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cjwomack/Update Eee PC 701SD BIOS - Linux.md

Last active June 2, 2022 13:42
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Updating Eee PC 701SD with newer bios firmware.
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Update Eee PC 701SD BIOS - Linux.md

Update Eee PC 701SD BIOS - Linux

(I recently decided to install Q4OS on this laptop but forgot about the BIOS - should have updated the BIOS before overwriting XP.)

The instructions on https://wiki.debian.org/DebianEeePC/HowTo/UpgradeBIOS did not work, specifically the option to use Alt + F2 as well as the fallback method.

By adjusting the fallback method to Rufus, this fixed the problem

Specifically, UNetBootin did not work at all and could not see or access the files at all and was showing drive A:. and was not able to change to drive C:\ Using Rufus worked perfectly

Downloaded the BIOS firmware from https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/EeePC/EeePC701SD/701SD-ASUS-0802.zip and renamed to 701SD.ROM

Downloaded AFUDOS.EXE from https://www.techspot.com/drivers/driver/file/information/11943/

Adjusted Fallback instructions from https://wiki.debian.org/DebianEeePC/HowTo/UpgradeBIOS

Prepare the USB stick

  1. Download latest BIOS from Asus using links above.

  2. Download AFUDOS.EXE from the following website. To determine the best version for your scenario, check successfull combinations below: http://downloads.k0k0.de/index.php?dir=Netbooks%2FASUS%2FBIOS%2F Use Google to find your BIOS firmware

  3. Create a FreeDOS USB-stick. UNetBootin Rufus can be used for this and has FreeDOS listed as one of the default distros is can flash.

  4. Once flashed, copy the BIOS's ROM-file and AFUDOS.EXE to the USB-stick. The files should go on the root of same partition as ldlinux.sys and syslinux.cfg. KERNEL.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT.

  5. Unmount and eject the USB-drive.

Flash BIOS using AFUDOS

  1. Ensure the EEEPC is powered off.

  2. Insert the prepared USB-stick.

  3. Power on your EEE PC. Press ESC while waiting for BIOS to trigger boot-menu.

  4. Select the USB-stick from the boot-menu.

  5. Boot into FreeDOS live without HIMEM or EMM386. There was only 1 option when created with Rufus to boot into FREEDOS v1.

  6. Go to C:\ You should be in C:, where you should find the extra files you copied to the USB stick - ls equivalent is DIR.

  7. Launch AFUDOS.EXE using the following syntax: AFUDOS.EXE /iNEWROMFILE.ROM /oOLDROMFILE.ROM. Notice lack of space between switch and value. This should backup the old ROM and flash the new one.

  8. Wait. Upon completion you should be told to power off your PC.

You have now updated your BIOS.

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