Issues updating MB BIOS - Gigabyte GA-EP45-DS3R

MelbaToast

New Member
I recently ordered a custom computer with the following specs:

Case: Antec P182 ATX Black Mid Tower
Motherboard: Gigabyte EP45-DS3R
Memory OCZ Reaper Hpc Edition PC2-8500 DDR2 4GB 2X2GB DDR2-1066 CL5-5-5-15 Dual Channel EPP Memory
Processor Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Quad Core Processor LGA775 Kentsfield 2.40GHZ 1066FSB 8MB
Hard DriveWestern Digital Caviar SE16 640GB SATA2 7200RPM 16MB
OSMicrosoft Windows Vista Home Premium Edition 64BIT DVD OEM
Graphics CardDiamond Radeon HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 PCI-E Dual DVI-I HDCP HDTV Out


It came with everything supposedly checked to make sure it was running fine. Well, when I first went to boot up, it didn't give me the POST beep, and it went as far as the vista loading bar then a black screen and nothing. I reset it and tried once more and it did the same thing.

I turned it off, pulled everything out and reseated it, and it started up and launched into Vista. I thought I had fixed it but once I rebooted again, the same problems occurred.

After doing some reading on the Gigabyte site, it appears it's a common problem with the MB, and all I have to do is update the BIOS and everything will be fine. After I downloaded the correct file from the site, I tried to run the flasher from the desktop and it tells me it's not compatible with a 64 bit OS.

I have no idea what to try now, how can I update my MB BIOS if it won't update on a 64 bit OS? I don't have another HD with a 32 bit OS I can install, and I don't have a floppy drive to try and do it from DOS.

Any ideas?
 

My Computer

what bios are you currently running? is it F8? I had a similar problem building a rig for a mate with that mobo i had to drop the memory speed a little using the divider in bios , try that and see how it goes , they have a problem with 1066 ram i think , but it seems from the site an update has solved it , worth a quick try though
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 @ 4Gig / Titan Fenir
    Motherboard
    XFX 780i
    Memory
    4GB OCZ PC2-8500C5 DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GTX260/216 SLI
    Sound Card
    Creative X-FI Xtreme Gamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UltraSharp 2209WA 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    western digital raptor 10000rpm sata
    PSU
    OCZ Modstream 700w
    Cooling
    Titan Fenir
    Keyboard
    Razer Reclusa
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 Gamer
    Internet Speed
    8mb

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fumz' Flux-Capacitor
    CPU
    E8400
    Motherboard
    DFI LP DK P35-T2RS
    Memory
    4GB G.Skill PC-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS
    Sound Card
    X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    500GB W.D. RE2 Primary
    1TB W.D. Caviar GP WD10EACS
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
    Case
    Lian Li Lancool K62
    Cooling
    Thermalright Ultima-90/S-Flex 120mm
    Keyboard
    MS Natural Elite 4000 Ergonomic
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    2.5MB/430
    Other Info
    D-Link DGL 4500
Perhaps, not sure. I don't usually recommend that you flash a bios from within Windows; however, as you pointed out, you have no other choice. I've used this once or twice, it does the job. Perhaps I'm just finicky and like to do it the long way?

Here's a step by step, along with a link to winflash if you're uncomfortable with the techpower link. http://www.overclock.net/faqs/12418-how-flash-my-bios-using-award.html


***edit***

Your board also has a bios update feature: http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/FileList/NewTech/old_motherboard_newtech/tech_a_bios.htm
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fumz' Flux-Capacitor
    CPU
    E8400
    Motherboard
    DFI LP DK P35-T2RS
    Memory
    4GB G.Skill PC-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS
    Sound Card
    X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    500GB W.D. RE2 Primary
    1TB W.D. Caviar GP WD10EACS
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
    Case
    Lian Li Lancool K62
    Cooling
    Thermalright Ultima-90/S-Flex 120mm
    Keyboard
    MS Natural Elite 4000 Ergonomic
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    2.5MB/430
    Other Info
    D-Link DGL 4500
Best bet - don't update BIOS from inside the OS - download the .ISO, burn it and boot off the burned CD and let it burn.

Technically you can spend some time making a bootable USB device so that i will be reusable later on - but personally CDRs are so cheap I'd use the disc myself.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64 Insider Preview (Skip Ahead) latest build
    Manufacturer/Model
    The Beast Model V (homebrew)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 965 EE @ 3.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA X58 Classified 3 (141-GT-E770-A1)
    Memory
    3 * Mushkin 998981 Redline Enhanced triple channel DDR3 4 GB CL7 DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3-12800)
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 (04G-P4-3979-KB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio (onboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 * Lenovo LT2323pwA Widescreeen
    Screen Resolution
    2 * 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SanDisk Ultra SDSSDHII-960G-G25 960 GB SATA III SSD (System)
    Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 256GB SATA III SSD (User Tree)
    2 * Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA II Mech. HD
    Seagate ST1500DL001-9VT15L Barracuda 7200.12 1.5 TB S
    PSU
    Thermaltake Black Widow TX TR2 850W 80+ Bronze Semi-Mod ATX
    Case
    ThermalTake Level 10 GT (Black)
    Cooling
    Corsair H100 (CPU, dual 140 mm fans on radiator) + Air (2 *
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (gen 2)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared)
    Internet Speed
    AT&T Lightspeed Gigabit duplex
  • Operating System
    Sabayon Linux (current, weekly updates, 5.1.x kernel)
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad E545
    CPU
    AMD A6-5350M APU
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Radeon HD (Embedded)
    Sound Card
    Conextant 20671 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo 15" Matte
    Screen Resolution
    1680 * 1050
    Hard Drives
    INTEL Cherryvill 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SSD
    PSU
    Lenovo
    Case
    Lenovo
    Cooling
    Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared) | Synaptics TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Lenovo
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex
Best bet - don't update BIOS from inside the OS - download the .ISO, burn it and boot off the burned CD and let it burn.

Technically you can spend some time making a bootable USB device so that i will be reusable later on - but personally CDRs are so cheap I'd use the disc myself.


That sounds like a great idea.

From the gigabyte site, they give you an .exe file for updating the BIOS. It auto extracts to wherever you want and leaves you with an MS-DOS Batch File "autoexec", the flashspi application file, and an "ep45ds3r.f8 file.

Forgive my ignorance, but I have no idea how I'd make that into an ISO.
 

My Computer

If you have a version of Nero that's Vista compatible you can burn an ISO, if not then ImgBurn, listed in the Software section of these forums in the sticky "free software" is a very good alternative. I've been using it instead of Nero since going 64-bit and just love it: The Official ImgBurn Website

ImgBurn can create an ISO (image file). To be honest though, I don't know all that much about creating image files and have always preferred to use a floppy when flashing. ISO's just scare me for some reason? :eek: ISO, UDF blah blah blah... it's all Greek to me.

Hopefully someone with experience will come in and layout the steps... I know I would like to hear them... but if it gets too complicated, floppy drives are less than $5.00.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Fumz' Flux-Capacitor
    CPU
    E8400
    Motherboard
    DFI LP DK P35-T2RS
    Memory
    4GB G.Skill PC-1066
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA 8800 GTS
    Sound Card
    X-Fi XtremeGamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Samsung 226BW
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    500GB W.D. RE2 Primary
    1TB W.D. Caviar GP WD10EACS
    PSU
    PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
    Case
    Lian Li Lancool K62
    Cooling
    Thermalright Ultima-90/S-Flex 120mm
    Keyboard
    MS Natural Elite 4000 Ergonomic
    Mouse
    Logitech G5
    Internet Speed
    2.5MB/430
    Other Info
    D-Link DGL 4500
Well, that would take some work - and more than likely more work than you want to put into it - however, if you look at Bootdisk.Com you'll see a free DOS boot disk for flashing BIOSs :P
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64 Insider Preview (Skip Ahead) latest build
    Manufacturer/Model
    The Beast Model V (homebrew)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 965 EE @ 3.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA X58 Classified 3 (141-GT-E770-A1)
    Memory
    3 * Mushkin 998981 Redline Enhanced triple channel DDR3 4 GB CL7 DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3-12800)
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 (04G-P4-3979-KB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio (onboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 * Lenovo LT2323pwA Widescreeen
    Screen Resolution
    2 * 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SanDisk Ultra SDSSDHII-960G-G25 960 GB SATA III SSD (System)
    Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 256GB SATA III SSD (User Tree)
    2 * Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA II Mech. HD
    Seagate ST1500DL001-9VT15L Barracuda 7200.12 1.5 TB S
    PSU
    Thermaltake Black Widow TX TR2 850W 80+ Bronze Semi-Mod ATX
    Case
    ThermalTake Level 10 GT (Black)
    Cooling
    Corsair H100 (CPU, dual 140 mm fans on radiator) + Air (2 *
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (gen 2)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared)
    Internet Speed
    AT&T Lightspeed Gigabit duplex
  • Operating System
    Sabayon Linux (current, weekly updates, 5.1.x kernel)
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad E545
    CPU
    AMD A6-5350M APU
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Radeon HD (Embedded)
    Sound Card
    Conextant 20671 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo 15" Matte
    Screen Resolution
    1680 * 1050
    Hard Drives
    INTEL Cherryvill 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SSD
    PSU
    Lenovo
    Case
    Lenovo
    Cooling
    Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared) | Synaptics TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Lenovo
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex
Well, that would take some work - and more than likely more work than you want to put into it - however, if you look at Bootdisk.Com you'll see a free DOS boot disk for flashing BIOSs :P

This it seems is the ONLY way ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ its all over the net , all sorts having trouble using bios flash utilities with 64 bit Vista , ive done alot of bios flashing , mobo and gpu , and would never recommend you do it in windows anyway. Buy/beg/borrow a floppy and make it bootable then flash through that , the instructions are on the gigabyte site , just follow them its easy :D

edit..if your not familiar with the old floppy , remmeber you may have to enable floppy support in bios first , im not sure , maybe thats just so windows can recognise it
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 @ 4Gig / Titan Fenir
    Motherboard
    XFX 780i
    Memory
    4GB OCZ PC2-8500C5 DDR2
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GTX260/216 SLI
    Sound Card
    Creative X-FI Xtreme Gamer
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell UltraSharp 2209WA 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    western digital raptor 10000rpm sata
    PSU
    OCZ Modstream 700w
    Cooling
    Titan Fenir
    Keyboard
    Razer Reclusa
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 Gamer
    Internet Speed
    8mb
Silly question,
Did you build this computer yourself or was it built at the shop.
If it was built at the shop, take it back and get them to sort it out.
If you built it yourself then flash the bios using a bootable iso.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Self Built
    CPU
    I5 3570K
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte Z77-DS3H
    Memory
    4 x 4GB corsair ballistix sport DDR3 1600 Mhz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte Geforce GTX 660 TI
    Sound Card
    creative x-fi
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Primary CiBox 22" Widescreen LCD ,Secondary Dell 22" Widescreen
    Screen Resolution
    Both 1680 x 1050
    Hard Drives
    2 x 500G HD (SATA) 1 x 2TB USB
    PSU
    Corsair HX 620W ATX2.2 Modular SLI Complient PSU
    Case
    Antec 900 Ultimate Gaming Case
    Cooling
    3 x 80mm tri led front, 120mm side 120mm back, 200mm top
    Keyboard
    Logik
    Mouse
    Technika TKOPTM2
    Internet Speed
    288 / 4000
    Other Info
    Creative Inspire 7.1 T7900 Speakers
    Trust Graphics Tablet
Hey guys, thanks for all the responses. I picked the parts, a shop built it for me and mailed it up. I live in the top of the Northwest Territories, Canada, so it's pretty tough for me to order parts or send back the computer to the shop.

I managed to get it fixed last night. I downloaded the BIOS update file, put it on a USB Flash drive and updated the BIOS through Q-Flash. It worked like a charm, no issues at all. It was actually much simpler than I thought it would be.

Thanks again for your help.
 

My Computer

Back
Top