Rampage II Extreme 1914 BIOS fried PS/2 port

[Ristora]

Hi all,


I have a very specific question. First the background:
My PS/2 port is toasted, this is fact.
My BIOS is now set to default values, which means that Storage Configuration is set to IDE. The operating system on my main drive is using AHCI. Because I have no keyboard, I can't get into BIOS to change this setting which means my O/S won't load.

I don't have money to buy a USB keyboard right now.
I have an operating system running on a different hard drive in the machine.

Is there a way I can add what I think is called UEFI to my BIOS? (though I only have a USB mouse)?
Or is there a way that I can edit the RampageII-ASUS-Extreme-1914.ROM file so that I can change the default values (i.e. from IDE to AHCI) and then use Asus Update to flash this altered BIOS?

Any help is appreciated!

[xeromist]

Unfortunately I don't see any way that you can get access to this system without a keyboard. You can see by looking at the support downloads for the R2E that there is no UEFI for it and there is no software designed to change BIOS configuration options from within Windows.

The good news is that NCIX has keyboards for less than $10CAD. Alternately you might be able to pick up a keyboard at a rummage sale or at a local PC repair shop for cheap.

[Ristora]

xeromist: Thanks for the reply. I know it is possible to change the default BIOS options by editing the ROM file, I just haven't found a simple way to do it where I can be sure I won't destroy my BIOS. How does Asus configure the BIOS?

Do you know whether or not the default BIOS options will recognize a USB keyboard?

[Brian@ASUS]

yes it will recognize a usb keyboard. and we do not advise you edit your rom, if you screw something up, it will really cause an issue with your overall system.

[Ristora]

Thanks Brian: at least I have some hope for when I get a new keyboard.
I understand that it is risky to perform such operations, but I do not enter into such projects lightly. I would be very grateful if you were to point me in the right direction. I've seen a lot of stuff about editing .rom files, but nothing that seems 'current'. Are there resources specific to the current Rampage Extreme II BIOS .rom? I got a hold of the AMI BIOS Configuration Utility, but when I try to open the RampageII 1914 ROM file, the program crashes.

I gather that editing .rom files is kind of off limits due to the risks, but I only want to change two default settings: I want to make my RAM profile X.M.P. and change the default Storage Configuration to AHCI.
Perhaps there is someone in the ROG community who would be willing to do the BIOS edit for me? That seems like a lot to ask though.

[Ristora]

PRESTO!

http://i54.tinypic.com/9ib5oo.png

EDIT: I thought I should add this addendum just in case: For anyone who stumbles across this post interested in using AMIBCP V3.46 (AMI BIOS Configuration Program) the output in the program is not as straightforward as it might seem initially, but it appears to be really quite simple. Please do not attempt to pre-configure your BIOS unless you've come to this page having scoured the internets and learned more than you had planned. This is risky business....very risky.

For those who have a general idea of what is AT STAKE (virtually dead motherboard) and realizing that just because I'm laying this out simply doesn't mean its fool proof, I'm going to demonstrate how I solved the problem I came here looking to fix. NOTE ALSO: If the .ROM file you are editing has changed something significantly from your motherboard manual, make sure you know about it and take everything said here with another grain of salt.

AMIBCP puts you in the seat of the person who sets the default selectable values programmed into a BIOS .ROM. For example, making AHCI the default SATA configuration rather than IDE. Here's the rundown as I understand it, using an example, the problem I originally had.
Here is the AMIBCP V3.46 screen:
http://i53.tinypic.com/2rep5ld.png

As you can see, there are 4 possible options for the "Configure SATA as" line. However, there are only 3 options available to the user according to the manual:
http://i53.tinypic.com/2njlqg1.png

The rule in such cases *seems* to be that '00' means "Let the user choose" (from 01, 02, etc), and the remaining numbers correspond to the functional values available to the user in the Bios Setup screen. Coincidentally, these correspond to the values listed in my motherboard manual Suprise!. Fortunately for at least some of us, ASUS appears to list the options in the Rampage Extreme II manual in the order they were programmed into the BIOS. This seems to be consistent, however sometimes "Enabled" is the default option in the manual and so is listed as '00' in AMIBCP whereas in other cases "Disabled" is the default option, so it is listed as '00'. In other words, the numbers in AMIBCP are highly contextual out side of the HANDLE to which they are listed in. The rule of thumb, from what I can tell, is to use the motherboard manual in conjunction with AMIBCP and visualize the BIOS Setup Screen in your head., and remember that the first option listed in the manual (in my Rampage Extreme II manual the options in Square Brackets) is the first option listed in AMIBCP (unless there is more values in AMIBCP than in the manual, in which case 00 is "Let the user decide". When in doubt, either think on it longer, or leave it it alone!

You'll notice that there is an "Failsafe" and an "Optimal" column for all the changeable options. When in doubt, leave the "Failsafe" value at the value originally displayed, and change the "Optimal" value to what you think it does. If the optimal value doesn't work, the Failsafe option will be selected. Of course, this is just my speculation, though so far I seem to be right ;) And I don't know what the big fuss is about AsusUpdate. I used the utility about 23 times in the span of 3 hours, and my com is still cruising :)

[xeromist]

Congratulations! I'm surprised you got it to load and re-compile correctly as I've heard nothing but problems with editing newer BIOS implementations. I still wouldn't recommend it when the alternative is a $10 keyboard, but hey if it works for you then sweet.

If you don't mind my asking, what are you going to do with this computer without a keyboard? I mean even if it's working there's only so much you can do with just a mouse.

[Ristora]

Well, I discovered the On Screen Keyboard while searching for an answer to my problem. I'll be getting a new USB keyboard in a couple of days, but the whole BIOS thing just became a project. I like learning about different ways to use my computer. I spent a couples days one time figuring out how to load Windows onto an old Toshiba M200 (tablet with not DVD/CD drive, the solution was PXE booting).

When I encounter a computer problem I don't like always taking the easiest solution. It's a great learning experience!

[xeromist]

Well, I commend you for your stubbornness then, hehe :D

[Ristora]

It was my belief that it could be done that drove me, haha :)