How to Fix a Flash BIOS Problem

BIOS chips look roughly like this, but smaller.

Flashing of the BIOS with a computer can be a tricky and risky proposition. On occasion, something can go terribly wrong and corrupt the entire computer. If this happens, you will not be able to boot your computer. There is a quick way to repair this, but it requires a bit of timing and a secondary BIOS chip from a motherboard identical to the one you're using.

Things You'll Need

• Screwdriver
• BIOS chip from identical motherboard

Instructions

1. Open the computer tower. If necessary, use a screwdriver to remove the side panel and expose the motherboard.

2. Remove the corrupted BIOS chip from the motherboard. This is a small, rectangular chip that is usually located near the bottom of the motherboard.

3. Place the new BIOS chip in the BIOS socket.

4. Power on the computer and let it boot through its DOS protocols. This is represented by the long string of statistics and settings that one sees when the computer first boots.

5. Swap out the BIOS chips as the computer is booting. This will overwrite the corrputed BIOS on the old chip with the settings from the replacement. Once this is done, close the computer tower and, if necessary, shut the PC off.

Tips & Warnings

• Be careful, as electricity will be flowing through the motherboard while you go through this process. Going about it haphazardly can result in electrical shock.

References

• Dev Hardware: How and Why to Flash Your BIOS
• Ask Dave Taylor: How Do I Fix a Messed Up BIOS