The following article explains an easy and straightforward way of updating the computer bios. The main question that everyone should ask himself before updating the BIOS is if it is beneficiary to update the Bios. The article takes a look at finding that out as well. The phrase “never change a running system” has some truth to it but it is still a good idea to check for new Bios versions every now and then.

It does make sense to check for Bios updates before upgrading computer components. New Bios versions can add support for faster processors, computer memory, lower temperaturs and even add new features.

Step 1: Identifying the Bios

Probably the most important step in the Bios updating process is to identify the current motherboard and Bios version properly. The easiest way would be to check a receipt or motherboard manual if one was provided with the computer. If that’s long gone you can try software like cpu-z to find out about your motherboard and Bios.

The Mainboard tab contains the information about the motherboard and Bios. Important are the motherboard manufacturer, the motherboard model and the Bios version.

Cpu-Z supports many motherboards but not all. If your motherboard cannot be identified you need to check the post screen during boot. That’s the first screen that is being displayed. Hit the pause key after the computer memory is shown and you should find information about the computer Bios as well.

Step 2: Checking for Bios Updates

With the information gathered in step 1 it is now possible to visit the manufacturer’s website and see if new Bios versions are available. The computer manufacturer above is Gigabyte and the motherboard is the EP35-ds4. A good start would be to enter the name of the manufacturer followed by the motherboard model into a search engine.

That usually leads straight to the page dedicated to the motherboard model. The Bios version shown in the screenshot above was F2, a check on the Gigabyte EP35-DS4 website shows that the latest Bios version is F5. Most manufacturers display information about changes and additions that have been introduced with each new Bios version. In this case support for the Update CPU ID Intel Yorkfield QX9770 CPU has been added as well as a fix for an ICH9R RAID issue.

After identifying the Bios updates it would now be time to make a decision if the update would be useful. In the case of the above Bios it would be useful if the ICH9R Raid was used in the current configuration or if the user had plans to build in the Intel Yorkfield QX9770 CPU.

Step 3: Updating the Bios

Step 3 is the actual update process. Every motherboard manufacturer has his own way and software to update the Bios. Methods range from booting to DOS, to updates directly in Windows to updates in the Bios itself.

In the case of the Gigabyte Bios the Bios was provided with a Dos executable and a batch file. A boot disk would have to be created and the files placed on it. Other manufacturers are offering applications that update the Bios from within Windows which is more comfortable obviously.

The best way is to search the manufacturer’s website for information on how to apply the Bios update. It’s always a good idea to backup the old Bios before applying the new one. That option is usually offered in the software that updates the Bios.

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The process is similar to applying a new firmware – sometimes also called bios – to the device. I have done this numerous times on my old computer patching my Asus motherboard with official firmwares to increase cpu support for instance. I also changed the firmware of my old NEC 3500A DVD recorder so that it would be region free.

Sometimes it is possible to increase the speed of a graphics card by changing it from a lower speed into a higher speed graphics card or increasing the GPU for instance. It is furthermore possible to speed up DVD recorders, increase support for smart cards with a higher gigabyte count or enable a ftp server in your router.

The first step is to find out if it is possible to update the firmware of your device. If it is indeed possible you should take a look at the changes and device if you really need the increased functionality. There is always a risk in applying firmware updates and the original manufacturer will most likely not repair the device if it breaks during the update.

Make sure you backup your bios first before you start applying the firmwares. Most tools that can patch the firmware also offer a way to backup the original one first.

Below now is a list of websites that offer unofficial firmware updates for a lot of devices. This is the main reason why I’m not listing the devices here at ghacks.

Digital Cameras:

Canon – Firmware updates for Canon Digital Cameras.
Fujufilm – firmwares for Fujifilm cameras.
HP – HP firmwares
Kodak – Kodak firmwares.
Nikon – Nikon firmwares.
Olympius – Olympus firmwares.
Pentax – Firmwares for Pentax cameras.
Sony Cybershot – firmwares for Sony Cybershot cameras.

Graphic Adapters:

Mvktech – A site with many firmwares for all popular graphic cards.
Tech Power UP – lots of firmwares for manufacturers like Abit, Asus, Ati, Nvidia and Saphire.

DVD Recorders:

Codeguys – Samsung and LiteOn firmwares
Liggydee – Offers modified NEC and Optiarc firmwares.
Media Code Speed Edit – Change the write speed of your media and add new media codes.
RPC1 – The number one address for DVD Recorder updates.

Routers:

DDWRT – Another possibility to update a number of firmwares.
OpenDRT – Provides a fully writable filesystem with package management for many routers.
FreeWRT – Firmware for several Asus, Linksys and Netgear routers.

Mainboards:

Rebels Haven Forum – lots of bios updates for Asus, DFI and other manufacturers.

You should start by taking a look at the official website of the manufacturer of your mainboard. They normally list bios updates there.

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