Firmware and BIOS question

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dudley Henriques
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Dudley Henriques

Just to help basic understanding;

If you do a firmware update on say an optical drive, is it possible to
reverse it back to the drive's original firmware if something goes wrong
with the update.......and basically the same question concerning a BIOS
update?
On the BIOS, I understand you can select return to default before exiting
the setup screen in the BIOS but its my understanding that doing this
returns the BIOS to its absolute initial settings and that any settings
specially made to the BIOS by whoever initially set up your system will be
lost.
Just concerning the BIOS, is it then a good idea with a new system to print
out your BIOS settings for each page and keep a written record of them and
if so, how can you do this without doing a print screen for each page?
I know you can back up the BIOS, but can you actually view the backup if you
need to?
Many thanks. I'd like to understand this a bit better if possible.
Dudley
 
Perhaps asking the particular manufacturers tech support will get you a
qualified and correct answer.
 
Firmware upgrades are not reversible, and neither are BIOS upgrades. The
ROMs do not keep backup copies of earlier versions.

Returning the BIOS to default settings will restore the default settings
for the particular BIOS version in question.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to print BIOS screens. At the time the
BIOS is being displayed there is no software loaded that can print
screens. However, it is a good idea to record your BIOS settings, and
the fastest way to do this is with pen and paper.

Or, if you're a neat freak like me, you can create a beautiful word
processing table where you record BIOS settings and their meaning, using
a selection of colorful fonts.
 
If the BIOS update to the mobo is corrupted, the computer
likely will not boot at all. It is recommended that you do
not update the BIOS unless there is an issue with your
hardware that requires a BIOS update to allow new hardware
to function. Then it is recommended that you have a UPS
[battery backed power supply or uninterruptible power
supply] so that a line power failure will not be as likely
to happen and trash the BIOS. Also, many new mobo mfg'rs
have a Windows program to update the BIOS rather than
requiring that the BIOS be updated from a bootable floppy.

As long as the computer will boot, you can re-flash the BIOS
with a previous BIOS version, but often if the BIOS is
damaged your only fix is a new mobo or factory replacement
chip.

As for the firmware in a CD or DVD drive, the computer
should still be able to boot and Windows does have a "driver
roll-back" function in the Device Manager.

Unlike software updates, BIOS and firmware updates are not
required unless you have some compatibility issue that needs
to be solved, i.e. your drive doesn't run properly. Read
the details in the update notice about what the update does
and decide whether you really need it before getting
adventurous with your only computer.


| Perhaps asking the particular manufacturers tech support
will get you a
| qualified and correct answer.
|
| Dudley Henriques wrote:
|
| > Just to help basic understanding;
| >
| > If you do a firmware update on say an optical drive, is
it possible to
| > reverse it back to the drive's original firmware if
something goes wrong
| > with the update.......and basically the same question
concerning a BIOS
| > update?
| > On the BIOS, I understand you can select return to
default before exiting
| > the setup screen in the BIOS but its my understanding
that doing this
| > returns the BIOS to its absolute initial settings and
that any settings
| > specially made to the BIOS by whoever initially set up
your system will be
| > lost.
| > Just concerning the BIOS, is it then a good idea with a
new system to print
| > out your BIOS settings for each page and keep a written
record of them and
| > if so, how can you do this without doing a print screen
for each page?
| > I know you can back up the BIOS, but can you actually
view the backup if you
| > need to?
| > Many thanks. I'd like to understand this a bit better if
possible.
| > Dudley
| >
| >
|
 
Just to add a little something to Jim's good advice...firmware is not
the same as a device driver. Firmware is contained inside the device in
a chip, whereas a driver is installed on the hard disk.

---
Ted Zieglar
"Backup is a computer user's best friend."

Jim said:
If the BIOS update to the mobo is corrupted, the computer
likely will not boot at all. It is recommended that you do
not update the BIOS unless there is an issue with your
hardware that requires a BIOS update to allow new hardware
to function. Then it is recommended that you have a UPS
[battery backed power supply or uninterruptible power
supply] so that a line power failure will not be as likely
to happen and trash the BIOS. Also, many new mobo mfg'rs
have a Windows program to update the BIOS rather than
requiring that the BIOS be updated from a bootable floppy.

As long as the computer will boot, you can re-flash the BIOS
with a previous BIOS version, but often if the BIOS is
damaged your only fix is a new mobo or factory replacement
chip.

As for the firmware in a CD or DVD drive, the computer
should still be able to boot and Windows does have a "driver
roll-back" function in the Device Manager.

Unlike software updates, BIOS and firmware updates are not
required unless you have some compatibility issue that needs
to be solved, i.e. your drive doesn't run properly. Read
the details in the update notice about what the update does
and decide whether you really need it before getting
adventurous with your only computer.


| Perhaps asking the particular manufacturers tech support
will get you a
| qualified and correct answer.
|
| Dudley Henriques wrote:
|
| > Just to help basic understanding;
| >
| > If you do a firmware update on say an optical drive, is
it possible to
| > reverse it back to the drive's original firmware if
something goes wrong
| > with the update.......and basically the same question
concerning a BIOS
| > update?
| > On the BIOS, I understand you can select return to
default before exiting
| > the setup screen in the BIOS but its my understanding
that doing this
| > returns the BIOS to its absolute initial settings and
that any settings
| > specially made to the BIOS by whoever initially set up
your system will be
| > lost.
| > Just concerning the BIOS, is it then a good idea with a
new system to print
| > out your BIOS settings for each page and keep a written
record of them and
| > if so, how can you do this without doing a print screen
for each page?
| > I know you can back up the BIOS, but can you actually
view the backup if you
| > need to?
| > Many thanks. I'd like to understand this a bit better if
possible.
| > Dudley
| >
| >
|
Click to expand...
 
To restore BIOS, check the manual for the motherboard. There should be a
jumper on the motherboard to reset BIOS.
Otherwise, if you install a BIOS upgrade that breaks it:
Unplug the PC.
Remove the battery from the motherboard.
Wait a while.
Plug the battery back in.
Plug the PC back in.
It should work.

As far as "default settings from whoever initially set up your PC", you'd
have to ask them. It depends on where you got the PC. I'd bet they most
likely left it at factory defaults. You can probably find a program online
to list out your BIOS settings for you. Otherwise, if you're concerned
about saving possible settings that could possibly be different than factory
defaults, go into your BIOS and write down each setting. There is no print
screen in BIOS because there is no printer because you're not in your
operating system at that point. You could always take a picture of each
screen...
 
Firmware is a BIOS in a device and as long as the computer
can boot, or the device is installed in a working computer,
the firmware can be up or graded of re-flashed.


| Just to add a little something to Jim's good
advice...firmware is not
| the same as a device driver. Firmware is contained inside
the device in
| a chip, whereas a driver is installed on the hard disk.
|
| ---
| Ted Zieglar
| "Backup is a computer user's best friend."
|
| Jim Macklin wrote:
| > If the BIOS update to the mobo is corrupted, the
computer
| > likely will not boot at all. It is recommended that you
do
| > not update the BIOS unless there is an issue with your
| > hardware that requires a BIOS update to allow new
hardware
| > to function. Then it is recommended that you have a UPS
| > [battery backed power supply or uninterruptible power
| > supply] so that a line power failure will not be as
likely
| > to happen and trash the BIOS. Also, many new mobo
mfg'rs
| > have a Windows program to update the BIOS rather than
| > requiring that the BIOS be updated from a bootable
floppy.
| >
| > As long as the computer will boot, you can re-flash the
BIOS
| > with a previous BIOS version, but often if the BIOS is
| > damaged your only fix is a new mobo or factory
replacement
| > chip.
| >
| > As for the firmware in a CD or DVD drive, the computer
| > should still be able to boot and Windows does have a
"driver
| > roll-back" function in the Device Manager.
| >
| > Unlike software updates, BIOS and firmware updates are
not
| > required unless you have some compatibility issue that
needs
| > to be solved, i.e. your drive doesn't run properly.
Read
| > the details in the update notice about what the update
does
| > and decide whether you really need it before getting
| > adventurous with your only computer.
| >
| >
| > | > | Perhaps asking the particular manufacturers tech
support
| > will get you a
| > | qualified and correct answer.
| > |
| > | Dudley Henriques wrote:
| > |
| > | > Just to help basic understanding;
| > | >
| > | > If you do a firmware update on say an optical drive,
is
| > it possible to
| > | > reverse it back to the drive's original firmware if
| > something goes wrong
| > | > with the update.......and basically the same
question
| > concerning a BIOS
| > | > update?
| > | > On the BIOS, I understand you can select return to
| > default before exiting
| > | > the setup screen in the BIOS but its my
understanding
| > that doing this
| > | > returns the BIOS to its absolute initial settings
and
| > that any settings
| > | > specially made to the BIOS by whoever initially set
up
| > your system will be
| > | > lost.
| > | > Just concerning the BIOS, is it then a good idea
with a
| > new system to print
| > | > out your BIOS settings for each page and keep a
written
| > record of them and
| > | > if so, how can you do this without doing a print
screen
| > for each page?
| > | > I know you can back up the BIOS, but can you
actually
| > view the backup if you
| > | > need to?
| > | > Many thanks. I'd like to understand this a bit
better if
| > possible.
| > | > Dudley
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| >
| >
 
Right you are, Jim...but firmware can't be rolled back to an earlier
version from Device Manager. ;-)

---
Ted Zieglar
"Backup is a computer user's best friend."

Jim said:
Firmware is a BIOS in a device and as long as the computer
can boot, or the device is installed in a working computer,
the firmware can be up or graded of re-flashed.


| Just to add a little something to Jim's good
advice...firmware is not
| the same as a device driver. Firmware is contained inside
the device in
| a chip, whereas a driver is installed on the hard disk.
|
| ---
| Ted Zieglar
| "Backup is a computer user's best friend."
|
| Jim Macklin wrote:
| > If the BIOS update to the mobo is corrupted, the
computer
| > likely will not boot at all. It is recommended that you
do
| > not update the BIOS unless there is an issue with your
| > hardware that requires a BIOS update to allow new
hardware
| > to function. Then it is recommended that you have a UPS
| > [battery backed power supply or uninterruptible power
| > supply] so that a line power failure will not be as
likely
| > to happen and trash the BIOS. Also, many new mobo
mfg'rs
| > have a Windows program to update the BIOS rather than
| > requiring that the BIOS be updated from a bootable
floppy.
| >
| > As long as the computer will boot, you can re-flash the
BIOS
| > with a previous BIOS version, but often if the BIOS is
| > damaged your only fix is a new mobo or factory
replacement
| > chip.
| >
| > As for the firmware in a CD or DVD drive, the computer
| > should still be able to boot and Windows does have a
"driver
| > roll-back" function in the Device Manager.
| >
| > Unlike software updates, BIOS and firmware updates are
not
| > required unless you have some compatibility issue that
needs
| > to be solved, i.e. your drive doesn't run properly.
Read
| > the details in the update notice about what the update
does
| > and decide whether you really need it before getting
| > adventurous with your only computer.
| >
| >
| > | > | Perhaps asking the particular manufacturers tech
support
| > will get you a
| > | qualified and correct answer.
| > |
| > | Dudley Henriques wrote:
| > |
| > | > Just to help basic understanding;
| > | >
| > | > If you do a firmware update on say an optical drive,
is
| > it possible to
| > | > reverse it back to the drive's original firmware if
| > something goes wrong
| > | > with the update.......and basically the same
question
| > concerning a BIOS
| > | > update?
| > | > On the BIOS, I understand you can select return to
| > default before exiting
| > | > the setup screen in the BIOS but its my
understanding
| > that doing this
| > | > returns the BIOS to its absolute initial settings
and
| > that any settings
| > | > specially made to the BIOS by whoever initially set
up
| > your system will be
| > | > lost.
| > | > Just concerning the BIOS, is it then a good idea
with a
| > new system to print
| > | > out your BIOS settings for each page and keep a
written
| > record of them and
| > | > if so, how can you do this without doing a print
screen
| > for each page?
| > | > I know you can back up the BIOS, but can you
actually
| > view the backup if you
| > | > need to?
| > | > Many thanks. I'd like to understand this a bit
better if
| > possible.
| > | > Dudley
| > | >
| > | >
| > |
| >
| >
Click to expand...
 
Also correct, I sometimes get ahead of myself with an
incomplete answer.


| Right you are, Jim...but firmware can't be rolled back to
an earlier
| version from Device Manager. ;-)
|
| ---
| Ted Zieglar
| "Backup is a computer user's best friend."
|
| Jim Macklin wrote:
| > Firmware is a BIOS in a device and as long as the
computer
| > can boot, or the device is installed in a working
computer,
| > the firmware can be up or graded of re-flashed.
| >
| >
| > | > | Just to add a little something to Jim's good
| > advice...firmware is not
| > | the same as a device driver. Firmware is contained
inside
| > the device in
| > | a chip, whereas a driver is installed on the hard
disk.
| > |
| > | ---
| > | Ted Zieglar
| > | "Backup is a computer user's best friend."
| > |
| > | Jim Macklin wrote:
| > | > If the BIOS update to the mobo is corrupted, the
| > computer
| > | > likely will not boot at all. It is recommended that
you
| > do
| > | > not update the BIOS unless there is an issue with
your
| > | > hardware that requires a BIOS update to allow new
| > hardware
| > | > to function. Then it is recommended that you have a
UPS
| > | > [battery backed power supply or uninterruptible
power
| > | > supply] so that a line power failure will not be as
| > likely
| > | > to happen and trash the BIOS. Also, many new mobo
| > mfg'rs
| > | > have a Windows program to update the BIOS rather
than
| > | > requiring that the BIOS be updated from a bootable
| > floppy.
| > | >
| > | > As long as the computer will boot, you can re-flash
the
| > BIOS
| > | > with a previous BIOS version, but often if the BIOS
is
| > | > damaged your only fix is a new mobo or factory
| > replacement
| > | > chip.
| > | >
| > | > As for the firmware in a CD or DVD drive, the
computer
| > | > should still be able to boot and Windows does have a
| > "driver
| > | > roll-back" function in the Device Manager.
| > | >
| > | > Unlike software updates, BIOS and firmware updates
are
| > not
| > | > required unless you have some compatibility issue
that
| > needs
| > | > to be solved, i.e. your drive doesn't run properly.
| > Read
| > | > the details in the update notice about what the
update
| > does
| > | > and decide whether you really need it before getting
| > | > adventurous with your only computer.
| > | >
| > | >
| > | > | > | > | Perhaps asking the particular manufacturers tech
| > support
| > | > will get you a
| > | > | qualified and correct answer.
| > | > |
| > | > | Dudley Henriques wrote:
| > | > |
| > | > | > Just to help basic understanding;
| > | > | >
| > | > | > If you do a firmware update on say an optical
drive,
| > is
| > | > it possible to
| > | > | > reverse it back to the drive's original firmware
if
| > | > something goes wrong
| > | > | > with the update.......and basically the same
| > question
| > | > concerning a BIOS
| > | > | > update?
| > | > | > On the BIOS, I understand you can select return
to
| > | > default before exiting
| > | > | > the setup screen in the BIOS but its my
| > understanding
| > | > that doing this
| > | > | > returns the BIOS to its absolute initial
settings
| > and
| > | > that any settings
| > | > | > specially made to the BIOS by whoever initially
set
| > up
| > | > your system will be
| > | > | > lost.
| > | > | > Just concerning the BIOS, is it then a good idea
| > with a
| > | > new system to print
| > | > | > out your BIOS settings for each page and keep a
| > written
| > | > record of them and
| > | > | > if so, how can you do this without doing a print
| > screen
| > | > for each page?
| > | > | > I know you can back up the BIOS, but can you
| > actually
| > | > view the backup if you
| > | > | > need to?
| > | > | > Many thanks. I'd like to understand this a bit
| > better if
| > | > possible.
| > | > | > Dudley
| > | > | >
| > | > | >
| > | > |
| > | >
| > | >
| >
| >
 
Dudley said:
Just to help basic understanding;

If you do a firmware update on say an optical drive, is it possible to
reverse it back to the drive's original firmware if something goes wrong
with the update.......and basically the same question concerning a BIOS
update?
On the BIOS, I understand you can select return to default before exiting
the setup screen in the BIOS but its my understanding that doing this
returns the BIOS to its absolute initial settings and that any settings
specially made to the BIOS by whoever initially set up your system will be
lost.
Just concerning the BIOS, is it then a good idea with a new system to print
out your BIOS settings for each page and keep a written record of them and
if so, how can you do this without doing a print screen for each page?
I know you can back up the BIOS, but can you actually view the backup if you
need to?
Many thanks. I'd like to understand this a bit better if possible.
Dudley
Click to expand...

THe answer is ambiguous. I know many BIOS and firmware update programs
are only one way. Somenimes they can be forced, other times thay can't.
Sometimes there are super risky third party programs available to force
the issue. It just depends on the model.

It is best to presume that the transition is NOT reversable. Even if
you know is.

Many BIOS update programs allow you to backup the old BIOS on to a
floppy diskette. The ones that do, are reversable. Another safety
precaution is many bios updaters will not overwrite the boot block.
This is so the system can still boot in the even of a bad flash. It
makes recovery possible, if hairy.

There is at least one company that makes a buisness of selling
replacement bios chips to recover from these situations.

http://www.badflash.com/
 
Thank you for your input on this. Very helpful all around. And to everyone
else; thanks also.
DH
 
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