So for sure 100% a USB flash drive 3.0 will not work? Everyone here has used a 2.0 flash stick?

Yes, as mentioned, maybe a few times now, USB 3.0 will not work. Yes, everyone that uses USB Flashback digs in drawers, steals, sells their souls, for compatible USB Flashback sticks

BIOS from first post is 100% fine. I used it with my i7 3820, 4960X and E5-1680 v2.
It's based on 4801 version (as mentioned in topic title).

You need compatible pendrive for USB Flashback to work (as mentioned).
USB Flashback will start blinking when it's starting and it will get progressively faster as it goes further.
At the end it will stop blinking all together (no blue light on the button).
That's how you know procedure was complete.

When pendrive isn't compatible it will blink few times and then stop (you won't see the faster and faster blinking).

A permament blue light is an error (as mentioned before, bricking the board is impossible unless your BIOS chip dies).

@d4nt3ch
IN YOUR PARTICULAR CASE :
You have to FIRST switch .rom to .cap version as is written on ASUS website :

Zitat

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*If your BIOS version is 1203 or older, please install the BIOS Converter and then the converter will update BIOS to 2002.CAP. The BIOS Converter is available in the BIOS Utilities.

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Source : LINK
(click "see all downloads" and scroll a bit)

Only after that convertion - you may try .cap BIOS'es we have here.
So, first BIOS Flashback a .ROM BIOS, then Convert to .cap, and only after that try to update to latest.

PS. Just to avoid confusion, ALL 1xxx BIOS versions for Sabertooth X79 are .ROM ONLY, since first .CAP available is in 2002 version :

Zitat

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SABERTOOTH X79 BIOS 2002
1. Improve system stability.
2. BIOS structure changed from .ROM to .CAP for Windows 8 full-functionality.

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@agentx007 - Thank you! I didn't even think of that, but the OLD BIOS version did concern me, I totally forgot these were on rom BIOS (It's been so long since Asus used!)

Okay thanks all I will get a USB 2.0 flash drive and will report back.

@d4nt3ch - see above post by agentx007 - you may get lucky with USB 3.0, but I can't remember anyone having success with that, including you've been properly trying to USB Flashback a ROM BIOS and it's failing, so must be the USB stick.
LED remaining on seems to be the key indicator here, and no increasing LED flicker as it nears the end. Check your drawers in desk, old boxes in attic, neighbors, friends etc. There is old, tiny and forgotten, USB 2.0 sticks laying around everywhere

LOL I was just renaming rom files to cap. I'll use the converter and a USB 2.0 and will report back.

Zitat von d4nt3ch im Beitrag #202

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I was just renaming rom files to cap.

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@d4nt3ch - You can still try your old rom BIOS with flashback, just name it to the proper USB Flashback name for those BIOS (SABERX79.ROM) and try again with your current USB (formatted to 1GB for best chance of success)
If you get it working, then use the converter BIOS and do it again, then you'll be on the CAP format BIOS - which in reality is also still just ROM/BIN BIOS, the capsule is removed/stripped before image is written to the flash chip.

Actually, the increasing flicker did happen but then solid blue after. The sabertooth manual mentions nothing of this so thank you to all that are informing me properly :)

Well that is a good sign, but agentx007 said it should go out at end. So maybe you are almost there. Try more with the rom BIOS named as I mentioned above, or use that converter BIOS

I dunno why i said i was on bios 1709 LOL i meant 4701. I was on Bios 4701 before this brick, and before that I was on the 4801 beta bios, which means I am already on the CAP format for my bios.
I did try flashing ROM bios, solid blue didn't even wanna blink.
I tried using a USB 2.0 flash drive although it's one of those SD card to USB flash drive sticks (you put a micro SD card in it) but it is 2.0 by specification, I tried flashbacking 4701 (renamed to SABERX79.CAP) and still, blinky blinky for a minute, solid blue after.

The USB stick I tried using this time is a IOGEAR GFR204SD.

Is it still the stick?

And i partitioned it to 1gb, FAT32

Wow! So, flash 4701 stock and then be done, at least until you get sorted out I mean. How did you brick the BIOS if you can't flash the BIOS?

IOGEAR - GFR204SD is a card reader, not a a USB Stick - https://www.iogear.com/product/GFR204SD/
SD card in a USB adapter will not work for this. You need a normal, regular, USB Thumb drive

Okay I shall buy one today and will report back.

I bricked my bios because I attempted to flash the modded nvme bios using one of my 3.0 sticks.

I tried reflashing 4709, no luck! Blinky Blinky, solid blue :(

I expected a failed Flashback would = no flash happening, so that is what I meant by how did it brick. Seems like maybe it did some of the process, and stopped mid-way through or something?
Yes, get some cheap small USB 2.0 stick, and then stop at a friends and borrow two more, sometimes you've got to try 10 before you find the golden goose