Solved Problem creating USB Boot Drive

[Galadhlinn]

I am attempting to flash bios in my DFI board. DFI site says for vista 64 users to create usb bootable disk and flash from there. I have flashed from floppy many times without any problems.

They recommend using "HP usb formatting tool". Searching this I came across a thread in this forum "http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/191416-dos-usb-boot-drive.html". I downloaded the tool and win98 boot and folowed the instructions on this page. My usb flash stick was successfully formatted, but the boot files were not installed. The stick shows empty. I have tried several times with the same results. Any suggestions?

Reason for flashing: I am having memory issues with my, and DFI tech recommended flashing to 1-29-09 version which addresses memory related issues.

Off topic comment: Werent we making progress at flashing bios through Windows in XP? This process seems more and more archaic as time goes on :P

Thanks for advice

-G

 

[Brink]

Hello Galadhlinn, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Normally, you can set your BIOS settings to allow Legacy USB support and to have the USB flash drive listed in the boot order before the hard drive. Sometimes the USB flash drive will need to be formated with FAT32 instead of NTFS though.

Hope this helps some,
Shawn

 

[Galadhlinn]

Hello Shawn,

Thank you for the prompt reply.

My issue is not with Vista, as I am familiar with setting the boot sequence in the bios, and the usb drive is formatted to FAT32.

What I have been unsuccessful at is getting the new bios on the drive, or rather creating a win98 boot drive. I have gone through the steps outlined on this forum, but the end result (after three tries) is an empty, formatted usb drive, not a boot drive.

Thank you again.

 

[Brink]

What is your motherboard model number? Maybe I can help find something at DFI that may be able to help you with this.

 

[Galadhlinn]

Hello again, Shawn

MB is DFI UT 790FX M2R

I am running Vista Ultimate 64 (SP1) current on updates

MB drivers are current as well

The instructions I am working off of are on DFI's site within the window of thee specific bios 2009-1-21 (R7LD121.zip), following instructions for vista 64

Further Info:

When I use the HP USB formatting tool and select FAT32 and create a DOS startup disk and point it to the unzipped folder for win98 boot, it goes through formatting and seems to load files but when I open the drive it is empty and when I right click on the drive and select properties it shows only 311 KBS used on the drive. The win98 boot files are 1.2 mbs (unzipped)

When I do this same procedure but select NTFS, the drive still shows as empty but used space is 15 mb

I have never had a problem creating win98 boot diskets (floppies) and have flashed bios many times without a hitch.

I just want to make sure that I am doing everything right and that the usb drive is set up properly.

Thank you again

 

[Brink]

You may be able to boot to the command prompt from the Vista installation DVD, then navigate to and run the HPUSBFW.EXE file from the USB flash drive.

However, unless you really need the BIOS update, then I would not recommend doing it since it does not appear to want to work the way they instructed to. It's to risky to kill your motherboard.

 

[Galadhlinn]

Thank you for your time on this matter, Shawn

I agree it is not worth damaging the motherboard.

I will peruse the DFI forums and see what others are doing since many have successfully flashed their bios and I would assume that some are running Vista 64.

Only when I am satisfied that everything is in order to safely flash the bios will I make the attempt.

-G

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Galadhlinn. I hope you find a safe solution.

 

[Galadhlinn]

Hello Shawn,

Here's an update that may help others in my situation.

It seems that not all usb drives are created equal.

USBs that are multi-purpose such as those that double as mp3 players (like mine) will not work as boot devices.

You need a straight usb pen type drive that is solely for data storage.

Size also seems to matter. It should be 256mb to 2 gb in size. Larger or smaller does not seem to work. Mine is 164mb, so I was in trouble on two fronts.

Here is the link I got the above info on.

http://www.loggan26.aquiss.com/Bootable_USB_Stick.html

Thank you again for your time on this matter.

-G

 

[Brink]

Thank you for posting back your results. I'm happy to hear that you got this sorted out.