Specifications
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Maintaining, Installing, and Configuring a Motherboard
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The methods of installing the BIOS updates are listed here:
Express BIOS update. Some motherboards allow for an express BIOS update, which is
done from Windows. Download the update file to your hard drive. Close all open
applications. Double-click the file, which runs the update program, and follow
directions on-screen. The system will reboot to enable the update.
Update from a bootable floppy disk. Most systems let you use a floppy disk if the
update is small enough to fit on the disk and your system has a floppy drive. (Many
PCs today don’t have one.) Download the update file to your hard drive, copy it to
the disk, and double-click the file. The program creates a bootable disk. Boot from
the floppy, which will install the update. Remove the floppy and reboot the system.
Update from a bootable USB drive or bootable CD. Creating a bootable USB drive or
CD is more difficult than creating a bootable floppy disk. You first use a utility
program to make a USB drive or CD bootable. Then you download and copy the
BIOS update to the drive or CD. Make sure the boot sequence turns to the CD or USB
drive before the hard drive to load the OS. Then boot from the device, follow direc-
tions on-screen, and remove the device. Reboot the system and the update is installed.
Recovery from a failed update. If the BIOS update is interrupted or the update gives
errors, you might be able to revert to the earlier version. To do this, generally, you
download the recovery file from the Web site, and copy the file to a floppy disk, USB
drive, or CD. Then set the jumper on the motherboard to recover from a failed
update. Put the floppy disk, USB drive, or CD in the system and reboot. The BIOS
automatically reads from the device and performs the recovery. (In most cases, it is not
necessary that the floppy disk, USB drive, or CD is bootable.) After the recovery is
completed, remove the media and power down the system. Reset the jumper to the
normal setting and boot the system.
Your motherboard might use one or more of these methods. To know how to update the
BIOS, read the motherboard documentation, as different motherboards use different
methods. If you can’t find the documentation, check the motherboard manufacturer’s
Web site. To find the right update, you’ll need to identify your motherboard and also
know the version of BIOS you are currently using. Do the following:
1. To identify the model of the motherboard, look on the motherboard for the brand and
model imprinted on the board.
2. To identify the BIOS version, boot the system and enter the BIOS setup utility. The
BIOS version number is displayed on the opening menu. Alternately, you can use the
Msinfo32.exe utility in Windows to display the BIOS version.
When you download the update, the downloaded compressed file will most likely include
detailed instructions. Or you might find the instructions on the Web site. Print the instructions,
read them to make sure you understand everything, and then follow them carefully. If you are
given the opportunity to save the current BIOS to another media before you perform the
update, do so because you might need to backtrack later if the update gives problems.
Notes
After flashing BIOS, if the motherboard gives problems, you need to consider that the chipset
drivers might also need updating. To update the chipset drivers, go to the Web site of the motherboard
manufacturer and download the chipset driver files for the OS you are using. Then follow the manufac-
turer’s instructions to perform the update.
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