How Do I Update My BIOS?

[Dark Mantis]

Once you are sure everything is working as you want it you can synchronise the Backup BIOS to match the Main BIOS.

To check on the versions go into the BIOS and on the MAIN page press F9 for system info.   You should see both BIOS versions listed, if they do not match please update the backup BIOS to match the current.

To do that, reboot and where you would normally press DEL to enter the BIOS, instead press Alt + F12, this will flash the Backup BIOS with the MAIN BIOS contents.   Do not worry when you see a recovery comment, that is normal and means it is flashing the backup BIOS.

[RatsAss]

I just saw this post now.
Thanks for the advice. I'll wait a little while longer to make sure all is good.

[AbigailClancy]

Hey thanks for the tutorial...!!!

[Dark Mantis]

You're welcome , glad it was useful.

[Vapperhiir]

Hi

I'm very new to al this so I would like to ask some questions before I touch anything.
I have never, ever done anything with BIOS before.
Sorry if some of these questions are repeated and seem to plain but I just would like to make these things clear for myself before I brake my new mobo

Yesterday I got my new GA-Z68X-UD3-B3  rev.1   with Intel Core i5 2310  2,9GHz Sandy Bridge (using Win7 64bit)
Basicly it works  (exept I cant somehow get the driver for simple PCI controller, but it might be something with my smartcard reader or smth.And some other bus orsmthn. But everything still works  as it seems.)
Questions:
1. My BIOS is F1 should I update it to F6 as it is the newest. I know it has been said that if it works no need to update but F1 seems soo outdated?!

2. if I would do it the will the new BIOS be updated to both bios as this MOBO has dual BIOS? So If something goes wrong no backup will be available?
If not the would backup BIOS automatically load default settings and version if something at al goes wrong?

3.If I will still update, it was said not to use @BIOS. But if I would use it but not thru internet but download the bios and just open it thru the @Bios program? Would this be safer or .... Here is link where I read abot poissibility to do it not thru internet http://www.gigabyte.com/MicroSite/121/tech_a_bios.htm (method III)

4.If updating BIOS should I firstly update to F5 and the to F6 or straight to F6. On Gigabye site I have only these 2 BIOS updates availabe http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3852&dl=1#bios

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome.

The first thing is not to worry too much about it. 99% of BIOS updates go wiothout a problem. The main thing is to make sure that you have the correct update file for your motherboard model and revision.

1. I would probably advise updating as yoiu have a couple of minor problems that may or may not be BIOS related.

2. No the update will only affect the Main BIOS. The Backup BIOS will remain untouched.

3. If you feel unhappy about usiong QFlash then use @BIOS but just be aware that the chance of failure is greater. It won't make a lot of differenced whether you use a downloaded file or not.

4. I would just go straight to F6 in this instance as there isn't much choice anyway.

[Vapperhiir]

Thank You very, much Dark Mantis and also Absic. Very useful and good information. I would not have dared to do it myself without Your guidence.

So I did as was suggested, used Qflash with USB stick.
I'm on F6 BIOS now.
Wil let it run for few weeks to see no problems and then flash my backup Bios to sync it (again with knowlege I got here).

Only scary part was after flashing when rebooting I got message ''Windows could not start ......... missing file or corrupt ...... File in sys32 - hal.dll.''
But then I realised that maybe its wrong drive to boot from ... and so it was. Rebooted again and made my HDD with OS on it to primary and it was done.

Thanx again.

(ran in some problems earlier with internet. Problems from provider so I have not got a chance to see if I can get drivers for SM Bus Controller and PCI Simple Communications Controller. Hope now I would get them right.)

[Dark Mantis]

We are only too glad to have been able to help. Well done!

[BizzyBum]

Wow, great topic! I'm going to bump with a few questions..

1. I have a GA-Z68A-D3H-B3 (rev. 1.0) that is currently F1. I noticed that GIGABYTE's website has my model up to F11 now. That seems like a big update. I know it says don't update if you don't have issues, but I'm trying to OC my 2500K to 4.5GHz and I noticed the CPU Vcore adjustment isn't listed so I would have to use Dynamic Vcore. I'm just wondering if updating the BIOS to F11 would add options or help me in my OC in any way?

2. I also noticed the GIGABYTE website has a ton of drivers and utilities I can download for my motherboard for my OS which is Windows 7 64-bit: http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3856&dl=1#driver. I assume these are all optional, but should I download any/all of these or don't even bother?

Thanks for any help!

[absic]

When it comes to updating the BIOS it is much safer to do so in small steps so F1 - F3, F3 - F5 etc.

Being total honest I don't use any of the optional utilities and I wouldn't do so on a regular basis. Saying that, I have tried some of them and things like EasyTune or TouchBIOS are installed on my PC but only for testing purposes.

[BizzyBum]

When it comes to updating the BIOS it is much safer to do so in small steps so F1 - F3, F3 - F5 etc.

Yeah, that's what I would do, but in my case, should I go from F1 to (eventually) F11 for my motherboard using a 2500K or if it's working fine just stick with F1?

Being total honest I don't use any of the optional utilities and I wouldn't do so on a regular basis. Saying that, I have tried some of them and things like EasyTune or TouchBIOS are installed on my PC but only for testing purposes.

Yeah, I figured all those drivers and utilities were optional. If I did want to download and install them, are they easier to install then flashing a BIOS?

[absic]

I always like to have the latest BIOS version if I am going to do any overclocking but sometimes it is a case of suck it and see and I have found my self going back to an earlier version to get the best from a system.

Installing the utilities is pretty much the same as installing any software and it is easier than flashing BIOS.

[pt49]

I think I have a BIOS problem, but am unable to update it.

GA-X79S-UP5-WIFI

I had trouble from the start getting a POST even. Now it POSTS ok but goes to the GIGABYTE - UEFI DualBIOS screen, but its just a blank blue screen apart from the header, nothing else.

[spikey_richie]

Hi,

I have a GAZ68XP-UD3P board, which was running BIOS version F6. I spotted the UEFI BIOS firmware on the product page, so whacked it on a USB stick, rebooted, loaded Q-Flash, but when I select the U1E as the new firmware I get a BIOS firmware checksum error. I have managed to go from F6 to F7 without issue (tried this incase I needed F7 for UEFI) but still no dice with U1E.

What am I doing wrong?

[spikey_richie]

Hi,

I have a GAZ68XP-UD3P board, which was running BIOS version F6. I spotted the UEFI BIOS firmware on the product page, so whacked it on a USB stick, rebooted, loaded Q-Flash, but when I select the U1E as the new firmware I get a BIOS firmware checksum error. I have managed to go from F6 to F7 without issue (tried this incase I needed F7 for UEFI) but still no dice with U1E.

What am I doing wrong?

Fixed by following this guide