Radeon RX 7000 BIOS update procedure

Thanks for using time on this matter Xaltar.

I am one of the ones affected. I got the issue even though I ran the uninstaller from the guide, so maybe the uninstaller has a flaw also? Maybe they should also have the flashing utility run a check on whether such a driver is still running to some extent if it can cause such a consequence.

I filed a request sunday through the form but haven't heard a thing since. Not having a solution ready yet is of course OK, but silence is worrying, so just a short "we're looking into a solution" would be reaffirming.

Best regards

Ok I can appreciate that, but with AMD pushing for users to install this security update and the manufacturers pushing it out for "older" cards like this, and everything that goes on with critical vulnerabilities found daily in hardware and software, it also felt risky not to do so.

MOhankan wrote: Ok I can appreciate that, but with AMD pushing for users to install this security update and the manufacturers pushing it out for "older" cards like this, and everything that goes on with critical vulnerabilities found daily in hardware and software, it also felt risky not to do so.

I hear you, security concerns are among the reasons I would consider an update
myself. Sorry if that wasn't clear in my post. All I was trying to say is, despite
my vast experience, vBIOS updates still scare me. Any time you are updating firmware
on a live component (in use by the OS) you run the risk of the OS and just about
any other app interfering and bricking it.

Thanks for the link to the SOP. Good luck with the RMA, I don't see any reason it
would be refused or cause you issues if that helps.

Yeah, I get where you are coming from. I have typically found ASRock's support to
be top notch but that is on the scale of manufacturer level support. It can be a
bit slow to get a response at times. Generally if you don't get a response in 14
working days then you need to submit a new support form. Usually the responses come
within about a week. I find submitting support forms during the week give them a
higher chance to be responded to quickly. Weekend reports end up on the backlog
pile and tend to get overlooked/missed more easily.

So long as you received your confirmation email you should be good to go. ASRock's
support team is on the small side compared to other brands but I have always found
them to be very helpful. If your situation is urgent you can try calling the support
department closest to your region (EU, USA, Asia/Australia).

https://www.asrock.com/general/about.asp(question mark)cat=Contact

For some reason the forums don't show the question mark character since the last
update so I have put it in brackets, just replace (question mark) with a question
mark.

Good luck.

The Microsoft "inbox driver" refers to Microsoft's own certified driver for your card
(where applicable) that it downloads via windows update . You do not
need to nor should you remove the basic display adapter driver. The warning you
receive is simply that, a warning about the risk of flashing your vBIOS. There
is always a risk when doing so, regardless of the steps followed.

Flashing a vBIOS is risky because it is done through the operating system (Windows)
this is why ASRock and most other manufacturers stopped providing BIOS update
tools for windows and insist on instant flash from within the BIOS itself.
Windows itself trying to update/change drivers (hence the need to remove AMD's
drivers and rely on the basic display adapter driver), antivirus/antimalware
apps, a youtube video trying to load at a bad time, all of these and more can
cause a flash to fail.

If you are not concerned about the security risk that requires the update, I honestly
wouldn't bother with it. The risk is "undisclosed" and there have been no reports
of exploits in the wild. AMD is obviously advocating for vBIOS updates to cover
themselves legally. This way, if anyone has their system compromised they can
say they provided a fix and encouraged users to use it. Otherwise they could be
sued.

Personally, I wouldn't risk bricking my expensive bit of kit for a legal cover.
If the security risk was considered severe and there were reported instances
of it being exploited in a way that would impact me, I would risk it then.
Bare in mind, this is my personal opinion, I do not speak for ASRock in this.
That said, the "undisclosed" part bothers me. That means they are concerned about
the nature of the vulnerability being discovered because it may lead to exploitation.
If it is kept under wraps properly it should be fine but....

If you still want to go ahead and update, that warning is not an indication you
did something wrong, it appears regardless given the nature of vBIOS flashing and
the risk involved. I assume you are referring to the:

"Burning firmware carries a risk of failure"

If so, it is in the instructions and you are prompted to click "yes".

Flashing vBIOS firmware is scary, even for someone like me with decades of experience.
It should not be undertaken lightly. ASRock or a competent tech with an external flasher
should be able to recover the card from a bad flash if you are
unlucky. It may be worth opening a support ticket with ASRock about it and asking
them if you are covered for a bad flash and can RMA if it happens.

https://tw.asrock.com/events/tsd.asp?kind=VGA

Good luck and let me know how it goes if you decide to go ahead with the update.

Edited by Xaltar - 7 minutes ago at 12:36am