What is a BIOS?

The BIOS (basic input output system) is boot firmware, designed to be the first code run by a PC when powered on. It controls the important functions like input/output so without the bios your PC will not run. The BIOS introduces the core components (Hard drive, Motherboard, Processor, Memory etc) to each other. BIOS is normally stored in an EPROM chip (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

The PC BIOS is standardized, so all PCs are alike at the same level though there are different BIOS versions. Additional DOS functions are usually added through software modules. This means you can update to a newer version of DOS without changing the BIOS. A bios upgrade can help if you experience common device driver problems, or other general non-traceable errors. When there are problems on your computer, if you still can not fix it by updating a specific driver, think of a BIOS upgrade. BIOS programs are stored on a chip. To find the program which can upgrade your bios, you usually need to know which motherboard is inside your computer.

Updating the BIOS can be done by flashing the program. The process is fragile because any power fluctuation during a flash may irrevocably corrupt a BIOS' firmware. So if you failed, see how to bootblock bios in order that you can recover your computer.

Step 1. Make your choice for essential needs
If the BIOS has never been updated since the day you got it years ago and you are experiencing driver problems, an update to the bios will be beneficial. Think twice whether an update is necessary before you start. Not all BIOS updates are necessary. Most of the time, BIOS upgrade is to solve some of the shortcomings of the motherboard or the chipset originally designed, rule out the possibility of some special computer failures and improve system stability. By upgrading BIOS, your PC can support more new hardware, such as the new Duron CPU of AMD that is not recognized by many motherboards before the BIOS upgrade. BIOS upgrade only do good if is successful, but you should pay attention to avoid mistakes.

Step 2. Check whether your BIOS can be updated via software
The BIOS must be Flash ROM. The number on the chip must be 28?29?39 or 49. If you see the number 27,it can not be update by executing a new version program. Since not all BIOS updates are performed in the same manner, you have to make sure your bios updating method before you try to download the appropriate updating software from the manufacturer's website.

Step 3. Download the correct BIOS update version
We have to make sure the motherboard specification first in order to find the right BIOS driver. Go directly to the motherboard manufacturer's website is the first choice because they are original and ensure the safety and the integrity of the file. You can see these official sites on right of the page.

Step 4. Discover more details on updating BIOS manually

Remember the destination where the file is saved, in order to facilitate the show in the DOS. Restart your PC, enter the BIOS >Advanced Chipset Featares> System BIOS Cacheable and Video BIOS Cacheable > Disabled. Choose the option boot from CD-ROM. On DOS interface, refresh and run A:> Awdflash from the DOS prompt. There will be a window as follows:

In the dialog box, type the BIOS name of the new version and press Enter. Then there will be a prompt Do You Want to Save BIOS (Y / N), which means whether or not to retain the original BIOS, and choose Y in order the BIOS can use the old file to recover when the update failed. When the backup is completed, there will be prompt Are You Sure To Program (Y / N) to ask you to confirm whether to update BIOS or not ? Select the Y to start, and there will be there are three symbols reporting the situation, white grid means update is finished, blue means no need to update, and red grid means update goes Wrong. If you failed, you can Bootblock Bios as follows to fix it.

If your BIOS update is entirely correct, you can press F1 to re-boot; on the contrary, press F10 to reflash. If successful BIOS upgrade, there will be a new display restarting the computer.

Step 5. Reboot the computer after the update is completed.
Many update programs will automatically resart the computer. Some will request your permission to do so. A few will prompt you to reboot the system yourself. If you're forced to handle this yourself, pull out the power cable if applicable after you have shut it down. Wait a minute and put it in place. Turn on your PC now.

Step 6. Configure the BIOS.
If you are an advanced use and know the settings you want, change them now. If you have never changed BIOS settings before, leave it by default. Most PCs will function just fine using the default BIOS settings.

What is a BootBlock BIOS?
In order to avoid errors, all motherboard manufacturers set a small area of the BIOS that doesn't get overwritten and seen by us when you flash BIOS. This area is Boot Block BIOS.

How does Boot Block BIOS work?
When we boot, the computer will execute the Boot Block BIOS first which will detect the integrity of BIOS file. If the BIOS is not damaged, it will guide the self-checking. If the BIOS is found damaged, it will use the Boot Block BIOS to start the "original" equipment such as floppy drive, ISA card and keyboard. You can guide the system in to DOS mode if there is an ISA graphics card and DOS bootable diskette.

Fix the motherboard BIOS
Boot Block is damaged or not, the easiest way is to judge from the floppy drive indicator light. If there is phenomenon of flashing, it means the Boot Block is working. We will take Award BIOS as an example.

Award's BootBlock :

1. Copy an Award flasher & the correct Back.bin ( or BIOS *.bin) file on the floppy.
2. Insert the floppy in your system's floppydrive and power on the system.
3. The boot-block BIOS will execute an AUTOEXEC.BAT file on a bootable diskette and execute it automaticly by putting awdflash *.bin in the AUTOEXEC.bat file.
4. Reboot the PC and modify the CMOS for your configuration.

1. Replace the corrupt chip by a working one.
   The best option is to take the working BIOS chip from a motherboard which has the same chipset although that's not absolutely necessary. It just has to give you a chance of booting into DOS. Before pulling the working BIOS chip out of it's original motherboard, set the System BIOS cacheable option in the BIOS to enabled.
2. After you have put the working BIOS in the motherboard with the corrupt BIOS boot the system to DOS (with a floppy or HD).
3. Now replace (while the computer is powered on) the working BIOS chip with the corrupt one.
4. Flash an appropriate BIOS to the corrupt BIOS and reboot.