107 replies to this topic

[ivc]

I found it hard to find the bios releases and therefore I've compiled a the list below to include all available releases. Sorted chronologically.


Flash tools

New! BIOS Update Tools
This package makes it possible to downgrade to earlier BIOS versions, even from 0511 and 0703. Put it on a USB drive and boot up.

Other flash tools:
Bootdisk creator
AFU DOS flash utility

In DOS execute this command to flash: afudos /i<New ROM filename> /o<Create backup of old version>
I.e afudos /i0401.rom /o0302.rom

ALT+F2 method:
To update with only a usb drive and firmware, just rename the rom-image to 701.rom, put it on a flash drive, reboot, and press ALT+F2 to load the updater. It's failsafe, during a bad flash it will boot into the flash utility and wait for a valid rom-image.


Download sites

BIOS Update Utility files:
http://update.eeepc.asus.com/bios/

FTP directory:
USA: ftp://ftp.asus.com/pub/ASUS/EeePC/
Taiwan: ftp://ftp.asus.com.tw/pub/ASUS/EeePC/


EeePC 700 - 2G Surf

0127 - Download
* Bios date 2007-11-01
* Changed the shutdown key from pressing power button for 4 seconds to one click after CrashFree successfully recovered the BIOS (BUG#=338)
* Changed DMI Type1 System Product Name to "Eee PC".
* Changed POST and setup menu model string to "Eee PC 2G/700"
* Updated the discharge voltage of 2S2P 2200mA battery.
* Fix the positions of setup tokens.
* Changed the boot block version from 20 to 21.

0128 - Download
* Bios date 2007-11-07
* Updated onboard DIMM SPD to support 512MB DRAM
* Changed the boot block version from 21 to 22
* Changed the hardware compatible version from 03 to 04

0129 - Download
* Bios date 2007-11-19

0207 - Download
* Bios date 2008-01-14

0401 - Download
* Bios date 2008-03-05
* Removed 1024x768 resolution.
* Let EZ Flash, ASUS Update, CrashFree erase and program boot block, EC F/W areas at last, in order to enhance the shutdown protection.
* Fixed the failure to boot to SSD when Boot Booster was enabled and LAN boot was set to boot first.
* Increased the boot block version from 30 to 31.

EeePC 701 - 4G

8804 - Download
* Bios date 2007-07-25, initial release
* Full 100 MHz FSB
* Chip report as an Intel I915GM rather than Intel I910GML
* Wireless and screen flickering problems reported

0302 - Download not available, please report if you found it
* Bios date 2007-10-10
* FSB lowered to 70 MHz

0204 - Download
* Bios date 2007-10-05
* Fixes USB2 and webcam problems

0401 - Download
* Bios date 2007-10-17
* Fix sometimes password is requested when entering setup

0511 test 705 - Download
* Bios date 2007-12-04
* Internal lead, beta version, at your own risk
* Display brightness higher, 220 Nits (versus ~130 nits)
* CPU speed adjustment, Max Battery (630 MHz) Max Performance (900 MHz)
* Voltage adjustment setting, locked to Low for Max Battery and Normal for Max Performance
* Downgrading to older BIOS versions restricted
* Possibly higher fan speed

0703 - Download
* Bios date 2008-01-04
* Revise the year of copyright strings from 2007 to 2008

0801 - Download
* Bios date 2008-01-08
* EC Firmware Version: 701_073
* <Changes unknown yet>

0906 - Download
* Bios date 2008-02-21
* 0901
* Improve QuickBoot Function and Default Set to On.
* Remove VBIOS Sign On message.
* 0902
* Force System Boot to First HDD when BootBoster Enabled.
* 0903
* Fix EZ-Flash & ASUS Update can't Update EC Firmware.
* 0904
* Change the defualt value of "boot booster" to "disable".
* 0905
* Fix XP Freeze when Battery Capacity fall down to Critical Low.
* 0906
* Fix AC/DC status confused when enter OS by bootbooster.
* Correct battery warning&low capacity.

0910 - Download
* Bios date 2008-03-03
* 0907
* Revise VBIOS to Support 1024x768.
* 0908
* Update EC F/W to fix system can't wakeup when Discharge to Battery Low in S3.
* Update EC F/W to fix system auto wakeup when XP force system Standby when Battery Low occurred.
* Skip asserting BAT_LL# in S3 to prevents host could not resuming from S3.
* Changed BAT_LL# asserting level to 0.5*battery critical level.
* Disabled EC_FLAG_BAT_LOW_RESUME_S3_ENABLED when enter to S3.)
* 0909
* Update EC FW to Fix that If you Plug/Remove AC fast and continual, XP may show AC Present but in fact not.
* Changed the model name from S701_xxx to EPC-[censored].
* Fixed SCI_EVT synchronization issue.
* Fix System Boot to SSD fail when Enable BootBooster and Set Lan Boot First.
* 0910
* Remove 1024x768 due to SW not ready


EeePC 702 - 8G

0103 - Download
* Bios date 2007-10-25
* Initial release

0309 - Download
* Bios date 2007-12-14

0404 - Download
* Bios date 2008-01-25


BIOS Tools

Change boot image
Change boot image using AMI Tools (instructions included, starting at page 50). Thanks Reverend Jones/mbm (from openwrt.org). Some samples can be found here and FAQ in post #24 below.

Bios configuration
Using AMI BIOS Configuration program you can look and change various default settings in the rom-image.

Please let know of any errors.

Edited by ivc, 28 March 2008 - 01:11 AM.

[Kibobo]

To update the bios without any OS: http://forum.eeeuser...id=25610#p25610

[cr14mson]

Good job! Thanks! ;) Chris and I were just talking about this yesterday... hahaha

[TheBronze]

Sweet! I have wanted to try the 8804 but didn't know where to look. I am running 2GB RAM and am interested in seeing if it will have the video issues as reported. Thanks for putting this together.

[crispytreat]

Quote

Sweet! I have wanted to try the 8804 but didn't know where to look. I am running 2GB RAM and am interested in seeing if it will have the video issues as reported. Thanks for putting this together.

I ran 8804 and I have 2GB of Ram. I also had the video issues. Hope you have better luck.

[dblake]

Is it advisable to upgrade from 0301 to 0401 if you're just a joe public user? Any benifits I might see? Do I need it to use the USB at 2.0 speeds?

[kpneil]

Just updated from 0302 to 0401 but found the process weird. Tried the Alt-F2 but all it did was sit there saying that it was reading 701.ROM. Giving up on that I found the BIOS was still 0302 but I had to reconfigure a few things.
Next, I tried running /usr/sbin/biosupdate --install. This asked for a url and the one from the --list argument. This instantly said "Done" "reboot" which worried me. When I rebooted it went straight into the bios utility ... reading, erasing, writing.
It worked but scared me.

[Demitasse]

I upgraded from 0204 to 8804 today, running XP w/ 2GB RAM & 8GB USB key intenal (to EEE).
With FSB at 100MHz had freezing problems, so down clocked back to 75MHz. I'm planning to put some heatsink paste between the CPU & keyboard tray to spread the heat.

[TexasGuy]

Quote

I upgraded from 0204 to 8804 today, running XP w/ 2GB RAM & 8GB USB key intenal (to EEE).
With FSB at 100MHz had freezing problems, so down clocked back to 75MHz. I'm planning to put some heatsink paste between the CPU & keyboard tray to spread the heat.

There is some already there. Plus, they use a different more dense version due to the fact the CPU might not have a good contact with the keyboard tray. They use something like a gummy heat transfer pad.

[ivc]

Demitasse:

Do you have 800 Mhz or 667 Mhz DDR2 SO-DIMM? If you have the latter, that might be the problem.

[eeeOtter]

Quote

0302 - Download not available, please report if you found it
* Bios date 2007-10-10
* Found on UK machines
* FSB lowered to 70 MHz

Please let know of any errors.

I'm running 0302 on a US machine. I bought it in New York City at RCS on the 12th.

[bbsux]

Use the afudos utility @

ftp://ftp.asus.com/p...C/EeePC4G(701)/

and use the command line:

afudos /i<New ROM filename> /o0302.rom

There is NO SPACE after the "i" or "o"

This will flash a newer version bios (or older) and backup your current. Then you could send the 0302 bios to us.

Edited by bbsux, 30 November 2007 - 08:03 PM.

[cr14mson]

Maximum number of downloads reached. :(

Edited by cr14mson, 30 November 2007 - 09:09 AM.

[rustedborg]

Can anyone confirm whether the 8804 BIOS interferes with the keyboard fn controls (volume, screen brightness, num lock, etc.)?

I am seriously considering using the 8804 BIOS so I can run at a full 900MHz.

[cr14mson]

Is 8804 the only BIOS that allows 100MHz FSB?

For those with 0302 BIOS, won't the 'Save BIOS to file' work in Asus Update utility? :)

[TheBronze]

Finally got around to flashing the BIOS. Set the FSB to 100and the video looks fine to me. Tried a few different backgrounds and ran some apps with no trouble. I do see a rediculously slight movement on white title bars on the very bottom bottom (reminds me of the sort of effect you see on a TV sometimes), but to be honest I have to get within a foot and squint to see it. Its no deal breaker for me to be sure. Unless it gets worse, I will be leaving it alone.

Edit: Running default Xandros desktop with advanced mode enabled.

Edited by TheBronze, 01 December 2007 - 12:03 AM.

[cr14mson]

Which BIOS are you using? :)

[TheBronze]

8804. Still happily computing for the most part. Looks like the suspend feature is not working for some reason. Closing the lid just turns the power to the LCD off. No matter, its better for me to have it do that any way! I will run this until a new bios comes out from asus.

[cr14mson]

Thinking of switching back to 8804 as well. Hopefully I wont get any blue screens anymore. :D

[SuperRoach]

With the lcd just turning off, I think that may just be a suspend mode option, not something to do with the bios... so if thats the only thing holding you back might be ok to upgrade :)