Drivers & Bios Update
Driver update & Bios Update
BIOS
Short for Basic Input Output System. This provides the basic instructions for a PC's hardware, and is coded into the computer's ROM (or Read Only Memory). The BIOS will normally perform various diagnostic tests straight after power-up . At this point it is usual for a BIOS to allow you to enter a "BIOS Screen" to configure aspects of the BIOS. The operating system and applications access BIOS in order to enhance compatibility.
Using Test My Hardware to test BIOS
Test My Hardware collects and displays system configuration information for your computers. This includes information about system configurations, computer components, and operating system. When support technicians troubleshoot your system configuration, they require specific information about your computer. You can use Test My Hardware information to quickly find the information that these technicians need to resolve a system problem..
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Other Useful BIOS Information Websites
- The Flashbios Site - We offer a Chip programming service (bioschips or any other chip to be programmed), we also fix PC's and laptops. Soldered chips are not a problem too ;-) Any kind of programmable chip: DIL, PLCC, TSOP, EPROM's, etc...(ask Arthur for the WebHQ discount)
- BadFlash - excellent Flash Bios rescue site (ask Jack for the WebHQ discount)
- Masters Estate Tech Support Site - great resources, even 1 on 1 support
- Drivers Headquarters - popular flash bios files are found in here
- Sysopt - huge support site, don't get lost
- Micro Firmware Inc. - good reading
Click on driver Updates to get the most current drivers
What is a BIOS?
BIOS is an acronym meaning Basic Input / Output System. It is stored in a chip called ROM (read only memory). Most of the latest motherboards now use EEPROM's (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory) (also called "Flash" BIOS) which can usually be upgraded by the user. (The earlier versions of the BIOS had to have the chip physically removed and replaced with a another chip programmed with a later BIOS version.) When you switch on your computer the BIOS is the first program to run . It initializes and tests the hardware in your computer (called Power On Self Test or POST). When everything is running, the BIOS program initiates and loads the operating system. The information in the BIOS can be changed by running Setup (sometimes called CMOS Setup). A set of routines called Run-Time Services, which is also a function of the BIOS, help operating systems and application programs to manage the hardware.
BIOS Flash Upgrades
Flashing your computer bios can be a very intimidating chore. Many users are unfamiliar with this type of activity and are apprehensive about doing things that could potentially damage or render their system inoperable. Because of these risks, we advise users to flash their bios only if the newer bios will fix a specific problem that they are having. With computer bios upgrades, newer is not always better.
Due to the high risk of damage to motherboards by incorrectly flashing a Bios WebHQ will never distribute, instruct or perform bios upgrades of any kind.
Who made my motherboard
In order to obtain an updated BIOS for your system, you will need to identify the motherboard manufacturer and BIOS identification number. To do this, reboot the machine. You will need to record the BIOS ID string, which will be located at the bottom-left corner during startup. On most systems, you can press the Pause key during the memory test to suspend the process and allow more time to properly copy the ID string.
CTBIOS ID Program
If you can boot your motherboard use CTBIOS to reveal the possible manufacturer for motherboards older than 1997. Download and run this DOS utility which will read the AMI/AWARD bios id string. If you can't locate the manufacturer yourself from the CTBIOS information then send WEB HQ the output. You can cut & past the info or redirect the output to a text file and send it thru email. Create the TEXT file using this DOS command line: CTBIOS.EXE >> WEBHQ.TXT
we strongly suggest you use this utility thats found on our Diagnostic Tools download page:
biosagent.zip
