LaoBlog

Updating the BIOS of EeePC 1015CX


I recently found on a forum a modded BIOS for the Asus EeePC 1015CX (which should work on other similar models too). The reason of the update is to enable EMT64 extension in the BIOS settings (normally that one is factory - disabled) and therefore having a full 64 bit system, to install a 64 bit OS. Linux of course.The modded BIOS is 1015CX-ASUS-1101_Messjah_MOD.zipThere's an utility inside the factory BIOS for the update. Unfortunately I haven't been able to show the update...On Internet there are some indications: rename the bios to 1015cx.ROM (seems to be mandatory). The put it on an USB dongle, formatted FAT16 (!). I formatted it from Linux fat16, fat32, ext4... the BIOS utility didn't find the ROM. Then I installed, as suggested, FreeDOS (Full USB version) on the dongle, uploaded AFU236U.exe a DOS utility to flash the new BIOS; you can download it from ASUS web site, the package is : AFUDOS236.zip.I attached the dongle to the Eeps, pressed ESC when ASUS logo appeared on the screens, chose to boot from the USB. FreeDOS booted, then i runAFU236U.exe 1015cx.ROMbut gor an error. I tried with some parameters, nothing. Then, with the dongle still attached, I rebooted, entered in the BIOS settings by pressing F2, then I clicked on the flash utility, and... MIRACLE!, the new rom vas visible. Therefore I updated the BIOS form there. Now I have a full 64 bit system. As you can see from the image. Now I'll get a FAT32 USB key to create a bootable 64bit Linux distibution to install on the EeePC (minding the poor guy only has 1GB of RAM)