Hardware components of the PC
ROM
Updating the BIOS

If there is a flaw in the BIOS program, the firmware chips can be updated. This process is known as flashing the BIOS, and involves booting the system from a Flash update boot diskette. As new devices and products are introduced to the market place, a PC with older BIOS may need to be updated to be 100% compatible with newer devices. Required Flash update utilities and BIOS programs for the boot diskette would be produced and supplied by the manufacturer of the PC motherboard.

• Ensure that the instructions are very carefully followed, otherwise you could end up with a motherboard with no BIOS. This situation can only generally be remedied by returning the motherboard to the manufacturer.

Some motherboard manufacturers have a copy of their BIOS on their Internet web site. They will also provide a utility to load it into the BIOS flash memory on the motherboard. Both of these can usually be downloaded and used by the IT Systems Support Technician.