Original source: mvktech.net
This original HOW TO from mvktech.net is not especially intended for flashing Mac ROMs, it just decribes NVFLASH DOS utility procedure for standard flashing or forced flashing. Also, there are newer NVFLASH versions today.
NVFLASH 5.12 is the last version allowing to erase ROM with the short flag -e :
nvflash -e
newer NVFLASH version also support erasing eeprom/flash ROM chip with the full argument --eraseeeprom :
nvflash --eraseeeprom
For specific Mac ROM flashing NVFLASH procedure, read : GeForce 5/6/7 How-To
http://www.mvktech.net/content/view/15/37/
There are 2 ways on how to Flash your NVIDIA GeForce Graphics Card and those depend on the Program that you use. Make sure you always make a Backup of your Original BIOS first!
First of all you will have to make a bootable disk and copy over nvflash.exe and its dependency runtime for 4.xx/5.xx nvFlash - cwsdpmi.exe, along with the BIOS you choose to use.
After you created the bootable disk, restart your PC with the boot disk. At the command prompt, type the following and begin your flash process.
GeForce 4 & GeForce FX Flash Procedures.
- Flashing with nvFlash (nVidia) - Use nvFlash v4.XX
Standard Procedure for 4.XX: (flashing with 4.XX is recommended on the GF4 & FX series NVIDIA chipsets)
a:\>nvflash -b backup.rom [Enter]
(note : "a:\>" might be a different letter if you're booting from anything else than a floppy disk. USB "Pen Drive" will work as standard Hard Drive and command prompt will probably look like "c:\>")
Standard back-up (saves BIOS to Floppy)
a:\>nvflash -p -u -f file.rom [Enter]
Standard Flash (same card, new firmware)
a:\>nvflash -p -u -r -j file.rom [Enter]
(Different model card, removes eeprom protection, using different firmware)
GeForce 6 & 7 Flash Procedures.
- Flashing with nvFlash (nVidia) - Use nvFlash 5.13
Standard Procedure for 5.13: (flashing with 5.13 is recommended for the use with the 6x00 series NVIDIA cards, using the -4 switch forces flash and overrides vender mismatch)
a:\>nvflash -5 file.rom [Enter]
(note : "a:\>" might be a different letter if you're booting from anything else than a floppy disk. USB "Pen Drive" will work as standard Hard Drive and command prompt will probably look like "c:\>")
Standard Flash (same card, same firmware)
a:\>nvflash -5 -6 file.rom [Enter]
Standard Flash (same card, same firmware)
a:\>nvflash -4 -5 -6 file.rom [Enter]
Force Flash (different model card, different firmware)
a:\>nvflash -4 -5 -6 -A -y file.rom [Enter]
Automatic Force/Blind Flash (In case you screw up and cant see the screen - best to use this string for a autoexec.bat)
It is highly recommended to use nvFlash over anything else when flashing NVIDIA cards. Flashing from a Bootable CD is not recommended. If you don't have a floppy, buy one, they are in-expensive while saving loads of hassles on some system configurations. It is both easy and fast to simply boot from a floppy, then navigate to your hard drive and do the flashing from a directory there, assuming that the floppy is able to read the filesystem of the partition on your hard drive from which you wish to flash. This can be a problem with NTFS formatted partitions.
