Questions Regarding upcoming re-install

[Jones68843]

I actually have a follow up to my original thread regarding the minimal programs needed on my new 60gb ssd. It is brand new and empty and still in the box.

I moved part of the previous thread including the last post because this might be something I might want to do since it would be previous to a new clean install on this new ssd and this might be the best time to do it.

Would it be feasible to flash the bios prior to re-installing win 7 X64 on the new ssd? I might want to basically get the bios up to date before putting the os on the new drive then I can do sata controller updates and all that. I figured I may as well do it now since I will be reinstalling the os on the new drive anyway.

I've read the tutorials on how to flash the bios and everyone always tells you not to do it unless you are having an issue and you feel as though a bios update will resolve the issue but what about simply trying to get the most out of your system. Isn't that why we do updates...to keep our rigs purring along nicely?

I guess I'm kinda ina good position because I have a brand new drive to install win 7 on and this might be good to do.

Thoughts, concerns, options......

Thanks a bunch

Jones

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Would it be feasible to flash the bios prior to re-installing win 7 X64 on the new ssd?

Isn't that why we do updates...to keep our rigs purring along nicely?



Jones

Yes....If I were going to do a BIOS update, I'd probably do it before a Windows installation.

In what way is your PC not purring along nicely?

BIOS updates are typically fixes of some kind--repairs to functionality. As opposed to making them faster or more powerful.

If you are having a specific issue, then by all means find out if the new BIOS allegedly fixes the issue.

Otherwise, I wouldn't mess with it for the obvious reasons---if it goes bad you are in a major jam that will likely cost you money for a new BIOS chip or a new motherboard entirely.

But you may like a little danger in your life and you may have trouble resisting temptation--in which case, go for it.

If you do a flash, try to do it with a method that does NOT involve Windows.

 

[Jones68843]

Yeah Danger is my middle name.....actually it's Vincent but eh what the hell right..... I don't have an issue whatsoever with the BIOS in my system. I currently have a vertex 2 120 gb ssd with win 7 X64 and no issues regarding performance. This is an awesome drive that's super fast, responsive and pretty much what I always thought a ssd would be. I was on the asus site and thought that perhaps the BIOS update could be done before the new re-install on a new 60gb vertex 2 I just picked up.

There were also some SATA updates, Ethernet Drivers from 2009 and such for my Asus P5Q Premium Mobo that I thought might help in maintaining performance. Also I'm not sure if they have been updated in a while. There's this huge turorial on optimizing the ssd for win7 that I want to use but not sure that with an sssd there will be much gain and the potential for more issues.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium


These are all updates and I'm not 100% sure if they are required. My system runs great, no worries I just wanted to perform some preventative maintenance in order to keep everything up to date.

Jones

 

[Jones68843]

Sorry the copy/paste was not successful. Anyway the updates are under the downloads for the motherboard. I actually think the BIOS update was already done last year so I think I'm ok on that. I will have to check the update version when I get home from work. I do however think that the SATA and Ethernet Driver updates might help somewhat plus the ssd optimization tutorial for win 7 might be useful.

Jones

 

[Jones68843]

There were S

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello again Jones.



I agree with ignatzatsonic, a BIOS flash is not really something that helps performance, especially if you have no performance issues to start with and is not something to be taken lightly as it can ruin the mobo if anything like a power-outage occurs or you make an error during the process.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yeah Danger is my middle name.....actually it's Vincent but eh what the hell right..... I don't have an issue whatsoever with the BIOS in my system.

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium

ASUSTeK Computer Inc. - Motherboards - ASUS P5Q Premium


These are all updates and I'm not 100% sure if they are required. My system runs great, no worries I just wanted to perform some preventative maintenance in order to keep everything up to date.

Jones

Well---if they were required you certainly wouldn't be running well without them.

BIOS updates typically have an itemized list of the specific issues the update is supposed to fix. I guess you have no issues.

But I am painfully aware of the need to fiddle and upgrade. That's why I'm about to drop $500 needlessly on an upgrade to Sandy Bridge.

I can't help myself.

Maybe you can't help yourself either.

Here is the bottom line:

You have a 98% chance of a successful outcome if you flash, assuming your reading comprehension and attention to detail is above average. Worst case scenario---you buy a new motherboard.

You have a 99% chance of not being able to tell the difference between the old BIOS and the new BIOS.

You have little to no chance of changing your personality so as to be able to resist your urges. You probably don't like to let sleeping dogs lie and you may think "leave well enough alone" is foolish advice.

Far be it from me to tell you not to give in to your impulses. I give in to mine daily.

I've flashed BIOSes 4 or 5 times in 15 years without a problem, signifying nothing.

 

[Jones68843]

Sorry that last post was FUBAR. I looked through the BIOS Updates on the Asus site and is appears as though the updates would not really benefit me at all. I do however think that the SATA Ethernet updates might. I will not be updating the BIOS prior to this re-install.

Thanks Guys,

Jones

 

[Jones68843]

Thanks for the personality analysis..... Your pretty much bang on with that one. Sometimes I can't help wanting to fiddle with stuff and pretty much doing it and coming out of the whole thing even if it doesn't improve anything sometimes make me that much more attune with how to handle things when they arise. I'm a cognitive thinker and just doing it helps. I have to admit though that seeing the BIOS updates available makes me not even want to do it. There doesn't seem to be any reason.

 

[Jones68843]

It's awfully tempting though..........:devil:

 

[gregrocker]

Use the drivers given by the Win7 installer, and then quickly updated via optional Windows Updates. I would not change them unless there is a performance reason or a driver is missing in Device manager.

Enable hardware driver updating after install, as well: Automatically get recommended drivers and updates for your hardware

Tips for gettting a purrfect install based on hundreds done here: http://www.sevenforums.com/installation-setup/125874-re-install-windows-7-a.html#post1086729

I agree with everything said here about BIOS updates however from my experience updating from Windows is actually a safer method than flashing from stick or disk.

 

[Jones68843]

Thanks for the advice. I have used the ez flash method before for my motherboard when I first built my system I flashed the bios and it was fine. I currently have all windows drivers installed and up to date and all recommended drivers are up to date as well.

Everything is pretty much like a swiss watch when it comes to the performance of my system I just wanted some updates to the drivers on the motherboard to perhaps tweak a bit but all is good. Thanks Very Much for the advice. It's nice to get some friendly encouragement once in a while from someone that knows a hell of a lot more than me.

Cheers,

Jones

 

[gregrocker]

We're glad to help. Come back any time.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Yes glad we could help and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.

 

[Jones68843]

No Problem. I will definitely do that. I actually just did a firmware update on my vertex 2 ssd yesterday. It went ok. I did get a weird notification oupon reboot that advised something about "no boot media on pen drive"...something to that effect. It was a little harrowing at first but then I entered F4 I think it was and I was able to reinitialize the drive to boot and then I entered the bios and reset the V2 to boot and then when my win 7 screen appeared it had finished installing the updated drivers. Everything works like a charm. U gotta love computers...there is so much to learn it just never ends.

I can't wait to install the 60gb ssd I have this week. Gaming is gonna be wicked fast.

Jones