How To Flash BIOS

Basic Input/Output System(BIOS) is the critical part of your motherboard and should not be fiddled with if you do not have any idea or you do not want to risk bricking your motherboard. BIOS updates are meant to solve few issues and also bring in support for new devices.

Warning : Flashing your computer BIOS can damage your motherboard if not done properly!

Step 1 : Backup your current BIOS

This step includes manually copying down all the settings that you use in your BIOS so that you can restore it to the same state after upgrading the BIOS. You can also use utilities such as cmos.zip to backup the BIOS.

Step 2: Determine the BIOS version

You need to check the maker of the BIOS. To do that, check the motherboard manual or open up motherboard manufacturer’s site to know the maker of the BIOS and possibly any updates for it. You can also see the BIOS chip to know the BIOS manufacturer.

Step 3: Launch BIOS updater software

Nowadays, motherboard manufacturers provide you with BIOS updater utility which makes it very easy to flash your BIOS and also minimize the risk. Check the drivers CD that you got with the motherboard for such utility or search the manufacturer site for such a utility compatible with your motherboard.

Step 4: Download the BIOS update

If you use the BIOS update software o Step 3 then it will tell you to download the latest firmware or will do it itself and you just need to press the Update,Write or likewise button to continue.

But if that is not the case, then you will have to download the files from the BIOS manufacturer’s site. Then follow the readme file strictly which will guide you through the process. The process is basically copying the files to a 1.44″ floppy drive and then booting from floppy. If the floppy has autoexec.bat file then BIOS update proceeds automatically, otherwise you will have to execute a specific file which will overwrite the existing BIOS.

Step 5: Power down CPU completely

After the BIOS update your PC might not reboot. After waiting for a good amount of time to be sure that the update has completed you need to power down the CPU completely. You may need to user power switch to turn off the CPU completely.

Step 6: Boot the CPU

After waiting for a minute after the power down, boot the CPU and enter into the BIOS setup page. If you enter successfully then your update has gone successfully! Restore the default options of the BIOS.

Step 7: Restore the BIOS settings

After this you need to restore the BIOS settings that you had backed up in Step 1. Change the BIOS values to the ones you noted and save them and reboot the PC.  You are done with the BIOS update!