Flashing the BIOS

What is the BIOS?

BIOS stand for Basic Input/Output System

The BIOS is a set of instructions contained on a volatile memory chip built onto your motherboard. When a PC is turned on, the BIOS program is initiated. It performs a hardware check ensuring that all crucial hardware properly (video card, a CPU, memory) are present and are working, if the power supply providing proper voltages. If any problem is detected it will inform you via beep codes. A startup screen is displayed if everything is. A memory check is done, other hardware are identified, device are configured as needed, Boot drive is identified, and then control and priorities are handed over to the boot sector on the boot drive, which launches the operating system. Note that all these procedures are done independently from the operating system used.

Upgrading the BIOS

Upgrading the BIOS of your computer's motherboard, is also known a flashing the BIOS, consist of downloading the correct BIOS file, the proper CMOS chip flashing software, rebooting the PC into DOS mode, applying the correct commands and wait until the update finished. BIOS updates can add new features and provide significant stability to your system.

Reasons to flash the BIOS

Bug fixes: among the features and options contained in the BIOS, if one of them is not working properly upgrading the BIOS can solve this problem. Corrections made by manufacturers are accessible with newer BIOS version.

Supporting larger hard drives and the latest processors: allows you to configure your PC to maximum size for hard drive and adjusting your motherboard to accept newer processors .

Note that

Make sure that you have all the necessary informations about your motherboard and have the right CMOS chip flashing software before performing this operation, or things can turn out badly.