Should I upgrade my BIOS?

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  1. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #11

    kathy025 said:
    andrew129260 said:
    Also most decent motherboards now a days offer some kind of rollback feature where you can plug a flash drive in with a bios file and roll back to a previous version.
    In my previous experience with flashing firmware on mobile phones, there was what was called a "sticky firmware", wherein you cannot downgrade once that firmware was flashed. You cannot flash a lower version firmware and you can only flash higher version firmware from that point on.

    Just to confirm, is there such a "sticky" condition with laptop/PC mobos?
    Or can we always safely flash lower to higher back and forth?
    I have went from old to new and new to old. (As well as on Android smartphones) So for myself I can say its possible. Keep in mind though the normal way of flashing a bios will block it, (to protect users from installing a older version accidentally) but the emergency bios flash from USB drive won't. There is a chip that monitors that port for a button push and whatever is in there it will flash, regardless of what the real bios chip says. Otherwise it would not be a good backup solution would it?

    There is 2 chips-the actual bios chip and the bios emergency flashback chip that has the capability to flash the normal read only chip(unless a upgrade in initialized). This allows it so that even when the chip cannot even function, the emergency one can flash it, no matter what state the other chip is in. From my understanding anyway.

    This is my board:

    http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/SAB...990FXGEN3_R20/

    Scroll down to the USB BIOS Flashback section.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #12

    My thoughts by example.
    My installation date 5/16/2010
    Had a problem with multiple boot problem with BIOS 501.
    BIOS 502 was designed to repair that problem.
    Updated to BIOS 502 11/16/2010
    Problem solved and I'm still using BIOS 502 dated 11/16/2010 because I'm not having any problems.

    Updating BIOS isn't like trying different drives for a video card.
    If making a mistake with such drivers no big deal. It can be corrected with not much effort and no harm.
    In some cases updated BIOS can cause a very big mess like those that have already been mentioned.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 312
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 (OEM)
    Thread Starter
       #13

    andrew129260 said:
    I have went from old to new and new to old. (As well as on Android smartphones) So for myself I can say its possible. Keep in mind though the normal way of flashing a bios will block it, (to protect users from installing a older version accidentally) but the emergency bios flash from USB drive won't. There is a chip that monitors that port for a button push and whatever is in there it will flash, regardless of what the real bios chip says.
    Thank you for your confirmation. This was very good to know.

    I am more inclined to NOT update my BIOS for now, seeing I am currently not encountering any problems.
    But, I am sure these info will be of vital help when the time comes.

    Reading the ASUS USB BIOS Flashback:
    USB BIOS Flashback
    Simple Plug & Press - Hardware-based BIOS Flashback

    A truly revolutionary hardware-based update solution. USB BIOS Flashback offers the most convenient way ever to update the BIOS! It allows users to update new UEFI BIOS versions even without hardware such as a CPU or DRAM installed into the motherboard. Just plug in a USB flash drive containing the BIOS file, and press the BIOS Flashback button for 3 seconds with the power supply connected. The UEFI BIOS will then automatically update without requiring further interaction. With its new, complementary Windows application, users can regularly check for UEFI BIOS updates and download the latest BIOS automatically. Hassle-free updating for the ultimate convenience!
    Is the "flashback button" one of the function keys or others like DEL, backspace, etc.?
    Is there a way to verify if my N45SF Notebook PC mobo supports this feature?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 4,566
    Windows 10 Pro
       #14

    The flashback button is a dedicated button on the back of my PC near the USB port that you physically push that will flash the bios. It's not anything to do with the keyboard.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 312
    Windows 7 Professional SP1 x64 (OEM)
    Thread Starter
       #15

    I see. My Notebook PC doesn't seem to support the BIOS Flashback feature as it doesn't have a dedicated button, but good to know for desktop mobos.

    Thanks everyone for your input. As mentioned, I'm holding off my BIOS update. The "don't fix if it ain't broke" did save me many times back, so I'll just leave it be until the actual need arises.

    I'll be posting this video tutorial using Easy Flash for myself, just to have something to go back to if needed:



    Thread marked solved. :)
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #16

    My Flash Back port is on the I/O panel on the back of the computer.
    It's white in color with a little square button next to it.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1,449
    Windows 7 ultimate 64-bit
       #17

    Barman58 said:
    My personal criteria when it comes to BIOS updates is " if it ain't broke ...". as you say yourself you do not notice any particular issues with your system that is purported to be fixed by the update concerned.

    You could check each of the intermediate BIOS updates between yours and the latest, (if any) and check to see if they contain anything specifically beneficial to your system.

    Some updates do provide more than just bug-fixes, such as updates to support new hardware, which should be installed, if you have installed or intend to install this newer hardware, otherwise, again, I would err on the side of caution

    Just my personal thoughts but hope they help, in all cases ensure that the upgrade process has some form of "Roll Back" facility so that should you discover issues after update you can return to your current stable system
    I totally agree here with Barman. As far as the bios goes; if it aint broke; dont fix it. Because as barman and the others mentioned; if you somehow mess up the bios; the only way to fix that is to take the system board to someone that has the knowledge on how to replace bios chips which probably will cost a arm and a leg(or nearly anyways) to replace.
      My Computer


 
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