For some reason, many users believe that the primary BIOS I / O system, as a program, needs to be upgraded. This is not entirely true. About whether to update the BIOS, and then we will talk. But it’s worth mentioning right away that if the computer works without failures, it is categorically not recommended to do such things, as this involves serious risks.
Do I need to update BIOS: possible situations
First of all, each user should clearly understand that the firmware of the primary system is integrated into a special chip on the motherboard, and is not located on the hard drive.
In addition, an upgrade of this system does not give a computer device a performance boost. In some cases, manufacturers indicate that a new firmware may simply increase system stability. But this is mainly due only to the support of new devices. So, why update the BIOS if it is not intended to install new hardware on the computer?
Another thing is when the user wants to update the computer hardware, say, install a new processor or RAM slots of the latest standard. In this case, of course, an upgrade may be required. But the process of updating the firmware itself, even if a special original program is used to update the BIOS from the developer, is not as simple as it might seem at first glance. The slightest discrepancy, a malfunction of the system, a power surge - all this can provoke an upgrade interruption, which will lead to a complete failure of the entire computer configuration. This will be discussed separately.
BIOS versions
As for the types of primary input / output systems - today they are distinguished by at least three:
- AWARD BIOS, developed by Award Software, but later acquired by Phoenix Corporation;
- AMI BIOS from American Megatrends Inc .;
- The UEFI BIOS is the newest system with a graphical interface.
The first two types are very similar to each other both in settings and in the appearance of the interface.
The third type appeared relatively recently and is presented as a graphical interface with the ability to control the mouse. Some even compare UEFI with a mini-OS (partly the way it is).
Possible risks when updating
In the question whether BIOS needs to be updated, possible problems should be taken into account:
- Firstly, you should install only updates designed for a specific version of the system and from a specific manufacturer of the motherboard. Installing another firmware will lead to a complete loss of performance. A recovery by the type of Windows rollback will fail.
- In addition, for the first two types, the update should be performed exclusively when booting from removable media and only from DOS mode.
But for the UEFI version, the BIOS update program can be launched directly in the operating system environment. As a rule, an upgrade is made automatically after restarting a computer device.
What you need to know when using the program to upgrade the BIOS
If we talk about the mandatory conditions for the update, first you need to find out the version of the primary system.
You can determine it by the designation of the chip on the motherboard, use the system information called by the msinfo32 command in the Run console, or use highly targeted utilities like AIDA64 Express.
Next, you need to download the new firmware version from the developer's site and create bootable media. After entering the BIOS settings, you should use the Tools menu, in which the utility for the upgrade is selected, after which the necessary media is installed directly in the update section and the update file is used.
If you are using a USB drive, it is advisable to connect it for downloading on stationary PCs to the port located directly on the motherboard (on the system unit - at the back, not the front).
Particular attention should be paid to the power supply. During the update process, you must exclude any possibility of a voltage drop or computer shutdown. To do this, install an uninterruptible power supply with a stabilizer.
And, of course, you need to download firmware exclusively from the official resources of developers and manufacturers of motherboards, in strict accordance with version numbers. In some cases, when downloading, you may need to disable the antivirus, and when starting from a USB drive, disable additional ports.
Conclusion
Thus, in the question of whether to update the BIOS, the answer suggests itself: if the computer does not intend to install new equipment that is not supported by the old firmware, it is better not to do this. Anyway, no performance effect will be achieved. But if the decision to upgrade is still made, you need to be extremely careful and comply with all the necessary conditions, otherwise the deplorable consequences can not be avoided.