updating BIOS

[RTO]

when a new version of a BIOS is available,and you install it,  say you missed a couple previous updates.  Are previous updates rolled in to the latest version or do all previous updates need to be installed too??  Thanks

[JB73]

the release notes shoudl say so, but i will go on a limb and say yes.

generally, all updates like that are improvements made, and say version 1.01 is the base

1.02 fixes one thing 1.03 adds another fix along with the 1.02 fix and so on.

from my experiance most updates are not like AH where you can't skip a version.

[eagl]

3 rules for bios updates.

First, update the bios of anything at the risk of destroying it.

Second, only update the bios if necessary to fix a deficiency.

Third, you only need the latest bios (or the version you've picked to use), and install it strictly according to the directions.

Some things like routers and firewalls ought to be upgraded whenever there is a new bios because the bios often fixes security problems, but for vid cards and motherboards, if your stuff works fine then leave it alone.  If you pork the bios, you're typically left with a paperweight or doorstop that must be sent back to the factory, or at the very least you have to try to find and buy a replacement bios chip.  Some motherboard bios chips can be "hot flashed" if you happen to have a second identical board handy, but that's the sort of thing only a true hardware geek would bother to try so I won't even try to explain how to do it here.

[JB73]

there is 90% of the time a jumper to reset the BIOS also.

[Kev367th]

Nice thing I use is a Bios Saviour.
Basically a small pcb with a flash chip that goes into your BIOS socket (original BIOS plugs into the saviour) and provides a backup BIOS should your flash go bad.

http://www.ioss.com.tw/web/English/RD1BIOSSavior.html

[StarOfAfrica2]

Originally posted by eagl
3 rules for bios updates.

First, update the bios of anything at the risk of destroying it.

Second, only update the bios if necessary to fix a deficiency.

Third, you only need the latest bios (or the version you've picked to use), and install it strictly according to the directions.

Some things like routers and firewalls ought to be upgraded whenever there is a new bios because the bios often fixes security problems, but for vid cards and motherboards, if your stuff works fine then leave it alone.  If you pork the bios, you're typically left with a paperweight or doorstop that must be sent back to the factory, or at the very least you have to try to find and buy a replacement bios chip.  Some motherboard bios chips can be "hot flashed" if you happen to have a second identical board handy, but that's the sort of thing only a true hardware geek would bother to try so I won't even try to explain how to do it here.

Agreed.  I had a nice SCSI external CD burner that had a BIOS flash come out.  I downloaded it, ran it, and lost my nice external SCSI CD burner in about 5 seconds.  Even though I followed their instructions to the letter, they claimed it was error installing the new BIOS on my part and that it burnt the chip.  Sad thing was, it worked fine.  I just felt I had to have the "latest and greatest".

[Halo]

Eagl, thank you.  I was looking at one of the various software system analyses and it suggested I needed a new bios because mine is three years old.  

I went on line, researched my bios, considered the alternatives, and forunately came to a similar conclusion: especially with bios, if it ain't broke, leave it alone.

Which brings to mind some of the best advice I ever received, although I was skeptical at the time.  An older manager once said, "One of the insights of getting promoted to this level is realizing you do NOT have to act on every issue -- sometimes the best action is to do nothing."

Meaning wait awhile longer.  Sometimes issues do indeed resolve themselves without input from every possible participant.