MSI X870E Tomahawk Wifi
Flash Drive Specification
You'll need a 32GB or less USB 2.0 flash drive with an MBR (otherwise known as "msdos) partion table and formatted as FAT32. A quick way to tell is to look at the connector. It should have black plastic.
Formatting the Flash Drive
Use DiskPart (Windows) or GParted (Linux) to create the partition table and format the drive. You may have to delete the existing partition before you can create a new one. Note that both require administrator permissions to use. Be very careful. Be sure you've selected the correct disk.
DiskPart
LIST DISK
SELECT DISK x
CLEAN
CONVERT MBR
CREATE PARTITION PRIMARY
FORMAT FS=FAT32 QUICK
EXIT
Gparted
- Ensure the drive is unmounted in File Explorer. If it has no eject button it isn't mounted.
- Run GParted and use the dropdown upper right to select the flash drive
- If a partition exists delete it.
- Create an "msdos" partition table using Device -> Create partition table.
- Create a FAT32 partition.
- Format the FAT32 partition.
The BIOS Update File
Download the BIOS file from MSI and unzip it. Verify that the folder created from the ZIP is the same model as what is shown in your BIOS (assume 7E59v2xxx where xxx is the BIOS version), otherwise it won't work. Copy the BIOS file (not the .txt file, the other one) to the USB flash drive root folder.
Flashing BIOS
Reboot and either press CTRL-F5 at the BIOS screen or DEL to go into BIOS, then enter M-FLASH mode.
Plug the USB flash drive into the topmost red USB port labeled Flash BIOS Port.
Select the file to flash. As soon as you press YES the system will appear to hang for several minutes. Look at the digital display. If it says 02 then you're good. It's just checking the file. The flash will begin after the file is checked.
Notes
From what I've read you should only use the flash button on the back if you're working with the motherboard before components are added (CPU, etc.); it will not work, it'll turn on, do some BIOS checks and turn off.
I had an issue with my motherboard for some time (BIOS version A00). On reboot it would hang on one of the codes, but a shutdown and restart passes all codes. I think it's a BIOS bug. At the time of writing this (09-03-26) I had just upgraded to AC3 minutes before. I will see if it fixes the issue with time and note my findings here.