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How Important Is Updating The Pc Bios

BIOS chip on a computer motherboard
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Updating your computer'southward operating organisation and software is of import. On the other hand, we take previously covered why you shouldn't generally update your hardware drivers, although gamers will definitely want to update their graphics drivers. But what almost BIOS updates?

BIOS updates volition non make your computer faster, they more often than not won't add together new features you need, and they may fifty-fifty cause boosted problems. You should only update your BIOS if the new version contains an comeback you lot need.

What's a BIOS?

BIOS stands for basic input/output organization. When yous ability your computer on, your BIOS takes command, starting the power-on cocky test (Mail) and passing command over to the kicking loader. This is what boots your computer'southward operating organisation. The BIOS is low-level organization software that should "simply piece of work" without getting in your way.

Computers are now coming with UEFI firmware instead of the traditional BIOS, but the same is true for UEFI—it'southward depression-level arrangement software with a similar role.

Unlike your operating organization (which is stored on your hard bulldoze), your computer's BIOS is stored on a fleck on your motherboard.

A computer chip on a motherboard
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Flashing a BIOS

Manufacturers oft release updates to their computers' BIOSes. If you congenital your ain computer, a BIOS update would come from your motherboard vendor. These updates can be "flashed" onto the BIOS chip, replacing the BIOS software the computer came with with a new version of the BIOS.

BIOSes are computer-specific (or motherboard-specific), so you lot will demand the BIOS for your exact model of computer (or motherboard) to update your reckoner's BIOS.

Why You Probably Shouldn't Update Your BIOS

Bios setup utility screen

BIOS updates aren't large software upgrades that add together new features, security patches, or performance improvements. BIOS updates typically have very brusque modify logs—they may set up a bug with an obscure piece of hardware or add support for a new model of CPU.

If your calculator is working properly, y'all probably shouldn't update your BIOS. Yous probable won't see the difference between the new BIOS version and the old one. In some cases, you may even experience new bugs with a new version of the BIOS, as the BIOS that came with your computer may have gone through more than testing.

Flashing a BIOS isn't as piece of cake as installing a normal software update. Yous volition oft desire to flash your computer from DOS (yes, DOS—you may take to create a bootable USB bulldoze with DOS on it and restart into that environment), as problems could occur when flashing from Windows. Each manufacturer has its own instructions for flashing a BIOS.

Y'all will demand the version of the BIOS for your exact hardware. If you get a BIOS for another slice of hardware—fifty-fifty a slightly different revision of the same motherboard—this could cause problems. BIOS flashing tools commonly try to detect whether the BIOS fits your hardware, but if the tool attempts to flash the BIOS anyway, your computer could become unbootable.

If your computer loses power while flashing the BIOS, your estimator could become "bricked" and unable to kicking. Computers should ideally have a backup BIOS stored in read-only retentivity, but not all computers do.

When You Should Update Your BIOS

Given that y'all probably will non see any improvements from updating your BIOS, that new bugs could pop up, and the potential for errors while flashing, you shouldn't update your BIOS unless you have a reason to. Here are a few cases where updating makes sense:

  • Bugs: If you are experiencing bugs that are fixed in a newer version of the BIOS for your computer (cheque the BIOS changelog on the manufacturer's website), you lot may exist able to fix them by updating your BIOS. A manufacturer may even advise you lot to update your BIOS if you lot contact tech back up and have a problem that has been stock-still with an update.
  • Hardware Support: Some motherboard manufacturers add support for new CPUs, and potentially other hardware, in BIOS updates. If you desire to upgrade your reckoner'south CPU to a new CPU—perchance 1 that wasn't yet released when you purchased your motherboard—y'all may demand to update the BIOS.

Be sure to cheque the changelog for the BIOS updates and see if they really accept an update you require.

An example of a bios changelog

If you are non experiencing any bugs that have been fixed and don't demand hardware support, don't carp updating. You lot won't get anything out of it except possible new problems.

Equally the saying goes, don't set up what own't broke.

Source: https://www.howtogeek.com/136881/htg-explains-do-you-need-to-update-your-computers-bios/

Posted by: ruffnertoorepithe1949.blogspot.com

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