How to update BIOS drivers on a laptop. BIOS firmware from Windows

Hi all! I have long wanted to write an article about BIOS firmware, but initially I wanted to write it for a computer, but I still don’t have the old one at hand so that I could show how to update the old BIOS using commands. Therefore, I decided to demonstrate updating the BIOS on a laptop. Moreover, according to these instructions, you can update absolutely any model!

First, you need to find the BIOS file. I will show how to update bios on asus laptop, but again I repeat, this can be done with another company.

We go to the official website of the manufacturer. For example, we write Asus in Yandex and see the official website, go to:

Let's go to service - support.

Now, you need to find out the model of your laptop. It is written either on the front of the laptop.

Or on the back cover:

Or else, it can be hidden under the battery and for this you need to remove it.

To search for drivers and BIOS on the site there are two options: search by model and selection by category. We will search by model in the search. Enter the model and click search.

If you entered the correct model, the site will give it to you. Let's move on.

If you can’t find the model on the website, then go to google.ru and write the laptop model and support.

We choose support or if the site is in English support.

Select your operating system.

Open the bios tab and download the latest version.

Now we need to download the utility.

We also select the latest version and download.

If you do not see the item with the utility, select another version of Windows from the list, because for example, if there is a utility in Windows 8, then sometimes developers are too lazy to put it in Windows 8.1. But if you don't find it, don't be upset, because... in the second method I will show you how to update the BIOS directly in it.

If, when installing the BIOS utility, a message appears: sorry this program only support Asus notebook, then you need to download and install the driver in the same section ATKACPI. You can get it in the utilities section.

After this, the utility should be installed.

You can update bios in two ways:

1. From BIOS
2. Using the utility

   1. Updating the BIOS using the utility

Let's launch the utility. She will give such a message, but do not be afraid, if you do everything correctly, then nothing bad will happen. Click OK.

Select BIOS. It is advisable to place the file with the firmware in the root of the disk.

The program will also issue a warning that the battery must be charged, otherwise if the laptop turns off during the firmware, then you will either have to throw out the motherboard or look for a programmer.

After starting the program, information about the current and new BIOS will appear.

My BIOS is already up to date. This is why the following inscription appears:

In this case, you don't need to do anything. But if there is no such sign, then the utility will write that the BIOS is correct and you only need to press the Flash button.

First the BIOS will be erased.

And finally, checking for correctness.

And if the verification is successful, the firmware process will be completed.

All is ready. Now reboot your laptop.

2. Firmware update using the BIOS itself

Each BIOS has a utility for flashing its firmware. And if there is no BIOS utility for your laptop, then you can update it within the laptop itself. To do this, go to the BIOS. Usually this is F2 or F10.

Let's go to the Advanced tab, but you may have this utility in another place. I also call it Start Easy Flash, but you might call it Asus EZ Flash 2, ASRock Install Flash, Q-Flash Utility, basically everything related to the words bios, update, flash.

When you find it, press enter.

By the way, I forgot to say. It is advisable if you write the BIOS file to a flash drive, because... Not all bios understand NFTS. The file in the archive also needs to be extracted and placed in the root of the flash drive.

On the left, select your media, and on the right, select the firmware and press enter.

The utility will ask, are you sure you want to update the BIOS? Click yes.

The BIOS will be updated. After completion, the laptop will either reboot itself or will need to be rebooted.

That's all! Knowing these instructions, you can update any laptop!

Leisure and work of a modern person can no longer be imagined without the use of a laptop. The need for repairs, changes in usual settings and updates often arises among users. Sometimes it is important to know how to update the BIOS on a laptop. BIOS is a key information input/output system that ensures loading operating systems (Windows, Linux, IOS). Flashing the BIOS on a laptop removes errors or enables additional support for memory and processors.

Why do you need a BIOS update?

Before you update the BIOS on your laptop, you need to find out why the program update is required. There are several factors:

1. No support for new software. The old settings do not suit the new tools, so the laptop needs to change the BIOS version.
2. When you install new programs, the old software “conflicts” with them.
3. The installed settings are damaged by viruses.
4. Information on how to flash the BIOS will be needed when the flash drive is not read as a boot device.
5. The laptop freezes when you turn on some programs or their options and reboots itself.
6. The motherboard does not detect a high-capacity hard drive or a video adapter (video card) with a high number of gigabytes.
7. The stability of the laptop is unstable, the computer works poorly due to minor software errors.
8. The manufacturer has installed only a basic set of functions, which is not enough for the computer’s operating power.

How to enter BIOS on a laptop

The BIOS launches immediately when you turn on the laptop. If the laptop model is older, then letters will be visible in the upper left corner of the display in the first seconds of loading. Next, the operating system starts and control of the laptop passes to it. To find out how to open the BIOS on a laptop, first of all, find out the manufacturer and model of the laptop. To enter the BIOS of the most popular brands of laptops, you need to turn on or restart the laptop, then follow to:

1. HP (HP) – hold down the F2 or Escape key when starting the laptop.
2. ASUS (Asus) – press the F2 key when turning on.
3. ACER (Acer) – press the combination F2-Del or Ctrl-Alt-Esc. You can also turn it on using the F1 key.
4. DELL (Dell) – Del, F2, rarely Ctrl-Alt-Enter.
5. SAMSUNG (Samsung) – at the moment of turning on, press the Pause button. A text will appear, in it you need to find “Press F2 to enter setup”. The F2 key is replaced by F1, F8, F10, F11, F12, Esc by selecting the desired one. To exit, press Enter. The next step is to search for the markings of the laptop motherboard. To find it out, follow “Start – Hardware – Device Manager – Configurations”. We copy the markings onto a sheet of paper and enter them in the browser. If desired, add additional “to enter setup/BIOS”.
6. LENOVO (Lenovo) - classic Del or F2 keys.
7. TOSHIBA (Toshiba) - it is worth considering the device model. For older Toshiba models, with the laptop turned off, hold down the F2 button, then, while holding the key, turn on the laptop. New devices are turned on according to the instructions “Login to Windows - Start - Preinstalled programs - Bios System” (sometimes the name is different, but it always contains the word BIOS).

Ways to update the motherboard BIOS on a laptop

Installing a BIOS software update differs in methods depending on the type of motherboard. Before installing the firmware, you need to study the instructions for the board to take into account all the details specified by the manufacturer. Upgrade options:

1. Windows proprietary utility. The advantageous way to avoid errors if it is not clear how to reinstall the BIOS. Modern motherboards (Asus, MSI, Gygabyte) preferably accept this utility.
2. Built-in BIOS settings. The option is considered suitable when the user is confident that the installed BIOS version is absolutely correct. The program for updating the BIOS (Q-Flash, EZ Flash, Utility) is written to a flash drive and launched.
3. DOS mode. This firmware option is for experienced users; for beginners it will be difficult to update the I/O program using this method. The mode requires creating a bootable flash drive with DOS and a new version of the BIOS program. Serious errors may appear during installation.

On Windows operating system

How to update the BIOS on an Asus or any other motherboard? Using the proprietary MSI Live Update 5 utility, the algorithm of actions is as follows:

1. Launch the MSI Live Update 5 program, click the Scan icon.
2. In the report list, look for the MB BIOS line. If there is one, then there is an update for your laptop. Click the arrow to download.
3. Run the file you saved earlier and click Next.
4. Select In Windows Mode to begin installation.
5. Active programs close, click Next.
6. Waiting for the program update to complete.
7. Press any key appears - press any button to restart the computer.
8. The update reinstallation process is complete.

Update directly in BIOS

The Windows upgrade option is not very safe for the motherboard. The main danger is the computer freezing or unexpected shutdown. If the installation process is interrupted, the motherboard will be damaged. Updating directly into the BIOS will help you configure the necessary programs and avoid problematic installations using built-in tools. Step-by-step instruction:

1. Download the update file to your computer.
2. Write it to a clean, well-functioning flash drive - you need one that has been previously scanned for viruses.
3. We do not remove the flash drive from the port and reboot the computer. The next step is to enter the BIOS.
4. In the Tools section, open the update utility (we find out the name from the instructions for the motherboard).
5. In the main menu, go to the left column (Tab key). All media that is detected by the device is located here.
6. Select the flash drive, click update and press the Enter button.
7. Sometimes the motherboard triggers an error check, the end of which you need to wait for without canceling anything.

In DOS mode using a USB flash drive

1. Download the program from the official website. No installation is required, so let's launch right away.
2. In the Device section, select a flash drive to load the file onto. Important: save everything you need from the flash drive first, otherwise when loading, all files from the flash drive will be deleted and recovery will not be possible.
3. In the File System line we indicate FAT32.
4. Opposite Create a bootable disk using, set the version of MS-DOS or FreeDOS. How to find out the BIOS version for your laptop? There is no fundamental difference between these options, choose either one.
5. Click Start: the process will complete within a few seconds.

Video instructions: how to flash the BIOS

Hello everyone, dear friends! Just the other day I purchased a brand new ASUS laptop, in which I had to immediately update the BIOS. Therefore, in this article I would like to tell you how to update the BIOS on your laptop and why this procedure is performed on a new laptop.

So, sooner or later the time comes when we can no longer tolerate glitches and slowdowns in the operation of the operating system. Some users prefer to take their laptop to a service center to have professionals reinstall the system. Other users choose a more difficult path - reinstalling Windows themselves. This article is dedicated to the second category of users. We will figure out how to update the BIOS on Asus laptops. The procedure requires 10-15 minutes, not counting the installation of the operating system itself. It’s rare that laptop owners decide to update the BIOS on their own; usually the reason is an error that prevents them from installing a new version of the operating system. Most often this is error 0x000000A5. If you are well versed in computers, but have not encountered updating the BIOS, then immediately skip to the appropriate section of the article.

Today's material will cover the following questions:

— What laptops are the instructions suitable for?

— When is a BIOS update required?

— How does the BIOS update process work?

— What to do if the BIOS is new, but Windows 7 is not installed?

— What should you pay attention to before installation?

Reference! The abbreviation BIOS stands for Basic input-output system; in Russian this is translated as Basic input-output system. BIOS is a set of firmware that helps optimize the operation of computer components and also loads and installs the operating system. Here you can read the necessary information about the BIOS itself.

The base system can even be seen on the motherboard. Look at the photo, the tip of the screwdriver points to the BIOS chip.

For which Asus laptops is it advisable to update the BIOS?

The answer is simple - for those with an outdated BIOS. Typically these are ASUS X551 and X553 series laptops. This also applies to older models. In any case, the computer will automatically inform you that you will not be able to install a new version of the operating system on this BIOS. And he will do this with error 0x000000A5. We need to install a new version of the BIOS that will support ACPI, after which the error will disappear and you can safely install the desired version of the Windows operating system.

I will give an example of updating the BIOS on an ASUS X553 MA laptop. The update procedure follows the same scheme, so owners of other Asus models can also use my instructions. If you have a laptop from another manufacturer, then the only difference will be in the source of downloading the BIOS firmware. I will download it from the official Asus website, but you will need to go to the page of your laptop manufacturer.

What are the general reasons for updating the BIOS?

First of all, you need to check if your BIOS has an “OS Selection” option in the “Advanced” section. If it is not there, then you will need an update. In other cases, simply set this parameter to “Windows 7”, and this will complete the instructions for you.

The following are two main reasons for installing an updated version of the base system:

1. Error. The appearance of code 0x000000A5, which is accompanied by a blue screen of death. Most users switch to the updated version precisely because of this error. In some cases, owners of laptops with built-in Windows 8 or 10 cannot install an older version of the operating system; in this case, updating the base system also helps.
2. Working with utilities. Some utilities are loaded not from the operating system, but from the BIOS, as is the case with the installation of an operating system. For example, you can take the Acronis program, with which you can make adjustments to your hard drive, change the number and size of disk partitions. There are a lot of such applications, and new versions require that the BIOS on your computer supports the ACPI boot format.

This is what the screen of death looks like with error 0x000000A5; as a rule, this is what indicates an outdated BIOS version.

The laptop has an updated BIOS, but the error still appears when installing Windows 7. What to do and what to do?

How to update BIOS on an asus laptop?

In this case, the cause of the error is incorrect settings for the “seven” in the BIOS itself. This is especially true for owners of laptops with more modern systems. You can fix the situation as follows (try installing Windows 7 after each step):

Let's start with the simplest thing - reset the BIOS to standard settings. To do this, we need to go to the “Exit” section and select the item called “Load Default Settings”, as shown in the photo below:

Has anything changed? Then try in the same section changing the position to “OS Optimized Defaults” from “Win8 64bit” to “Win7 OS”. The image below shows the process of changing parameters.

If you are trying to install an operating system from a flash drive, then you should check the parameter called “USB mode” in the “Configuration” section. Try changing the position from “USB 2.0” to “USB 3.0”.

IMPORTANT! If the reason was in the third step, and you successfully installed the seventh version of Windows, then after completing the installation, go to the BIOS again and return the “USB Mode” parameter. Otherwise, USB 3.0 drivers will be lost, and as a result, all USB devices will operate at a reduced speed.

Updating the BIOS on an Asus laptop - step-by-step instructions

So, you went into the BIOS, opened the “” section for boot settings and did not find the “OS Selection” parameter there. In this case, we will need to update the BIOS. The required parameter looks like this:

To install the latest BIOS version, you need to go to the official Asus website https://www.asus.com/ru / At the top of the screen you will see the products tab, select “Laptops” there and indicate your model in a special field.

We are interested in the X series, since this is where the 553 MA model belongs. You can always find out the series on the laptop itself or on the box. A window dedicated to our model appeared in front of us - select the “Support” section, and then click on the “Drivers and Utilities” button.

First, select the type of operating system; here you should put your option. After this, a list of categories with drivers will appear. Everything is simple here - click on the BIOS category, after which a tab with the latest updates opens. We select the latest ones, in my case it is version 214. If you read the article later, you will have more recent drivers. In general, you need to choose the highest version.

It is best to install Windows from a flash drive, so it is best to transfer the BIOS firmware files to a USB drive. Unzip the archive and place the contents in the root folder of the flash drive. We also need the “Start Easy Flash” utility, which is located in the BIOS. Perhaps you already have it. Otherwise, the utility will need to be downloaded; you will find it on the official website.

We insert the flash drive with the BIOS firmware into the laptop and start it. In the first seconds of loading, press the “F2” key on the keyboard to get into the BIOS. Here we are interested in the “Advanced” tab, so go straight to it. Here click on the “Start Easy Flash” button

Now you need to select the firmware file located on the flash drive. It will have exactly the same name as when downloaded. Press the “Enter” key to start updating the BIOS.

After this, a loading bar will appear on the screen; you just have to wait for the process to complete. Do not turn off the laptop while updating the firmware; it is recommended that it be connected to the network. Once the process is complete, the laptop will reboot. Go to the BIOS again and go to the “Advanced” tab. There is now an "OS Selection" option here. Click on it to set the installation mode to “Windows 7”.

If you are going to install the seventh version of the OS, you then need to go to the “Boot” section and select the media from which you will install the system.

If it is a flash drive, then the name will contain the word “USB”; if the disk is “DVD”. It looks like this (in my case a flash drive is used):

Now you can safely insert the media with the installation files of the operating system and proceed to install Windows 7. Don’t forget to set the priority to boot from the hard drive after the installation is complete, otherwise the computer will try to boot from the flash drive every time.

As you can see, the update process is quite fast. In 95% of cases, updating the BIOS will help solve the problem with error 0x000000A5. You shouldn’t touch the rest of the settings; follow only the steps indicated in my instructions. Experiments may adversely affect the performance of your computer. Done, now you can fully use the seventh version of Windows.

Many users do not know the answers to the question. They don't know how to update the BIOS. Don't think that updating this program is super difficult. Believe me, everyone can figure it out.

The abbreviation of this system when translated into Russian sounds like a basic input-output system.

Why do you need a BIOS?

1. When the computer starts, the BIOS checks the standard hardware and its viability. If any of this equipment burns out, a special sound signal will sound.
2. The program runs a boot program that directly loads the Operating System.
3. Provides interaction between the OS and various peripheral equipment.
4. Gives the user the ability to configure PC hardware components.

Do I need to update the BIOS and why?

Updating this program is a deeper process than conventional computer programs. This implies a short algorithm of changes. Basically, this is correcting the malfunction of some rare components of the system or adding support for the latest processor models.

If the computer works without problems, it is better not to deal with this program. And it's not worth updating. You will not see any differences between the previous and new versions, and on the contrary, the update can generate unexpected problems for your PC. Most often they occur when the previous version was tested more thoughtfully than the new one.

The update should only be launched for your motherboard model. If you try to update the BIOS designed for a different model, it may bring you a number of unpleasant difficulties and problems.

But there are times when updates are necessary, and sometimes urgently:

1. The motherboard requires the installation of a new processor, which the updated version can provide. In this case, it is necessary to update the program.
2. You need to connect a hard drive of a size that is not supported by the old version of the program.
3. It is necessary to activate additional functions of the chipset (a set of chips that are designed to work together to provide a set of various functions) that are not included in the original version.
4. It is necessary to replace the outdated OS on the computer.
5. In case you plan to overclock your computer.
6. The system functions slowly or incorrectly due to errors in the BIOS code.
7. The version you have installed is broken, which is why the system does not function partially or completely.

What does a BIOS update do?

Updating the motherboard BIOS, as you already understood, is done mainly to ensure that new processors and new memory, which are released very often, are supported by the motherboard installed on your computer. Because of this, updating the program is sometimes simply necessary.

Is it worth updating the program unnecessarily? Is it possible to update it constantly without thinking about the consequences? Programming professionals advise against doing this.

How to view the current current version of your system program?

• The fastest way to find out the current version is to use command line on your computer.

• Enter: Wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion. A window will open in which you will see the current version.

After you have found out the information you need, you should go to the website of the manufacturer of the motherboard that is on your computer.
There are five most popular manufacturers:

How to update BIOS on a laptop?

Special programs for updating BIOS

Top 3 programs:

• Asus – Asus Update,
• MSI - Live Update,
• @BIOS.

General instructions for the programs:

Let's look at the option of how to update the BIOS from a flash drive:

How to make a bootable floppy disk for updating the BIOS?

The update method from a floppy disk is considered one of the most reliable in terms of security.

After all these manipulations, you need to restart the computer and boot from the floppy disk. Make sure that the disk drive is set as the first boot device in the BIOS. During the reboot, open the BIOS setup menu by pressing the special open keys. We select - Advanced BIOS Features, Boot Sequence, which are sometimes called Advanced, Advanced BIOS Features.

How to update BIOS without battery?

For update purposes, you often need to charge your computer to at least 10%. If this condition is not met, then the message “Power Check Error” will pop up in front of you, preventing you from updating the program.
In order to update it, you need to find out one key. What do you need to do for this?

Windows won't boot after BIOS update

It happens that after an update, Windows stops loading. In this case, you need to start the computer's BIOS. Find the parameters of SATA devices and try to change the operating mode. If the settings are set to IDE, you need to activate AHCI (or vice versa). After this, save the new settings and restart the computer.


And remember that you don’t need to log into this system unnecessarily, as this can harm your computer! If you still don’t understand or can’t figure out some subtleties, contact a specialist!

Have a great day!

The development of computer technology is manifested not only in the growth of power. The change from the basic I/O system to UEFI went unnoticed by most users. Now, to update the BIOS, you don’t need to “dance with a tambourine” and boot into DOS. The user can perform all actions in the familiar Windows graphical environment. Motherboard manufacturers build update mechanisms directly into the UEFI shell or place the necessary utilities on the driver disk.

When deciding to update the BIOS on a computer, the user must first find out its current version. This will be enough for owners of laptops and all-in-one PCs. Users of prefabricated PCs additionally need to know the model of the motherboard. You can find out this data directly in Windows. Call up the “Run” dialog box and enter the command indicated in the screenshot.

As a result of its execution, the system information window will open. Here we will find the current BIOS version and its usage mode.

Similar information can be obtained using the command line.

Users who rely more on third-party utilities and do not trust the built-in OS tools can use the CPU-Z program. If you download it as an archive, you won't even need to install it. Simply launch the EXE file of the required bit depth and go to the Mainboard tab.

As you can see, the data obtained with its help coincides with the system data.

Updating ASUS UEFI BIOS from Windows

We will consider further operations in relation to motherboards manufactured by ASUSTeK Computer. Updating the ASUS BIOS from Windows 10 can be done using several of the manufacturer's utilities.

BIOS Flash Utility

The program comes bundled with motherboards and is designed directly to work in the graphical OS environment. Windows BIOS Flash Utility allows you to save the current version to a file and update it via the Internet or from a ready-made firmware file.

When you select a network update from the manufacturer’s website, the program will offer several “mirrors” for downloading.

Checking available versions is performed completely automatically. Having detected firmware that is more recent than the one in use, the program will offer to select the appropriate option.

After downloading the marked software, it is tested for integrity. Successful completion of the check is accompanied by an information message.

Flashing ASUS BIOS from Windows is performed in three stages. The old version is erased, the new one is installed and tested.

The entire process is displayed graphically and takes a few minutes. The new firmware is being tested again. This time, the correctness of the recording and correct operation of the equipment are checked.

In the notification field, the program reports successful completion and prompts you to restart the computer.

ASUS Manager

This utility has a broader purpose. With its help, you can not only update the BIOS through Windows, but also check for the latest versions of drivers and ASUS application software.

The program can work in manual and automatic modes.

If the firmware file has already been downloaded from the ASUS website, you can install it yourself. Switch to the “From File” tab and specify the path to it.

The update process is uninformative and is not accompanied by graphics. The program does its job and, having completed a full cycle of operations, offers a reboot.

Both utilities discussed above also allow you to update the ASUS BIOS from Windows 7. User actions in the graphical shell of both OSes are completely identical.

Updating ASUS UEFI BIOS via the built-in menu

Now that you know that there are utilities for updating the BIOS directly from Windows, let's consider another option for changing the firmware. It does not require booting into DOS, but all operations are performed from the UEFI menu.

Media preparation

We use a flash drive to update. The size of the firmware usually does not exceed ten megabytes, so the size of the drive does not matter. By inserting it into the USB port, call up the context menu of the explorer and find the indicated item in it.

The media we have chosen must be formatted in FAT32 and the volume label removed from it.

We copy the firmware and can exit the operating system.

It is worth noting that the extensions of the files used may be different. In the screenshot, the number “1” indicates the firmware for the motherboard, and the number “2” for the ASUS ZenBook ultrabook. Comprehensive UEFI updates for laptops receive a firmware version number as an extension.

Login to BIOS

Entering the BIOS setup menu on computers with Windows 7 is done in the usual way. At the moment of reboot, the function key is held down or quickly pressed. ASUS, like many manufacturers, uses DEL or F2 for this purpose. Windows 10 uses Fast Boot technology and makes it impossible to use function keys.

Go to the OS settings and select the marked item.

In the quick navigation area we find the “Recovery” item, and in it the “Special options” block. Click on the marked virtual button to reboot the OS.

Once the computer starts, it will show us a menu for selecting additional actions. Select the marked item in it.

Open additional options.

Here we have access to a boxed item that allows us to directly launch UEFI.

Thus, we have entered the initial settings menu and are ready to update the BIOS from a flash drive.

Using ASUS EZ Flash

The latest models of ASUS motherboards use the EZ Flash 3 Utility BIOS update program. On older models, its second version is used. The difference between them is the possibility of network updating.

To start updating, go to the Tool ASUS UEFI BIOS menu.

We connect the prepared flash drive with the firmware to the PC and select the option of using external media.

The screenshot shows the identified media and the file with the CAP extension placed on it. Everything is ready to update the motherboard BIOS.

The process is started by pressing the Enter button on the keyboard. After a notification appears about the completion of the installation and verification operation, reboot the PC. In most cases, the system resets previously configured settings. Before using Windows OS, check and reinstall the required hardware configuration settings.

The second icon in the selection menu is responsible for network updating.

Having selected the appropriate connection option, we launch the Network Connection Wizard.

We answer his questions and configure the Internet directly in the BIOS.

BIOS recovery

A prerequisite that must be met when flashing UEFI firmware is a stable power supply. A failure during the update will prevent the operation from completing. In this case, the software on the system disk with drivers includes the ASUS CrashFree utility. Turn off the PC and, having installed the flash drive with the BIOS, boot from the proprietary DVD media. EZ Flash will start on its own and restore the base software version to the first one detected.

Finally

Despite the regular release of firmware and the extremely simplified procedure for its implementation, equipment manufacturers do not recommend updating unless necessary. Visit the ASUS website and first study the list of changes made. If the PC works stably and new functions will not be used, you should not interfere with the system.