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How can I update BIOS through AFU utility?

How can I update BIOS through AFU utility?

Created by Martina Bassi (Deactivated)
Last updated: 20. Nov 2023 by Luca Pisani
4 min read

The programming tool AFU-AMI Firmware Update is distributed in the following versions:

  • AfuEfix64.efi EFI Shell programming utility;

  • EtaAfuOemLnx32 Linux 32-bit programmer;

  • EtaAfuOemLnx64 Linux 64-bit programmer;

  • AFUWIN.EXE Windows 32-bit BIOS programmer;

  • AFUWINx64.EXE Windows 64-bit BIOS programmer.

Reprogramming the board's BIOS is a critical operation.
Do not turn off the system or remove AC power while the BIOS update operation is in progress, otherwise this may lead to a non-functioning board.

The first reboot after reprogramming may be slower due to some operations, such as flash re-initialization or embedded controller reprogramming. For this reason it is necessary to wait for the complete boot with the new BIOS before considering the operation completed.

AFU is a very powerful tool which allows a wide range of operations in addition to BIOS reprogramming and most of them could not be supported by the platform.
SECO is not responsible for any change made to the original BIOS with an improper and undocumented use of this tool.
Please, be aware that any operation other than reprogramming BIOS as documented in this manual may lead to a non-functioning board.

INDEX

EFI Shell utility

  • Copy the updater tool and the BIOS binary inside the USB drive.

  • Then, turn on the system and enter in the Aptio Setup Utility pressing the [ESC] key.

  • From the Save & Exit page select the USB drive created, generally named as “UEFI: Built-in EFI Shell” or similar.

  • From the Device mapping table identify the filesystem of the USB drive fs* (marked as a Removable HardDisk).

  • Enter in the USB drive file system fs*:. For example, if the USB drive is fs1 the command will be fs1:.

  • Move to the folder where AFU utility and the binary file are located and launch the command:

bios_update.nsh BIOSbinary.XXX

where BIOSbinary.XXX is the name of the BIOS you would like to flash.

  • After the program advises the correctness of operation, the board can be rebooted.

Linux utility

  • Copy the updater tool and the BIOS binary file in a folder of the Linux Disk.

  • Open a new terminal as super user and move to the folder where AFU utility and the firmware file are located. From inside here:

  • Make the script executable through the following command:

    chmod +x bios_updater_YYY.sh

    where YYY changes for 32-bit or 64-bit Linux version;

  • To update your BIOS execute the command:

    ./bios_updater_YYY.sh BIOSbinary.XXX

    where BIOSbinary.XXX is the name of the BIOS you would like to flash.

  • After the program advises the correctness of operation, the board can be rebooted.

Windows utility

  • Copy the updater tool and the BIOS binary file in a folder of the Windows Disk.

  • Run the cmd shell with Administrator privileges, then move to the folder where AFU utility and the firmware file are placed.

  • From inside here, to update your BIOS execute the command:

where YYY changes for 32-bit or 64-bit Linux version and BIOSbinary.XXX is the name of the BIOS you want to flash.

Notes