How to Flash an Award BIOS
Your computer's BIOS (Basic Input Output System) is the program that tells the machine what to do with all of its devices, like the keyboard, mouse, hard drive, ports and graphics card. It may be necessary to flash, or update, your BIOS on occasion--for example, if new hardware or software becomes available that is not supported by your original BIOS.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
Flashing your Award BIOS
-
1
Determine the manufacturer of your motherboard or mainboard. You may not know this information, so you'll have to get it when you boot up your computer. Pause the screen during the boot sequence and look for the BIOS ID number. It will appear while your memory is counting up, right after you turn on the computer. This number will allow you to look up the manufacturer and the chipset of your motherboard. Write it down exactly. You can also download a software program to tell you this information, if you prefer (see Resources).
-
2
Visit the website of your motherboard manufacturer to get the most current BIOS and flashing utility. If your computer was built by a company like Gateway, Dell or IBM, you can usually find these files under the "Downloads" section of their websites. Download the files to your computer.
-
-
3
Prepare your computer for flashing. This entails entering the BIOS Setup (accessible when you reboot your computer) and disabling all of the items featuring the word "Shadow" (choose "disable" or "off"). Also in the BIOS setup menu, disable all of the power-management functions. Enter the Chipset Feature Setup and disable System BIOS Cacheable and Video BIOS Cacheable as well to complete your preparation.
-
4
Unzip your files and look for the README file. Open this file in a text editor and read it very carefully. Not all versions will be the same, and it is important to follow the instructions exactly as presented in this file, or you could do serious damage to your computer.
-
5
Run the BIOS flash program. If the manufacturer provided a file that can be executed within the Windows environment, run the file as specified in the README or instructions. It will lead you through a series of prompts, reboot the computer and flash the BIOS.
-
6
Create a boot disk. If you are not running Windows or cannot use a Windows executable flash utility, you will need to create a boot disk that will allow you to boot to a command prompt. Refer to your operating system documentation on how to create this disk.
-
7
Boot to a command prompt and run the flash utility. Remember to follow the README instructions to the letter, and do not skip any steps. Reboot, and your BIOS will be updated.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Only flash your BIOS when the update corrects a specific problem you are having, such as unrecognizable new hardware or software.
Failure to perform the BIOS flash correctly can result in a computer that will not boot. Use caution; if you have any doubts, see a computer professional or contact your computer manufacturer's support team.
