Wrong model BIOS installed on ASUS board. Help getting correct BIOS installed

[tiggers97]

My Wife's laptop motherboard, an ASUS N71JA, rev 2.1, died. (windows 7-64bit installed)
So I found a replacement N71JA, rev 2.1, received it and installed it yesterday. It works, but I I got some "windows not genuine" warning messages, and at first thought it because the new boards BIOS was older than the original board. So I started the process of BIOS updating.

That's when I discovered that the new N71JA, rev 2.1 motherboard had been flashed with a N71JQ BIOS (I got the board refurbished on ebay).
I tried the Asus Winflash windows software, and the ASUS BIOS EZ-Flash. But both give me the same checksum error that I am wrong for trying to install N71JA BIOS onto a "N71JQ" board.

How do I force the motherboard to be flashed with the correct BIOS? HELP!

 

[mcnumpty23]

the windows not genuine is because you replaced the motherboard

flashing the bios wont help

 

[tiggers97]

Hi mcnumpty23, so even if I could get the same motherboard model/version/BIOS version (i.e. like-for-like) and nothing else hardware related changes, there are other checks that Windows 7 does?

It's been a very long time since I last did a computer build

 

[JKatwyopc]

If the motherboard works then you probably already have the correct BIOS installed on it. Don't try flashing it with the BIOS from another board. The reason that Windows is not genuine has to do with the fact that the motherboard was replaced. Even if you got the exact same model of motherboard, windows looks at the model and serial number of the motherboard and will tell you that it is not genuine. You best bet here is to call Microsoft and tell them that you had to replace the motherboard because the original failed and that you need them to supply you with a reactivation code. Make sure to explain to them that you were repairing the computer because it broke. They usually will help you get it reactivated without too much trouble.

 

[mcnumpty23]

try activating it see if it works

if it wont activate do the by phone activation

edit--1. Click Start, type SLUI 4.exe into Search box and press Enter.

2. Select the nearest location and click Next.

3. Call the number provided on the page and use the Confirmation ID provided to re-activate Windows 7.

 

[tiggers97]

Ok. The Windows 7 genuine/activation problem/solution is pretty clear. I still have a concern about the BIOS version. To reiterate:

Physical motherboard - N71JA, rev 2.1.
BIOS installed: N71JQ (oldest version).
BIOS checksum will not allow N71JA BIOS to overwrite the installed N71JQ BIOS.

From the specs it looks like the N71JA and N71JQ were pretty similar. But I'd still like to see if there isn't a way to update the BIOS BEFORE trying to re-authenticate the Windows 7 OS. (I'm also trying to find out from the vendor why they would flash the N71JQ BIOS onto a N71JA motherboard).

 

[tiggers97]

I started the Windows genuine activation process, and when I turned the computer over to look at the windows sticker, saw the manufacturers sticker. It is labeled on the outside computer case as an N71JQ model. Even though the physical motherboard is listed as an N71JA, rev 2.1. I guess this makes sense as all I've read so far is that the N71JA was an i5 series laptop, and the N71JQ was i7 (of which this laptop is configured with). I guess that explains why all the other specs are identical.