Update BIOS

[bryan123]

Sorry if this is in the wrong place........

I want to update my BIOS and i want to know how and what could it do to my computer specfically the speed and all. i think there is warnings for updating bios or something.. right? i have an acer aspire 1 netbook...and i want to also update all the other drivers and things on my pc.

 

[Maguscreed]

unless the new bios fixes a specific problem you are suffering I advise against it.
A bad bios flash will leave the computer inoperable.

They generally don't affect performance, but hardware compatibility ... so yeah, basically I wouldn't do it unless I had a specific reason.

Over the years I've personally lost two motherboards to bad bios flashes.

 

[Lordbob75]

BIOS updates are NEVER needed and generally considered too dangerous. The only exception is, as Maguscreed said, when there is an actual problem with the BIOS.

~Lordbob

 

[Dwarf]

You should only update your BIOS if by doing so it solves an issue you're currently having with the older version. Most BIOS updates fix minor bugs, but they also add support for newer hardware, such as CPUs. If the update doesn't apply to any issues that you are having, I would leave well alone.

If, however, the update does pertain to an issue that you're having, or you want to replace your CPU and its replacement isn't supported in the current BIOS but the updated one, then you need to proceed extremely carefully. Only download the BIOS update directly from the motherboard manufacturer's website - don't trust other sources, especially when they claim to have a revision that the motherboard manufacturer doesn't. Make a careful note of all the instructions that are included with the update and/or supplied by the motherboard manufacturer and follow them to the letter. Failure to do so can leave your system as dead as a dodo, in other words you can potentially turn it into an expensive paperweight or doorstop.