1)
Determine your needs. Did someone help you update the BIOS last month? Maybe the BIOS has never been updated since you purchased your PC years ago. Will an updated version fix a problem you are experiencing? Answers to these questions will help determine if you need to verify version numbers and whether an update is necessary. Not all BIOS updates are necessary, but for the hardware enthusiast, obtaining the latest BIOS may equate to better performance.
2)
Determine your system's origins. This is an important first step to determine where to locate and download the correct BIOS update version.
* For Desktops, did you purchase this computer as a bundled, pre-built system, or was it assembled from purchased components? The larger, more popular manufacturers and builders include companies such as Dell/Alienware, HP/Compaq, IBM, Lenovo, Sun, Gateway,Acer, etc. For these, visit the manufacturer's site. For a custom system built from purchased components, visit the motherboard manufacturer's website.
* For laptops, visit the laptop manufacturer's site, such as Dell/Alienware, HP/Compaq, Acer, Toshiba, etc.
3)
Discover what update methods are available. Not all BIOS updates are performed in the same manner. The desktop or laptop system or motherboard manufacturer determined in the steps above provide support information about BIOS update methods they offer. Some motherboards can be updated by executing a program from the operating system level after booting from the hard disk. In other cases the system must be booted from a floppy disk; CD or USB thumb drive (using software supplied by the system or motherboard vendor). Some manufacturers will use their own custom application to update the BIOS, others will use a third party utility to update the BIOS while booted from the legacy DOS operating system. The latter may be split into two different files, or bundled together as a CD or floppy image with an extracting application. Download the appropriate updating software and BIOS from your manufacturer's website.
4)
Backup your existing BIOS first! If using BIOS update software executed from Windows or another operating system, backup the existing BIOS image first. Some BIOS update software versions have this functionality built-in (e.g., "Save" or "Backup"), and will advise you to perform a backup first.
5)
Perform the update. Run the downloaded installer or application executable for the BIOS updating software. If the software prompts you for a floppy, use a formatted 1.44MB 3.5" floppy disk. It doesn't matter if the floppy is blank or not because the data will be overwritten if you don't mind wiping the disk.
1. If using a floppy, insert it into the drive and restart the system to boot from it. Some floppy images contain an "autoexec.bat" file to automatically run the BIOS update. Others will just have the update software, the updated BIOS image, and possibly a 'readme' text file containing directions. If there are no directions, but there are at least two files (ie: "A06_123.bin" and "awflash.exe"), follow this example: Enter a command such as "awflash A06_123.bin" and press enter. This will execute the update software and specify the A06_123.bin file to flash the BIOS.
2. Compare the two versions. Most BIOS update software will read the existing BIOS image and determine its version, then compare this to the downloaded BIOS image. If the system's existing BIOS version is older, perform the update. The user interface of BIOS software may vary greatly, yet typically menu buttons or selections such as "Write", "Update", or "Confirm" will perform the BIOS update.
6)
Power cycle the computer after the update is completed. Many update programs will automatically power cycle the computer. Some will request your permission to do so while others will warn about this before starting the update. A few will prompt you to power cycle the system yourself. If you're forced to handle this yourself:
1. Completely power down the PC by either pressing the power button or initiating the power off sequence from the operating system.
2. Flip the master power switch on the back of your PC to the off position, if applicable.
3. Wait a minute.
4. Flip the master power switch back into the on position, if applicable.
5. Power up the PC.
7
Clear the existing BIOS settings. Only clear the BIOS if recommended. This is not always necessary, depending on what features have changed between the existing version and the updated version. When the PC is powering up, immediately initiate execution of the BIOS utility. For most systems, this is done by pressing
DEL
on the keyboard within the first 2 - 10 seconds of turning the computer on. Other systems might use other keys such as
F2
,
F10
,
CONTROL
ENTER
, etc. If you don't know the keystroke sequence for entering the BIOS utility, watch the monitor to see if the computer displays it. To clear the BIOS settings, look for an option to "Restore Defaults" or "Load Fail-Safe Defaults". This may be on the main page of the BIOS utility or on the last page of a tabbed menu. Use the arrow keys to navigate, and follow the on-screen instructions. When complete, save the settings and exit the BIOS utility.
8)
Configure the BIOS. If you know the settings you want, change them now. If you have never changed BIOS settings before, it is not required to do so. Most PCs will function just fine using the default BIOS settings.
Warnings
* Make sure to obtain the BIOS upgrade software from a reliable source. Downloading a BIOS from sources other than the manufacturer's web site is risky. For example, versions from the same BIOS software developer for one manufacturer's motherboard may not work on a different manufacturer's motherboard. Using the wrong BIOS or version might "brick" the board, thereby requiring either a BIOS replacement or reprogramming of the BIOS by the manufacturer and rendering the computer unable to boot until that is done.
* Make sure the electrical power source is reliable when flashing a BIOS. Any sizable fluctuation or loss of power during a flash process can corrupt the BIOS. Therefore, never power down or reset a PC when flashing the BIOS. If flashing the BIOS from a booted OS, first disable all unnecessary applications and background processes.
* Avoid updating the BIOS unless you know exactly what you are doing. Failure to follow a manufacturer's directions and precautions may corrupt the BIOS as well.
