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Publish date: 28th July 2005
Written by: Postcode
Audience intended for: Hardware

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Backup your system current BIOS. Installing a new BIOS may introduce bugs into the system that may create new system issues. Things like memory timing, CPU speed indicaters, fan speed and power management issues as well. With both AMI and Award, the utility has the ability to backup the current BIOS onto a floppy disk. It's highly recommended that anyone performing a BIOS update perform this. If you have a printer connected to the system you can print each setup screen within the BIOS by using the "PrtScn" key on the keyboard. This will give you a hard copy to check your settings against after the flash takes place.

Make sure you have the correct BIOS upgrade. If you have an upgrade for another motherboard, even if the motherboard is in the same series, just a different model, chances are pretty good you'll render the motherboard unusable. ONLY UPGRADE A BIOS WITH A NEWER BIOS THAT IS DESIGNED FOR THE SPECIFIC MOTHERBOARD IN QUESTION!

Make sure you have a thoroughly tested floppy disk AND drive in place before using them to flash the BIOS. In the event of a CRC error during the flash, you will most likely have to replace the CMOS. A costly operation in terms of money and downtime. If anything goes wrong with the disk or the drive during the flash, it will most likely toast your motherboard. Ensure that the drive your using and the floppy disk itself are up to snuff. Test the disk thoroughly. Write and read from it with large files. Perform a complete format of the disk as well. If any bad sectors occur, replace the disk with another. DON'T USE THE FLOPPY DISK IF ERRORS ARE FOUND ON IT!

When booting the system to the floppy for flashing, ensure that the boot floppy itself has NO unneeded drivers being installed. Things like CD-ROM drivers or mouse drivers will reduce the amount of memory available for the flashing program to use. If you run out of RAM during the flashing, your motherboard may be rendered unusable. Always boot with boot disk that has no additional drivers. After all, all you need is the floppy anyway. Enter the BIOS setup and ensure that system and video BIOS caching is disabled and all types of Shadow Memory are disabled.

 

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