When should you update your BIOS?

Many times the biOS shipped with the motherboard was shipped "before its time". The vendor provides updates from their website that fixes some of these problems. The supplier also updates the biOS to support larger hard drives and newer processors and larger memory chips. You may need a biOS update to support larger memories, new CPU's, or larger hard drives.

To take advantage of these improvements you need to download the proper biOS file and biOS flash utility.

If you have a Phoenix, IBM or non AWARD or AMI biOS be sure to backup your biOS using UNIFLASH (see our FAQs page). If the flash fails your board will be dead and makers such as HP, IBM, DELL and Gateway will not sell you a replacement chip. They will only sell you an entire motherboard for more than the cost of a new computer! With a backup file we can help you recover with just a chip. It is possible we may also be able to locate an AMI or AWARD biOS that will work in your board, but in most cases they use boards that have parts missing and do not work with a standard biOS from the motherboard maker.