The basic input/output system (BIOS) of a computer is the core of a computer’s internal programming. The system BIOS is separate from the active parts of a computer, the parts with which the user normally interacts. When a BIOS needs to be repaired or updated, it goes through a process called flashing. Updating the BIOS allows the computer to directly interact with an area of the system that is normally inaccessible.
A screenshot of a BIOS setup screen.
A computer’s BIOS is the first software to run after the machine is turned on. This integrated program lays the foundation for interaction between the various pieces of hardware and software in the system. The BIOS allows the operating system to boot and the computer’s user interface to load.
A BIOS chip allows a computer to properly boot up the boot process.
For many years, a computer’s system BIOS remained on a standard read-only chip. Like most read-only chips of the time, this chip could not be changed or upgraded. If a new BIOS was needed for the system, the chip had to be physically removed from the system and replaced with a new chip. Replacing this chip was a slow and difficult process, well beyond the capabilities of most home users.
In the mid-1990s, a new type of BIOS, called Flash BIOS, came into common use. This was on a special kind of read-only chip that wasn’t quite read-only. Under the right circumstances and with the right information, it was possible to rewrite the information stored on the chip. This process was known as updating the BIOS.
The impact of the BIOS update was huge. Users were able to reliably update the BIOS of their own systems. This allowed BIOS manufacturers to make fewer versions of their software. With fewer versions, the complexity of BIOS systems has increased. Soon, they incorporated system configurations previously only available as hardwired switches or through external hardware interaction.
BIOS update is an important part of computer maintenance. Since the BIOS is at the heart of the computer’s hardware and software, it is essential that it function properly. BIOS updates allow new types of hardware to securely interface with the computer system and provide a more stable platform for hardware and software to function.
Typically, the BIOS update is done through a program available from the motherboard manufacturer. Originally, the information had to be loaded onto a floppy drive as a boot disk. The update process would happen automatically after restarting the computer. While this option is still available for most upgrades, it is not the preferred method. Now a simple downloadable program will check the computer’s BIOS version, download the latest updates, run the BIOS update, and reboot the computer, all through the standard user interface.
