Question:

What are the steps to perform a BIOS flashback on an ASRock B550M pro4 motherboard without using an older CPU?

I am looking for a solution that allows me to update the BIOS using a USB flash drive. Please provide a detailed guide or a reliable video tutorial. Thank you.

Answer:

BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) is a firmware that controls the basic functions of your motherboard, such as booting, hardware compatibility, and overclocking. Sometimes, you may need to update your BIOS to fix bugs, improve performance, or support new hardware. However, updating BIOS can be risky, as a power outage or a corrupted file can render your motherboard unusable.

One way to avoid this risk is to use the USB BIOS Flashback feature, which allows you to update BIOS without powering on the system or using an older CPU. This feature is especially useful if you have a new CPU that is not compatible with the current BIOS version. In this article, we will show you how to use the USB BIOS Flashback feature on the ASRock B550M Pro4 motherboard, which supports AMD Ryzen 3000, 4000, and 5000 series processors.

Step 1: Download the latest BIOS file from ASRock’s website

Go to [ASRock’s support page] and select your motherboard model. Then, click on the “BIOS” tab and download the latest BIOS file. Make sure you choose the Instant Flash version, which has a .ROM extension. For example, the latest BIOS file as of February 2024 is B550MP4_1.80.ROM.

Step 2: Copy the BIOS file to your USB flash drive

Insert a USB flash drive into your computer and format it to FAT32 file system. Then, copy the BIOS file to the root directory of the USB flash drive. You may need to extract the BIOS file from the zip file first. Next, rename the BIOS file to “CREATIVE.ROM”. This is the default name that the motherboard will recognize. Your USB flash drive should look like this:

“`

X:\

└── CREATIVE.ROM “`

Step 3: Plug the USB flash drive into the USB Flashback port and press the BIOS Flashback button

Turn off your computer and unplug the power cord. Then, plug the 24-pin power connector to the motherboard and turn on the power supply’s AC switch. Do not power on the system. Next, plug the USB flash drive into the USB Flashback port, which is located at the bottom of the motherboard. Refer to the user manual for the exact location of the port. Finally, press the BIOS Flashback button for about three seconds. The button is next to the port and has a lightning symbol on it. The LED next to the button will start to blink, indicating that the BIOS update process is in progress.

Step 4: Wait until the LED stops blinking and remove the USB flash drive

The BIOS update process will take a few minutes. Do not interrupt the process or turn off the power. Wait until the LED stops blinking, which means that the BIOS update process is completed. Then, remove the USB flash drive and turn off the power supply’s AC switch. You can now power on the system and enter the BIOS setup to check the BIOS version and adjust the settings as needed.

Conclusion

Updating BIOS on the ASRock B550M Pro4 motherboard using USB Flashback is a simple and safe method that does not require an older CPU or powering on the system. You just need to download the latest BIOS file, copy it to a USB flash drive, plug it into the USB Flashback port, and press the BIOS Flashback button. This feature can help you solve compatibility issues, improve performance, or fix bugs. However, you should only update BIOS when necessary, as a wrong or unnecessary update can cause problems. Always backup your data and settings before updating BIOS and follow the instructions carefully..