What format of flash drive is needed to flash the BIOS. BIOS update or how to flash BIOS. What it is

It is stored in a ROM chip, which can be called without accessing the disk. It is located on the motherboard and stores codes for the normal operation of disks, video cards, etc. If you want to find out how to update the BIOS from a flash drive, you need to identify this procedure for all components to which this action applies.

Using external storage for BIOSa firmware.

The main condition is the ability to systematize an update for the BIOS, the main task of which is the normal operation of the electronic device. A really pressing question is how to install a BIOS from a flash drive for those users who use processors that are not supported by the initial versions of the BIOS.

Usually, BIOS firmware is flashed from a CD, but the fact is that some modern electronic devices, for example, netbooks, do not have a disk drive and for this reason it is not possible to flash the BIOS from a disk. So, quite a few users are interested in how to update the BIOS from a flash drive.

Most users, sooner or later, come to the conclusion that they need to flash the BIOS firmware from a flash drive. This should be done in the following cases:

1. you need to install new components or applications on your computer;
2. it is planned to modernize the device by installing the latest components;
3. The manufacturer recommends doing this;
4. errors or system malfunctions appear.

Updating the BIOS from a flash drive will be required if a device conflict occurs or if the system data is damaged by a virus. This process is also not least important for overclocking a PC.

It should be taken into account that if the computer is working normally, then there is no need to change the motherboard configuration by updating the BIOS only on the advice of a friend or because a new version has appeared. However, if it has the latest functions required by the user that increase the performance of the device, then it is already possible to upgrade the program. Having found out what opportunities a BIOS update provides, you need to figure out how to flash the BIOS from an external drive without negative consequences for the computer. To flash firmware from a flash drive, you will need to complete several steps.

Determine your motherboard model

The point is that since the updated BIOS is installed in ROM on the motherboard, it turns out that it is this that needs to be updated. And to do this you need to know exactly what model your motherboard is. You can find such information in the book on the motherboard that comes with the PC, or you can disassemble the system unit and look at it on the board itself.

It is also possible to resort to the help of operating system software. To do this, press the Win and R keys together, type msinfo32, then click OK. The window that appears will provide all the required information about the system, including the BIOS version.

However, there are also cases when it is not possible to find out the name of the motherboard even using this command. Then you can use the special program AIDA64 Extreme. Within a month, you will be given the opportunity to use it for free, and you can download the utility freely on the Internet. After installing and launching the application, open general information about the operating system, and there you will find the name of the motherboard.

Download the firmware

You need to enter the name of the motherboard model into any search engine. After this, you need to follow the provided link to the official manufacturer. In the downloads section, now select BIOS. Find the new version that is labeled InstantFlash, and then download it. Now you need to figure out how to write the BIOS to a flash drive. It's very easy to do. It is enough to unpack the downloaded archive onto a flash drive, it is better that it is clean. Insert the USB flash drive into your PC and reboot it.

Install BIOS firmware from a flash drive

When booting, you need to press Delete or F2, so you can open the BIOS settings. If the motherboard of your device supports SMART technology, then you need to go to this section and use the arrows to select InstantFlash. Otherwise, you need to find a section whose title contains the word Flash. The system will quickly and automatically detect the flash drive and the available BIOS versions.

Now you need to select the flash drive on which the BIOS file was downloaded and the firmware version you want to install. Then press Enter. The BIOS recovery from the flash drive will begin, and the PC will reboot.

In certain situations, in order to flash the BIOS, it becomes necessary to boot from the flash drive where the installation file is located. To do this, press Delete or F2 during boot to open the BIOS menu. Find the BOOT tab, and in it find BootDevicePriority. Here the device boot priority is determined. As a rule, the first place is the hard drive with the operating system installed on it. After highlighting the line, you must press Enter, this will change the boot priority. Find your flash drive in the list and perform this operation with it. Then press F10 to exit the BIOS and save all changed settings. When the computer restarts, the BIOS recovery installation file recorded on the USB flash drive will be automatically launched.

You should know that at the moment when the BIOS is updated from a flash drive, you cannot turn off the power to the computer, otherwise this may lead to negative consequences. Just in case, it would be a good idea to connect to an uninterruptible power supply if you have one.

On the official website of the motherboard manufacturer, you need to familiarize yourself with information on how to restore the BIOS; it is usually provided complete with the BIOS file.

Now you know how to install BIOS from a flash drive. However, it should be noted once again that the BIOS should be updated only as a last resort, otherwise problems may arise. It would also be better to write the full version of the BIOS onto a flash drive, since the a- and b-versions are still being finalized and have errors.

BIOS is the firmware responsible for booting Windows. It checks the functionality of components and add-ons. The correct loading of the computer and its normal operation (hardware components) depend on it.

It is written on the motherboard, not on the hard drive like the OS. In new devices, the BIOS has been replaced by UEFI, which performs the same functions, but has been improved. Both programs sometimes need to be updated.

BIOS can be updated in several ways

DO I NEED TO UPDATE THE BIOS?

Manufacturers regularly release updates for laptops. It is downloaded from the official website of the company that produced the laptop. It’s more difficult for owners of PCs with their own build. To find files to update, they will have to rely on the motherboard chip data. Any update is also written to the chip, replacing the old version.

It is not difficult to update the bios correctly, but only materials designed for a specific PC model or board should be used. Each motherboard has a strictly defined type of firmware, and installing the wrong version can lead to malfunctions of the computer or its complete inoperability.

BIOS is a delicate program, and therefore it is better to update it only in extreme cases. On a normally functioning PC there is no need to update it. This is due to several factors:

• Flashing bios on an asus or any other motherboard is difficult, the process requires some skills, the process is done through DOS;
• The improvements will not be noticeable, since the differences between the versions are minimal and highly specialized;
• Malfunctions and malfunctions may occur because... the old version was tested more thoroughly than the new one;
• When carrying out work, the power must not be turned off, otherwise the device will stop loading.

But sometimes the BIOS needs to be updated. If you regularly encounter one or another error in operation, go to the device manufacturer’s website and check whether such an error has been resolved in the new firmware version. More often, such a list is available on manufacturers’ websites. If such a problem is really solved in the new version, it makes sense to update the bios on the laptop.

Another good reason to flash the BIOS is the installation of new equipment. If you purchased a new processor that appeared after the release of your motherboard, then it will not be supported by your BIOS. In new firmware versions, manufacturers add support for new types of processors, and therefore you will have to download such a file and flash the firmware.

You should update the BIOS as a last resort. But even then, before upgrading, study the characteristics of the new version and find out whether the problems are solved. Based on this, decide whether you need to update the bios.

Find out the current version by pressing Win+R on your keyboard. In the window that opens you see msinfo32 for 32-bit OS. Click Run. A window will open listing the hardware and OS characteristics of the device. Find the one you need among them.

Sometimes a notification appears that the bios mode is outdated. This means that the BIOS operating mode is outdated; it still works in real mode, not protected mode. Firmware may not help solve the problem, but it is not serious and does not need to be fixed.

UPDATE METHODS

The update method depends on the computer manufacturer, motherboard model, etc. Most often, each manufacturer has its own instructions for flashing. You can get acquainted with it on the official website of the company.

On all modern motherboards, you can update the bios on your computer using any of the above methods. But it is better to choose the latter, as it guarantees a minimum number of errors.

UPDATE ALGORITHM

You can update the bios of an asus or any other modern laptop using any of the three methods described. They have their own nuances, but when carrying out the process using utilities, they are still not complicated.

FROM DOS

A difficult option with high risks. To update the bios on a Windows 7 computer, do the following:

1. Find out the model of your motherboard;
2. Download the required firmware version from the manufacturer’s official website;
3. Sometimes there are several of them. In this case, choose the one that is designed for installation in DOS mode;
4. Create a bootable USB flash drive with BIOS, DOS and an additional utility (it can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website or included in the archive along with the firmware);
5. Install the USB flash drive and restart the computer;
6. Specify the media containing the motherboard bios firmware;
7. After the flashing is completed, reboot your PC.

There are no more precise instructions, since they vary for different PCs and boards. Find detailed instructions on the manufacturer's website. But using this method is not recommended.

FROM WINDOWS

It's easy to flash the bios on a laptop this way. Errors rarely occur. Popular method.

1. Download the firmware utility. It is different for each manufacturer. Program for updating bios asus – Asus Update, MSI – Live Update, etc.;
2. Install the program;
3. Run;
4. Find the online function to search for new firmware. In different programs it is in different groups of commands;
5. From the list of firmwares, select the required one;
6. Activate download;
7. After downloading, run the flashing and follow the instructions of the program.

Firmware for bios asus, MSI and others in this way is also safe because the program itself selects the appropriate firmware version. In addition, the intuitive interface will help even a non-advanced user to install the firmware.

FROM BIOS

It is possible to reflash the bios on a laptop from the firmware using pre-installed utilities. This is a complex method, as it differs depending on the motherboard chip model, manufacturer, etc. To update the bios on a gigabyte motherboard, run the pre-installed @BIOS utility; other manufacturers have other programs. Such programs are similar to the utilities used in the previous method, but are not as convenient. They work with them the same way - find the required file on the network and launch it.

More often, this method is used when the computer breaks down, when it is impossible to log into the OS, because... PC won't boot.

First, let's figure out why we need to reflash the BIOS at all. I personally first encountered this need about 10 years ago and the situation was that I purchased a 40 GB hard drive, but the operating system only saw 20. Since at that time hard drives of this size were only went on sale, the BIOS did not support disks of this size. And after flashing everything fell into place and the operating system saw all 40 GB. At the moment they say that a similar situation can happen with hard drives larger than 2TB, I have not encountered this situation, but this is quite possible. In general, there can be various problems with the BIOS, for example, it is not possible to boot from a USB flash drive, the computer does not turn on over the network, and so on. Therefore, in this lesson we will figure out how to flash the BIOS to the latest version.

And the first thing you need to do is download the firmware; it can be found on the official website of the manufacturer of the motherboard that is installed in the computer. But to do this, you need to find out what the motherboard is called and what BIOS version is currently installed. Therefore, we restart the computer and go into the BIOS.

Immediately when I start the BIOS, information about the components of the computer appears in the BIOS Version line: M3A770DE (motherboard model) P1.10 (BIOS version). It is not always possible to find this information in the BIOS itself, so when starting the computer we can also find the line M3A770DE BIOS P1.10, and in order to have time to rewrite this data, press the Pause Break button, this button pauses the boot process so that we have time to study the output information on the screen.

And so, now we know the motherboard model and BIOS version, so we go to the manufacturer’s official website, but in my case the motherboard manufacturer is not indicated, but only its model, so we enter this model in the search engine and see that the manufacturer is a company ASRock. But now we go to the manufacturer’s official website, by the way, you need to install versions downloaded only from the official source \ Download \ M3A770DE \ BIOS download \ in my case, the latest version of BIOS P1.80, and since it is newer than the installed one, I used it I will install it. Also study the information for this firmware, it indicates what corrections were made in this version. Again, I do not recommend installing versions marked Alfa or Beta, since such firmware is still being tested.

I have 3 firmware to choose from, or rather not 3 firmware, but 3 ways to install the firmware:

1) Instant Flash - through a special ASRock utility, which can be launched from the BIOS itself and is called ASRock Instant Flash. With this method, we simply copy the firmware to a flash drive, run this utility and specify the path to the firmware in it, and then the program itself installs the new firmware version. To be honest, it is rare that any BIOS has a built-in utility for updating the firmware, so we will not consider this method.

2) Installation via Windows, I did not use this method, since I don’t really trust it, you never know at some point the application may freeze and the firmware will crash altogether. And again, rarely does any manufacturer have the option of flashing from Windows.

3) Flashing from DOS, this is the option we will use, since this method is standard for any manufacturer.

Therefore, download the firmware under DOS, and be sure to make sure that the motherboard model is indicated correctly, otherwise you can kill the computer and you will no longer be able to do without a service center.

Previously, flashing was carried out from a floppy disk, but since at the moment floppy disks and floppy drives are a thing of the past, you will need to flash from a flash drive, and the first thing you need to do is make a bootable flash drive with DOS on board. If earlier, a boot floppy could be made easily and simply (RMB\Format\Create a bootable MS-DOS disk), then this method will not work with a flash drive. Therefore, the RUFUS program will help for our task, go to the official website rufus.akeo.ie.

Download the utility and run \ specify the USB device that we will make bootable \ leave the rest as default, although you can change FreeDOS to MS-DOS, but this will not change the essence \ Start, as you guessed, the flash drive will be formatted and all data on it will be deleted, This is what the next window says: OK.

Now copy the firmware file from the archive with the firmware to the USB flash drive.

We start the computer and go to BIOS\Boot\Specify the USB flash drive as the first device when booting. In this version there is a separate USB device item, but if it is not there, then the flash drive can be in the Hard Disk Device menu, so in this menu we indicate the flash drive as the first device when booting. Save the settings and exit the BIOS.

Now it starts from the bootable USB flash drive and we find ourselves in DOS. So, here we may need three commands:

Dir – display the contents of the current folder

Cd – change directory if the firmware is not in the root of the flash drive

Cd... – move one level up

We enter the name of the file with the firmware, but before that we enter the dir command, since in DOS file names cannot be long, some of the text is replaced with the tilde ~. Therefore, we enter the name of the file as it appears in DOS \ Enter and the firmware process begins. It is advisable that the computer be connected through an uninterruptible power supply, in case during the flashing process there is a power surge and the computer turns off without completing the flashing.

My flashing looked like this, with OK and Done next to all the items, which means everything went well. We reboot and see that the firmware version P1.80 appeared in the boot information, as well as in the BIOS itself.

The development of computer technology is manifested not only in the growth of power. The change from the basic I/O system to UEFI went unnoticed by most users. Now, to update the BIOS, you don’t need to “dance with a tambourine” and boot into DOS. The user can perform all actions in the familiar Windows graphical environment. Motherboard manufacturers build update mechanisms directly into the UEFI shell or place the necessary utilities on the driver disk.

When deciding to update the BIOS on a computer, the user must first find out its current version. This will be enough for owners of laptops and all-in-one PCs. Users of prefabricated PCs additionally need to know the model of the motherboard. You can find out this data directly in Windows. Call up the “Run” dialog box and enter the command indicated in the screenshot.

As a result of its execution, the system information window will open. Here we will find the current BIOS version and its usage mode.

Similar information can be obtained using the command line.

Users who rely more on third-party utilities and do not trust the built-in OS tools can use the CPU-Z program. If you download it as an archive, you won't even need to install it. Simply launch the EXE file of the required bit depth and go to the Mainboard tab.

As you can see, the data obtained with its help coincides with the system data.

Updating ASUS UEFI BIOS from Windows

We will consider further operations in relation to motherboards manufactured by ASUSTeK Computer. Updating the ASUS BIOS from Windows 10 can be done using several of the manufacturer's utilities.

BIOS Flash Utility

The program comes bundled with motherboards and is designed directly to work in the graphical OS environment. Windows BIOS Flash Utility allows you to save the current version to a file and update it via the Internet or from a ready-made firmware file.

When you select a network update from the manufacturer’s website, the program will offer several “mirrors” for downloading.

Checking available versions is performed completely automatically. Having detected firmware that is more recent than the one in use, the program will offer to select the appropriate option.

After downloading the marked software, it is tested for integrity. Successful completion of the check is accompanied by an information message.

Flashing ASUS BIOS from Windows is performed in three stages. The old version is erased, the new one is installed and tested.

The entire process is displayed graphically and takes a few minutes. The new firmware is being tested again. This time, the correctness of the recording and correct operation of the equipment are checked.

In the notification field, the program reports successful completion and prompts you to restart the computer.

ASUS Manager

This utility has a broader purpose. With its help, you can not only update the BIOS via Windows, but also check for the latest versions of drivers and ASUS application software.

The program can work in manual and automatic modes.

If the firmware file has already been downloaded from the ASUS website, you can install it yourself. Switch to the “From File” tab and specify the path to it.

The update process is uninformative and is not accompanied by graphics. The program does its job and, having completed a full cycle of operations, offers a reboot.

Both utilities discussed above also allow you to update the ASUS BIOS from Windows 7. User actions in the graphical shell of both OSes are completely identical.

Updating ASUS UEFI BIOS via the built-in menu

Now that you know that there are utilities for updating the BIOS directly from Windows, let's consider another option for changing the firmware. It does not require booting into DOS, but all operations are performed from the UEFI menu.

Media preparation

We use a flash drive to update. The size of the firmware usually does not exceed ten megabytes, so the size of the drive does not matter. By inserting it into the USB port, call up the context menu of the explorer and find the indicated item in it.

The media we have chosen must be formatted in FAT32 and the volume label removed from it.

We copy the firmware and can exit the operating system.

It is worth noting that the extensions of the files used may be different. In the screenshot, the number “1” indicates the firmware for the motherboard, and the number “2” for the ASUS ZenBook ultrabook. Comprehensive UEFI updates for laptops receive a firmware version number as an extension.

Login to BIOS

Entering the BIOS setup menu on computers with Windows 7 is done in the usual way. At the moment of reboot, the function key is held down or quickly pressed. ASUS, like many manufacturers, uses DEL or F2 for this purpose. Windows 10 uses Fast Boot technology and makes it impossible to use function keys.

Go to the OS settings and select the marked item.

In the quick navigation area we find the “Recovery” item, and in it the “Special options” block. Click on the marked virtual button to reboot the OS.

Once the computer starts, it will show us a menu for selecting additional actions. Select the marked item in it.

Open additional options.

Here we have access to a boxed item that allows us to directly launch UEFI.

Thus, we have entered the initial settings menu and are ready to update the BIOS from a flash drive.

Using ASUS EZ Flash

The latest models of ASUS motherboards use the EZ Flash 3 Utility program to update the BIOS. On older models, its second version is used. The difference between them is the possibility of network updating.

To start updating, go to the Tool ASUS UEFI BIOS menu.

We connect the prepared flash drive with the firmware to the PC and select the option of using external media.

The screenshot shows the identified media and the file with the CAP extension placed on it. Everything is ready to update the motherboard BIOS.

The process is started by pressing the Enter button on the keyboard. After a notification appears about the completion of the installation and verification operation, reboot the PC. In most cases, the system resets previously configured settings. Before using Windows OS, check and reinstall the required hardware configuration settings.

The second icon in the selection menu is responsible for network updating.

Having selected the appropriate connection option, we launch the Network Connection Wizard.

We answer his questions and configure the Internet directly in the BIOS.

BIOS recovery

A prerequisite that must be met when flashing UEFI firmware is a stable power supply. A failure during the update will prevent the operation from completing. In this case, the software on the system disk with drivers includes the ASUS CrashFree utility. Turn off the PC and, having installed the flash drive with the BIOS, boot from the branded DVD media. EZ Flash will start on its own and restore the base software version to the first one detected.

Finally

Despite the regular release of firmware and the extremely simplified procedure for its implementation, equipment manufacturers do not recommend updating unless necessary. Visit the ASUS website and first study the list of changes made. If the PC works stably and new functions will not be used, you should not interfere with the system.

Very often there comes a time when the motherboard needs flashing . The need arises after the release of newer versions that the device supports. The more current the update is, the better. Firmware can solve many problems related to computer operation. Very often, due to an outdated version, it may pop up blue screen, which indicates a hardware error.

There are several ways in which this can be done, but the easiest is to update via a regular memory card. First you need to find out the exact model of the motherboard. You can view this data in the instruction manual or on the board itself by removing the system side cover.

Next, you need to go to the official website of your board manufacturer and download the latest version , which is. After downloading from the official website, the file must be unpacked onto a memory card, having previously formatted it.

Then you need to restart your computer and click Delete. This will take you directly to , which needs to be reflashed. Before you start, you need to reset the settings. To do this you need to go to "Load Optimized Defaults" and press Y. Then save the settings by pressing F10.

After rebooting, you must log in again BIOS and press F8. You should see a window open with a menu for your flashing file, which is located on the flash drive. Following further instructions, you need to agree with all the rules and start the update process itself.

It is very important that there is no power failure at the time of flashing; after such a failure, the computer will not boot at all. The update happens very quickly. It won't take 5 minutes. After all the steps have been completed, you need to save all the changes again and restart the computer. If it starts up normally, then everything was done correctly. In this simple way you can update the BIOS of your motherboard and ensure its stable and reliable operation. In some cases, the BIOS may not see the memory card, so it is better to have a backup option. When formatting a flash drive, you should set the parameter FAT or FAT 32 , since the program will not see other formats.