Resolved BIOS upgrade ?

I am putting this in the XP forum because this is where it starts from, Another member is jumping the gun and trying to go over to W7, I advised him to go to W7 upgrade adviser, somewhere along the line he got an " Upgrade BIOS" message.it's date is 2004.
I know he can by going to the manufactures site, Phoenix, or an agent, but I am cautious about fiddling with the BIOS.
Your thoughts please.
Not sure either, what forum this should be in.
Spanner.

 

Spanner, more info is needed on the SYSTEM... Thanks.

 

If it is decided to update the BIOS, do it in DOS if there is an option for it. There is a program called Rufus that will let you boot into DOS from a USB drive (provided there is no floppy drive available). I recommend using MS-DOS under Format Options > Create a bootable disk using:

Just my .02 cents worth.

 

I tried to update the BIOS for my Dell PC within Windows, but I kept getting errors (can't remember the error type - checksum maybe?), so I resorted to using a bootable USB drive to do the upgrade with.

 

Reply to Masterroming, will get more info, shortly.
Reply to PeteC, BIOS upgrade is available from Phoenix.
but I do not understand why it was suggested in the first place, what has he got to lose or gain ? by upgrading The Phoenix BIOS is dated 2004.
I am prepared to advise him to leave 'as is' until/if he finds something not working, then my advise would be to take it to professional who can offer a guarantee, or money back, I am not in the position to back-up upgrading the BIOS advise in this instance.
My question is what should we be looking for to advise a BIOS upgrade? all we have at the moment is a message after some sort of scan with just " BIOS upgrade" no reason why.
Q to James Martin, out of interest, how and why would you upgrade in DOS.
Thanks to all, I am finding this interesting.
Spanner
PS .how do you do the text frame round part of a message (Quote message in reply?)
Spanner

 

It depends on the BIOS upgrade software options. The best thing to do is to follow the given directions. In my older machine, the BIOS was always upgraded via floppy drive (DOS - meaning text only directions via keyboard. No graphics or mouse clicks involved).

The BIOS on my newer Dell PC can be upgraded via Windows desktop, but that did not work due to errors, and I was advised by Dell to do the upgrade via bootable USB drive.

Supposedly, there's less of a chance for error upgrading a BIOS in DOS.

 

Who is the manufacturer. Is this a Desktop PC or a Laptop PC.

 

I agree 100%. In fact, every motherboard I have purchased in the last 7 or 8 years came with a utilities disk that included a Windows based BIOS update program to make updating the BIOS very easy. And if no disk is available, all the motherboard makers have the latest version of the update program available for download on their sites-typically in the same area where the new (if any) BIOS updates are located.

These program also typically let you back up the current BIOS in case you need to roll back, preserving your custom settings.

That said, regardless the method used, there are risks. A corrupt BIOS update can make a brick out of your board. So some precautions are still necessary. Back up your data for one.

Use the BIOS update provided by the motherboard maker only. Do NOT go to the BIOS maker as it is common for the motherboard makers to tweak the BIOS for their boards.

Upgrade during good weather only! Especially if your computer is not protected by a "good" UPS with AVR (with good batteries). I found out the hard way about 10 years ago that the batteries in the UPS had gone bad when the power went out right in the middle of a BIOS update. Fortunately, the BIOS chip was socket mounted and could be replaced (and it was back then, cost effective to replace). But today, many BIOS ICs are surface mounted and it is cheaper to just replace the board. Cheaper though certainly not cheap, or convenient.

 

Thank you everyone, we sorted this out by the owner buying a new PC.
Thanks
Spanner