Mainboard BIOS up-grades...Who takes the risk...?

[Fozzer]

Hello, fiddlers with computer hardware/software/.....themselves ;) , etc....;D...!

As a follow up to RollerBall's highly amusing, and edificational post...>>>

http://www.simviation.com/cgi-bin/yabb/ ... 1123946212

I was wondering if anyone has successfully installed an up-date to their motherboard BIOS, and noticed a difference to make it worth-while...!

My Award BIOS is still the original version which came with my Gigabyte GA-7 VT600 motherboard quite a few years ago.
Now I notice that there are lots of more recent, up-dated, BIOS versions listed by the motherboard manufacturer.

But....

Reading the up-grade instructions, it states this warning...

"Installing BIOS upgrades is a dangerous operation. It can result in making your motherboard in-operable if any fault or error occurs during the installation.
If you are not experiencing problems with your system, continue using your existing BIOS program."

I don't appear to be having any noticeable problems, so is it worth the risk in up-dating it...?

Cheers all...!

Paul The Very Wary Of Dangerous Activities...!
(...apart from motor-cycling)... ... ...!

[Ivan]

Quite often... and it does help stability and CPU compatibility

For exampe the PC that my parents use for internet didn't detect th AMD Sempron out of the box, so i flashed it and now it does detect it.

Further there are some improvements in speed, USB controllers, SATA and other devices that are worth the effort (and most newer ASUS boards have an emergency mode)

For my latest BIOS update: i have to test the most recent one for the school PC, says to get rid of the 'power dip hanging' syndrome that has been irritating me from the beginning (usually strikes when going 100% load on the PCI bus and having loads of harddisk IO at the same time)

@Fozzer: What is the date difference between the installed and the new BIOS...

Most important things from the BIOS list for that board:
F6 and up: Improve STR compatibility
F7 and up: Support new AMD Duron model8 CPU (64K L2 Cache FSB 266)
F9 and up: Support low power Barton 2500+ (CPUID=6A0)
F10 and up: Fixed ATI9600 AGP card unstable issue. and Update Xpress Recovery(Build 2011).
F14 and up: Added AMD Sempron CPU support

Apart from these improvements, there is usually a small improvement in total system speed.
The version you need is the topmost (F15)

[Fozzer]

Hi Ivan....!
Ta for the reply...!

I've got Version 6 at the mo'....(the original).

I downloaded version 15 last night...

It's sitting on my desktop, but I'm wary about installing it (with Gigabyte @Bios installer) in case something goes pear-shaped and I finish up trashing my motherboard... ...!

I don't appear to be having any prob's at the mo'...!
(Would the old saying, "Leave well alone" apply here)...?

Cheers Mate...!

Paul.

P.S. System specs below...

[RollerBall]

After calling my post 'amusing' - you bl**dy sadist - I'd say do it , do it, do it...

[Fozzer]

After calling my post 'amusing' - you bl**dy sadist - I'd say do it , do it, do it...

LOL... ...!

After all the helpful advice from the "other" post, my system* is working Hunky-Dorey now Roger... ...!
...how's yours... ...?..... ...!
LOL...!

Cheers Roger...!

Paul. 525 Mhz... ...!

...*  ...including my water-works... ...!

[Ivan]

Safest way is by booting in DOS mode with a floppy

http://www.bootdisk.com/ and get the second one
Then copy the DOS flash utility to that floppy and the BIOS file
reboot the system and run the flash util as stated in the manual (and remember to make a backup of the old one just in case)

[Fozzer]

Saved the original Version 6 BIOS onto a spare floppy disk (for safety).

Ran the Flash Utility to install version 15 of the new BIOS.

...It came up with a zillion reasons why it reckons it's not a very good idea... ... ... ...!

...incompatible this, that, and the other... ...!

So, I think I'll leave this operation to a Professional/Specialist/Expert/Someone who knows what he is doing, etc... ... ... ...!
LOL...!

Using the original BIOS at the mo'... ...!
Happy Days...

Paul.... ...!

[the_autopilot]

Like mentioned before, it does help to update the BIOS every so often. BTW, a good practice is to google a specific BIOS versian and see if anybody has any problems with it.

[4_Series_Scania]

BIOS updates are well worth it.

Updating my friends BIOS was the cure for his newly purchased 6800GT, which refused to work on his machine, yet, worked fine in my machine....


Be careful, an easy way to kill your PC if you screw it up and your BIOS isn't backed up.

[congo]

Fozzer,

If it works, don't touch the BIOS.

BIOS upgrades always fix a problem, and that problem may be as silly as giving the wrong namestring for a CPU when the bootscreen appears.

Practice bios upgrades on your motherinlaw's PC first, then do yours if yer still keen, but I reckon it won't make a spec of difference to your PC as there are no upgrades addressing any issues you have....... you have no issues.

For us geeks, we wouldn't be caught dead without the latest bios........ but that's just a geek thing, it isn't needed unless there is a problem.

Autopilot noted that some performance benefits may be obtained, but that only applies to a flawed BIOS, those problems are usually sorted early in a board's market lifespan, and subsequent board's are fitted with the new bios.

The fact that you got a great big error screen means you did it wrong is all, so tread carefully, because this is exactly the way to kill your board.

For example, when you used the utility to update your BIOS, maybe you didnt unzip the bios file, or, if you dont have file extensions enabled, maybe you tried to load a shortcut as a bios file or some other silly error.

Suffice to say, that you were lucky the util prevented you from screwing it up.

[Fozzer]

Fozzer,

If it works, don't touch the BIOS.

There you go...!
Excellent advice, straight from the Professional/Specialist/Expert/Someone who knows what he is doing... ...!

Ta, Congo... ...!

Paul.

P.S. ..there didn't seem to be anything of any importance in the later versions of the BIOS... ... ...!
...Sorted...!

[the_autopilot]

Many mobo's today have a second BIOS that will autorecover the main BIOS in case of curruption during flash.

Generally, mobo's today are pretty smart at preventing themselves from being screwed. As long as you follow the directions to the letter, it should be ok. I flashed more mobo's then I can count and have never had a problem.

[GunnerMan]

Yes especially ASUS. If you mess up a bios you can on most motherboards replace the BIOS chip itself if its so corrupted it wont even POST. I update my BIOS all the time especially when I am using components that are new to the industry.

But yes for regular users if it works don't touch it. For the enthusiasts: if it works your doing something wrong.

[Ivan]

Going to update my BIOS soon... but a little afraid that the changes (SATA redo) could kick XP into 'activation-in-30-days' mode

[Dan]

I updated my DFI, and it went fine and made it stabler. I had to reativate though.

Do it!  ;D