I've had my PC for 18 months now and was thinking about updating my BIOS.I'm wondering if there is any benefit to it, whether it is a relatively simple task and most importantly if I will be required to redo the settings that are currently in place.Also, is there a way to make a backup of my current installation in case anything gets messed up?Thanks in advance for your replies,

I've had my PC for 18 months now and was thinking about updating my BIOS.I'm wondering if there is any benefit to it, whether it is a relatively simple task and most importantly if I will be required to redo the settings that are currently in place.Also, is there a way to make a backup of my current installation in case anything gets messed up?Thanks in advance for your replies,

Always good idea to update BIOS to the latest.It is simple, refer to your mobo manual on the actual process, ASUS are fairly simple - just have to load the flash utility on the boot.Yes, will have to redo all custom settings. You can save them into a profile in BIOS. And reload after flash. Best is though, make photos (I usually do it with my iPhone :)), and redo by hand.Installation of what? BIOS?You can make a backup copy from the flash utility. I never made one though, if it interests you... just ran over each time, last 15 years.

Asus have some Windows GUI BIOS updater. As far as I remember, You can revert back. Read their forum, there is a plenty of feedback regarding new BIOSes. I had to upgrade one of my previous Asus MoBo's because of incompatible RAM sticks. It helped and do not destroy anything. It is worth keeping that up to date without a doubt!

Using any windows based BIOS updater can be a recipe for disaster. There are several utiltites on the website for the mobo that run in startup or some BIOS have an updater built in.Vic

I owned the ASUS P5Q. I know for the FACT that it has a BIOS flash utility, which you can, I *think* load up by pressing Alt+F12 right after you turn on the computer. That is the simplest and safest way to upgrade the BIOS.Don't do it under Windows. Ever.

Guys, did You ever try BOIS upgrade from Win OS? I guess no...It is safe, it is much more comfortable.I did it under Asus boards, I did it under GigaByte boards with success. WinApp loads BIN file to BIOS, verifies CRC checksum and when everything is OK, reboots the system. Then the actual BIOS upgrade takes place, it CAN'T be done under OS working.

I owned the ASUS P5Q. I know for the FACT that it has a BIOS flash utility, which you can, I *think* load up by pressing Alt+F12 right after you turn on the computer. That is the simplest and safest way to upgrade the BIOS.Don't do it under Windows. Ever.

I read about using the utility in windows and thought about doing it that way. I'm going to try utilizing the flash utility Alt+F12 and see how that goes.Thanks to everyone for your input.

maxam, good luck. It is much easier as it Was Years ago. Some Dell notebooks only have EXE (launched from OS) to upgrade BIOS

it CAN'T be done under OS working.

I did it under Windows. Went wrong once. Though with Asus mostly not a problem, since you can recover to older BIOS then upgrade again.And the reason above is exactly why go over BIOS flash utility. It diesn't require any program to be installed or reboots or anything. Just select file and upgrade. Boot. Voila.