Hardware Reference
In-Depth Information
you have downloaded the BIOS image file from the motherboard manufacturer. Unlike
previous upgrades via USB flash drives, the drive only needs to contain the BIOS image
file and does not need to be bootable or require any other programs to be installed.
To perform the USB flash-based upgrade on a system using an Intel motherboard, first
download the proper BIOS image file for the motherboard and copy it to the root folder
of a FAT- or FAT32-formatted USB flash drive. Then restart the system, enter the BIOS
SetupandnavigatetotheAdvanced,BootConfigurationmenu.MakesurethesettingDis-
play F7 to Update BIOS is enabled and that it has been saved. Insert the flash drive into a
USB port, restart the system, and follow these steps to complete the process:
1.
When prompted during the restart, press F7 to enter the BIOS Flash Update tool.
2.
Select the USB flash drive, and press Enter.
3.
Select the .BIO (BIOS image) file, and press Enter. Confirm that you want to update
the BIOS by pressing Enter a second time.
4.
Wait 2-5 minutes for the update to complete; then, when prompted, remove the USB
flash drive and restart the system.
ToperformtheupgradeonasystemusinganMSImotherboard,firstinserttheflashdrive,
restart the system, and then follow these steps to complete the process:
1.
When prompted during the restart, press the Delete key to enter the BIOS Setup.
2.
Select the M-Flash menu, and change the M-Flash function to BIOS Update.
3.
SelecttheUSBflashdriveasthesource,andpointtotheBIOSimagefileontheflash
drive.
4.
Select Flash BIOS, and press Enter.
5.
Once the upgrade is finished, the system restarts automatically, after which you can
remove the flash drive.
As you can see from these examples, updating a modern motherboard via a BIOS
Setup-based utility is almost as easy as using a Windows-based utility, yet it has the ad-
vantage of working outside of a Windows environment. In fact, it works even with no
OS loaded on the system (and without the hassle of creating DOS bootable media), which
makes it much easier to update the BIOS on a new motherboard or new system build be-
fore you install the OS.
Automated Bootable Media Images
Using automated bootable images is the next easiest method and works with any (or no)
OS installed on the system. This is ideal for non-Windows systems or new systems in
which the OS hasn't yet been installed. Being able to use this procedure depends on your
