Modern-day motherboards have EEPROM BIOS chips that can be
reprogrammed by software. These are also referred to as flash PROM or
flash ROM, the process by which they’re updated being known as flashing.
If your BIOS isn’t flashable it’s still possible to update it –
provided it’s housed in a socketed DIP or PLCC chip. This involves
physically removing the existing chip and either replacing it after its
been reprogrammed with the later version of BIOS code or exchanging it
for a completely new chip. Motherboard manufacturers generally provide a
BIOS upgrade service for a limited period after a particular model of
motherboard comes to market. During this period they should be able to
provide you with a patched BIOS containing the latest enhancements and
bug fixes.
The replacement option may also appeal to some who actually have
flashable BIOSes … but also have a nervous disposition! Notwithstanding
the efforts motherboard manufacturers have made in recent years to
simplify the process, the fact remains since flashing overwrites your
existing BIOS, it has the potential of rendering your PC unusable should
anything go wrong during the process or should you inadvertently use an
incorrect BIOS file.
For older motherboards there are a number of companies that provide a
specialist BIOS chip replacement service. Some require that you send
them your BIOS chip for reprogramming, others will simply send you a new
chip provided you can provide them with the necessary detailed
information on your motherboard and existing BIOS chip.
Motherboard manufacturers:
- Abit
- AOpen
- Asus
- Chaintech
- Epox
- FIC
- Gigabyte
- MSI
- Shuttle
- Soyo
- Transcend
- Tyan.
BIOS chip replacement services:
- BadFlash.Com
- BIOS-Programming Service
- BIOS Recovery Center
- biosupgrade.co.uk
- BIOSWorld
- Micro Firmware
- Recovery BIOS.
Proper identification of the latter will generally require that you
peel off all stickers on top of the chip to reveal the information
printed directly on the chip itself.
A DIP chip can be removed using a small flat blade screwdriver or
pocket knife. Insert the blade under one end of the chip and gently
lever it until it begins to lift from the socket. Be careful to keep the
angle to which it’s raised shallow or you’ll risk bending the legs of
the chip. Move to the other end of the chip and lever it to the same
level and then some. Repeat the process until the chip is completely
released from the socket.
Removing a PLCC chip is a little more tricky, and it’s possible to get a special extraction tool designed for the purpose.
However, a with care a similar method to that described for a DIP
chip will work, especially if you use a very small jeweller’s flat blade
screwdriver.
If you’re reinstalling the same reprogrammed chip or a replacement
chip, first make sure that all the chip’s legs are straight and
perfectly in line. Orient the notched end of the chip so that it aligns
with the notch in the socket. Make sure all of the chip’s legs are lined
up with their corresponding socket positions and gently push down on
the top of the chip until its legs begin to slide into in the socket. Be
careful to confirm that all legs are properly located before applying
stronger pressure to fully seat the chip in its socket.
People often confuse CMOS RAM with their BIOS, thinking of them as one and the same; in fact they’re completely separate components.
The former is a block of memory made from very low power consumption
CMOS (complementary metal oxide silicon) RAM chips, which is kept alive
by a battery even when the PC’s power is off. It’s used to store basic
information about the PC’s configuration: number and type of hard and
floppy drives, how much memory, what kind and so on. The other important
data kept in CMOS memory is the time and date, which is updated by a
Real Time Clock (RTC), the clock, CMOS RAM and battery all typically
being integrated into a single chip.
All this used to be entered manually, but these days auto-configuring
BIOSes copy the manufacturer default factory settings from the BIOS
chip to the CMOS RAM, where they can be subsequently customised via the BIOS Setup
interface. These factory default settings can be reinstated, either by
discharging the CMOS RAM by jumpering a motherboard pin header or by
invoking the Load BIOS Setup Defaults option from Setup.
- BIOS Reasons
- BIOS Ident
- Replacing your BIOS chip – how to update your system BIOS
- BIOS updates – how to locate the latest BIOS update for your motherboard
- Flashing the BIOS
- Updating the BIOS
- Bios Configuration
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