V1Jp BIOS Setup Help

Hi, I have a really big request for someone with a V1Jp: can you please post the sequence of keystrokes needed to get into the Boot Device setup menu in BIOS?

See, I recently tried to do a BIOS update and after that everything went blank. The machine is fine, but I can't see anything on wither the LCD or an external monitor.

So, now, I have to force-flash to the earlier BIOS in DOS mode. I got a boot CD with AFASH2 and the BIOS file.

But, with no visual feedback, I have to get into setup, select the CD/DVD drive as the boot device, save the configuration, and get out entirely by feel. In other words, by keystrokes.

Please someone help!

 

Nobody can help? Please guys.

I am doing field assignment in a country where the ASUS support desk it also a street-side tandoori grill. It's not a bad place to go to if you're hungry. But, you wouldn't want to take your ASUS V1Jp there if your life depended on it. And I am not going back home for another 3 months. So, trying to resolve this problem by myself is the only real option I have.

BTW, I know that I am booting into VISTA from the system sounds, and also since I can execute some simple command line instructions and the machine responds. I also have Winflash installed on the system. So I think with some help from from you guys, I could maybe run Winflash blind.

Thank you.

 

You're better off creating a DOS boot disk and trying to do it that way. Going through Windows is too unpredictable, especially with the UI. Without visual feedback, you could think you're pressing something when it really isn't.

I don't suggest using a bootable USB key unless you know it worked already with your V1. I have two bootable USB keys, formatted in two different ways. On my desktops, both work. On my V1, only one works, the other spits out a boot error.

So if you have a floppy disk and a USB floppy drive handy, you could create a MS-DOS boot disk that you could copy the flash utility and the correct firmware file. You would put the command to flash the BIOS into the AUTOEXEC.BAT and it would automatically do it for you.

Edit: ESC is the key required to get to the boot menu. If your BIOS is password-protected, you will need to enter the password. Usually the USB floppy will be the last option (though I don't have my DVD burner installed, so there were only two present).

 

Hi. Alex, thanks for your response. My BIOS is not password protected, so that's a good thing. I do have a DOS boot CD which works on my desktop and my Dell Lappy. It, however, doesn't seem to work on the V1Jp. There, it seems to boot to the CD, but then begins to load the OS as soon as touch a key.

On my boot disk, I am loading DOS with CD support. I have to then manually switch to my CD drive (K) and execute AFLASH2 from there. I can put these two lines in my AUTOEXEC file. Any other suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.

 

UPDATE

I was able to get a USB Floppy Drive. I made a DOS boot disk with AFLASH2.EXE for DOS and the latest flash (v1jpas.313) on it. Then after hitting F2 a number of times I was able to boot to the floppy. On the floppy I also had an AUTOEXEC with the following command:

aflash2.exe /auto:v1jpas.313 /force

From all the disk activity it seemed like it worked. I removed the floppy and manually shut down the laptop and rebooted it.

The laptop tried to power up and then shut down. Now, everytime I try to power it up, the power light goes on for a second, then a click, and then shutdown.

 

Hmm try again possibly I think its supposed to self shutdown when its done (that may only be recovery tho)

This is a brand new notebook right?

 

Bought it in January brand new. Can't try again since it shuts down within a second or two of powering up. BTW, it didn't shut down by itself when I flashed it; I did it manually. Maybe I didn't wait long enough for it to flash, but I waited five minutes or so.

 

That's what I guess as well...

I think your only option is to RMA at this point... Sorry about that.

 

Just got mine brand new 2 days ago, went to use ASUS Live Update for BIOS and after it restarted, i now have the same problem :/

 

This is really becoming ridiculous... I have first heard about this problem maybe one or 1 and a half months ago... Asus is doing nothing to fix it. It would be easy to just remove the offending BIOS from the LiveUpdate server...

Or they don't know about the problem, but they must've received about a thousand V1Js in RMA with the exact same problem.

I think what happens is that a V1J BIOS is written in the V1Jp and it's not compatible.

The rule of thumb is: NEVER EVER let an automatic update process mess around with critical things like BIOS. I know it doesn't help you now, but it;ll help you the next time.

In fact, ASUS Live Update is sh_t. Never use it.

 

Hi

DISCLAIMER: Please be aware that you follow these steps at your own risk. If you are not sure that this relate to your issue, DO NOT GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS. I have no idea of the impact this procedure might have on your warranty and would suggest that you check with ASUS Customer services first. The information below is published for knowledge-gain purpose.

I had the same issue and it was fixed as follow (the usb key used has a led indicating when it is activated):

1 -
Create an usb boot disk as per the information
sysanalyser's MAKING A BOOTABLE DEVICE
- follow the section USB-Disk

That is:
a)
Download HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool (sp27213.exe)
Download Dos files
Download config.sys and the files needed with config.sys
b)
Insert your usb key on the current machine
Uncompress sp27213.exe
Uncompress the Dos files archive (contains the files command.com, msdod.sys and io,sys)
Where you uncompressed sp27213.exe, run the utility HPUSBFW.EXE
Select create a boot disk
Point towards the location of the uncompressed DOS files
Copy the uncompressed config.sys and related files onto the usb key (this seems optional)

2 -
From asus website:
Get AFLASH2.EXE from ASUS website (download and uncompress)
Get the bios 303 for v1j notebooks from ASUS website (download and uncompress)

3 -
Create a new autoexec.bat file with the lines (create a text file with windows notebook and rename it autoexec.bat - careful, save it as "all files" to avoid it being named autoexec.bat.txt):
aflash2.exe /auto:V1Jas.303 /force

4 -
Copy the files AFLASH2.EXE, V1Jas.303 and your new autoexec.bat onto the usb drive

5 -
Switch off you notebook
Insert the usb key
Restart the notebook
(By default this laptop is set up to boot usb first - If your usb key does not seem to be used, after booting your laptop, press esc, press the down arrow key once then press enter... Repeat the operation by adding one stroke of the bottom arrow key until the usb is finally activated)

6-
Wait 20 minutes

7-
Press enter
The machine should reboot and the logo re-appear

Maybe I was just lucky but I hope this help you too.
Best Regards
Yipi

 

this USB stick works fine on my V1j(p)
(bios still broken 27.8.2007 --> 305)

jlu