When to update BIOS???

[Not Me]

More Vitrol Please...LOL

 

[Andrew Rossmann]

I'm glad you were successful, but not everyone is. BIOS updates are
inherently risky, and should be avoided whenever possible. A sudden
loss of power while it's taking place can ruin the BIOS entirely, as
can accidentally using the improper update file.

That is what a UPS is for. Also, the actual update only took a few
seconds. It isn't like the old days where it could take over a minute.

A BIOS update can be important if you are updating to Vista from XP.

 

[Kerry Brown]

That is what a UPS is for. Also, the actual update only took a few
seconds. It isn't like the old days where it could take over a minute.

A BIOS update can be important if you are updating to Vista from XP.

Yes it can be important. No, it shouldn't be done as a matter of course. I
have updated hundreds of BIOS'. I always use a UPS. I always do it exactly
by the manufacturer's specified method. Despite this I have seen two bricked
motherboards. Murphy is always lurking in the background. Flashing a BIOS
can and sometimes does damage a computer. In most cases this means a new
motherboard or waiting for a replacement BIOS chip. With laptops it
sometimes is for all intents and purposes not fixable. Caution is always
advised. Updating the BIOS is the last thing to try when troubleshooting a
problem. It should never be done just because there is a newer BIOS.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

That is what a UPS is for.

I agree with you. I highly recommend using a UPS all the time, and
especially when doing a BIOS update. However UPSs are not perfect;
they can substantially reduce the risk, but no such device can
eliminate it entirely.

Also, the actual update only took a few
seconds. It isn't like the old days where it could take over a minute.

The less time it takes, the lower the risk. But there is always risk.

A power failure is only one of the things that can happen. For
example, you could accidentally use the wrong update for your BIOS.

A BIOS update can be important if you are updating to Vista from XP.

Although I didn't need a BIOS update when I upgraded from XP to Vista,
I'll grant you the possibility that others may need one.

I am certainly not claiming that nobody should ever do a BIOS update.
I've done several of them myself.

My point is rather that you should do a BIOS update only when you need
to, not just because one is available. Unfortunately, there are a
certain number of people who think they should always be "up-to-date"
and will install every new BIOS update that comes out, without regard
for whether they need it or not. The result is that they occasionally
clobber their machines.

Again, updating the BIOS is inherently risky. I don't say to never
take the risk, but I do say to take it *only* if you need to.

 

[XS11E]

I checked the System Summary for my Toshiba P200 Satelite Notebook
and the BIOS is listed as version V1.40. Toshiba are presently
showing BIOS version V1.70 as the present version for the P200.
Should I be upgrading? Any other insight as to why I should,
should not, or don't need to, would be appreciated.

If you'll go to Toshiba's web site you'll find a detailed list of
exactly what the update does so check and see if you need it or not.

http://www.csd.toshiba.com/cgi-
bin/tais/su/su_sc_dtlViewDL.jsp?soid=1846930&moid=1702312&rpn=PSPB0U&BV
_SessionID=@@@@1588099469.1199055580@@@@&BV_EngineID=cccjaddmleedfimcgf
kceghdgngdgmm.0&ct=DL&all_docs=false

or: http://preview.tinyurl.com/3axzp5