The BIOS — or UEFI on modern computers — is the motherboard firmware that runs first when you switch on. It checks the hardware, configures the processor and memory and hands control to the operating system. Manufacturers release firmware updates from time to time, and many people wonder whether to install them. The short answer: only when there's a specific reason. A BIOS update is one of the few operations that, if it fails, can leave a computer unable to start at all.
What an update can bring
- Support for new processors — a common reason: the board physically fits, but won't start with a new CPU without newer firmware.
- Stability fixes — freezes, sleep problems, errors with particular memory.
- Memory compatibility — better handling of high-speed modules and large capacities.
- Security fixes — processor microcode updates and firmware protection against attacks.
- Laptop fixes — fan control, battery charging, power modes.
- Processor protection — in recent years manufacturers have issued updates correcting dangerously high voltages on certain CPUs.
When not to update
If the computer is stable, you're not fitting a new processor, and the release notes contain nothing relevant to your problems or to security, an update may bring nothing but risk. Newer versions occasionally introduce bugs or remove features such as overclocking options. "If it works, don't touch it" is a reasonable rule here — with the exception of critical security updates.
What can go wrong
During a flash, the contents of the firmware chip are rewritten. If the process is interrupted — the power goes off, the laptop battery dies, the system hangs, the wrong file is chosen — the firmware is left corrupted and the board can no longer start the computer. From the outside: the fans spin, but there's no picture and nothing happens.
| Risk | How it happens |
|---|---|
| Power loss during flashing | A surge or outage, a flat battery |
| The wrong firmware file | A similar board model, a different revision, a file for another region |
| Skipping mandatory intermediate versions | Some boards must be updated in stages |
| Flashing from an unstable system | Malware, overclocking, faulty memory |
| Settings reset | Afterwards, settings revert to defaults — drive mode, boot order, memory profiles |
| Encryption issues | BitLocker may ask for the recovery key after an update |
Before updating the firmware on a computer with BitLocker encryption enabled, make sure you have the recovery key. Without it, you could lose access to all the data on the drive after the update.
A Tbilisi factor: power cuts
Short outages and voltage fluctuations are the biggest risk when updating a desktop's firmware. The professional approach is to flash only with the computer connected through a UPS, and a laptop only with a full battery and the charger plugged in.
If the firmware gets corrupted
Many modern boards have safeguards: a backup copy of the firmware (Dual BIOS) or a button that restores it from a USB stick, sometimes even without a CPU installed. Without such protection, recovery is possible with a hardware programmer that writes the chip directly. That's a job for a specialist with the right equipment, and in most cases the board can be revived. DIY attempts to "reflash it like in the video" often end in permanent damage.
Laptops and vendor utilities
Laptop makers often deliver firmware updates through their own utilities or even through Windows Update. That's convenient, but sometimes an update starts at a bad moment or on a nearly flat battery, and fan or charging behaviour can change afterwards. If a laptop behaves strangely after an automatic update, it's worth having it checked.
How a technician updates firmware safely
- Identifies the exact board model, revision and current firmware version.
- Reads the change log and decides whether the update is warranted in your case.
- Records current settings and confirms you have your BitLocker recovery key.
- Connects a desktop through a UPS, or a laptop to its charger with a full battery.
- Uses the official file and the manufacturer's recommended method, in stages if required.
- Restores the necessary settings afterwards and checks stability.
- If the firmware is already corrupted, recovers it using the board's backup features or a programmer.
A real example
A customer bought a new processor to speed up an older gaming PC, but after fitting it the system wouldn't start. The board did support that CPU — but only from a firmware version released two years after the board was made. The technician temporarily refitted the old processor, updated the firmware in three stages via a UPS, then installed the new CPU and configured the memory. The computer became noticeably faster and the customer didn't need a new motherboard.
Firmware settings themselves deserve respect too: changing memory voltages, disabling Secure Boot or switching the drive mode from AHCI can stop Windows booting just as surely as a failed flash.
Leave firmware to a specialist
We come out across Tbilisi around the clock to update and recover motherboard and laptop firmware. Learn more on our CPU replacement, component upgrades and "Computer won't turn on" pages.
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