I'm trying to upgrade from an Intel i3 to an i7-4750 or a similar Haswell processor, but I may not have the exact CPU model yet. I downloaded the newest BIOS from ASRock's website and also tried older versions, placing each one on a 15 GB USB drive formatted as instructed. The drive is connected directly to the motherboard, but BIOS Instant Flash only displays "/setup.exe" and won't recognize the update. I bought the computer used, so I'm also not completely sure whether I'm using the correct motherboard BIOS. What should I check?
2 Answers
The “setup.exe” file strongly suggests the wrong download or the Windows version of the update tool. ASRock’s BIOS utility normally looks for a file with a BIOS-specific extension, often a .ROM file, rather than an executable. Open the extracted download and copy only that BIOS image to the USB drive. If the board is from a prebuilt system, it may require a customized BIOS from the system manufacturer instead of the standard retail ASRock file.
First, confirm the exact motherboard model and revision printed on the board itself or shown in BIOS. A BIOS file for a similar-looking ASRock board will not work. Also make sure you downloaded the Instant Flash package, extracted it, and copied the actual BIOS ROM file to the root of a FAT32-formatted USB drive. Instant Flash should not be pointed at setup.exe—that is usually a Windows-based updater or an installer file, not the BIOS image.
I followed the website’s instructions and extracted the download, but the PC was bought used, so I’ll double-check the exact board model and revision before trying again.
Formatting the drive correctly alone won’t fix it if the BIOS package is for a different board. Verify the model first, then use the BIOS version that supports the exact i7 processor you plan to install.