8 beeps, corrupt BIOS/invalid ROM

[jmbak]

I recently got my hands on an old Envy desktop. I cleaned it up and upgraded to an SSD, putting a clean install of Windows 10 onto it. The PC was working fine until trying to update the BIOS to the latest version. I downloaded the file and started the update, but backed out before letting it flash the BIOS because I wanted to double check if it'd work properly from Windows 10. There were no problems until the next time I tried powering the PC on: 8 beeps, corrupt BIOS/invalid ROM error. Key press combination on startup did nothing, and neither did clearing CMOS. I downloaded the file on another PC, hoping to create a recovery USB, but this BIOS installer didn't have the option to do that.

Are there any other options to flash/repair the BIOS on this PC?

[BeemerBiker]

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@jmbak wrote:

I recently got my hands on an old Envy desktop. I cleaned it up and upgraded to an SSD, putting a clean install of Windows 10 onto it. The PC was working fine until trying to update the BIOS to the latest version. I downloaded the file and started the update, but backed out before letting it flash the BIOS because I wanted to double check if it'd work properly from Windows 10. There were no problems until the next time I tried powering the PC on: 8 beeps, corrupt BIOS/invalid ROM error. Key press combination on startup did nothing, and neither did clearing CMOS. I downloaded the file on another PC, hoping to create a recovery USB, but this BIOS installer didn't have the option to do that.

Are there any other options to flash/repair the BIOS on this PC?

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I suspect it will not be possible to re-flash the bios but it is worth a try

The bios you downloaded should have the name "sp60605.exe" and is missing the flash instructoins

Using Rufus create a bootable USB flash drive and specify freedos.  Any 2tb USB flash should do.  If you have one with led light then it will blink to show it is working.

You will have to download 7zip (the free one is good) and open the archive "sp60605.exe" as shown at top

Extract the files to the usb flash

create a file named 

autoexec.bat

It must end in .bat and not ".bat.txt" so you cannot easily use notepad to create the file

It is possible that freedos will have created that file for you. If so, then you can use notepad to edit the file.

put the following line in that autoexec.bat file

safuwin An2_810.rom /p /b /n /r

Hopefully the LED light will blink for a while indicating the flash drive is being read.

I suspect the above will not work.

Your motherboard is M3970AM-HP and made by Gigabyte. It could also have the ID: Angelica2

Please verify by looking at the motherboard for the name.

There is a bios available for the M3970AM-HP here but it is not programmed with sp60605

It may actually work as is or you could ask them to program it with sp60605.

Most users do not have the skill or the tools to replace a ROM chip.

If you are interested post back here for a possibly way to DIY replace the bios chip without using expensive tools or paying a tech shop.

[EDIT] I just realized that safuwin only runs in windows.   There is a freedos version available but it will take me a while to find it.  I will post its location later, 

Sorry

[edit-2] OK download this https://web.archive.org/web/20140710003900/http://www.ami.com/support/downloads/amiflash.zip

Use 7zip to extract AFUDOS.EXE from 

the line to put into autoexec.bat is (note that case changed)

AFUDOS.exe An2_810.rom /p /B /N /R