Updating the motherboard bios. How to update BIOS of MSI motherboard Updating bios msi

Hello dear blog visitors! Today I decided to update the BIOS on my computer and write about it in a blog. I made photos and screenshots, so the article will be interesting and most likely big, well, it's okay, but understandable :).

As you can see I have a motherboard MSI MS-7267 , so for her we will look for BIOS updates. Below I have highlighted the link that leads to the page for downloading various updates from the manufacturer's website. We follow this link, and also open the BIOS tab in the EVEREST program in order to see which version of the firmware is installed.

After the firmware, we will compare these dates and versions. As you can see, I have a BIOS version since 2007, and a video adapter since 2005. We will update :).

Where can I get updates for BIOS?

Now we return to the site of the motherboard manufacturer, I have this site MSI, I opened it from the link in the EVEREST program, but you can find it simply through the search. Or just the Russian version of the download section of the MSI website ru.msi.com/service/download/.

As you can see, there are three options for searching for updates.

• The first method on request MSI MS-7267 did not give me any results, probably because the motherboard is already old.
• I did not even use the second method, because it immediately says that the option is for new models. If you have a new product, you can search the list.
• Well, the third option allows you to download a utility that scans your computer and displays a list of necessary updates, with the ability to download them. Fine! Push "Click here" and click "Open".

The archive will open, run the LiveUpdate.exe installation file in it and install the Live Update 5 utility in a few steps.

After the installation is complete, launch it and click on the “Scan” button, wait a few seconds while the utility searches for updates.

The program will display a list of results. We are interested in an update called “MB BIOS”. If such an update is listed (usually at the very top), then there is a BIOS update for our motherboard. Download it to your computer by clicking on the "Download" button (arrow).

Better to click “Browse”, and choose a location to save the update file yourself. For example, I saved it to the desktop.

That's it, we now have the BIOS update file, now we can proceed to the next stage.

Run the saved BIOS update file and follow the instructions.

Click “Next”.

There are two options here: the first is probably to write the firmware image to a USB flash drive, and update the BIOS from the flash drive (or for firmware, if it is impossible to update from under Windows). But since I did not have a free flash drive, I chose the second option, which, judging by the title, means BIOS firmware from under Windows.

Here we need to close running programs and click "Next".

Press any key. The computer should restart. That's all, BIOS has been updated!

Problems after updating BIOS

I have two small problems that I think are worth writing about.

1. Immediately after the first reboot, a black window with white text appeared (unfortunately I did not take a picture), in which it was necessary to press F1, seemingly for setting. And F2 to load the optimal BIOS settings. I pressed F2 and this message did not appear again.

2. The second problem is the absence of the A: drive.

We save the changes by pressing F10 and confirm the saving of the settings. We leave the BIOS by pressing "Esc".

Well, that's all my friends, the BIOS is updated, the problems are fixed, I hope the computer works :).

At the beginning of the article, I posted my screenshot from the EVEREST program, with the BIOS firmware version before the update. Let's see what has changed there.

As you can see, everything has been updated. Although the update was released in 2009, this is due to the fact that I have an outdated motherboard and updates for it are no longer available.

I hope you succeeded. Good luck friends!

At the end of our cycle of articles on updating BIOS, we will tell you how to update MSI BIOS, because motherboards from them have their own characteristics!

BIOS update in a device equipped with MSI motherboard is generally done as follows:

• the specific model of your motherboard is installed;
• checks for updated versions of the system you are interested in;
• install them directly.

If you know exactly the model of your hardware and the version of the system to reinstall, then all that remains is to find out on your motherboard from the MSI brand. The firmware you need can be downloaded both to the computer itself and to a portable device.

How to update BIOS from MSI brand using a USB flash drive?

You can launch the version of the I / O software update you are interested in directly from the desktop.

For the convenience of this operation, you can use a special Click BIOS II interface, suitable for working with devices from the Taiwanese manufacturer we are considering. In the “Utilities” section you will find a suitable M-Flash program for installing from a USB flash drive, which will help you update the I / O software.

This specialized utility will prompt you to use the "Update Bios" option. With its help, the required update file is selected from the USB flash drive, previously downloaded from the manufacturer's official website, and then it is installed in automatic mode. It is recommended that you restart your computer before continuing to work with your computer.

MSI live update 6 is located in the same section. This is a special utility with which you can find out the version of your motherboard using the "System Information" section.

Also, this program will help you to check in real time for the latest updates for your device, by doing it manually or automatically. When choosing the first option, you will need to put a tick in front of the second item "MB Bios" before starting the scan.

We understand motherboard models and utilities from a Taiwanese manufacturer

It is worth remembering that under the abbreviation denoting the equipment, the BIOS update for which we are trying to install, is the name of a company specializing in the production of motherboards.

It sounds like Micro-Star International. Thus, we are not talking about a specific version of the motherboard, but rather about their whole family. For example, you may have MSI z270 a pro or MSI h110m pro vd on your computer.

You can find out your motherboard model in order to subsequently update the I / O system in various ways, including:

Have a great day!

Most PC users hardly need to know how to update the BIOS of a motherboard, since this process is quite risky and does not provide any special advantages.

However, in some cases, an update is still required:

• If there is an incomplete microcode on the board (as a result of the manufacturer's attempt to bypass competitors by releasing the product early);
• If necessary, eliminate some problems with integrated devices (for example, refusal to work with a theoretically supported type of memory or processor).

Check for upgradeability

When deciding to reinstall the BIOS on the motherboard of your PC, first of all, you should make sure whether you need to update this collection of firmware and whether there is such an option.

You can find out on the manufacturer's website in the technical support section (CPU Support List).

As a rule, it also contains information about the compatibility of processors and BIOS versions.

True, before that, you should definitely find out the revision of your motherboard and the parameters of the BIOS already installed on the PC.

Revision and BIOS check

There are several ways to define a revision:

• look at the inscription on the motherboard;
• familiarize yourself with the labeling on its own packaging.

The last option is easier - but only if the box from the board is preserved. In addition, sometimes a computer is purchased as an assembly, and the box goes immediately to the entire system unit.

Therefore, most often you have to remove the side cover (after disconnecting the PC from the network) and look for inscriptions like REV 1.0 or REV 2.0 on the board. This is a revision.

Determining the version of the BIOS installed on the board takes less time.

Usually, you just need to display the system information window by entering the text "msinfo32" in the command execution window (Windows key + R).

Among the information provided, you can find the manufacturer of the motherboard, and its model, and the BIOS version.

When all the required information about the board has been received, you should visit the official page of its manufacturer and check for BIOS updates.

Sometimes data is presented in English, however, most manufacturers have official resources and technical support in Russian.

Finding information about the BIOS for your board is usually quite simple.

Advice: If the computer was purchased already assembled and has a certain model, you can try to find the appropriate BIOS versions on the website of the system unit manufacturer. As a last resort, at least the parameters of the board will be indicated here, knowing which, you can continue your search on the resources of the company that released it.

Update methods

Depending on the specific model of the board installed on your PC and its manufacturer, the BIOS can be updated in one of three main ways:

• from DOS mode, which is present on all, even modern computers designed to work with Windows;
• from Windows;
• using special programs (utilities) produced by manufacturers and allowing you to flash not from Windows or DOS, but directly from the BIOS itself.

DOS update

The first option was used 20 years ago, although at that time a boot floppy was required for flashing.

Now you will need a special disk or flash drive where the Autoexec.bat (or Update.bat) file is located, which is required to start the installation.

Additional utilities and BIOS elements should also be written here.

Having prepared a bootable USB flash drive (for this, you can use the help of special programs), you should install the ability to boot from the media in the same BIOS and start updating.

It will take a little time for it, but it is very important that the computer is not turned off or restarted at this time.

Updating the firmware package through Windows is much easier, although not much faster. To do this, you must first download the new BIOS version on the manufacturer's website, which will be installed on the board.

In addition, all manufacturers have their own installers.

For example, Asus has this ASUSUpdate application.

Before starting the flashing, install the utility, like a regular program, and then open it.

When a prompt appears on the screen, select the update "from file" and indicate the path to the BIOS package already located on the computer's hard drive.

Sometimes the utility can find, download and install its latest suitable version for the board itself

Update utilities

In order to be able to update the BIOS using proprietary programs from the manufacturer, you should find them on the official pages of the manufacturers.

There are such utilities, for example, on the pages of manufacturers Asus, Gigabyte, MSI and Intel.

This option is most suitable for general users, as it requires the least amount of action and, moreover, allows you to avoid the error of using the wrong BIOS.

Advice: while the utility is running, close all other programs. In addition, it is not recommended to perform any actions on the PC. Moreover, it takes a little time - up to a minute on new computers, 2-3 minutes on old devices.

ASRock

ASRock, which manufactures motherboards for powerful processors and the most advanced memory modules, has its own flashing utility.

You can usually access it by pressing F6 while testing or booting the system.

The utility itself finds the necessary storage media with the BIOS and displays only suitable firmware. After selecting the desired version, with just one click, you can update in a couple of minutes.

ASUS

Most of the latest models of Asus motherboards are successfully updated using the USB BIOS Flashback utility, which is downloaded from the website of the manufacturer's Russian branch.

For older versions, the Asus Update Utility is used, which runs in Windows.

MSI

You can reflash MSI motherboards using the proprietary MSI Live Update program, which automatically detects suitable versions and downloads them from the network.

You can find the utility and instructions for it on the official website of Micro-Star International.

Gigabyte

It is best to download utilities for updating the BIOS of Gigabyte boards on the manufacturer's official website. It automatically detects the correct version and downloads it from the network.

Other boards

Motherboard manufacturers Foxconn, Toshiba and most other lesser-known manufacturers often do not have their own universal utilities.

Sometimes BIOS reinstallation using proprietary software of these brands is not possible for all motherboards.

In this case, other methods of flashing are selected.

conclusions

All operations to update the BIOS are required to be carried out only in case of emergency.

If you did not succeed in doing this yourself, you should contact the specialists - inept actions often disable the motherboard.

It is also worth noting that even the slightest mistake in the process can cause serious consequences, which will be almost impossible to fix on your own.

And, if this still happened, or the computer turned off during the flashing or a freeze occurred, you should immediately contact the service center.

There they will use a special programmer for recovery, and the performance of your computer will be restored again.

Video:

3 ways to flash BIOS on a modern motherboard from Gigabyte

How to flash (update) motherboard BIOS

How to update motherboard BIOS: Reliable tips

How to Flash BIOS in Three Different Ways - Overview

ATTENTION! INCORRECT BIOS FIRMWARE, CAN LEAD TO INOPERABILITY

BIOS is a familiar abbreviation, the meaning of which is not familiar even to many sophisticated and experienced personal computer users. For most of them, it is associated with a gray-blue interface in the style of MS DOS or Windows 3.1, but many may not tell you about its functionality. Most of the knowledge of the average user, at best, is limited to the fact that BIOS is the system settings of a computer or something like that, because it is rather difficult to give an exact answer. This complexity is quite justified for itself - a personal computer is not easy for an ordinary person to understand when it comes to fast and productive work in any industry, and understanding the basic mechanisms of its functioning and, moreover, each of its components seems to be almost impossible - in practice, this knowledge borders on erudition and are not useful in most situations.

So, BIOS is an input / output system that stands between the hardware and software (together with the user) and allows you to use the computer's resources as intended. It has a read-only memory module that contains a number of data about the configuration of the equipment, including the time - all owners of old computers have faced battery replacement and could hear that it powers this particular component. An important feature of BIOS is that the capabilities of other hardware located on the motherboard directly depend on its capabilities.

But for most PC users, all these technical issues are unimportant, and a practical need for those actions that they may face is necessary. These include, for example, replacing an outdated processor with a newer and more productive model: support by a motherboard at the software level directly depends on whether the BIOS is "friendly" with it. They may not add compatibility right away: if the slot for the processor (Socket) cannot be changed, then it is possible to create the necessary conditions for the functioning of a suitable hardware model, and the creators of motherboards for the most part take care of ensuring compatibility.

Why Flash BIOS?

As it became clear from the above, the BIOS ensures the joint operation of all components located on the motherboard. In particular, we are interested in the processor and RAM: their capabilities are developing at the fastest pace and require the release of motherboard models with an appropriate speed. But this practice is not very profitable and the creators decided to leave a reserve for the future, leaving the user with the opportunity, within certain limits, to improve the compatibility of the motherboard with the hardware on his own. This was the reason for the appearance of the BIOS firmware procedure on personal computers, which allows you to get rid of many problems with it.

It is worth noting that the procedure is quite dangerous compared to other actions with a PC: if the light is turned off at the time of rewriting (rarely, but it happens), everything cannot be restored in any way and the motherboard can be put off somewhere else or simply thrown away. But in frequent cases, such a procedure is still necessary, it brings support not only for new components, but also tools for working with new equipment - old motherboard models that do not support flashing via USB devices got this opportunity thanks to the compatibility package included in the firmware for similar equipment. The flexibility of the computer in its capabilities is invaluable, and in cases where the firmware is still needed, you should not be afraid of the high complexity of this process - if all procedures are performed correctly, the risk of harming the computer is minimal, and the process can often take only a few minutes, but it is worth talking about it in more detail.

Often, the manufacturer himself can recommend a flashing - this may be due to a number of shortcomings that they did not manage to notice and / or eliminate during the production phase. For many PC owners who own one of the new series of motherboards, this practice is not something unfamiliar - for objective reasons, this happens very often.

Which motherboards need to be flashed with their BIOS?

An important feature of this whole story is the fact that there are still only three companies in the world that are engaged in the production of the software part of any input-output system. It will become intuitively clear to many that this increases the chances of each individual model for flashing, and in fact it turns out that way: no matter what the manufacturer of your motherboard is, with a high degree of probability (which tends to a hundred percent), this procedure is possible for you. But it is worth adding that the same company is engaged in the delivery of updates and it is not in its commercial interests to invest large funds in increasing the efficiency and capabilities of old models - then there is simply no need to buy new ones.

The theoretical possibility of replacing the firmware is included in any BIOS - at the heart of the device is a memory module designed for approximately 1000 rewriting cycles. But the release of the firmware will be completely on the conscience of the motherboard manufacturer.

It is quite simple to check such a possibility: you just need to know the manufacturer and the model of your device and its model (if not, then welcome to the next section of the article). We go to its official website (that ASUS, that MSI, ASRock and others have their Russian-language versions) and follow the page dedicated to your version of the device. There, in one of the tabs, a category with all the released firmware for this component will be available, as shown in the example of the official ASUS website below.

On the websites of other companies, the procedure is approximately the same - in the corresponding section all possible options for updating the BIOS will be offered, since in models from different manufacturers they differ in the process almost completely and the skill of flashing one component cannot guarantee knowledge of the subtleties in another - here it is worth carefully studying the proposed online for step-by-step tutorials, or ideally the manufacturer's own documentation. There are also many video flashing videos on the network: there are relatively few models of motherboards, but out of those hundreds or thousands of users who have encountered a problem, at least one has decided to record a video - all you need to do is search on video hosting sites. Viewing the process from the outside will deprive the subconscious fear of “breaking something” and will help to understand the essence of this or that stage.

Determining the motherboard model

Many find it difficult to determine the model of their motherboard - as with other knowledge of a similar plan, there is one and the same problem: there is no need to memorize or memorize an intricate set of letters and numbers, and this does not help in everyday tasks. Referring to the documentation or looking for a box is also not an option - many people tend to lose such things when moving, take them somewhere for storage, or simply forget about them. Also, this problem may arise for those who bought PCs "hand-held", although in the store when selling the assembled system unit boxes from some devices are also in the habit of not giving, and buyers are reluctant to take them with them.

There are four ways to understand which model you have "motherboard". Of these, three involve the use of utilities, and one - direct access to the board. The latter will not work if you have a laptop: it is not recommended to disassemble them for a non-professional, and the pros do not always cope - the maintainability of modern solutions is mediocre. The same applies to the All-in-One PC and any other solutions not mounted in a standard system unit. Also, do not do this if your PC is under warranty service: all screws will be covered with seals, which will easily show if the device was opened. It is not necessary to make any manipulations - the very presence of their damage is already a sufficient reason for refusing warranty service, which is clearly spelled out in the conditions of any such company.

In the event that nothing interferes with opening the system unit, it unscrews two / three / four, or, more simply, all existing bolts and remove the cover from the side. Our eyes will see a motherboard, on the surface of which a sticker will be waiting for you.

That's all: we memorize or rewrite the model, we do all the manipulations with the lid in reverse order.

In the case of software verification, the command line, which is available in any version of the operating system of the Redmond company, can also help. After opening it, you will need to type two commands there, activating each by pressing Enter.

The first will provide information on the component manufacturer, and the second - on the model. If you do not want to deal with the command line and disassembling the system unit, then the AIDA64 (former Eevrest) and msinfo32 utilities can be a quick alternative. It is worth downloading their free versions from the official sites - the full functionality will most likely not be useful to you, but there is always a chance to catch a virus. In AIDA64, you just need to go to the "Motherboard" section from the start window, and in msinfo32 - to the System Information tab and read the data opposite the Motherboard item.

For Linux-based systems (including Ubuntu, Linux Mint and the like), you need to activate the command dmidecode.

There, among all the data, you must select the Manufacturer and Product Name items.

Do I need to back up my BIOS?

You need to understand that firmwares for BIOS are created by people, and the array of information for well-coordinated interaction must be clearly calculated, and all points must be clearly planned. And if in theory this is possible, then in practice this does not always happen: there is a high probability that a flashing of this system along with a number of improvements can bring a number of problems with a PC into your life, so it is still worth protecting yourself in case of such an opportunity.

Manufacturers themselves do not provide such an opportunity, allowing only more than one firmware version to be written to the media and then used. But this does not always happen, since no one expects an unfavorable outcome by undertaking such an operation.

This functionality is provided by a third-party program called the Universal BIOS Backup ToolKit. This product was made by an enthusiastic programmer from China back in 2008 and works perfectly on Windows operating systems with versions from XP to 8.1 inclusive. An important feature of this program is its well-coordinated work: the backups are correct, the probability of damage to the final file is close to zero, and the software works surprisingly efficiently, as for an enthusiast. You only need to start it by clicking on the right mouse button with a call to the sub-item "Run as Administrator" - otherwise, errors in the work simply cannot be avoided.

The only pitfall that an unfamiliar with the question may encounter: most antivirus programs recognize it as malware, which is not true. Of course, they can infect the source file, but even a utility downloaded from the official site will not pass the test of most programs of this class from the first echelon. The reason for this is the specific driver, thanks to which the software has such a unique functionality. In fact, it does not carry any harm, it is only important to download it from a trusted source. The program interface is English, but very simple. A small window contains only a few buttons, the meaning of which will be clear not only to an experienced user, but even to an inexperienced user in this matter. In addition to the exit button and the key that invokes reading the documentation, the program window has buttons to start copying. After the completion of the process, which takes from one to two to three minutes, an archive in the .rom format will be available in the program folder (or any other one specified by the user), which is a complete copy of your firmware. The size of the memory, which is indicated on the left, is determined automatically, but it is better to double-check it for your motherboard model - in case of failure, there will be problems and using an incorrect copy will not work due to inevitable errors in the future. The likelihood of its success on the UEFI BIOS is doubtful, but further updates of the program should fix all the shortcomings, and maybe they have already been corrected at the time of reading this article.

General information about firmware via DOS

DOS firmware is one of the safest options for reinstalling software for a given computer node, since all problems associated with the incorrect operation of your operating system are simply excluded. There are slightly different process variations for different models of laptops and motherboards on computers, although most of them have many similar features and the guide to flashing in this way can be reduced to a universal series of actions that need to be taken.

Prepare the media for flashing. This can be a floppy disk or a flash drive.

In direct comparison, they are in no way inferior to each other, if we talk about this process, but it is recommended to take out a floppy disk only if the motherboard (or BIOS) does not have support for booting from a USB flash drive. If you nevertheless decide to use a more outdated option, then you should check the floppy disk for integrity by inserting it into your computer, going to "My Computer" and calling the disk check in the properties of the media that appears in the list (in our case, it is a floppy disk). If any errors occur, do not wait for a miracle from a faulty floppy disk - there is a high probability of malfunctions in the process of "uploading" files and incorrect operation of the PC up to breakdown and the need to carry it for repair.

Read the official recommendations given by the manufacturer on the official website. Similar manuals can also be found in the instructions for the motherboard, but the data tend to become outdated and it is quite possible that the same happened in your case.

Also, during the flashing process, you will be prompted to download the necessary files for this, which include, at least, a utility for formatting the media and a firmware file from the list.

Make a backup copy of the data on the media.

Everything is simple here: if any important data remains on a USB flash drive or floppy disk (which is unlikely), then it is necessary to save them on the computer's hard disk: during the firmware upgrade, they will not be lost, but the removable disk will need to be formatted.

Formatting the disk.

A special utility that runs on behalf of the Administrator will help here. Perhaps this is not in the recommendations, but the launch of any program of such a plan must be performed in this way, otherwise you can get a large number of "difficult" problems and a stopped firmware process. You can also format it using built-in tools by clicking on the disk icon in My Computer and selecting the item of the same name. All values \u200b\u200bshould be left by default, nothing needs to be changed. Should I do full formatting? It will take a long time, so it’s better to simply leave the “fast” checkbox on - the effect will be about the same.

Copying the firmware file.

This stage can be carried out both with the help of a utility, and can be done using a regular Explorer, with which we usually perform all operations with files on our computer. An important feature is that the media should not contain extraneous files - formatting (point 4) is mandatory, deleting the files is indispensable.

It is worth pressing the restart button (it does not matter, on the case or in the system menu) and when loading the initial screen, press the button to enter the BIOS - Delete. After that, we see a menu where you need to select a boot partition: it will be called Boot. In this tab, you need to change the boot priority from the media and put the first one on which the firmware file is written. After making all the preparations, press the F10 key (save all changes and reboot) and follow the instructions given for your specific motherboard model - here the process may differ significantly.

BIOS update via Windows

Almost every motherboard manufacturer provides the option of updating the BIOS firmware through the operating system: each of them has its own utility that does everything in an almost automatic mode. Nevertheless, it is worth carefully studying all the instructions so as not to be confused at the most inopportune moment.

As described in the previous paragraphs of this article, you need to go to the manufacturer's website and select your motherboard model. In the accompanying tabs, the corresponding utilities will be available for download along with the firmware files - in most cases, the process is identical even for products from different companies. Next, you need to run the utility (with Administrator rights, of course) and select the firmware method (item "From file" or similar in meaning). Next, we look in the file manager for the place where we saved the archive and press the "Run" button - the program does the rest automatically. The advantage of this method is simplicity - even a beginner in mastering a PC can handle it. Another thing is whether a newbie needs to flash the BIOS, because, as mentioned earlier, the procedure can damage components and negatively affect the operation of the computer. It is worth noting that the already small probability of a system failure or a power outage is superimposed on a considerable chance of a failure in the operating system itself - despite all their stability, these software products are extremely complex: even on slightly different configurations, they can lead themselves in completely different ways, because the number of factors that can affect this is extremely large. It is also necessary to warn users who nevertheless decide on such a move: it is not recommended to launch any programs or leave the browser, torrent client or office document running - any combination can affect the operation of the built-in utility and then contacting the service center cannot be avoided. The problem is in the OS itself, which has a lot of components and thousands of possible bugs, which even take years for companies like Microsoft to fix.

To tell the truth, firmware using utilities is far from the best idea, and if there is such an opportunity, it is better to use more reliable options: firmware via DOS or via the built-in BIOS toolkit. Such solutions are possibly less simple and economical in time, but they give a much more predictable effect, which cannot be said about the option described above. In cases of firmware by other methods, the number of factors that can negatively affect the process is minimal, and with the inclusion of the operating system with all its shortcomings in the equation, the probability of failures increases by an order of magnitude.

MSI

Unlike even the larger market players, this company provides the ability to flash BIOS using any available method from the ones described above. This is convenient, since the system BIOS menu is too tough for many, and some are worried about the safety and are ready to play it safe, not wanting to use the utility launched from under the operating system. There is also a variant of firmware via loading into DOS, which is also safe and relatively simple - here the choice must already be made by the user based on an objective assessment of his capabilities and his willingness to minimize or accept the risks.

Whatever the process and whichever method is used, you need to start by determining the model of your motherboard, which can be done in several ways, described earlier in this article. On the official website of the manufacturer, we are looking for our model and download the necessary files, following the instructions. But since there are already three paths themselves, users will clearly not be satisfied with such a simple explanation and will ask to describe the process in detail.

Live Update

Live Update is a utility produced by the company for flashing BIOS and some other similar manipulations. It is worth noting that MSI motherboards are installed in laptops, tablets and other devices - here it will not help and you will have to use other methods. This is due to the fact that during the firmware process, unexpected errors may occur, which will become critical for the operability and functioning of the device.

So, download the utility from the official website and install it (with the launch of the installer with Administrator rights). This will solve the problem of unexpected failures that so often occur in work after a conflict of programs and permissions. Next, run the program and go to the appropriate item (tab). It is also necessary to download the archive with the firmware in parallel, for the automated version, according to reviews, does not always work correctly and it is better to refrain from using it.

Then, following the menu, we will have to face a warning that calls to close all open programs (as mentioned earlier) and wait for the end of all the actions that the program performs. Then, of course, the PC will reboot and using the same program it will be possible to find out about the overall success of the operation.

There is another version of the program, which offers an automated installation of a firmware update via DOS, which was described in earlier sections of the article. It should be noted that it retains all the advantages of this method and allows an easy and safe installation of a software upgrade. Technically, the program only downloads an archive with the firmware, so the further process does not differ from the "manual" installation, but you no longer need to search for the required version of the motherboard and download the archive - the utility is responsible for all this. The negative point is that you may not need the newest version, but the software will download it, and the largest numbers in the version graph do not guarantee the best performance, as we have seen many times in many cases.

MFLASH is a utility from MSI that is built into the BIOS and allows you to install updates directly from the toolkit of this system. In order to exploit it, no additional tricks are needed: just an empty (or better - formatted) USB flash drive and a file with BIOS software downloaded to it. Here, the sequence of actions is slightly different: the first of them should be just downloading the above file for your model. Then it will be necessary to clear space - the presence of other files is undesirable, although some users speak positively about the success of such an installation.

After rebooting, you will need to enter the BIOS with the Delete button and find the tab with the same name as the utility. Next, you will need to specify the path to the file (disk) and click on the button to start the process. The length of the entire procedure after entering the BIOS is only a couple of minutes maximum, and after rebooting you will get a system that is most likely to work correctly - there is no chance that it may be affected by any software failures.

From under DOS

Also a reliable method that does not involve the system at all and works great when updating software. In order to find it, it will be necessary to peep among the files on the official one that is necessary for installation from under this OS - in the name there at the end there will be a corresponding mark, as in the screenshot. Next, you need to get a floppy disk, check it for errors using the built-in Windows utility and format it there. If there are no errors when checking the disk, then it will be possible to write a file to it - it will become the installation file.

Next, reboot and enter the BIOS with the Delete button. After this has happened, we look for the Boot Device Priority item and put our floppy drive in the first place. Then press F10, agree to save all changes and wait for the reboot.

After loading the operating system, we will see a black background with fonts in bright colors (or white) - that means we are logged in. We will be prompted to press Y to continue and N to leave this mode. We press the first button, wait for a minute and a half and see an inscription about the successful completion of the firmware upload. We remove the floppy disk and reboot the computer, simultaneously entering the BIOS and changing the boot priority again to the hard disk, although if the floppy disk is removed and there is no boot disk in the drive, it will do it this way.

Gigabyte

Gigabyte is the third largest motherboard manufacturer in the world, with main facilities and headquarters in China. The company did not previously have such technologies and was just a contractor for large "sharks" of the market such as Asus or Intel, but after "peeping" from them some of the developments and opening soy research departments, it quickly turned from an apprentice into full-fledged competitors.

Gigabyte's BIOS software specialists did not reinvent the wheel: all methods of reinstalling software for this system are as similar as possible and are clearly borrowed from other market players. It is not known for certain whether there are patent wars between corporations, but one thing is for sure: the user benefits from such solutions, because all the actions and methods of changing the firmware that Asus and MSI work with work on the motherboards of the Chinese company - only the appearance differs (especially formally) and the names of the utilities. The company did not come up with something fundamentally new, which had a positive effect on the convenience of such operations.

A positive point is that the company in every possible way contributes to the ease of searching for its documentation, which is not hidden in the bowels of the official website, but is easily achievable within the search results of any system on the first page in several copies.

The company, or rather, its specialists strongly do not recommend carrying out such a procedure, unless you have identified any malfunctions and failures in the operation of the equipment: processor, RAM and other components. In many cases, according to research by the company itself, performance does not improve and degrades, so it is worth carefully considering the advisability of flashing the BIOS.

Also, the manuals pay great attention to the exact definition of the motherboard model, taking into account the revision. Since the Gigabyte lineup contains models that are designated the same, but one of them is a re-release of the second, the firmware (and all other manipulations) may differ, the use of the wrong archive can be reflected in the most harmful way.

It is also worth noting that in the event of a breakdown or any other malfunction that may occur in the event of a reflashing, the device is not subject to warranty, because this action is fully qualified as a repair. It is also worth considering and it is good that the manufacturer does not keep silent about it.

Q-Flash is the most reliable way to flash BIOS: this utility is built into the system itself and performs its functions perfectly, with minimal predisposition to incorrect firmware. Its operation does not depend on the operation of the operating system, which is an undoubted advantage. The only problem is that not all solutions support this technology - in other situations, a much simpler solution would be firmware via DOS.

Before using the Q-Flash utility, you need to download the most current BIOS version that matches your motherboard model from the GIGABYTE official website. The file with the BIOS microcode must be written to a medium (floppy disk, flash drive or hard disk; file system FAT32 / 16/12).

Since the BIOS microcode update procedure carries a potential risk, it is not recommended to update the BIOS unless the current BIOS version is satisfactory. Updating the BIOS should be done very carefully. Incorrect BIOS update may result in system malfunction.

This solution allows you to update the firmware of the I / O system from under the good old operating system such as DOS. It should be noted that the flashing operation must be performed on a system operating normally. Overclocking, low memory timings, non-standard system bus frequency can lead to the fact that our event will end with a trip to the service center (or a call to familiar gurus). The easiest way is to load the default settings into BIOS SETUP (Load Fail-Safe Defaults main menu item or similar).

The flashing operation must be performed only from under DOS. To boot from a floppy disk, there are only two system files on it: io.sys and command.com. In any case, neither autoexec.bat nor config.sys should be loaded. In addition, the floppy should contain files with the flasher and the firmware itself.

Run the flasher with the "/?" and you will receive detailed instructions on how to work with it.

Note that the updated firmware does not always meet the user's expectations. Be sure to save the file with the old BIOS version on a floppy disk (!) In order to be able to reverse your actions in the future. For AWARD BIOS, calling the flasher can be as follows: “awdflash.exe newflash.bin / py / sy”. Where “newflash.bin” is the real name of the file with the firmware, “py” and “sy” are the flags for reprogramming and saving the old BIOS version, respectively. And the last thing: in any case, do not restart or turn off the computer until the flasher has finished working. This will lead to imminent BIOS corruption.

Live Update

Live Update is, perhaps, the simplest solution to problems with the I / O system, because it looks for the necessary microcodes and does almost all the manipulations instead of the user - you don't need to be any specialist in this area to use it. First, you need to go to the official website and download the Live Update 5 utility, which will scan your computer and give you a list of necessary updates, with the ability to download them. Click "Click here" and click "Open".

The archive will open, run the LiveUpdate.exe installation file in it and install the Live Update 5 utility in a few steps. After the installation is complete, launch it and click on the "Scan" button, wait a few seconds while the utility searches for updates. The program will display a list of results. We are interested in an update called "MB BIOS". If such an update is listed (usually at the very top), then there is a BIOS update for our motherboard. Download it to your computer by clicking on the Download button (arrow). Better to click "Browse", and choose a location to save the update file yourself. For example, I saved it to the desktop. That's it, we now have the BIOS update file, now we can proceed to the next stage. Run the saved BIOS update file and follow the instructions.

There are two options here: the first is probably to write the firmware image to a USB flash drive, and update the BIOS from the flash drive (or for firmware, if it is impossible to update from under Windows). But since I did not have a free flash drive, I chose the second option, which, judging by the title, means BIOS firmware from under Windows. Here we need to close running programs and click "Next".

The further process of updating the BIOS is that we simply press any key on the keyboard, and the computer must reboot. Then everything is over - the device has received a new firmware.

ASUS BIOS firmware

ASUS is one of the titans of the computer components industry, which is proving to be market leaders both quantitatively and qualitatively. An important feature of their products is ease of maintenance: for each class of goods there is a utility that searches for drivers or any other useful work - in the case of this company, the implementation of these solutions is at its best. The same happened with updating the BIOS: both options are very convenient and easily mastered by unskilled and inexperienced users.

USB BIOS Flashback is the easiest way to update BIOS on ASUS motherboards. To update, now you only need a USB-drive with a BIOS file recorded on it and a power supply. No processor, RAM or other components are needed anymore.

The list of system requirements for this utility is rather prosaic:

• power Supply;
• USB drive FAT16, FAT32 or NTFS (for Intel X79 only FAT16 and FAT32);
• aSUS motherboard based on Intel X79, Z77, H77, Q77, B75 chipsets (the list of ASUS motherboards that support USB BIOS Flashback technology is presented in the table).

First you need to download and unpack the BIOS ROM file from the ASUS official website. It is important to understand that receiving files from somewhere else is fraught with irreversible consequences and unexpected equipment operation. Next, you should rename the BIOS file as written in the table, and then save it to a USB drive in the root directory:

Then you should connect the USB drive to the USB BIOS Flashback / ROG Connect connector (for boards based on Intel X79 this is a white USB 2.0 connector, for boards on other chipsets it is a USB 2.0 connector marked with color and the USB BIOS Flasback / ROG Connect inscription on the panel Q-Shield) and hold for three to four seconds until the light indication starts. Next, we are waiting for the completion of the light indication of the USB BIOS Flashback / ROG Connect button, which means that the update was successful.

It is important not to remove the USB drive, power off the motherboard, or press the CLR_CMOS reset button while updating the BIOS. It is also worth remembering that if the USB BIOS Flashback / ROG Connect button blinks for five seconds, then USB BIOS Flashback is not working correctly. This may be caused by improper installation of the device, an error in the file name, or an incompatible file format - you should check it yourself after a reboot. It is worth noting the company's rather loyal policy regarding problems after updating the firmware: in case of any problems with booting after updating the BIOS, you can contact the local representative of the ASUS service, which, according to the statements of the authors of the documentation, undertakes to help.

AFUDOS utility

This solution is a bit outdated - in motherboards released in the 2000s and 2010s, the EZ Flash utility is the most popular, although the old solution is also applicable for many devices. To start the firmware in a similar way, open the bootable USB flash drive, write the afudos program on it (the afudos.exe file downloaded from the site) and the firmware itself (a file with a type name p5c800b.rom). Then we reboot and when the first picture appears on the monitor, press F2 for laptops or Del for desktop PCs, go to the Boot tab and put the flash drive in the first place, usually for this in the 1st Boot Device item, you need to set Removable Device, then press F10 and confirm that we want to save the changes in the settings. After that, the computer will boot from the flash drive, and will display a prompt to work A: \\\u003e on a black screen. To start the firmware process, write afudos /ip4c800b.rom and press the Enter key. It should be noted that you do not need to turn off the power or reboot the system during the BIOS update. This can cause serious damage to your system. After the BIOS update is completed, the utility will return to DOS, you should remove the floppy disk and reboot the system to enter the BIOS menu.

Intel

This method is one of the simplest, as it uses a self-extracting archive and does not require any special skills from the user. After selecting the section dedicated to the motherboard, you need to download the firmware, in our case it is Express BIOS Update and run it with a double click. Then click "Next" in the invitation window, and then - "Yes" to accept the license rules. After - click "Finish". Windows will reboot to start updating the BIOS. During the update process, do not turn off the computer power for 3 minutes. During the reboot process, you will see the BIOS update process. When the BIOS is updated, the computer will boot into Windows. When Windows restarts, a window will appear indicating that the BIOS was updated successfully.

The essence of this method is to create bootable (disks, flash drives, floppy disks) containing the BIOS update. In our case, download this file LF94510J.86A.0278.BI.ZIP

To work, we need firmware files (write down its name on a piece of paper, it will come in handy later) with the XXX.BIO extension and the iFlash.EXE firmware utility. These files are in the archive with the downloaded firmware. Use the iFlash utility that comes with the firmware in the archive. Also useful is the HP USB Disk Storage FormatTool 2.2.3 utility (other versions are possible), but this one at the time of this writing is one of the most stable. It goes without saying that you can't do without MS-DOS files to create a DOS boot disk. After downloading, all files are unzipped.

Run the utility as administrator HP USB Disk Storage FormatTool 2.2.3. We set the checkboxes as shown in the picture. The path to the folder of the MS-DOS boot device is written to the place where the MS-DOS files were downloaded. (I have, for example, drive C, the Downloads \\ win98boot folder. And the Start button. When asked about deleting files, click "Yes".

Upon completion of the process, copy 2 files from the archive with the firmware to the USB flash drive (an example of how they look: IFLASH2.EXE and LF0278P.BIO). And without removing the USB stick from the USB port, we restart the computer. We go into the BIOS (F2 button when booting) and set the priority of booting from a USB drive (on the Boot tab, enable booting from USB (Enable USB Boot) and exit the BIOS with saving the settings - F10.

DOS will boot. At the command line, enter IFLASH / PF XXX.BIO (or IFLASH2 / PF XXX.BIO) to start the BIOS update process. Then follow all directions. In our example, it will look like this: IFLASH2 / PF LF0278P.BIO

Creating a boot floppy is an effective method if the utility and firmware are small enough to fit on a floppy, since the floppy is 1.44Mb in size.

For our example, there is no way to illustrate the process of creating a bootable disk. So I'll take a different firmware file from another motherboard as an example. Insert the floppy disk into the drive and double-click the downloaded firmware file XXX.EXE. Press "y" to extract the required files. The files will be extracted to a temporary directory (temp folder; path C: \\ temp). You can also extract files with the usual WinRAR archiver. Double-click the RUN.BAT file and follow the instructions to create a bootable floppy disk.

After creation, reboot the computer, set the BIOS to boot from the Floppy disk and exit with the parameters saved - F10. After booting from a floppy disk, a welcome window will appear, press any key. You will see the BIOS update status. When the process is complete, remove the floppy disk from the drive and press Enter to restart the computer.

ASRock Firmware

For motherboards from a Chinese manufacturer, the sequence of actions will also not be very different when flashing: here you also need to format the media and go to the official website for files. Further, the list of actions is also standard and is no different from updating from under DOS from other manufacturers ...

Please download the BIOS update file (WinZip file with .zip extension) from ASRock website, unpack it and save the ASRFLASH.EXE utility and BIOS file to a floppy disk. Next, we boot the system from a floppy disk. At the "A: \\" prompt, type ASRFLASH, press the spacebar once and enter the BIOS file name, then press Enter. For example: A: \\ ASRFLASH K7S41GX2.00 "Enter". Then you will see the message "Please wait for BIOS loading ROM".

After 30 seconds, you will see the message "Flash ROM Update Completed - Pass", which means that the BIOS update is complete. Remove the floppy disk after BIOS update. Reboot the system and press F2 during boot to enter BIOS setup.

From the Exit menu, select "Load Default Settings" and press "Enter" to continue. Select "Exit Saving Changes" and press "Enter" to exit the BIOS setup utility.

Actions after flashing

It is not necessary to undertake any special "rituals" after the flashing, if it is not provided for by the instructions: it is enough to remove the media that participated after the flashing and test the operation of the PC with the new software. If you notice any glitches, it makes sense to roll back to the previous version or find another, so that both the support for new components and the stability of the machine do not suffer.

BIOS is an essential component of a computer that checks the health of the hardware, allows you to make settings in the computer, and is also responsible for starting the operating system. Over time, BIOS updates may also be released for the BIOS, and therefore users have a desire to install them.

Please note that it is not recommended to update the BIOS without a compelling need. If something goes wrong during the update process, you may even lose your computer's performance.

How to update BIOS for MSI motherboard?

Stage 1: motherboard model

First of all, you will need to know the model of the motherboard installed in your computer. Information can be obtained in several ways: using the documentation that comes with your computer, by directly examining the surface of the motherboard (it contains a sticker with the information of interest), as well as a programmatic method, for example, using the AIDA64 program, the download link for which is located in end of the article.

Stage 2: downloading a fresh distribution

The next step is to download a special Live Update utility to your computer, which will allow you to find updates for your BIOS version, and then immediately install it on your computer from under Windows. To do this, visit the MSI motherboard developer site using this link. On the page, click the button "Downloads" .

In the window that opens, enter the model name of your motherboard and click on the Enter key.

With your motherboard model page open, go down to the page and click on the button "Support" .

Go to the tab "Utilities" and then specify the version of your operating system. Find and download the Live Update utility from the list.

Step 3: Installing a BIOS update

Once the utility is loaded, run it. Check the box next to "MB BIOS" and, if necessary, remove from other items, and then click on the button "Scan" .

The program will start scanning your computer for updates to the BIOS you have installed. If an update is found, it will be displayed on the utility screen. To start installing it, you need to click on the button "Download and Install" .

The BIOS installer will start automatically. As soon as a new window appears on the screen, select the item "In Windows mode" and move on.

The utility will then advise you to close some programs. To close the listed applications, click on the button "Close all listed programs" and move on.

Then you just need to start the BIOS update procedure by clicking on the button "Start" ... Please note that you should ensure your computer runs smoothly during the update process - a sudden power outage can damage your computer.

Actually, as soon as the utility finishes its progress, the BIOS of your MSI motherboard will be updated.