1. This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn More.

Graphics How do I go about fixing a bad GPU bios flash?

Discussion in 'Hardware' started by kissinger, 20 Nov 2012.

  1. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    Looking for a bit of expert knowledge before I get on with this. I flashed one of my 7970 bios to the GHz edition bios and then tried to flash it back, but it didn't work and now I've only got one working bios.

    How do I flash the broken bios back to factory condition? Do I just boot using my iGPU and a bootable usb and then type 'atiflash -f -p 0 oldbios.bin', making sure I've set my card to the broken bios first?
     
  2. rollo

    rollo Modder

    Joined:
    16 May 2008
    Posts:
    7,887
    Likes Received:
    131
    In theory you can use the second bios to reflash the first one there is no guarentee this will work though.

    Ghz bios uses higher than standard speeds not every 7970 will hit them safely, and a small reminder only reference 7970 bios can be flashed to ghz bios, if you have a even slightly custom card then the chances are your bios is not stock.
     
  3. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    My card is reference and the GHz bios worked fine on it. I just felt like flashing it back to the original bios because the GHz didn't offer any real advantages. The problem is that flashing it back didn't work and now it won't boot from that bios.
     
  4. Blogins

    Blogins Panda have Guns

    Joined:
    3 Aug 2010
    Posts:
    4,883
    Likes Received:
    267
    Are you certain you have flashed back the correct stock original BIOS?
     
  5. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    I'm as sure as I can be. I just used the standard command. I.e. 'atiflash -f -p 0 oldbios.bin'. It seemed to work but then when I tried to reboot it wouldn't.
     
  6. Parge

    Parge the worst Super Moderator

    Joined:
    16 Jul 2010
    Posts:
    13,022
    Likes Received:
    618
    I think he means, did you use the bios from the same manufacturer as the card?
     
  7. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    The first thing I tried was flashing it back with the original bios that I had saved when I flashed to the GHz bios, but that didn't work. Then I flashed it with a bios of a mate of mine who has the exact same card, but that didn't work either.
     
  8. lysaer

    lysaer Suck my unit! Kirk lazarus (2008)

    Joined:
    15 May 2010
    Posts:
    1,467
    Likes Received:
    71
    If you have another GPU, boot from that one and have the 7970 in a lower PCIE slot and flash it that way.

    Dunno the switch for ATIFlash but it can be done.

    Techpowerup has a comprehensive list of bioses

    Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
     
  9. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    I don't have another GPU but can't I just use iGPU on my 2500k?
     
  10. rollo

    rollo Modder

    Joined:
    16 May 2008
    Posts:
    7,887
    Likes Received:
    131
    The likely hood is your card is not reference at all despite what they may say and it has a custom bios hence every time you try to flash it fails. Even the same card may not have the same bios due to date of manufacture.

    I'd just go back to the ghz bios if I was you as you know it works.
     
  11. lysaer

    lysaer Suck my unit! Kirk lazarus (2008)

    Joined:
    15 May 2010
    Posts:
    1,467
    Likes Received:
    71
    Yeah that should be fine, I'm fairly certain there is a switch in ATIFlash for doing certain PCIE slots.

    Which 7970 do you have?

    Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
     
  12. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    But I saved the original bios so I know it has to be the same one.
     
  13. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    Don't I just go with '0', which is the first slot by default? I only have one GPU installed (not counting my iGPU).
     
  14. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    Okay guise. Thanks for your help thus far. I tried flashing using my iGPU but this is what happened:

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: 21 Nov 2012
  15. Harlequin

    Harlequin Modder

    Joined:
    4 Jun 2004
    Posts:
    7,131
    Likes Received:
    194
    its a blank image - you need to rehost on another service (image shack maybe?) as postimage has embedded advertising and is blocked here
     
  16. kissinger

    kissinger Minimodder

    Joined:
    6 Dec 2011
    Posts:
    261
    Likes Received:
    6
    Fixed image.
     

Share This Page