also try to verify the flash chip data after flashing by typing awdflash bios.bin /v at the command prompt.
No bootable device: This means that your PC cannot find a bootable device after flashing your BIOS. This could be caused by a wrong boot order, a missing boot loader, or a corrupted operating system. Check your BIOS settings and make sure your hard drive or SSD is the first boot option. You can also try to repair your boot loader or operating system with a recovery disk or tool.
BIOS checksum error: This means that there is an error in the BIOS code that affects its integrity and functionality. This could be caused by a bad BIOS file, a bad flash chip, or a bad flash tool. Try to flash your BIOS again with a different BIOS file, a different flash chip, or a different flash tool. You can also try to reset your BIOS settings to default by typing awdflash bios.bin /d at the command prompt.
If none of these solutions work for you, you may need to contact your motherboard manufacturer or seek professional help.
How to Verify and Optimize Your BIOS Settings After Flashing
After flashing your BIOS with Awdflash, you should verify and optimize your BIOS settings to ensure that your system runs smoothly and efficiently. To verify and optimize your BIOS settings after flashing, follow these steps:
Enter the BIOS setup menu by pressing the appropriate key during boot (usually F2, F10, F12, or DEL).
Navigate to the Main tab and check the BIOS version and date. It should match the new BIOS file you flashed.
Navigate to the Advanced tab and check the CPU and memory settings. They should match your hardware specifications and preferences.
Navigate to the Boot tab and check the boot order and boot options. They should match your system configuration and needs.
Navigate to the Security tab and check the password and security settings. They should match your personal and professional requirements.
Navigate to the Exit tab and choose Save Changes and Exit. Your PC will reboot and apply the new BIOS settings.
Congratulations, you have successfully verified and optimized your BIOS settings after flashing with Awdflash.
How to Restore Your BIOS if Something Goes Wrong
In case something goes wrong during or after flashing your BIOS with Awdflash, you may need to restore your BIOS to its original or previous state. There are several ways to restore your BIOS if something goes wrong, such as:
Using Awdflash to flash your backup BIOS file: If you have saved your current BIOS settings and data before flashing with Awdflash, you can use Awdflash again to flash your backup BIOS file. Just follow the same steps as before but use your backup BIOS file instead of the new one.
Using Awdflash to recover from Boot Block: If you have enabled Boot Block in your current BIOS settings before flashing with Awdflash, you can use Awdflash again to recover from Boot on Windows. If you want to flash the BIOS on Windows, you should use Afudos or another Windows-based utility instead. dcd2dc6462