Among the most underrated components when it comes to updates we find the BIOS or the UEFI, which during the life of a computer are hardly updated. Their update is recommended when we install a new hardware component (for example a new CPU or new banks of RAM), so that we can make the most of the new components without blocking or sudden slowdowns; in all other cases it is better to update the BIOS or the UEFI only if we notice problems during the startup of the PC or with some old peripherals. Fortunately, almost every PC manufacturer facilitates this type of procedure by making it automatic and releases updates only when there is actually a known problem that needs to be solved, for example to solve a motherboard, overheating or performance problem.
In this guide we will show you in detail how to update the PC's BIOS / UEFI, so as to avoid problems during this delicate procedure (which can safely destroy the computer if performed poorly or if the power goes off during the process).
How to update your PC's BIOS / UEFI
Updating the BIOS or UEFI is fairly delicate, but luckily it will take us a few minutes (often just a few seconds). In the following chapters we will show you how to correctly update the BIOS (on older PCs) and update the UEFI (on newer PCs).What is the BIOS / UEFI
BIOS or UEFI (latest version) are key components on a computer to be able to start operating system startup procedures. In fact, it allows the motherboard to start, to carry out preliminary checks on all the components present on it and to correctly start the CPU, RAM and system disk, so as to be able to proceed to the next phase of startup (the bootloader, which will start the actual operating system). It can be customized by accessing a secret menu as soon as the computer starts, from which it is possible to change some settings on the hardware components (overclock, underclock, reserved system memory, temperatures, fan speeds etc.).
For its particular and delicate function, already touching the BIOS or UEFI is not recommended for the less experienced, let alone update it to a new version. We talked about it in depth in our guide A what is the BIOS of the computer and what functions does it "> Speccy.
Once installed on the PC, just start it and check the Motherboard section, from which we can obtain the manufacturer, the motherboard model and the type of BIOS / UEFI present, so as to search for the appropriate update file. Alternatively we can use the free program CPU-Z, which can show the same type of information. In this regard, we can read our guide on how to know the computer hardware and the individual pieces of the Windows PC .
How to search for BIOS / UEFI updates
Having obtained the right information on the motherboard, we can look for a BIOS / UEFI update from the official website of the manufacturer, using one of the links below:- GIGABYTE
- ASUS
- ASRock
- Intel
On this page you will find all the links to easily find and download the BIOS updates of the main computer and motherboard manufacturers: Acer, ASRock, ASUS, Dell, Fujitsu, Gigabyte, HP, Huawei, Intel, Lenovo, LG, Panasonic, Microsoft, MSI, Toshiba and Vaio.
How to update the BIOS / UEFI
Unlike the operating system, BIOS / UEFI is a low-level software stored on the chip on the computer motherboard. Failing to update the BIOS / UEFI can cause a malfunction of the computer which makes it unusable and even difficult to repair without the intervention of a specialized technician.Without these due details, we proceed to download the update file, which will allow you to update the BIOS or UEFI in several ways:
- files to flash from the BIOS / UEFI itself (see how to enter the BIOS );
- files to be installed create a USB DOS Live pen (using the Rufus program), with which to boot the computer from USB and carry out the procedure described in the instruction file;
- .Exe file to run and install directly from Windows (the fastest and most practical method);
- computer update program which also includes the BIOS;
If we want to update directly from UEFI (one of the best procedures in our opinion), just place the update file inside a USB stick, start UEFI, go to advanced settings then open the section reserved for updates (EZ Flash or similar names) enter the stick and select the downloaded file, so you can start the update.
This procedure is very safe and error-proof, since until the restart of confirmation the computer will always use the old UEFI. The other procedures are quite similar, but we recommend that you always use the notebook battery or a UPS for the Desktop PC, so that you can have electricity in the event of a sudden blackout (one of the worst scenarios when updating the BIOS or UEFI) . In this regard, we recommend that you read our article on how to use the UPS as a battery for your computer when there is no power .
Conclusions
Updating the BIOS or UEFI is a fairly simple procedure to apply on modern computers, but we recommend that you do it only in case of real need (a patch for a known vulnerability or a new hardware component), given that in case of errors we can never go back, effectively making the PC unusable.Finally, we recommend that you fully be wary of any tool not certified by the manufacturer, which promises to update the BIOS automatically: in many cases they are scams and do not guarantee any success of the procedure.
Still with a BIOS theme, we can read our guide on how to switch from BIOS to UEFI and convert disk to GPT (Windows 10) .
To boot the computer directly from USB (bypassing the bootloader or a locked Windows), we recommend reading our article on How to boot the computer from USB .
