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Thread ID: 54444 2005-02-12 07:55:00 Back Up for BIOS grantji (3847) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
324402 2005-02-12 07:55:00 There are plenty of suggestions as to how to backup Win Registry, but how does one back up the BIOS, please?

Ian
grantji (3847)
324403 2005-02-12 08:17:00 Well normally u cant back up a BIOS unless the motherboard u have has support for 2 BIOSES onboard.

Or when u flash the BIOS, to a newer version, u use the dos program that comes with the BIOS update to make a backup of the old BIOS.

You just have to make sure the power doesnt die while flashing or thats the end of your BIOS, and computer system.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
324404 2005-02-12 08:24:00 but occasionaly you may be lucky and restore it, but dont count on it. if you have a well known brand you can get a new BIOS chip if you flashed your old one incorrectly Prescott (11)
324405 2005-02-12 09:08:00 most new boars have dual bios chips these days . . so it should automatically switch to the other chip if something goes wrong .

Most bios fupdate programs should allow you to create a backup of the current bios (on a floppy) . Whether it is useful is another story though (cause if your bios is stuffed then weel how do you restore it) .

Also some motherboards have a feature so that in the event of a failed update, part of their ROM isn't actually overwritten, enabling you just enough functionality to do a "blind" flash to try and fix it .

Another trick is to find a bios chip from another motherboard of the same model and do a hot swap . . .

The bottom line: check that the bios you are going to update is for the right model and aviod beta ones . Play it safe and use a UPS if you can . No rela need to even bother with a backup, unless updating .
gibler (49)
324406 2005-02-12 09:35:00 Well I wouldnt say all new mobos have dual bios. Gigabyte mobos might. I cant say I know of any others (besides the more expensive ones), that support dual BIOS.

More recent ASUS mobos support crashfree bios, which saves u buying another BIOS, if u accidentally kill the one u have at the mo.
Speedy Gonzales (78)
324407 2005-02-12 10:34:00 how does one back up the BIOS, please

pen and paper and a safe place has always worked for me :)
beama (111)
324408 2005-02-13 00:05:00 most new boards have dual bios chips these days . .

very few brands have dual bios chips . gigabyte is proberly the most well known for this feature . a fair few brands came out with dual bios after the first major bios flashing virus came out . however most makes have dropped it . . . . no doubt due to cost and lack of customer demand .
tweak'e (69)
324409 2005-02-13 00:56:00 Thanks All
having a floppy copy sounds like th nest thing for me.

Ian
grantji (3847)
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