Updating BIOS

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It was recommended to me that I update my BIOS to possibly solve a
hibernation problem. I have downloaded the necessary update file and, since
my machine doesn't have a floppy, have made a bootable CD with a DOS 6.2 ISO
image. I presume that what I have to do next is copy the update file to the
CD, boot from the CD, run the update file, remove the CD, reboot -- and I'm
done. Right?? Or am I well on my way to ending up with an expensive
doorstop??
 
A BIOS update is about the very last thing to try. Never use it for a
"possible" solution. It is to easy to cause major malfunctions when you try
it.

Frank
 
Bob said:
It was recommended to me that I update my BIOS to possibly solve a
hibernation problem. I have downloaded the necessary update file and,
since
my machine doesn't have a floppy, have made a bootable CD with a DOS 6.2
ISO
image. I presume that what I have to do next is copy the update file to
the
CD, boot from the CD, run the update file, remove the CD, reboot -- and
I'm
done. Right?? Or am I well on my way to ending up with an expensive
doorstop??
Click to expand...

The process you described should work fine. You may want to see if there is
an option to save the current bios level your using. You won't know if
that's an option until you run the bios flash exe program.
 
You need to contact the manufacturer of your PC (or consult their online
support data) and follow their instructions EXACTLY as written. A single
misstep and your ROM can become corrupt. In this event, your motherboard
will be DOA unless you have it reprogrammed by the factory.


--
 
This might work if done correctly. A pitfall may be that the BIOS utility
used wants to write a backup of the original BIOS to the storage media, in
this case, the CD. Since this will not work, the hard drive would be a
possible location. Dos may not understand the hard drive correctly, due to
NTFS and the hard drive size. In your case, the remaining options might be
to obtain the BIOS revision on a "chip". Most motherboard mfrs have this
option through thier service department. It's sometimes necessary when a
nasty virus corrupts BIOS.

Actually, a floppy drive may be the simplest and least expensive way out.
Another possibility is the windows based BIOS utilities available from some
motherboard mfrs.

The advice that in summary says "if it ain't broke, don't fix it." is very
apt in this case.
Without details of the hibernate problem and your system, I would pass on
telling you to upgrade BIOS.
If anything at all occurs to interrupt the BIOS upgrade process, the
motherboard will likely be unusable.
 
Very sensible advice, Donny.

I have updated the BIOS on just three different computers but, with each
one, I downloaded the instructions from the motherboard manufacturer's
website, and each one went without a hitch..

Joe Steele
 
Thank you all for your advise -- what you have collectively done is convince
me that while the CD-based BIOS update will (may??) work, it probably isn't
worth the dangers unless I'm in a position where the update is a "must do."
I have downloaded the directions from the HP website and they presume that I
have a floppy. While buying a USB floppy is a possible solution, it seems
like this whole thing as too many potential pitfalls to be worth the effort.

I'm simply going to leave hibernation/standby disabled, find a nice
screensaver, and live with it.

Once again, thanks to all.

Bob
 
Bob said:
It was recommended to me that I update my BIOS to possibly solve a
hibernation problem.
Click to expand...


What is your hibernation problem, who recommended that you update your BIOS,
and why? How do you know he's right?

Although a BIOS upgrade normally goes well, it is not without danger. If
something goes wrong while the upgrade is an progress (for example, a lapse
in power) you can be left with no BIOS at all, and an unbootable computer.
Do a BIOS upgrade if you need to--because you are having a problem that the
new version is *known* to fix--not just because someone thinks you should.
 
The suggestion that I update the BIOS was made by an HP tech person -- who
was obviously reading from a script. The problem is that when my computer
goes into standby or hibernation is often will not recover -- what had me on
the phone to hp was that the most recent time is wouldn't even recover and
restart on a cold boot (a half-dozen cold boots as I grew increasingly
frustrated). She recommended that I unplug all of the cables, wait one
minute, replug them and then try to restart. For reasons that completely
escape me, it worked -- although it was more than possible that it was
coincidence. In any case, she suggested that the problem was that the
computer had to "rediscover" my hard disk and that there is a BIOS update
that addresses that problem. Which may or may not be correct -- there IS a
BIOS update, but the only documentation pertaining to it I can find is that
it "resolves issue entering hibernation". That isn't much help, is it??

And that is the whole story . . .

Bob
 
Bob said:
The suggestion that I update the BIOS was made by an HP tech person -- who
was obviously reading from a script. The problem is that when my computer
goes into standby or hibernation is often will not recover -- what had me
on
the phone to hp was that the most recent time is wouldn't even recover and
restart on a cold boot (a half-dozen cold boots as I grew increasingly
frustrated). She recommended that I unplug all of the cables, wait one
minute, replug them and then try to restart. For reasons that completely
escape me, it worked -- although it was more than possible that it was
coincidence. In any case, she suggested that the problem was that the
computer had to "rediscover" my hard disk and that there is a BIOS update
that addresses that problem. Which may or may not be correct -- there IS
a
BIOS update, but the only documentation pertaining to it I can find is
that
it "resolves issue entering hibernation". That isn't much help, is it??

And that is the whole story . . .

Bob
Click to expand...

Updating a BIOS is no big deal, but I've done it more than a few times. I
certainly performed the very first one I did with much trepidation. The
recommendation that a BIOS update only be done when necessary is sound. It
sounds as if this might be necessary for you although you say the update
documentation doesn't mention a hibernation fix. Perhaps the documentation
notes a fix for something else that would affect a hibernation which, in
essence, fixes the hibernation problem without actually mentioning it
specifically. Perhaps HP tech support might be willing to walk you through
the process since it is a very quick one.
 
Bob said:
The suggestion that I update the BIOS was made by an HP tech person
-- who was obviously reading from a script. The problem is that when
my computer goes into standby or hibernation is often will not
recover -- what had me on the phone to hp was that the most recent
time is wouldn't even recover and restart on a cold boot (a
half-dozen cold boots as I grew increasingly frustrated). She
recommended that I unplug all of the cables, wait one minute, replug
them and then try to restart. For reasons that completely escape me,
it worked -- although it was more than possible that it was
coincidence. In any case, she suggested that the problem was that
the computer had to "rediscover" my hard disk and that there is a
BIOS update that addresses that problem. Which may or may not be
correct -- there IS a BIOS update, but the only documentation
pertaining to it I can find is that it "resolves issue entering
hibernation". That isn't much help, is it??
Click to expand...


I guess the HP tech is the person who should know, but these people don't
fill me with confidence. Still, if she has information that the BIOS update
solved similar problems for others, I'd probably give it a try if I were in
your shoes.

It's best to do BIOS updates while connected to a UPS and when there's no
bad weather around that might lead to a sudden power outage.
 
I recently got an email solicitation from a company
that produces BIOS upgrades. They offered to
sell me an upgrade for my exact BOIS for only
$29.95. Was tempted but rejected the offer
because my system is running fine now; I
don't have need for the capability to add up
to 512 GB of storage; and because the
thought of upgrading BIOS scares the
hell out of me. I'd just as soon delete dozens
of random entries from my registry and
wrestle with an alligator. Upgrading BIOS
is a task for gurus.
 
BIOS upgrades, if you need them, are FREE from your computer vendor web
site.


|I recently got an email solicitation from a company
| that produces BIOS upgrades. They offered to
| sell me an upgrade for my exact BOIS for only
| $29.95. Was tempted but rejected the offer
| because my system is running fine now; I
| don't have need for the capability to add up
| to 512 GB of storage; and because the
| thought of upgrading BIOS scares the
| hell out of me. I'd just as soon delete dozens
| of random entries from my registry and
| wrestle with an alligator. Upgrading BIOS
| is a task for gurus.
|
| | > | >>
| >> The suggestion that I update the BIOS was made by an HP tech
| >> person -- who
| >> was obviously reading from a script. The problem is that when my
| >> computer
| >> goes into standby or hibernation is often will not recover -- what
| >> had me on
| >> the phone to hp was that the most recent time is wouldn't even
| >> recover and
| >> restart on a cold boot (a half-dozen cold boots as I grew
| >> increasingly
| >> frustrated). She recommended that I unplug all of the cables, wait
| >> one
| >> minute, replug them and then try to restart. For reasons that
| >> completely
| >> escape me, it worked -- although it was more than possible that it
| >> was
| >> coincidence. In any case, she suggested that the problem was that
| >> the
| >> computer had to "rediscover" my hard disk and that there is a BIOS
| >> update
| >> that addresses that problem. Which may or may not be correct --
| >> there IS a
| >> BIOS update, but the only documentation pertaining to it I can find
| >> is that
| >> it "resolves issue entering hibernation". That isn't much help, is
| >> it??
| >>
| >> And that is the whole story . . .
| >>
| >> Bob
| >
| > Updating a BIOS is no big deal, but I've done it more than a few
| > times. I certainly performed the very first one I did with much
| > trepidation. The recommendation that a BIOS update only be done
| > when necessary is sound. It sounds as if this might be necessary
| > for you although you say the update documentation doesn't mention a
| > hibernation fix. Perhaps the documentation notes a fix for
| > something else that would affect a hibernation which, in essence,
| > fixes the hibernation problem without actually mentioning it
| > specifically. Perhaps HP tech support might be willing to walk you
| > through the process since it is a very quick one.
| >
|
|
 
Tom,

I built my PC. No site to go to.

Tom Pepper Willett said:
BIOS upgrades, if you need them, are FREE from your computer vendor
web
site.


|I recently got an email solicitation from a company
| that produces BIOS upgrades. They offered to
| sell me an upgrade for my exact BOIS for only
| $29.95. Was tempted but rejected the offer
| because my system is running fine now; I
| don't have need for the capability to add up
| to 512 GB of storage; and because the
| thought of upgrading BIOS scares the
| hell out of me. I'd just as soon delete dozens
| of random entries from my registry and
| wrestle with an alligator. Upgrading BIOS
| is a task for gurus.
|
| | > | >>
| >> The suggestion that I update the BIOS was made by an HP tech
| >> person -- who
| >> was obviously reading from a script. The problem is that when
my
| >> computer
| >> goes into standby or hibernation is often will not recover --
what
| >> had me on
| >> the phone to hp was that the most recent time is wouldn't even
| >> recover and
| >> restart on a cold boot (a half-dozen cold boots as I grew
| >> increasingly
| >> frustrated). She recommended that I unplug all of the cables,
wait
| >> one
| >> minute, replug them and then try to restart. For reasons that
| >> completely
| >> escape me, it worked -- although it was more than possible that
it
| >> was
| >> coincidence. In any case, she suggested that the problem was
that
| >> the
| >> computer had to "rediscover" my hard disk and that there is a
BIOS
| >> update
| >> that addresses that problem. Which may or may not be
correct --
| >> there IS a
| >> BIOS update, but the only documentation pertaining to it I can
find
| >> is that
| >> it "resolves issue entering hibernation". That isn't much
help, is
| >> it??
| >>
| >> And that is the whole story . . .
| >>
| >> Bob
| >
| > Updating a BIOS is no big deal, but I've done it more than a few
| > times. I certainly performed the very first one I did with much
| > trepidation. The recommendation that a BIOS update only be done
| > when necessary is sound. It sounds as if this might be
necessary
| > for you although you say the update documentation doesn't
mention a
| > hibernation fix. Perhaps the documentation notes a fix for
| > something else that would affect a hibernation which, in
essence,
| > fixes the hibernation problem without actually mentioning it
| > specifically. Perhaps HP tech support might be willing to walk
you
| > through the process since it is a very quick one.
| >
|
|
Click to expand...
 
Uncle said:
Tom,

I built my PC. No site to go to.
Click to expand...


But I doubt that you actually built the motherboard. In your case, any
necessary BIOS updates will be available from the motherboard's
manufacturer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
Okay, I'll try ASUS. Thanks.

Bruce Chambers said:
But I doubt that you actually built the motherboard. In your case,
any necessary BIOS updates will be available from the motherboard's
manufacturer.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on
having both at once. - RAH
Click to expand...
 
In
Bob said:
It was recommended to me that I update my BIOS to possibly solve a
hibernation problem. I have downloaded the necessary update file
and, since my machine doesn't have a floppy, have made a bootable CD
with a DOS 6.2 ISO image. I presume that what I have to do next is
copy the update file to the CD, boot from the CD, run the update
file, remove the CD, reboot -- and I'm done. Right?? Or am I well
on my way to ending up with an expensive doorstop??
Click to expand...

Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into the address box
if using the web based newsgroup.
Accessing BIOS
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
There should be instructions on the web site from which you
downloaded the BIOS update. Many newer BIOS updates run
inside of Windows, some systems require a cold boot.



--
The people think the Constitution protects their rights;
But government sees it as an obstacle to be overcome.
some support
http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/secondamendment2.htm



| In
| Bob <[email protected]> replied with a ;-)
| > It was recommended to me that I update my BIOS to
possibly solve a
| > hibernation problem. I have downloaded the necessary
update file
| > and, since my machine doesn't have a floppy, have made a
bootable CD
| > with a DOS 6.2 ISO image. I presume that what I have to
do next is
| > copy the update file to the CD, boot from the CD, run
the update
| > file, remove the CD, reboot -- and I'm done. Right??
Or am I well
| > on my way to ending up with an expensive doorstop??
|
| Click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into
the address box
| if using the web based newsgroup.
| Accessing BIOS
| http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/bios_manufacturer.htm
| --
| Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
| (e-mail address removed)
| http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
| For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
|
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
|
|
|
 
Uncle Joe said:
Okay, I'll try ASUS. Thanks.
Click to expand...

ASUS has a Windows application that allows you to update your BIOS from
within Windows. Some will warn against doing so (updating a BIOS from
within Windows) but some do use the application. I personally don't use
utilites like this one, I just do it from a bootable floppy or CD and use
the command line.
 
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