BIOS Flash Tools - HowTo
BIOS Flash Tools - HowTo
Update Recovery
Transfer
Linux
EFI
Windows
Version 2.2
BIOS Flash Tools
Content
Content ........................................................................................................................................................................... 2
Revision History .............................................................................................................................................................. 4
1 General Notes and Warnings [updated V2.1] ......................................................................................................... 5
2 Technical background [new/updated v1.9]............................................................................................................. 5
3 Supported Operating Systems ................................................................................................................................ 6
4 Flash file types [updated v2.1] ................................................................................................................................ 7
5 System requirements [new v1.6] ............................................................................................................................ 8
5.1 Windows [updated v2.1] ................................................................................................................................. 8
5.2 Linux [updated v2.1] ....................................................................................................................................... 9
6 Upgrading / Downgrading the BIOS ...................................................................................................................... 11
6.1 General notes and information [updated V2.1] ............................................................................................ 11
6.2 Download location BIOS flash tools [updated v1.9] ...................................................................................... 12
6.3 Download BIOS update package ................................................................................................................... 12
6.4 Content of typical BIOS update package [new v1.8] ..................................................................................... 13
6.5 Content of typical BIOS update package Kxxxx [new v2.1]............................................................................ 14
6.6 EfiFlash for DOS ............................................................................................................................................. 15
6.6.1 Preparing the DOS bootable USB stick .................................................................................................. 15
6.6.2 Flash procedure .................................................................................................................................... 15
6.6.3 Command line options .......................................................................................................................... 16
6.6.4 Errorlevels (Return codes)..................................................................................................................... 17
6.7 EfiFlash for EFI Shell [updated v1.6] .............................................................................................................. 18
6.7.1 Preparing the USB stick with an EFI shell environment [updated v1.8] ................................................ 18
6.7.2 Flash procedure .................................................................................................................................... 18
6.7.4 Command line options .......................................................................................................................... 19
6.7.5 Command line options for save and restore ......................................................................................... 20
6.7.6 Errorlevels (Return codes)..................................................................................................................... 21
6.8 BIOS Update Utility in Bootmenu (D354x and D36xx) [updated v1.6] .......................................................... 22
6.8.1 Preparing the FAT32 USB stick .............................................................................................................. 22
6.8.2 Flash procedure .................................................................................................................................... 22
6.8.3 Additional functions .............................................................................................................................. 23
6.9 DskFlash for Windows (D36xx and D37xx) .................................................................................................... 24
6.9.1 Preparing the Windows flash procedure............................................................................................... 24
6.9.2 Flash procedure .................................................................................................................................... 24
Please always check for updated available version of the flash tools.
Please check System Requirements and General Notes and Information chapter first!
Deskflash: In the latest Deskflash version > V6.81 there are two Deskflash versions included. V6.76 for
boards ≤ D35xx and V6.81 (and newer) for D36xx and D37xx motherboards. Please check both Deskflash
chapters in this HowTo document.
Still, since the term BIOS is well established, it is generally used to refer to the UEFI firmware, and both
terms are used interchangeably.
On Legacy BIOS systems, BIOS Setup settings used to be saved in a battery buffered memory region of
the main chipset commonly referred to as “CMOS”. With UEFI, these Setup settings are saved in the
same flash memory chip as the main BIOS, in an area called NVRAM. Thus, on many UEFI systems,
clearing the CMOS, for example by removing the CMOS Battery for a while, will not reset the Setup
settings. Please refer to the BIOS Recovery procedure description for how to reset the Setup settings on
those systems.
Download FUJ0430 from FTP server: #Kontron FTP Weblinks (“Motherboard Drivers”)
“Motherboard_Fujitsu_FUJ0420_FUJ0430_3.0.0.3.zip”
Unlike the GabiACPI device (which is always visible to the OS due to its ACPI implementation) the actual BIOS
API driver for Fujitsu/Kontron GABI BIOS interface will be installed by the tools if required “on-the-fly”.
Please note, that this driver automatically gets added to MS Windows driver store*.
For D37xx and Kxxxx motherboards a driver installation kit** is available, which installs all Kontron specific
motherboard drivers (e.g. FUJ0430, FscGabi, SystemMonitoring) at once.
SMS (“System Management Suite”) driver kit** is only released for D37xx and Kxxxx boards. It may work with
CoffeeLake or earlier, but was not tested with them!
*) May effect WU testing. Remove the driver manually in this case before executing WU testing.
**) SMS Driver installer requires latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable (x64) package. Get it from Microsoft download site: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-
us/cpp/windows/latest-supported-vc-redist?view=msvc-170
If you don’t want to use a package manager, you can extract RPM package and copy the content to
/opt/deskview.
Here are explanations for the most commonly used EfiFlash command line options:
/? Display possible options. The possible options will also be shown when calling
efiflash.exe without any option.
/U Update only if file contains a newer BIOS version than the one that is
currently active.
/D Update only if file contains a different BIOS version than the one that is
currently active.
/Y This makes EfiFlash not ask for confirmation, but automatically assume an
answer "Yes" for all user prompts.
/LAST_CAP_STATUS Returns Capsule Flash update status from the previous attempt.
/LOG Displays the history of previous BIOS flash operations, listing the BIOS version
used, the type of flash update, and the date/time of these BIOSes' creation.
Please note that the date/time when the BIOS was flashed is NOT shown
because it is not logged. The type of flash update can be one of the following:
TOTAL = This BIOS had been programmed at the Kontron factory
UPDATE = normal flash update
ARCHIVE = Archive flash update
/ARCHIVE This creates a BIOS archive file (*.arc). Please see the chapter "Transferring
BIOS Setup settings, defaults and other BIOS customizations (Archive)" for
details.
Errorlevel Meaning
0 Terminated normally, everything went OK
6.7.1 Preparing the USB stick with an EFI shell environment [updated v1.8]
EfiFlash.efi can be used in two modes: As Boot menu utility (see chapter “BIOS Update Utility in
Bootmenu”) or as a stand-alone EFI shell tool. In stand-alone mode, you are able to script your
workflow.
Here are explanations for the most commonly used EFIFlash command line options*:
/? Display possible options. The possible options will also be shown when
/HELP calling efiflash.efi without any option.
*Note: The mentioned commands are available since D36xx (CoffeeLake)! The function set of Efiflash.efi
for D35xx and prior motherboards (D34xx) is similar to the DOS version. So please refer to the DOS
section of Efiflash.exe in that case.
Errorlevel Meaning
0 Terminated normally, everything went OK
1 EfiFlash.exe generated error
2 BIOS generated error
3 Hardware error detected
4 Service not supported
5 File read/write error
6 Error parsing User Options
Bios Interface not found (not an Kontron motherboard with UEFI
55
firmware)
1) Plug the prepared USB stick to any USB port on the target system
2) Power on system and hit F12 to open boot menu.
3) Choose "FUJITSU Update Utility".
4) EfiFlash.EFI initializes flash update process automatically.
5) Confirm update or decline it to choose another operation. See “Additional functions”.
6) Wait until the flash update is completely done. It may take up to a few minutes, in certain cases
even without visible progress.
3 Create dump file (*.DMP) and afterwards update the BIOS flash (same as option 2 + 1)
5 Save BIOS config data to .SCD file (replaces /Archive-Dump of older platforms)
6 Restore BIOS config data from .SCD file. No full BIOS-update necessary, (compared to
Archive-flash procedure)
7 Restore BIOS config data from .SCD file and afterwards update the BIOS flash (same as
option 6 + 1). Replaces Archive-BIOS flash. It is possible to restore your specific BIOS
settings and update the BIOS in one step.
Q Quit application
*Note: The mentioned commands are available since D36xx (CoffeeLake)! The function set of
Efiflash.efi for D354x motherboards is similar to the DOS version.
To flash the BIOS manually (“AUTO” mode also possible, see parameter /UPD in table below):
1) Open command line with administrator rights and navigate to the extracted BIOS admin package
WINDOWS folder
2) Run DskFlash.exe /UPD /FRB /WD=<path-to-BUP-file> /O=<filename>
3) Check the message box content and press the OK button.
4) Wait until the flash update preparation is completely done. It may take up to a few minutes, in
certain cases even without visible progress.
5) After BIOS flash preparation is done, the system will restart automatically to perform the flash
process during BIOS POST (“BIOS capsule update”).
Here are explanations for the most commonly used DskFlash command line options:
/UPD Update motherboard BIOS. Without the parameter /O it automatically searches for
the latest available update file in the tool directory, suitable for the installed
motherboard.
/ARC Save the system configuration data (*.ARCHIVE.NVUX). Please see chapter
"Transferring BIOS Setup settings" for details.
/BUPINFO Display detail information about the provided BIOS update (.BUP) or configuration
file (.NVUX)
/WD Set the current working directory for loading and saving files and for storing the
logfile too.
/O Name the object file or file pattern for loading and saving.
Note: Only file-names allowed. Use /WD to set the correct source path of the object
file!
/OV Allow DeskFlash to overwrite a current BIOS or an existing file. Only needed, if
installed BIOS is newer than the BIOS you want to flash. Take care about the BIOS
setup option “Allow System Firmware Rollback”, too.
/ARB Allow DeskFlash to reboot the system if required.
/NRB Suppress required reboot of DeskFlash to perform the reboot on an alternate way.
/FRB Force DeskFlash to reboot the system after finishing the job.
/S Hide control dialog and display warning dialog.
/W Hide warning dialog too.
/LF Enable logfile output and name the logfile.
/? Show full help of DskFlash tool
/AST Show last action status (not documented in the tool help)
Errorlevel Meaning
0 Success
1 Warning
2 General error
4 Syntax error in command line
8 Valid BIOS file missing
64 Insufficient privileges
400 BIOS successfully prepared for POST update action
401 POST update action failed
402 POST update action pending
To flash the BIOS manually (“AUTO” mode also possible, see parameter /UPD in table below):
1) Open command line with administrator rights and navigate to the extracted BIOS admin package
WINDOWS folder
2) Run DskFlash.exe /UPD /FRB /WD=<path-to-BUP-file> /O=<filename>
3) Check the message box content and press the OK button.
4) Wait until the flash update preparation is completely done. It may take up to a few minutes, in
certain cases even without visible progress.
5) After BIOS flash preparation is done, the system will restart automatically to perform the flash
process during BIOS POST (“BIOS capsule update”).
Here are explanations for the most commonly used DskFlash command line options:
/UPD Update motherboard BIOS. Without the parameter /O it automatically searches for
the latest available update file in the tool directory, suitable for the installed
motherboard.
/AR Creates an Archive BIOS and NVRAM settings file (*.ARCHIVE.BUP). Please see
chapter " Transferring BIOS Setup settings" for details.
Please note, that the current “ProductName” is included in archive file and restore is only possible on
systems with the same ProductName.
/WD Set the current working directory for loading and saving files and for storing the
logfile too.
/O Name the object file or file pattern for loading and saving.
Note: Only file-names allowed. Use /WD to set the correct source path of the object
file!
/OV Allow DeskFlash to overwrite a current BIOS or an existing file. Only needed, if
installed BIOS is newer than the BIOS you want to flash.
/ARB Allow DeskFlash to reboot the system if required.
/NRB Suppress required reboot of DeskFlash to perform the reboot on an alternate way.
/FRB Force DeskFlash to reboot the system after finishing the job.
/S Hide control dialog and display warning dialog.
/W Hide warning dialog too.
/LF Enable logfile output and name the logfile.
/? Show full help of DskFlash tool
/AST Show last action status (not documented in the tool help)
Errorlevel Meaning
0 Success
1 Warning
2 General error
4 Syntax error in command line
8 Valid BIOS file missing; Wrong ProductName found in archive file.
64 Insufficient privileges
400 BIOS successfully prepared for POST update action
401 POST update action failed
402 POST update action pending
6.11.1 Installing Linux driver for deskflash and the tool itself [updated v1.10]
1) Download "Deskflash_V1.xx-00xx_Linux64.zip" from the FTP server:
a. #Kontron FTP Weblinks (“Flash Tools”)
2) Extract the package on your Linux system to any user folder.
3) There are several packages included:
a. precompiled_drv-xxxx.tar.gz: Precompiled BIOS driver for RHEL and SLES (only V1 pkg)
b. driver_src-xxxx.tar.gz: BIOS driver source packages to compile the driver by yourself
c. deskflash-xxxx.rpm: RPM package of the BIOS flash tool “deskflash”
d. deskflash-xxxx.deb: DEB package of BIOS flash tool “deskflash”
Here are explanations for the most commonly used DskFlash command line options:
-at Automatically searches for the latest available update file in the active location,
suitable for the installed motherboard.
-ar Creates an Archive BIOS and NVRAM settings file (*.archive.bup). Please see
chapter " Transferring BIOS Setup settings" for details
-d Set the current working directory for loading and saving files and for storing the
logfile too.
-o Name the object file or file pattern for loading and saving.
-ov Allow deskflash to overwrite a current BIOS or an existing file. Only needed, if
installed BIOS is newer than the BIOS you want to flash.
-arb Allow deskflash to reboot the system if required.
-narb Suppress required reboot of deskflash to perform the reboot on an alternate way.
-lf Enable logfile output and name the logfile.
-i Display system and BIOS information
-h Show full help of deskflash tool
-ast Show last action status (not documented in the tool help)
Errorlevel Meaning
0 No error
1 General error occured, check protocol
2 Syntax error in command line
16 Provided file is not valid
64 Missing confirmations (-arb, -ov, -fcu) for action
128 Insufficient priviledges for action
129 The BIOS version in the file is not update compatible with the version
installed.
130 Downgrading to this BIOS version is prohibited.
140 BIOS successfully prepared for POST update action
141 POST update action failed
142 POST update action pending
240 No support module for this hardware found
It is not recommended to use the AFU update utility without the provided update scripts to prevent any
unwanted data loss.
If it is necessary for system manufacturing process to implement the AFU tool into the own process
landscape you have to take care to exactly use the given parameters in the update script files,
especially the GUID is important for correct BIOS update execution.
Do not change the parameter list, exept the “FlashFile” depending on the motherboard model.
Here are explanations for the default AFU update tool command line options:
/B Programs the boot block.
/P Programs the BIOS main block.
/N Programs the NVRAM area (BIOS settings)
/K:<GUID> Programs specific BIOS areas. Do not change the GUID.
/RLC:F Force update of NVRAM layout changes. No data loss due to internal merge
functions.
The following Items are transferred if they are different from the target motherboard:
The whole NVRAM
(this contains the BIOS Setup Defaults, current BIOS Setup settings, Boot order, BIOS passwords)
The BIOS Boot Logo
(created with UEFIModL and applied via Flash tool or direct uploaded Logo via Flash tool.)
Customized fan control and temperature limits data
(created with SilentFanConfig and applied with SMCO)
Customized EDID data for LVDS attached flat panel displays
(created with Phoenix and applied with LVDS)
Customized DMI data „System Manufacturer“ = DMI Type 1 Offset 4 and Type 3 Offset 4
(set with OEMIDENT)
Some parts of the main system BIOS (only for ARC files)
/NVRAM Restore only the NVRAM (BIOS setup settings) from a .nvux file
DskFlash /NVRAM /O=<config.nvux>
/PASSWORDS Restore only the passwords (BIOS setup settings) from a .nvux file
DskFlash /PASSWORDS /O=<config_archive.nvux>
/BOOTORDER Restore only the boot order (BIOS setup settings) from a .nvux file or from
combined.bup
DskFlash /BOOTORDER /O=<config_archive.nvux>
You can also combine a BIOS update file (.bup) and a configuration file (.nvux) to update the
system BIOS and activate your settings in one step:
/MAKE Create a combined archive from a .nvux file and a .bup file
DskFlash /MAKE /O=<output_combined.bup>
/CINP=<config_archive.nvux> /BINP=<original_bios.bup>
Apply the combined image in the same way like flashing a standard BIOS file (see chapter
“Upgrading / Downgrading the BIOS”).
You can also combine a BIOS update file (.bup) and a configuration file (.nvux) to update the
system BIOS and activate your settings in one step:
--make Create a combined archive from a .nvux file and a .bup file
deskflash --make -o <output_combined.bup> -cinp
<config_archive.nvux> -binp <original_bios.bup>
Apply the combined image with –nvu parameter. It updates the BIOS and apply the settings
from NVUX file in one step.
Attention: Different usage of parameters in Windows and Linux deskflash!
Note: When later upgrading / downgrading the BIOS, all customizations and settings will be preserved.
Note: When later upgrading / downgrading the BIOS, all customizations and settings will be preserved.
Caution: Do NOT apply an archive file to a motherboard with a different BIOS version than was used to create
the archive! As described above, some parts of the BIOS are not updated during applying an archive, only during
normal BIOS update. This could result in the BIOS version shown as the one used to create the BIOS archive, but
not all parts of the BIOS would actually match this version.
Typically there are two different layouts available (depending on the motherboard model):
https://ftp.kontron.com/main.html?download&weblink=3cb83a90a99c51160d2aa1f1f34cc340&subfolder=S
Motherboard Tools Home ervices/Software_Tools
https://ftp.kontron.com/main.html?download&weblink=3cb83a90a99c51160d2aa1f1f34cc340&subfolder=P
Motherboard Drivers roducts/Motherboards/0_Drivers/
Updating BIOS
https://ftp.kontron.com/main.html?download&weblink=3cb83a90a99c51160d2aa1f1f34cc340&subfolder=S
Flash Tools ervices/Software_Tools/BIOS-Flash-Tools
https://ftp.kontron.com/main.html?download&weblink=3cb83a90a99c51160d2aa1f1f34cc340&subfolder=S
FlashTools Documentation ervices/Software_Tools/BIOS-Flash-Tools&realfilename=BIOS-Flash-Tools_HowTo.pdf
Customer Tools
https://ftp.kontron.com/main.html?download&weblink=3cb83a90a99c51160d2aa1f1f34cc340&subfolder=S
SystemGuard ervices/Software_Tools/Common-Mainboard-Tools/SystemGuard/
https://ftp.kontron.com/main.html?download&weblink=3cb83a90a99c51160d2aa1f1f34cc340&subfolder=S
LVDS Brightness Tool ervices/Software_Tools/LVDS_Brightness-Tool/