ASUS BIOS Updating error “selected file is not a UEFI Bios” – FIX!

Windows

I don’t just do macs, I do Windows. And moving to Windows 11, I needed to replace my Intel 7th generation logicboard. I decided to go with ROG ASUS

ASUS Motherboard for computer- AMD
ROG-Strix-X670E-E-Gaming Logicboard for AMD
, having a previous ASRock TaiChi that was only 4 years old…but unsupporting Window 11.
Reading ASUS forums on the webs, and watching some youtubers, I found that ASUS has a clunky, annoying Updating application called Armory Crate. Logic says to avoid it, but one will need to visit Asus for drivers and updates to perform manually. Since my MLB (main logicboard) is a ROG (republic of gamers) STRIX X670E-E, I am linking to the support page.

Wouldn’t you know it, that on 2nd update to the BIOS (version 1602, 8/18/2023, 9/24MB). I received “selected file is not a UEFI Bios”. WTF? It IS TOO! After researching, aka googling/duckduckgo, I found that the best option that worked for me was to make a USB flash drive formatted in FAT32, then extract the file with 7-ZIP since others noted better success than Windows Extract. That file would be a long name with a .CAP extension. Along with that file is a BIOSRenamer app. Run that app as Administrator in the same folder the files were extracted to, and it will rename it to a short nnnnnn.CAB file. (nnnnnn will be a name of the board e.g. SX670EE where my StrixX670E-E is the model).

Boot into Bios (F2 or Del key at restart as ROG logo appears, select Advanced in the lower right (yes, the cursor is WONKY) and then Tools. Select the Asus Bios Utility, navigate to the USB flash drive (remember its size incase you have more than one volume) and select the .CAP file. It will prompt about making sure Bitlocker is disabled. IF you aren’t sure, exit out to restart and check your Windows setting of Bitlocker. For my gaming home machine, I don’t have it bitlockered. If Bitlocker didn’t matter to you, as it didn’t to me, proceed with the BIOS update. Mine took about 10 minutes and then a restart. Then to a bios “do not power off” screen … good practice is to have your PC on a UPS. Once done, it restarted to ASUS bios updated, press F1. Then it takes you into BIOS. Don’t exit just yet! Every UEFI BIOS, ASUS turns on Armory Crate download to ENABLED. Find that in Advanced/Tools and set to DISABLE. Then Save and Exit. On that, another restart and I was in to the Windows 11 login. SUCCESS!

Thanks to others for this tip. Hope it helps!
( I recommend a 16-32GB USB 3.0 flash drive, formatted to FAT32 for ASUS bios updates.)

2023 M2 Macmini Wifi issues already?

Hardware
M2 Mac Mini front with apple logo on top near middle rear of image- no features on front
Apple M2 Mac Mini 2023 front with no more infrared or indicator

Apple’s new M2 Mac Mini and Mac Mini Pro aren’t even out a month, and Apple’s support forum are showing over 70 posts to complain of wifi dropping or none, when using Wifi 6E or Comcast Wifi.

Apple released two versions of the M2 Mac Mini: the cheaper M2 Mac Mini with only 2 USB-C/Tbolt 4 ports and max 24GB RAM/2 TBStorage, or the M2 MacMini Pro version with maximum 32GB Ram and 8TB storage.

M2 Mac Mini Pro rear with ports and cooling showing.
M2 Mac Mini Pro 2023

Clearly, Apple is aiming for the tween of Desktop user but not the workstation user that a Mac Studio would fill. I’m not even going to compare the Mac Pro since that niche is costly and quiet on the newsfront. Notice in the image of the back of the M2 MacMini Pro that it has 4 USB-C/Tbolt-4 ports. The lower-priced M2 Macmini (non-Pro) has only 2 USB-C/Tbolt-4 ports. Both are configurable to optional 10Gb Ethernet (Nbase-T Ethernet with support for 1Gb, 2.5Gb, 5Gb, and 10Gb Ethernet using RJ-45 connector).

But both also have Wifi6E (802.11ax). I’m wondering if any of these Xfinity users are on the XB8 newest gateway that does Wifi6E?

2023 – RIP DarkSky

iPhone, software

Dark Sky app icon

RIP Dark Sky, I knew you well.
Well, until Apple bought it in 2020.
Then it was nothing but sadness. About 4 months ago, after an iOS update, I noticed a 1/2023 warning on the app on my phone. It was a subtle reminder that I should be using Apple’s Weather app instead.

Weather has improved with iOS 15 and now iOS 16. You can have lock screen widgets showing precipitation and temp. You could with Dark Sky but it was hit or miss depending on your phone and iOS level.

weather app with sun right, behind a cloud

The new Weather app has some nice features, as the lock screen will change with the weather… moody grey, or morning clouds or dusk. Even 10pm at night shows a cloud with dark sky. If you open Weather and touch the hourly forecast, you will see a visual chart of the temp. Touch the tiny thermometer and you now have choices such as wind and precipitation with measurements every 6hours. Close that (hit the X ) and you return to main screen. There, if you scroll down past the clutter of a map (See, this is where Dark Sky shined… the local map gave radar and not a clutter of state names, cities and towns).
And below that map, are a section of the same chart choices, but in sections that you can access as well as via the hourly section.

I can’t blame the creators of Dark Sky for “selling out”. I mean, afterall, Apple was their market and they were a dev for them. I just hope they run into a weather situation that the new Weather app, well, missed. Because money can’t buy happiness. But it can buy a roof that doesn’t leak or blow away.

All I want is a Mac Studio Pro for 2023…

Hardware
Apple Mac Studio Pro computer
Mac Studio Pro

…or a refresh MacMini M2 w/32GB Ram and 1TB SSD. Otherwise, I will have to fold and buy a Mac Studio Pro with 32GB and 1TB SSD, which I’d rather have the 64GB w/2TB SSD because “you can’t upgrade any Mac Mini or Mac Studio Pro” products.

Currently, Apple hasn’t refreshed the MacMini since over a year ago, with the M1 MacMini. But it limits the maximum memory to 16GB. And there are no options to upgrade any version after purchase. My current MacMini is a 2012, capped at 16GB and two, 1TB storage drives; a 1TB SSD and a 1TB HDD – not currently possible with recent Apple MacMini models.

M2 MacbookAir available to order and surprise: throttling if doing intense work!

Hardware
M2 Macbook Air Laptop Dispaly
Apple M2 MacbookAir in Midnight

Apple finally releases the M2 MacbookAir for order on July 8th, 2022.

While I tend to recommend when buying a model like this, to get the most ram you can afford, because you cannot upgrade it later. And storage. This model offers a dual USB charger so you can charge a phone AND the M2 MBA.

And surprise: while I have one on order, I noticed that on twitter, there are comments that doing some rather non-typical editing of 8K video files, the processor is designer to throttle down for thermal protection.

Personally, if you are doing editing, really, you need to use a Pro model. The MacbookAir is a “notebook” for lightweight use. Step up to the 14″ Pro…which soon should see an M2 revision.

How to get Mac OS Installers (Now w/Monterey)

software

How to Get MacOS Installers

 

This article will discuss where to download and access installers for macOS Monetery, macOS Big Sur, macOS Catalina, MacOS Mojave, MacOS High Sierra, macOS Sierra, Mac OS X El Capitan, OS X Yosemite, OS X Mavericks, Mac OS X Mountain Lion, Mac OS X Lion, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, Mac OS X Leopard, Mac OS X Tiger, and others too.

 

Where to Get Mac OS Installers From

The following links, using Safari Browser, point to locations from Apple website where you can download various MacOS system software installers.

New versions of MacOS installers are typically available through the Mac App Store, accessed through a computer that is compatible with the latest Mac system software release. NOTE: You MUST use Safari as other browsers like Firefox, will give an error with the AppStore.

Older versions of Mac OS X installers can often be downloaded as well, but from different sources.

For earlier versions of Mac OS X, including Mac OS X Mavericks 10.9, Mac OS X Mountain Lion 10.8, Mac OS X Lion 10.7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6, Mac OS X Leopard 10.5, Mac OS X Tiger 10.4, and before, the process to obtain those installers differs a bit.

Downloading MacOS Installers via Terminal

Mac users can download the latest macOS installer available from the Terminal by using the following command string:

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer

You can also download specific installer versions by using the following syntax, replacing the asterisks with version number:

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version **.**.*

For example, to get macOS 11.3.1 the syntax would be as follows:

softwareupdate --fetch-full-installer --full-installer-version 11.3.1

Downloading Mac OS X Installers from App Store “Purchases”

If you had at one point in time purchased or downloaded a version of MacOS or Mac OS X from the Mac App Store, then you should be able to re-download it from the Mac App Store by going go the “Purchases” section. This can typically be used to access downloads for installers for MacOS Mojave, High Sierra, Sierra, Mavericks, and Mountain Lion, though there are some caveats and exceptions.

  1. You must use Safari Browser
  2. Open the App Store
  3. Go to the “Purchases” section (newer App Store versions must go to Account > Purchases)
  4. Scroll down the list of Purchased items to locate the Mac OS X Installer version you wish to re-download, then click on the download button

This works particularly well if the Mac you’re downloading the software onto is running an older version of Mac OS X.

This approach for re-downloading older OS X installers from App Store Purchases section works for obtaining many older versions of Mac OS X, particularly if the machine doing the downloading is running an older Mac release too. For example, re-downloading Mavericks from Yosemite, whereas if you’re running the App Store from newer versions of MacOS you’d need to follow the links further above to download the installers directly, or via the App Store links.

Downloading Mac OS X Snow Leopard

If you’re a registered Apple developer then you may be able to download Mac OS X Snow Leopard and Mac OS X Leopard directly from Apple ADC using the following links:

Downloading / Buying Mac OS X Mountain Lion, Lion, Mac OS X Snow Leopard

Apple also sells some older Mac OS X versions for convenience:

For buying even older versions of Mac OS X, you may have some luck searching on Amazon or Ebay and buying old physical copies of the installer disks. Keep in mind those earlier Mac OS X software updates used to cost a significant amount of money to update to and so even if they’re hold they can still carry a premium.

Another option is to peruse the Apple Vintage Software collection at Archive.org which may have image files of older system restore disks and other older system software, just beware that archive.org is not an official distributor of Apple software so appropriate precautions should be taken and only download from there at your own risk.

Finally, if you’re looking to download much older classic Mac OS software, check out this article which discusses finding original classic Mac OS System releases that go back far before the transition to Mac OS X and Unix underpinnings.

(Credit OSXDaily for info/links)

Malwarebytes

software

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Malwarebytes for Mac  is a lightweight, cross-platform app from Malwarebytes Corp. for finding and removing malware and adware infections. Features include speedy scanning, automatic update of malware signatures, a friendly user interface, and a quarantine capability.

Malwarebytes for Windows is a free and/or premium anti-malware and web browser protection. Recommended to all my Windows users for years.

Malwarebytes for Mac 4.9.7 is a free installer download for macOS 10.12 and later that includes a Mac app, kernel extension, launch agent and launch daemon. The free version provides automatic updates and manually triggered scans. A Premium subscription at $39.99 per computer per year offers automatic (“real-time”) scans with a free 14-day trial. (Business and enterprise versions are also available with central management consoles, and there are Windows and Android versions available, plus Malwarebytes for Chromebook.) The latest version adds support for Apple’s redesigned Macs.

  • Added native support for Apple Silicon (M1) hardware.

Malwarebytes for iOS is a security app for Apple’s mobile devices that “combines spam call blocking, text message filtering, ad blocking, and protection from scam websites”, using features built into iOS in conjunction with the company’s data on scammers, malicious websites and other threats.

The app uses iOS Call Blocking & Identification to check incoming calls without sending your personal information, checking a Malwarebytes list of known scammers and also checking for “neighbor spoofing”, while allowing all calls from numbers in your Contacts list. You can also add any number you want to allow without adding it to Contacts, and you can report numbers used by spammers/scammers. Call blocking can be set to either “Warn”, which labels suspicious calls as they arrive, or an optional “Block” mode, which silences them, and they won’t appear in your call history.

Text Message Filtering  checks texts from sources that are not in your Contacts database against lists of known scammers and phishing links, flagging apparent problems while keeping its hands off messages that look legitimate.

Web protection works only in Safari, checking URLs against a list of malicious sources. The app includes several configuration/customization settings, but you configure and enable other parameters using Apple’s iOS Settings. See Malwarebytes for iOS user guide [PDF] for more details.

Malwarebytes for iOS 1.4.4 is an $11.99/year subscription for full functionality, with a 30-day trial period, for iOS 11 and later. Ad blocking and text message filtering are provided in the free version.