AsRock 970 Extreme 4 BIOS upgrade

Hello,

I decided to upgrade from Phenom II x6 to FX-8350 and I need to upgrade the BIOS from 2.50 to 2.60 because this version is required if I need to install the new CPU. It will gain 30% boost and have 2 cores more and 1866 memory. I need the resource for the VMs I make.

Not so long ago, there were all the versions available and you could download one and get going. On the Mobo page I found only version 2.80:
https://www.asrock.com/MB/AMD/970 Extreme4/index.asp#BIOS

I wiped a USB 2.0 flash drive and created 2 GB partition on it:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r7CTUBKLjSUaCm9JoYsJQX9X_WPIcsVb/view?usp=sharing

1. ASRock Instant flash utility ( FAILED )
During boot pressing F2 go to Advanced tab, Instant flash option being the same as F6 during boot. Put the BIOS 2.50 (CURRENT) and 2.80 (NEW) to have a failsafe option. Loaded the 2.50 defaults. When I invoke Instant flash it is stuck on "\temp":

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1L0F6QRDS0-BHklra4n4OJ4WfsEr04aXS/view?usp=sharing

2. Using Free dos with boot via Rufus (NO ROLLBACK)
Installing the thing in a bootable flash drive, boot DOS and use the
DOS executable to run the update on free DOS. However, I don't have a DOS version of BIOS 2.50 to rollback to since it is not available anymore, I can't use this option.

https://www.asrock.com/support/BIOSIG.asp?cat=DOS6

3. Windows flash utility ( WINDOWS )
I see it only runs on XP/Vista and I avoid updating BIOS under windows:
https://www.asrock.com/support/BIOSIG.asp?cat=Windows5

4. ASRock App-Shop utility ( WINDOWS )
BIOS upgrade option is available in the application for download.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iPZe9pkIv1RjRu-P7tixZKO73p6PDCQ-/view?usp=sharing

I need to have a fail-safe option since this PC is my daily driver.

What will you guys advise? Is it worth the upgrade effort?

There are the following topics on the subject:

https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/92tmvl/asrock_instant_flash_points_to_a_random_file_on/

https://forums.tweaktown.com/asrock/57764-uefi-freezing-unable-update-bios-asrock-z87-pro4-bios-1-30-a.html

Hello Jake,

Yes, it is indeed very weird. I am also thinking of unplugging the power to all my SATA drives to be on the safe side, so they become inactive. I assume that Instant flash may try to read something from the SATA disks drives that is being "verified and automatically detected".

I did indeed try with the whole 16 Gig USB 2.0 flash before I made the partition, but it gave me the same error and then I decided to shrink the volume to two Gig when assuming it may work with these smaller drives 2-8 Gig, however, I think I did full format because I deleted the partition and created a new one, which will wipe all the data on the accessible volume.

Maybe I should try wiping it forcefully with zeros because that is the way flash drives work to preserve write cycles by only marking it as deleted.

I do remember when I installed 2.50, I did the exact same thing, but used the whole drive. Back then ( about 7 years ago ) my initial BIOS was 1.40 and I was having issues with my USB keyboard and mouse, when I noticed that 2.30 fixes these. Updated to 2.50, which was the newest at the time and the peripherals issue stopped. It was indeed fixed.

I will wipe the entire SanDisk 16 Gig drive and try again:
https://static2.nordic.pictures/27273926-thickbox_default/sandisk-flash-drive-16gb-cruzer-dial-sdcz57-016g-b35.jpg

1. Is there a way to use the free DOS option or instant flash will be safer?
2. If free DOS is used, how come there is only version 2.80, where are the others?
3. How to proceed when the upgrade is stuck at zero percent?
4. How to proceed when the upgrade is stuck in the middle or at 99%?

Hello Jake,

The instant flash failed for me big time, tried everything so far including changing the file names not to include ".", renaming extensions to BIN but still nothing. I just invested a bunch of money in a more beefy Noctua NH-D15S that I plan to use for my future AM4/DDR5 AsRock mobo and I overclocked my Phenom to be on the safe site here (see the video below).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny6kvzAt1eI

Marking as solved as I am literally unable to find FX8370 CPU

it would appear the website is now translating my U.K. pounds symbol into some chinese charector ........ ££