Updating BIOS on Acer AS1410 Without Windows

This document describes how to upgrade the BIOS on an Acer AS1410 without having to install windows or have a copy of windows around. This should also work for most other Acer Aspire models and the Acer Timeline 1810. While this method has worked perfectly without any issues, the author takes no responsibility for causing a bricked system.

Overview

The process of upgrading the BIOS consist of several basic steps.

  1. Obtaining BIOS Update
  2. Creating a bootable USB stick
  3. Copying BIOS update to bootable media
  4. Upgrading BIOS

Obtaining BIOS Update

This is done by visiting the manufactures website and grabbing the latest archive of the BIOS. This is typically provided as a ZIP file. Make sure that the archive contains a DOS version of the update utility.

Creating a Bootable USB Stick

The next step is to create a bootable USB stick so that you can boot the system to FreeDOS and run the DOS version of the update utility. You can obtain a copy of FreeDOS by visiting www.freedos.org. You will want to grab a copy of the fdbasecd.iso file, which can be found under the download files section.

Using a VM system like QEMU or KVM you will want to install the FreeDOS system onto the USB stick. This can be done by simply following the installation prompts that are issued from the ISO image. When using KVM this was done by running the following command:

	kvm --hda /dev/sdb --cdrom fdbasecd.iso --boot d

This then runs the installer CD under KVM and prompts to install on the hard disk (/dev/sdb) which has been set as the USB stick device.

Once the FreeDOS system has been fully installed you will want to verify that it will actually boot by adjusting your KVM command

	kvm --hda /dev/sdb

If the system will not boot into FreeDOS then you may need to manually run the sys command from the FreeDOS cd. Booting into FreeDOS using the first command above. Drop into the FreeDOS shell without installing and then run the following command:

	sys c:

Change c: to whichever drive your USB stick has come up as. This will then allow the USB stick to boot correctly. Test it again to make sure.

Copying BIOS update to bootable media

The next thing you want to do is mount the USB stick under your Linux OS. This is done by mounting the device (it should be formated as FAT32).

Once mounted you can then copy the BIOS update .exe file to the USB stick.

Upgrading BIOS

Restart the computer, make sure the USB stick is plugged in. During the boot process adjust the current BIOS to boot from the USB device if it is not already set to do so.

Continue the boot process with the USB stick still inserted. Select the FreeDOS boot option that load the fewest drivers (HiMem.sys only is best). This prevents other things from causing problems with the BIOS update.

Once boot-up is complete you can then run the .exe file from the FreeDOS prompt. It should indicate that it's going to upgrade the BIOS and provide information. Once it is completed the system will automatically reboot for you. You should then have an updated BIOS.