Do I Need To Update Bios In Order

Your computer's basic input/output organisation—or BIOS—lives in a pocket-size chip on your motherboard, and manages the nigh basic instructions that allow your figurer to boot into an operating system. From time to fourth dimension, your PC's manufacturer may offer updates to the BIOS with sure improvements. Here'due south how to install them.

In full general, y'all shouldn't need to update your BIOS that oft. Installing (or "flashing") a new BIOS is more dangerous than updating a uncomplicated Windows program, and if something goes wrong during the process, yous could end upwardly bricking your reckoner. I don't hateful to exist all doom-and-gloom nigh information technology. I've never had a problem updating my BIOS, and I've done information technology plenty of times, but it's important to be careful.

Since BIOS updates don't commonly innovate new features or huge speed boosts, you probably won't meet a huge do good anyway. Unless the latest BIOS comes with security patches, back up for new hardware you plan to apply, or fixes a bug that's been plaguing your daily usage, y'all're best off leaving it alone altogether. If y'all fall into one of those categories and need to update your BIOS, though, here'southward how to do it.

Notation that navigating this interface tin vary a bit from computer to computer, especially if you have a newer machine running a Unified Extensible Firmware Interface, or UEFI (which, despite beingness more than capable than its older sibling, is nonetheless often referred to as BIOS). And so while we can't tell you lot exactly what to click on, the following instructions should get you in the correct ballpark nonetheless.

Head to the website for your PC's manufacturer—like Dell, HP, or Lenovo—and notice the Support page. (If y'all built your ain PC, you'll want to search for the motherboard manufacturer, like Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI.) Then, find the support page for your specific PC by searching for the model number or serial number, which you can oft find somewhere on the device.

Once yous've found the Support page, there should be a department for downloads or drivers. Head there and search for BIOS or UEFI updates. Download the latest one and check the instructions it came with. You lot'll generally have to go through one of two processes.

Format a Flash Drive

On many PCs (especially older ones), you'll demand to format a flash bulldoze, copy the new BIOS file to it, and reboot your computer, pressing a key to enter the BIOS setup (ordinarily Delete, F2, or some other central you'll meet on-screen at boot).

Once inside the BIOS, make note of whatsoever settings you've changed in the past, since an update volition usually revert your system to the default settings. Accept photos of each category if you demand to!

So, wait for the option to update your firmware, and you'll be able to run the update utility using the file on your flash drive. Again, exist very careful not to interrupt the process or plough off your PC during this time, or you could render your PC unusable.

Update From Windows

Some manufacturers, like HP, will offer BIOS updates through their own software update utilities. This makes it far easier to update, since y'all don't have to enter the BIOS setup before running the update.

Others, like the Acer laptop shown in a higher place, will require you to download an EXE file from the manufacturer'southward site. Instead of rebooting your car, you tin can only double-click the update program, and it will run through the reboot-and-update process for you.

Either way, you still may desire to enter the BIOS setup before running the update to make note of any settings y'all want to continue, though. One time the process completes successfully and you've made any settings tweaks, yous tin continue using your estimator as normal, with whatever improvements or fixes that BIOS update offered.

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