G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

After following the posts in http://forum.notebookreview.com/asus...your-risk.html with interest, I got really tempted to do the update to the 209 Bios beta version.



I have never updated a Bios before, although I consider myself somewhat knowledgeable on computers, so I really went into this with a lot of trepidation. (And no, I had not been drinking )



Thankfully everything went well, and I am up and running with Bios v209.



Everything seems to be working correctly, including my keyboard lights.



This tutorial is in response to a request,

Quote:

Originally Posted by BumbleBoner Care to give a step by step newbie tutorial? I plan to take the leap soonish and from one noob to another, pretty please?

and having learned so much from others, the least I can do is give this back.



Thanks to everyone who has been of help to me in these forums, both in open threads and also through im's. I would never have had the confidence to do it without all your help.

Reply 1 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

I must also mention that my G73JH is pretty stock, as regards to drivers. Also most of the bloatware is off, including all the Creative software, that was causing all the sound issues. I don't know if this is relevant or not, but I thought I would mention it up front.



- First thing to do is download and unzip the BIOS update file (in this case, 209 Bios beta version).



Thanks to rick07, it is available at: http://forum.notebookreview.com/6271142-post92.html



- Save the Bios on a flash drive.



- Turn off keyboard lights, as well as blue bar light under screen and blue lights on the 3 buttons top left of keyboard (Is this necessary? I really have no idea, but this is exactly what I did).



- Stick the flash drive back into a USB port and restart the notebook.



- When you see the Asus splash screen, press the F2 key to enter Bios.



- In the Bios, navigate to the Advanced tab.



- In Advanced tab, select "Start Easy Flash" (should already be selected), and hit enter.



- This should bring you to the Asus Tek. Easy Flash Utility page.







Under "Current Platform" you should have your current Bios (I took this image after I had done the update).



- Navigate to the right middle pane, and select G73JhAS.209 (or whatever version you want to flash to and is on the flash drive), and hit enter.



- It will ask "Do you want to update BIOS", and give you options "Yes and No".



- Obviously, select Yes, and the update will begin, and run through to completion.



- When finished, the notebook will shut down, and you're done.



- Go ahead and restart your notebook, which should now have the new, updated Bios.

Reply 2 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

Couple of points to note!



- I first tried to do the update with the new Bios file saved in a folder on my desktop. On entering the Easy Flash Utility, I was able to navigate to where I had the file saved, but when I clicked on it, I got an error message: "Error! Read File Failly!!"



I was able to exit the Bios, and start the notebook normally. This is when I put the file on a flash drive, and proceeded with the update as described above.



- After the update, I have noticed that the Bios > Advanced > Asus Easy Over-Clock is set to "Normal", with an option for setting it to "Turbo". I am waiting to hear whether this should be set to "Turbo", and will update this tutorial when I do. Other than that, all the other Bios settings appear to be correct.



: Please read the post from MarkS below. This means that no changes are needed in the Bios settings after the update. Thanks MarkS.



Well that's it........ quick, easy, straight forward Bios update, using the Easy Flash Utility.



Any comments and/or additions welcome.

Reply 3 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

Quote:

Originally Posted by stubbornswiss After the update, I have noticed that the Bios > Advanced > Asus Easy Over-Clock is set to "Normal", with an option for setting it to "Turbo". I am waiting to hear whether this should be set to "Turbo", and will update this tutorial when I do.

That's the same Twin Turbo setting that the turbo button (middle button, top left) sets.



The BIOS setting will reflect the last state of the Twin Turbo mode if changed using the button. Set the Twin Turbo mode on/off from the BIOS will set the initial state when the machine boots.

Reply 4 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

OK great. So no changes are needed in the Bios settings.



Fully understood.



Thanks a lot MarkS

Reply 5 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

Good Guide stubbornswiss, +1 rep for ya laddie!

Reply 6 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

another newbie question.. what is the BIOS update for?

Reply 7 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamski07 another newbie question.. what is the BIOS update for?

Do you mean what does it fix or why is there such a thing as a BIOS update? As the title says, it's for the G73JH.

Reply 8 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalim Do you mean what does it fix or why is there such a thing as a BIOS update? As the title says, it's for the G73JH.

yes, what is it for? what does it do? is this like an OS update for phones that give you more features and fixes bugs?

Reply 9 : G73JH BIOS Update - Step by Step Newbie Tutorial

The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) software is the beating heart of the computer and resides inside a reprogrammable chip attached to the Motherboard. When the computer is first powered up, the BIOS software performs a Power-On Self-Test (POST), sets up the devices and controls all the hardware. Updating the BIOS can improve how the computer works. It can also make a perfectly fine computer sick, or in the worse case, dead. Updating the BIOS is not without some risk. For more information on the risk associated with updating the BIOS, please click the link in my sig and go to The Journey section and scroll down.