Flashing the Firmware on a 3ware 9650SE RAID controller

I've downloaded the required files to flash the firmware on my RAID controller I have also read the KB article:http://www.3ware.com/KB/article.aspx?id=10058

However it is not particularly clear - I do not have an OS installed yet, so how can I flash the firmware on this with a floppy / usb key?

After reading the instructions you posted, it seems fairly simple via floppy for method #4:

Method 4. Boot to DOS and run flash.exe.

When running the flash program, you must specify the /f switch:

flash /f prom0008.img

(note: with some older code sets the '/f' switch is not required e.g. just type flash)

If you want to make a DOS boot floppy, all you need are three files: IO.SYS, COMMAND.COM and I think CONFIG.SYS (can't recall accurately) but the easiest way to make DOS boot floppy is to go to www.bootdisk.com. Download the boot disk maker and follow instructions on making that bootable floppy.

On that same floppy, copy the flash.exe and the new ROM image (in the example's case prom0008.img). Boot the system off of the floppy. Once you get to a command prompt (C:>), go to the floppy drive (presumably A:), and run the flash program as the example showed (A:>flash.exe /f prom0008.img).

Make sense?

You dont need to do it with a bootable disk, and IMHO you shouldn't.

The best way to do this is to install the Java management utility for the 3Ware card. I own the 9650SE also and I have flashed it numerous times. In the Java utility there is a easy Firmware upgrade button in there. You dont need to do it from a flashdrive or without the OS being loaded. The firmware upgrade is easy, just like how most wireless routers do it.

Any java program needs a jvm pre-installed. When the disks are bare, you'll need to format one of them, install an OS and then install a JDK/JRE/JVM then finally use the thing. Hours, it will take.

You need: - a USB key - the three aforementioned files - a USB boot record/format utility such as HPUSBFW.EXE
- your flash util executable and rom file

Try this link instead - (using dos 7.1)...

http://binaryinspirations.blogspot.ca/2009/08/create-modern-ms-dos-usb-bootdisk.html

...Or get the 3 files here...

http://s93616405.onlinehome.us/bootdisk/win98c.zip