Why update the BIOS?

[BP]

I just built a new box with a P4C800E-D board. The AMI bios is 1014.
Everything works and life is good. Now, I'm of the "if it ain't broke, don't
fix it" variety. Why would I want to update my BIOS? Could it wait until I
needed some missing functionality?

 

[billh]

I just built a new box with a P4C800E-D board. The AMI bios is 1014.
Everything works and life is good. Now, I'm of the "if it ain't broke, don't
fix it" variety. Why would I want to update my BIOS? Could it wait until I
needed some missing functionality?

Conventional wisdom regarding updating BIOS is precisely defined by the "if
it ain't broke, don't fix it" philosopy. If you aren't having a problem then
why bother. A lot of people can't live without the latest or think a later
BIOS will improve performance. Unless if fixes a serious problem a new BIOS
hardly ever improves performance. Also, flashing a BIOS is not without its
risk and can leave your mb inoperable although newer boards may have ways to
recover.

What I do, is download the BIOS and save the file without installing it.
Then you have the file if you need to do it later and for some reason a BIOS
download is no longer available from the vendor. This is unlikely with an
Asus mb but you never know and the files are small for easy storage.

Billh

 

[Rob Stow]

I just built a new box with a P4C800E-D board. The AMI bios is 1014.
Everything works and life is good. Now, I'm of the "if it ain't broke, don't
fix it" variety. Why would I want to update my BIOS? Could it wait until I
needed some missing functionality?

You bet you can wait if everything seems to be working OK.

Any time you want to do a BIOS upgrade it is a good idea to
use something like Google to search for the version number of
the new BIOS and the motherboard model and check for reports
about what gets fixed and what gets broken by that BIOS version.

 

[BP]

Thanks Gentlemen. That helps. I see a lot of posts on this and other boards
with people having problems after flashing their BIOS. I do not wish to join
them!

: BP wrote:
:
: > I just built a new box with a P4C800E-D board. The AMI bios is 1014.
: > Everything works and life is good. Now, I'm of the "if it ain't broke,
don't
: > fix it" variety. Why would I want to update my BIOS? Could it wait until
I
: > needed some missing functionality?
: >
:
: You bet you can wait if everything seems to be working OK.
:
: Any time you want to do a BIOS upgrade it is a good idea to
: use something like Google to search for the version number of
: the new BIOS and the motherboard model and check for reports
: about what gets fixed and what gets broken by that BIOS version.
:
:
:

 

[Anon]

You bet you can wait if everything seems to be working OK.

Any time you want to do a BIOS upgrade it is a good idea to
use something like Google to search for the version number of
the new BIOS and the motherboard model and check for reports
about what gets fixed and what gets broken by that BIOS version.

The key words here are "and what gets broken"

 

[DaveW]

Do NOT upgrade the BIOS unless you are having problems. You can possibly
destroy the board.

 

[peter]

Its funny people saying DO NOT update the BIOS...I mean you just build a
whole new system all by yourself and your gonna let a little thing like a
BIOS update stop you dead in your tracks??
Or are you gonna be like me and let it nag you in the back of your mind and
one day say Oh what the hell lets go for it....after all I DO wanna know a
little bit more about what I'm working with here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well I've done a few since then and yes there is some danger and I f*** one
up pretty badly.....BUT I survived and so did the computer.
IF you decide to:..... look up all the info you can find on this subject..
......follow the directions carefully to the
letter.
....make doubly sure its the right BIOS for your
specific mobo
....use a AWDFLASH.EXE program from DOS and back
up your old BIOS
good luck
peter

 

[tom C]

I agree, although an updated bios wont change your life, if you have spent
all that money and time, just do it and learn , just be careful like you
were when you built your puter and installed all the stuff in it.
It really iusnt all that complicated and if you can read and put a puter
togeher you shudnt have a probelm with a simple bios upgrade... ive done it
dozens of times and NEVER had a crash.
It more a matter of priciple, you cud have just bougt a DELL ...uhg

 

[Derek Hawkins]

BIOS updates - Piece of cake. If you're really that scared then heed the
following;

1. Never be the first to try a new update. Let others "Guinea Pig" it first.

2. Never use Asus Live Update or whatever they call the Windows flash
utility. This is for brave fools and the ignorant only.

3. Download BIOS at least twice to different folders. Do a comparison to
make sure they are both the same. It's hardly likely (next to impossible)
that a corrupted download will be corrupted the same way twice.

4. Format the FD using MSDOS 6.22. Not absolutely necessary but it doesn't
get any better than that.

5. Do another comparison after copying to FD or copy using verify option.

7. Get a UPS if you don't have one already.

8. Save a copy of the previous BIOS before flashing if you don't have one
elsewhere.

If anything goes wrong after that then buy a lottery ticket the next day.

 

[BP]

It's not that updating the bios is hard. The original question was and still
is: why do it? So far the answer seems to be "because it's there".
What does it do for you? What do you gain?

: BIOS updates - Piece of cake. If you're really that scared then heed the
: following;
:
: 1. Never be the first to try a new update. Let others "Guinea Pig" it
first.
:
: 2. Never use Asus Live Update or whatever they call the Windows flash
: utility. This is for brave fools and the ignorant only.
:
: 3. Download BIOS at least twice to different folders. Do a comparison to
: make sure they are both the same. It's hardly likely (next to impossible)
: that a corrupted download will be corrupted the same way twice.
:
: 4. Format the FD using MSDOS 6.22. Not absolutely necessary but it doesn't
: get any better than that.
:
: 5. Do another comparison after copying to FD or copy using verify option.
:
: 7. Get a UPS if you don't have one already.
:
: 8. Save a copy of the previous BIOS before flashing if you don't have one
: elsewhere.
:
: If anything goes wrong after that then buy a lottery ticket the next day.
:
: : > I agree, although an updated bios wont change your life, if you have
spent
: > all that money and time, just do it and learn , just be careful like you
: > were when you built your puter and installed all the stuff in it.
: > It really iusnt all that complicated and if you can read and put a puter
: > togeher you shudnt have a probelm with a simple bios upgrade... ive done
: it
: > dozens of times and NEVER had a crash.
: > It more a matter of priciple, you cud have just bougt a DELL ...uhg
: > : > > Its funny people saying DO NOT update the BIOS...I mean you just build
a
: > > whole new system all by yourself and your gonna let a little thing
like
: a
: > > BIOS update stop you dead in your tracks??
: > > Or are you gonna be like me and let it nag you in the back of your
mind
: > and
: > > one day say Oh what the hell lets go for it....after all I DO wanna
know
: a
: > > little bit more about what I'm working with here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
: > > Well I've done a few since then and yes there is some danger and I
f***
: > one
: > > up pretty badly.....BUT I survived and so did the computer.
: > > IF you decide to:..... look up all the info you can find on this
: subject..
: > > ......follow the directions carefully to
the
: > > letter.
: > > ....make doubly sure its the right BIOS
for
: > your
: > > specific mobo
: > > ....use a AWDFLASH.EXE program from DOS
and
: > back
: > > up your old BIOS
: > > good luck
: > > peter
: > > : > > > I just built a new box with a P4C800E-D board. The AMI bios is 1014.
: > > > Everything works and life is good. Now, I'm of the "if it ain't
broke,
: > > don't
: > > > fix it" variety. Why would I want to update my BIOS? Could it wait
: until
: > I
: > > > needed some missing functionality?
: > > >
: > > >
: > >
: > >
: >
: >
:
:

 

[Ed Edelenbos]

It's not that updating the bios is hard. The original question was and still
is: why do it? So far the answer seems to be "because it's there".
What does it do for you? What do you gain?

I can do useful things... I upgraded mine for add'l processor support.
I have an older nlx book computer that would only support up to a
600Mhz processor. With new bios, I can go up to 1Ghz. Some upgrades
fix info reporting and/or bugs that were in earlier versions. In
general I agree with the old adage... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Ed

 

[Creeping Stone]

3. Download BIOS at least twice to different folders. Do a comparison to
make sure they are both the same. It's hardly likely (next to impossible)
that a corrupted download will be corrupted the same way twice.

5. Do another comparison after copying to FD or copy using verify option.

I dont think thats neccessary, Shouldnt the flash detect if the bios is
corrupt in a billion to one cases? (checksum error)

-Just reading about the bios for a7v8x-mx, the download source is corrupt
so if you forced it to flash anyway you'd be sunk:/

 

[peter]

A New BIOS usually lets you upgrade certain pieces of your system..ie the
processor.
There are also hacked improved BIOS available that activate certain aspects
that the original did not.
As an example more power options for your RAM....More OC options.
Some people might never use this .......other couldn't get along without it.
If everyone followed the dont fix what ain't broke adage we would not have
PC's or a lor of other things we take for granted everyday!!
Innovation is based on the principle of "So how can we make it better??"
peter

 

[BP]

So when I'm ready to upgrade the system or tweak the carb, I'll update the
bios or the manifold.
But please, keep pushin the envelope boys. Take that hill! And let us all
know how it turns out.

: A New BIOS usually lets you upgrade certain pieces of your system..ie the
: processor.
: There are also hacked improved BIOS available that activate certain
aspects
: that the original did not.
: As an example more power options for your RAM....More OC options.
: Some people might never use this .......other couldn't get along without
it.
: If everyone followed the dont fix what ain't broke adage we would not have
: PC's or a lor of other things we take for granted everyday!!
: Innovation is based on the principle of "So how can we make it better??"
: peter
: : > It's not that updating the bios is hard. The original question was and
: still
: > is: why do it? So far the answer seems to be "because it's there".
: > What does it do for you? What do you gain?
: >
: > : > : BIOS updates - Piece of cake. If you're really that scared then heed
the
: > : following;
: > :
: > : 1. Never be the first to try a new update. Let others "Guinea Pig" it
: > first.
: > :
: > : 2. Never use Asus Live Update or whatever they call the Windows flash
: > : utility. This is for brave fools and the ignorant only.
: > :
: > : 3. Download BIOS at least twice to different folders. Do a comparison
to
: > : make sure they are both the same. It's hardly likely (next to
: impossible)
: > : that a corrupted download will be corrupted the same way twice.
: > :
: > : 4. Format the FD using MSDOS 6.22. Not absolutely necessary but it
: doesn't
: > : get any better than that.
: > :
: > : 5. Do another comparison after copying to FD or copy using verify
: option.
: > :
: > : 7. Get a UPS if you don't have one already.
: > :
: > : 8. Save a copy of the previous BIOS before flashing if you don't have
: one
: > : elsewhere.
: > :
: > : If anything goes wrong after that then buy a lottery ticket the next
: day.
: > :
: > : : > : > I agree, although an updated bios wont change your life, if you have
: > spent
: > : > all that money and time, just do it and learn , just be careful like
: you
: > : > were when you built your puter and installed all the stuff in it.
: > : > It really iusnt all that complicated and if you can read and put a
: puter
: > : > togeher you shudnt have a probelm with a simple bios upgrade... ive
: done
: > : it
: > : > dozens of times and NEVER had a crash.
: > : > It more a matter of priciple, you cud have just bougt a DELL ...uhg
: > : > : > : > > Its funny people saying DO NOT update the BIOS...I mean you just
: build
: > a
: > : > > whole new system all by yourself and your gonna let a little thing
: > like
: > : a
: > : > > BIOS update stop you dead in your tracks??
: > : > > Or are you gonna be like me and let it nag you in the back of your
: > mind
: > : > and
: > : > > one day say Oh what the hell lets go for it....after all I DO
wanna
: > know
: > : a
: > : > > little bit more about what I'm working with here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
: > : > > Well I've done a few since then and yes there is some danger and I
: > f***
: > : > one
: > : > > up pretty badly.....BUT I survived and so did the computer.
: > : > > IF you decide to:..... look up all the info you can find on this
: > : subject..
: > : > > ......follow the directions carefully
to
: > the
: > : > > letter.
: > : > > ....make doubly sure its the right
BIOS
: > for
: > : > your
: > : > > specific mobo
: > : > > ....use a AWDFLASH.EXE program from
DOS
: > and
: > : > back
: > : > > up your old BIOS
: > : > > good luck
: > : > > peter
: > : > > : > : > > > I just built a new box with a P4C800E-D board. The AMI bios is
: 1014.
: > : > > > Everything works and life is good. Now, I'm of the "if it ain't
: > broke,
: > : > > don't
: > : > > > fix it" variety. Why would I want to update my BIOS? Could it
wait
: > : until
: > : > I
: > : > > > needed some missing functionality?
: > : > > >
: > : > > >
: > : > >
: > : > >
: > : >
: > : >
: > :
: > :
: >
: >
:
:

 

[Anon]

Let the BIOS "beta testers" flash their BIOS and report any problems. Then
if I need to flash, I will be warned of any problems.

For now, I will stick with my 1014 BIOS. The only reason to upgrade would be
if I wanted to "downgrade" to a Prescott P4e processor. Since I don't need
the heat, I will stick with my P4c.

Al

 

[Outback Jon]

But please, keep pushin the envelope boys. Take that hill! And let us
all know how it turns out.

Someone's gotta do it. Might as well be me.. )

Currently using the 1008 Uber bios for my A7N8X-E Deluxe. Working fine...

Yes, it's both a hacked bios AND not the original one that came with my
board...

I have had ONE failed flash in all the years I've been using computers. And
that was my own fault - tried to put my own graphic into the POST screen.
Ignored the warning that the flash program gave about the file being
corrupted - figured it was just cause I changed the contents. But I got a
bad flash. Got a new chip from ABIT and all was well. So, my computer was
down for a week. But I always have a backup around somewhere.

Oh yeah - I even use flashing programs the run under Windows..... :^O

--
"Outback" Jon Gould | Let those who RIDE,
2003 Kawasaki Concours (wreck)|
1976 Honda CB750F (needs work)| DECIDE.
1972 Yamaha DS7 (project) |
(e-mail address removed) | HELMET LAWS SUCK
CQ CQ CQ de KC2BNE |
______________________________|____________________________
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Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe 120GB and 40GB Maxtor HD
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Sony 52x40x52 CDRW HP D3857A 15" Monitor
Sony 16x40 DVD-ROM Nostromo n50 Speedpad
http://folding.stanford.edu - got folding? Team 33432

 

[Derek Hawkins]

The original question was

Not worth answering IMO. I was replying to another post in the thread.