Phuket Thailand

barfly · #1 30-05-2007, 00:46

I ws browsing around last week and looked at the site for my motherboard bios and it did a check on what was needed and I ended up buying(!) a bios update.
However, I also did a printer driver update and the printer wouldn't work without doing a system restore(XP).

I've got the bios update file on my computer but am now reluctant to try it after the printer episode.
Am I right in thinking that if a bios update goes wrong then the computer is totally stuffed? Can it be repared? I guess that you wouldn't get as far as loading windows to do a restore.
Any thoughts, ie am I completely mad even to think about messing around with the bios?

MrDK · #2 30-05-2007, 01:09

When making major updates to the BIOS or operating system you should always back it up as data loss in not uncommon. As far as you computer becoming totally stuffed (rendered useless?), that would be rare.

I am not an expert in PC motherboards, but deal with a lot of equipment that from time to time is updated at the lowest level (BIOS or Firmware). The design of the basic computer is almost always done in to parts and includes an OTP and BIOS/Firmware. The BIOS/Firmware is the core of running the lower level routines on your PC. The OTP (One-time-programmable) is generally nothing more than a boot routine that either will load the BIOS/Firmware or the BIOS upload "program". The OTP is programmed at the factory an cannot be updated. So if worst comes to worst and you BIOS gets so corrupted that the computer cannot boot, the OTP should allow you to reload the BIOS. One big BUT here. Since the OTP may not have drivers for the PC peripherals you may need a professional to reload the BIOS.

Again a corrupt BIOS is rare, but loss of data is not.

barfly · #3 30-05-2007, 01:37

time to do some serious backing up then.

brit · #4 30-05-2007, 04:20

If the bios update fails you are ****ed will have to send the mobo back to be reflashed (though some newer models now come with on-board recovery). If your computer works fine as is there's really no reason to risk a new bios unless it does something major.

barfly · #5 30-05-2007, 05:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by brit

If the bios update fails you are ****ed will have to send the mobo back to be reflashed (though some newer models now come with on-board recovery). If your computer works fine as is there's really no reason to risk a new bios unless it does something major.

Yeah, I'm still partly of the mind, if it aint bust don't fix it. I think I'll hold off for a while.

ub2yoo · #6 30-05-2007, 05:23

To be honest with you, the OS's (XP +...) are pretty sophisticated these days. You would hardly ever need to upgrade your BIOS just for the sake fo a Printer !

Before you do that, do more investigation of the printer (or provide your printer brand, model etc.), there must be a easier solution than a BIOS upgrade for it for sure.

barfly · #7 30-05-2007, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ub2yoo

To be honest with you, the OS's (XP +...) are pretty sophisticated these days. You would hardly ever need to upgrade your BIOS just for the sake fo a Printer !

Before you do that, do more investigation of the printer (or provide your printer brand, model etc.), there must be a easier solution than a BIOS upgrade for it for sure.

It was just the motherboard I was trying to update, the printer was just an extra thing to do/mess up.