If you upgrade to the F4 BIOS and you experience problems, Gigabyte makes it really tough to downgrade to your old BIOS. Make sure whenever you upgrade a BIOS to save the previous version just in case you have issues. Gigabyte even says on their BIOS download page:
Because BIOS flashing is potentially risky, if you do not encounter problems using the current version of BIOS, it is recommended that you not flash the BIOS. To flash the BIOS, do it with caution. Inadequate BIOS flashing may result in system malfunction.
With that information feel free to upgrade but know it might not work.
To downgrade back to your old BIOS you can use the FTK_0.9.6.1_DOS.zip tool. It allows you to install a BIOS without using Gigabyte’s tool. You can download it here: FTK_0.9.6.1_DOS. First you need the HP USB Disk Storage Format Tool to create a bootable file from a USB drive. You can find the HP tool here: SP27608. Next grab the Win98SE_bootdisk.iso. You can find the Win98SE_bootdisk.iso here: Win98SE_bootdisk. extract the iso using something like winrar to a directory and use it with the HP tool to create a bootable win 98 usb stick. next but the extracted FTK files and the older f3 BIOS on the stick. Insert the usb stick into your computer and boot it up. Hit F12 to get to the boot menu and select the USB stick. Once that’s selected you will boot into win 98 DOS environment. From there, CD to the directory of your F3 BIOS, you can find my copy here: 10.13.2013.f3.bios.
Now run: fpt -bios -f biosname.bin
After a few minutes it will say completed! now power off your system and reset the CMOS. You do this by either removing the batter from the motherboard for five minutes or using the jumper on the motherboard. see page 27 of the manual. “Use this jumper to clear the CMOS values (e.g. date information and BIOS configurations) and reset the CMOS values to factory defaults. To clear the CMOS values, use a metal object like a screwdriver to touch the two pins for a few seconds.”
Finally once you reboot you should be back to the F3 bios.
Here’s a great resource for all your BIOS needs: http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/27576-bios-flashing-how-qflash-guide.html
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/28441-gigabyte-latest-beta-bios.html
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/48085-gigabyte-modified-bios.html
Here is also a great tutorial on using the efiflash.exe file that is included with each bios you download from gigabyte:
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2441.msg89013.html#msg89013
“You need to create a bootable drive using a USB stick, then update the BIOS using the EFI Flash Tool through DOS. Once you have upgraded past F5 BIOS you can use QFlash as normal.
Check here for help in creating Bootable USB Pendrive: http://rufus.akeo.ie/
Download the BIOS File for your motherboard and save it to your desktop so that you can find it easily. Double click on the 7Zip file (it is self extracting) and it will put the 3 download files onto your desktop for you. You only need the EFI Flash Exe file and the BIOS File, the Autoexec file can be discarded. Make a note of the BIOS File name as you will need this information later in the process and if you don’t get this part correctly you will not be able to update the BIOS.
Create the Bootable Pendrive using the Rufus program.
Copy the Efiflash exe and BIOS files onto the USB Pendrive
Reboot the PC and press F12 to go to the BOOT Menu.
Select the USB Pendrive and press enter, this will take you into the DOS environment.
At the C:/ prompt type: Efiflash and press enter. This will start the Efiflash tool.
At the C:/ prompt type: efiflash xxxxxx.xx (replace the x’s with the name of your BIOS File that you noted earlier) IMPORTANT: Make sure that you insert a space between the words efiflash and the BIOS name. Also make sure you enter the full point (.) before the BIOS version number. Press enter.
The BIOS Flashing process is now done and there is no further input required. The first stage you will see that the BIOS is being erased. The 2nd stage the BIOS is written and the 3rd stage the BIOS is verified. DO NOT power down or reset the PC whilst this process is happening. Once the BIOS update has been verified the PC will automatically go into a shutdown/restart/shutdown/restart sequence. DO NOT PANIC, this is normal.
Once this sequence has finished you can enter BIOS and make any changes you require, as you normally would.”
Hope that helps!
