How To Update Bios Date Outside Of Windows

Your computer's basic input/output organization—or BIOS—lives in a small chip on your motherboard, and manages the most bones instructions that let your computer to boot into an operating organisation. From time to fourth dimension, your PC's manufacturer may offer updates to the BIOS with sure improvements. Here's how to install them.

In general, y'all shouldn't demand to update your BIOS that oftentimes. Installing (or "flashing") a new BIOS is more dangerous than updating a simple Windows plan, and if something goes wrong during the process, you lot could end up bricking your computer. I don't mean to be all doom-and-gloom about it. I've never had a problem updating my BIOS, and I've washed information technology plenty of times, just it's important to be careful.

Since BIOS updates don't commonly introduce new features or huge speed boosts, you probably won't see a huge benefit anyhow. Unless the latest BIOS comes with security patches, support for new hardware you plan to utilize, or fixes a bug that'south been plaguing your daily usage, you're best off leaving it lonely altogether. If y'all autumn into ane of those categories and demand to update your BIOS, though, hither's how to practice information technology.

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

Caput to the website for your PC's manufacturer—similar Dell, HP, or Lenovo—and notice the Back up page. (If you congenital your ain PC, you'll desire to search for the motherboard manufacturer, like Asus, Gigabyte, or MSI.) Then, notice the support page for your specific PC by searching for the model number or serial number, which you can often find somewhere on the device.

One time you've constitute the Support folio, at that place should be a department for downloads or drivers. Head there and search for BIOS or UEFI updates. Download the latest 1 and cheque the instructions it came with. You'll generally have to get through 1 of two processes.

Format a Flash Drive

On many PCs (peculiarly older ones), yous'll need to format a flash drive, copy the new BIOS file to it, and reboot your computer, pressing a key to enter the BIOS setup (usually Delete, F2, or some other primal you'll come across on-screen at boot).

One time within the BIOS, make note of any settings you've changed in the past, since an update will usually revert your organization to the default settings. Take photos of each category if you need to!

Then, look for the option to update your firmware, and you'll exist able to run the update utility using the file on your flash bulldoze. Again, exist very careful not to interrupt the process or plow off your PC during this time, or y'all could render your PC unusable.

Update From Windows

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

Others, like the Acer laptop shown above, will require you to download an EXE file from the manufacturer'due south site. Instead of rebooting your machine, yous tin just double-click the update program, and information technology will run through the reboot-and-update process for you.

Either style, you lot still may want to enter the BIOS setup earlier running the update to brand note of any settings you desire to proceed, though. Once the process completes successfully and you've made whatsoever settings tweaks, you can continue using your computer every bit normal, with whatever improvements or fixes that BIOS update offered.

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