Hello,
I've technically bricked two Intel mobo's DH77KZ and DZ77GA-70K trying to run the BIOS update Executed files from Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit and Windows 7 Pro 64bit respectively.
After running the executable version of the BIOS update package, the system would boot continually, beep, and reboot.
My attempts to resolve the issue on the DH77KZ failed using the provide online instructions from the Intel product support site, and after buying a new mobo (DZ77GA-70K) and hitting the same snag when updating the BIOS,
On the DZ77GA-70K the POST status display did indicate I was in recovery mode (31), but nothing was happening and my video was not displaying anything from the two monitors attached to the installed PNY NVidia Quadro 420, all of which worked before I executed the BIOS update file. I attempted the USB thumb drive method as well as the CD-ROM method, but nothing worked, and the same status and lack of activity or display was frustrating.
I was starting to think it's me, since again the recovery approach shown by the support web site didn't work...
UNTIL....
I realize that documenting a process that comes with the "should be executed by a trained technician" may not be complete; however, ALL of the documentation relating to the BIOS recovery process is missing a key set of instructions! The name of the *.BIO file must be "bios.bio", not the original BIOS file name like "GA0066.BIO", only after I corrected the file name and put the USB stick (reformatted to FAT32 and then copying the bios.bio file to it), into a board connected (back panel) USB 2 port (same as USB keyboard, so not the high current one), did the BIOS recovery process succeed.
Notably I tried using the following sources, which missed the detail about the file name:
Desktop Boards — Instructions for Recovery BIOS Update
BIOS download file readme.pdf https://downloadmirror.intel.com/22828/eng/BIOS%20Update%20Readme.pdf
BIOS Update Instructions page: Desktop Boards — BIOS Update Instructions
and the referenced BIOS Recovery instructions: http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/recoverybiosupdateinstructions.pdf
Given the missing information, I've decided to provide the following update to the instructions:
So the process with USB thumb drive should be documented as:
Recovery with Bootable USB Thumb Drive
Use this method if the recovery file (*.BIO) is too large to fit on a floppy disk or if the desktop board does not include floppy drive support.
- Copy the recovery file (*.bio) to a bootable USB thumb drive.
- Rename the bios file (e.g. GA0066.BIO) to “bios.bio” <<<--- is is missing in the instructions!!!!!
- Place the thumb drive in a USB port of the target system.
[IMHO - some added guidance]
NOTE: Utilize an on-board USB 2.0 port, ideally the a back panel standard USB 2.0 port for best results in finding the USB thumb drive with the “bios.bio” file
NOTE: Connect a monitor to the on-board video display port, if that is not being used, to ensure you have visibility of all video output, since it appears that some video cards don't display the recovery bios information
- Shut down the system and unplug AC power.
- Open the chassis and remove the BIOS Configuration Jumper. See the Technical Product Specification for details including the location of this jumper.
- Power the system on.
- Wait 2-5 minutes for the update to complete.
- System will either turn off when the recovery process is completed or it will prompt you to turn off the system.
- Remove the thumb drive from the USB port.
- Replace the BIOS Configuration Jumper.
- Restart system.
For CD-ROM it should be:
Recovery with CD-ROM
Use this method if the recovery file (*.BIO) is too large to fit on a floppy disk or if the desktop board does not include floppy drive support.
- Copy the recovery file (*.bio) to a CD.
- Rename the bios file (e.g. GA0066.BIO) to “bios.bio” before burning the CD-ROM <<<--- is is missing in the instructions!!!!!
- Place the CD in the CD-ROM drive of the target system.
- Shut down the system and unplug AC power.
- Open the chassis and remove the BIOS Configuration Jumper. See the Technical Product Specification for details including the location of this jumper.
- Power the system on.
- Wait 2-5 minutes for the update to complete.
- System will either turn off when the recovery process is completed or it will prompt you to turn off the system.
- Replace the BIOS Configuration Jumper.
- Restart system.
I'm skipping the FLOPPY options since the BIOS files in questions are > 1.4MB and can't fit on that media. [Yes, I still have floppy drives and even blank disks... lol]
If there is a contact e-mail for providing documentation feedback, like what Check Point Software Technologies provides in current documentation releases, I would appreciate it. Alternatively I could create a "document" post and see if that can help the community.
I will need to find a LGA1155 processor to try this process on the still broken Intel DH77KZ, since impatience [and urgency] won over experimentation and diligence.
The Intel DZ77GA-70K based system is now back at full operational status with the 0066 BIOS update and working fine.
