BIOS update query

W

wizdumb

Expert Member
Joined
Sep 27, 2006
Messages
2,170
Reaction score
4
Location
now randburg
so i want to update my bios, no spesific reason

firstly, is it worth it?

then more importantly, it says i have a ECS, P4M900t-M version 1.0 motherboard, now i found 2 updates, one that is called "BIOS for P4M900T-M" and the "BIOS for P4M900T-M2"

can i install the M2 one, as its the newer one

also if this doesn't work, and i mess it up, will system restore fix it?
 
work on this rule:

if aint broke dont fix it

no point updating something just to update it
if your system is running fine then leave it
 
I would concur with killadoob on this one...
If you don't have any problems then why bother updating?

I once trashed a motherboard by flashing the BIOS with nothing.. :o
Although I've done several BIOS updates since that one which were all successful... :)
 
Agreed. If you are not getting conflicts and there aren't any specific new features in the UPDATE you want, leave it.
 
Do it if you know what you're doing... if you don't, don't do it, a few of todays motherboards these days have a dual bios, in case you screw up.

I've had performance increases a few times from updating mine, small, but noticable.
 
I always upgrade when available but as a rule I tell other not to do it unless they either A) know what they are doing (which they usually don't because they are asking) or B) only do it if they are having a issue.

The first rule of flashing BIOS is:
Know thy motherboard/GPU/etc. , make sure you have the right BIOS file.

Second DO NOT FLASH IN WINDOWS!!!!!!!!!!!!
EVEN when the manufacturer says that it is safe, I can't tell you how many people have screwed up their PC's by flashing from Windows because the manufacturer said it was safe.

Boot into a Windows 98SE DOS boot disk image and use that to flash the BIOS, alternatively Asus and some other manufacturers offer a utility that is available from the BIOS to allow you to update it (eg. Asus Eazy Flash), that is the recommended method. You can put this on a CD/Floppy/Flashdrive, etc.

I recently created a bootable flashdrive and it works like a charm!

Btw. my graphics card got quite a few issues solved by flashing the latest BIOS so it is worth it!
 
Thing is, a lot of PC's don't have floppy access anymore. I havent had one in my PC for years.... I've also never had a problem doing it from Windows... then again, my windows installations are always healthy.
 
xrapidx said:
Thing is, a lot of PC's don't have floppy access anymore. I havent had one in my PC for years.... I've also never had a problem doing it from Windows... then again, my windows installations are always healthy.
Click to expand...

Which is why I use a bootable USB flash drive :)

PC's that don't have floppy drives anymore almost always have the option to boot from USB.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X