@imjohn
For #1. I would like to know what cooler you are using for your CPU? Sounds as if you dont have it settled on there properly, or you have too much thermal paste
#2. You extract the initial BIOS zip file into a folder on your desktop, then inside you will find 3 files. There is a few ways to flash safely, and using @bios within windows is not good. So you want to either use a Floppy or USB.
To use a USB all you need is the one that is named "Biosname.version" That is a example, a actual BIOS file that you need would be named similar to this (p35ds4.f12) That is the file you want to copy to your USB device LEAVE IT INSTALLED/INSERTED, then reboot and hit "End" to go into Q-Flash and then pick your USB stick from the list, it will be called Hard Disk, if you see a few look thru them until you see your BIOS file, then choose it and apply the flash. You may have to enable Legacy USB storage Detect" in the Integrated Peripherals Page of the BIOS to use USB to flash I am not sure since I have mine on and off so much, if you do not find your USB device, check this setting. If still no luck, format the USB and try again with both settings
If you want to do it with a floppy if you have one you can use Qflash to do the same, put the BIOS file onto the floppy and then put the floppy in and reboot and hit "End" to go into Qflash and then choose floppy
The other 2 files are for Plain DOS flashing which you do not need to do as you can easily use Qflash. I suggest against @BIOS because many things can go wrong within windows, especially if you are not 110% stable
Sorry, just saw you post since you didn't make a new thread for yourself (Which you can feel free to do)
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@ Kindred
Here there is MUCH discussion about this, and at the end you will find a link to follow and get a different board from GA
Gigabyte leaves there best customers out in the cold!!!!