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Help with creating batch to BIOS flash multiple systems
Posted: 21 Jan 2010 17:23
by txtaquito
Im looking to create a batch file that can help automate flashing BIOS files for multiple OEM computers (eg IBM desktop but different models). I would like for the batch to ask for the machine type or model and upon user input, the batch will fetch the proper .rom file and flash the BIOS with the flash executable. Can anyone hlp on this?
Thanks,
TxT
Re: Help with creating batch to BIOS flash multiple systems
Posted: 22 Jan 2010 03:25
by alan_b
How many attempts at this batch are you prepared to attempt ?
Do you realise that each failed attempt could be another non-boot-able P.C. ?
Will the user be competent to correctly input "machine type or model" ?
I have a 5 year old PC.
I am sure that my BIOS could benefit from an update,
but the risks I perceive far outweigh any potential benefits.
Alan
Re: Help with creating batch to BIOS flash multiple systems
Posted: 22 Jan 2010 08:51
by txtaquito
What I'm wanting to do is boot to the USB stick. Lets say this is for IBM only. I will be prompted to enter machine type (eg 7536). It will then prompt user "are you sure you want to flash BIOS? Be sure you entered correct machine type." and prompt user once more for machine type. It will then fetch the .rom file and execute the flash2.exe with specified switches.
At least for the IBM flashing I want to do, you cannot flash the wrong file. The flash program compares the machine type with the .rom before the actual flash begins and will error out if they do not match. Fairly fail-safe.
Thanks for your response.
TxT
Re: Help with creating batch to BIOS flash multiple systems
Posted: 22 Jan 2010 10:19
by alan_b
My 5 year old PC has a Bios that works as intended,
but it cannot boot from a USB device,
it would not be able to Flash itself until it has been manually updated.
I could be wrong, but I doubt that any computer that really needs to Flash its Bios would be able to do so automatically by booting from a USB device.
Alan
Re: Help with creating batch to BIOS flash multiple systems
Posted: 23 Jan 2010 07:48
by txtaquito
The machines I flash are capable of booting from USB device - I do it all the time. My line of work, I replace motherboards on these machines. The serial and model are blanked on the new boards and BIOS must be flashed every time a board is replaced in order to write the serial and model numbers to the machine. It just gets old that I have to retrieve a particular BIOS flash from my storage device, create a bootable floppy with that flash and then proceed with the flash. I want to format a USB stick that is bootable, store all the BIOS files on it and have a script retrieve the correct .rom flash and proceed with flashing as advertised.
Thanks,
TxT