How to use BIOS Flashback

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NOTICE: These instructions apply to both Intel and AMD boards.

  • Most boards include a feature called BIOS Flashback that will allow the BIOS to be updated prior to booting up for the first time.
  • Most can complete BIOS flashback without having a CPU, RAM, or video card installed.
AMD AM4 boards: (B450, X470, B550, X370, X570)
  • Need to have the BIOS updated prior to being able to boot any 5000 Series Ryzen.
AMD AM5 boards: (B650, B650-E, X670, X670-E)
  • Need to have the BIOS updated prior to being able to boot any 7000X3D Series Ryzen.
Intel LGA1700 boards: (B660/Z690/Z790)
  • Need to have the BIOS updated prior to being able to boot 13th or 14th Gen Intel CPU.

If your board does not support BIOS flashback, you will need to have the BIOS flashed with a SPI programmer or a spare older generation CPU temporarily to boot and update.

For help with this, submit a ticket

Asus

  1. No other components are necessary except CPU + power.
  2. Make sure file name extensions are enabled in Windows Explorer
  3. Format a USB thumbdrive as FAT32. If you can’t FAT32 format with windows, use Rufus with boot selection set to Non Bootable
  4. Download the latest BIOS file that matches your motherboard model from the ASUS® website.
  5. Extract all contents to a folder.
  6. Run the BIOSRenamer.exe as admin to rename the BIOS file for flashback.
  7. Place only the BIOS file on the root of the USB flash drive.
  8. Insert the USB storage device to the Flash USB port (the USB marked on the I/O shield) then press the BIOS FlashBack™ button for three seconds to automatically update the BIOS.
  9. Once the flashing BIOS process is 100% completed, the LED will be off simultaneously.
  10. Build and boot.

ASRock (Taichi Only)

  1. No other components are necessary except power.
  2. Make sure file name extensions are enabled in Windows Explorer
  3. Format a USB thumbdrive as FAT32. If you can’t FAT32 format with windows, use Rufus with boot selection set to Non Bootable
  4. Download the latest BIOS file that matches your motherboard model from the ASRock® website.
  5. Extract all contents to a folder.
  6. Rename the BIOS file to CREATIVE.ROM
  7. Place the file on the root of the USB flash drive.
  8. Plug the USB flash drive that contains the ROM file into the Flashback marked USB Port on the rear I/O panel.
  9. Press the BIOS Flashback Switch for about three seconds. Then the LED starts to blink.
  10. Wait until the LED stops blinking, indicating that BIOS flashing has been completed.
  11. Build and boot.

Gigabyte

  1. No other components are necessary except power.
  2. Make sure file name extensions are enabled in Windows Explorer
  3. Format a USB thumbdrive as FAT32. If you can’t FAT32 format with windows, use Rufus with boot selection set to Non Bootable
  4. Download the latest BIOS file that matches your motherboard model from the Gigabyte ® website.
  5. Extract all contents to a folder.
  6. Rename the BIOS file to Gigabyte.bin
  7. Place the file on the root of the USB flash drive.
  8. Plug the USB flash drive that contains the Gigabyte.bin file into the Flash BIOS marked USB Port on the rear I/O panel.
  9. Press the Flash BIOS Button to flash BIOS, let go when the button LED starts flashing.
  10. Once the flashing BIOS process is 100% completed, the LED will be off simultaneously.
  11. Build and boot.

MSi

  1. No other components are necessary except power.
  2. Make sure file name extensions are enabled in Windows Explorer
  3. Format a USB thumbdrive as FAT32. If you can’t FAT32 format with windows, use Rufus with boot selection set to Non Bootable
  4. Download the latest BIOS file that matches your motherboard model from the MSI® website.
  5. Extract and Rename the BIOS file to MSI.ROM
  6. Place the file on the root of the USB flash drive.
  7. Plug the USB flash drive that contains the MSI.ROM file into the Flash BIOS marked USB Port on the rear I/O panel.
  8. Press the Flash BIOS Button to flash BIOS, let go when the button LED starts flashing.
  9. Once the flashing BIOS process is 100% completed, the LED will be off simultaneously.
  10. Build and boot.