What are the possible Consequences of changing BIOS?

What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS? Can it stuff up Windows?

First off, if you're not looking to fix something that's specifically
"fixed" and included in a particular bios update, don't do it !

It's always wise to have the PC connected to a UPS, in case the mains power
disappears whilst the new bios binary file is in the middle of being
written to your eeprom, that can really muck things up.

regards, Richard


"Justin" wrote in message
...
What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS? Can it stuff up
Windows?

"RJK" wrote in message
...
First off, if you're not looking to fix something that's specifically
"fixed" and included in a particular bios update, don't do it !

It's always wise to have the PC connected to a UPS, in case the mains
power disappears whilst the new bios binary file is in the middle of being
written to your eeprom, that can really muck things up.


That shouldn't happen with any modern motherboard because the BIOS FLASH
chip (hasn't been an EEPROM for yonks) has, or should have, a protected boot
block that will always allow you to update the actual BIOS image.

.... there's lots of yonks old PC's out there :-)

regards, Richard


"M.I.5¾" wrote in message
...

"RJK" wrote in message
...
First off, if you're not looking to fix something that's specifically
"fixed" and included in a particular bios update, don't do it !

It's always wise to have the PC connected to a UPS, in case the mains
power disappears whilst the new bios binary file is in the middle of
being written to your eeprom, that can really muck things up.


That shouldn't happen with any modern motherboard because the BIOS FLASH
chip (hasn't been an EEPROM for yonks) has, or should have, a protected
boot block that will always allow you to update the actual BIOS image.

Justin wrote:
What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS? Can it stuff up
Windows?

Not as long as it's the right BIOS and done properly, following
instructions. If you're talking about flashing an update, why? I wouldn't
bother with it unless I had a specific reason to need it.

HTH
Pop`

"Justin" wrote in message
...
What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS? Can it stuff up
Windows?

You can render the computer unbootable if you make the slightest error
during a flash upgrade. One could say that this stuffs up Windows (or any
other operating system for that matter).

Making a few changes by hand is usually safe.

Jim

"Justin" wrote in message
...
What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS? Can it stuff up
Windows?

Updating a Bios by flashing is one thing but changing the BIOS settings is
another. If you're talking about the later then you can usually get back to
the default settings if you screw things up.

Jocko

"Justin" wrote in message
...

What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS?

Do you flasing the BIOS (updating the version of the BIOS) rather than just
changing asetting there?

Can it stuff up Windows?


No it has nothing to do directly with Windows. But, if you use the wrong
version, or if something goes wrong while you're doing it, you can destroy
the entire computer.

Do not upgrade your BIOS just because it's X years old and there are
upgrades available. 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 one is available.


--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
Please reply to the newsgroup

"Justin" wrote in message
...
What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS? Can it stuff up
Windows?

Worst case scenario is a dead motherboard. Occasionally things get broken
and need to be tweaked in the BIOS. It shouldn't affect the files on the
disk, unless you are using some kind of RAID setup that uses an onboard
controller, then I wouldn't do anything without backing up the disks first.

Many motherboards now have a dual BIOS solution, so if the main BIOS is
corrupt it uses a backup one.

Check your board, as many also have a BIOS capable of flashing, that is you
simply put the new BIOS on a disk, boot the PC, enter the BIOS, and there
will be a listing to update the BIOS.

In earlier times you needed to use a bootable disk and boot to a basic DOS
environment, then run the BIOS update program. If you loaded some other
program in the config.sys or autoexec.bat files it could interfere with the
update.

As others have said, unless you want to fix a problem or add a function, new
CPU codes for example, then there is no point.

If you want to go further, read your mobo manual, or download it from the
manufacturers website.
Read the manufacturers instructions on flashing the BIOS. My latest
motherboards have 3 different ways to flash the BIOS. (some offer BIOS
upgrades through Windows. Could be perfectly fine, but I wouldn't use that
method).

If you use a floppy disk, make sure you run chkdsk over the floppy before
and after you copy the files onto it. Do it in the drive that you will use
to update the BIOS. Fortunately I've never had a problem flashing a BIOS,
but I have had quite a bit of trouble over the years with corrupted files on
floppy disks.

Do a search on your motherboard and the BIOS revision you intend to use. If
there is a known problem, then hopefully it will be documented - You will
always find a handful of pratts who think the BIOS has busted their PC with
no good reason, usually they are trying to overclock to warp factor five, or
use some memory timings that are way out of spec in the first place.

Provided you take a bit of care, there should be no problem. Many of us have
done it dozens if not hundreds of times with no ill effects.

=?Utf-8?B?SnVzdGlu?= wrote:

What are the possible consequences of changing BIOS? Can it stuff up Windows?

Yes.








--
http://www.bootdisk.com/

What I'm hoping to do is turn off the high pitched beep that the laptop makes
when you press the HP quickplay buttons (pause, play, volume, etc.). I don't
have the instructions to do this.

QUESTION:
If your BIOS is messed up, can you still insert the windows xp cd and
reinstall or reformat the hard drive to fix the stuffed up BIOS, i.e. is
messing up the BIOS the end?

The BIOS is not related to Windows XP. It's a hardware issue with the
computer.

"Justin" wrote in message
...
| What I'm hoping to do is turn off the high pitched beep that the laptop
makes
| when you press the HP quickplay buttons (pause, play, volume, etc.). I
don't
| have the instructions to do this.
|
| QUESTION:
| If your BIOS is messed up, can you still insert the windows xp cd and
| reinstall or reformat the hard drive to fix the stuffed up BIOS, i.e. is
| messing up the BIOS the end?

Try asking HP for the instructions?

Justin wrote:

What I'm hoping to do is turn off the high pitched beep that the laptop makes
when you press the HP quickplay buttons (pause, play, volume, etc.). I don't
have the instructions to do this.

QUESTION:
If your BIOS is messed up, can you still insert the windows xp cd and
reinstall or reformat the hard drive to fix the stuffed up BIOS, i.e. is
messing up the BIOS the end?