Recent BIOS improvements
Recent BIOS improvements
I haven't installed BIOS updates in years. Back then, UEIF wasn't even available (the blue CMOS screen was the usual way). I'm not new to PCs, but I've stayed away from this topic because any mistakes could ruin my motherboard. I've just tried to avoid it. The idea is that if something breaks with an older BIOS, you can't fix it and lose your hardware. I want to make sure the updates work for my x470 and x570. I've got an older motherboard (MSI x470 Gaming Pro) for another machine, and I need to update its BIOS to support the new Ryzen 3 CPUs and extra memory options. Essentially, what's the safest approach? There are many methods being discussed, but which one is most reliable? Also, some sources say a backup of the BIOS exists—what does that mean for troubleshooting if an update fails?
Visit your manufacturer's website, then contact their support team. Enter the precise motherboard model and download the most recent BIOS. Follow a tutorial video that explains the process—this is known as a dual-bios motherboard. If one fails, simply replace it with the other.
The optimal approach is to refresh using the BIOS rather than a program inside Windows. Follow these steps from the manual: Before updating, obtain the newest BIOS version that matches your motherboard model from the MSI website. Save this file onto a USB flash drive. Updating the BIOS: Insert the USB drive with the update into the computer. During POST, press <Ctrl+F5> and confirm by selecting Yes to restart and enter flash mode. Choose a BIOS file to carry out the update. Once the process finishes completely, the system will restart automatically.
2) The "backup" chip is an additional BIOS module, not every motherboard includes one. Reviewing the product details and manual for your board suggests yours doesn’t behave this way. If something goes wrong during the update, the board may become unusable.
I need to download several bios files just in case. Some users reported problems with the latest updates leading to unexpected issues, and many had to roll back. I thought all boards came with a backup bios to avoid bricking, but I didn’t realize it was still a concern. I’ll have to do more research before deciding. This is why I’ve avoided them due to the fear of losing a board over something so minor as a bios update.
Backing up a BIOS is mainly for dual-boot motherboards, though this isn't always true. With MSI, if your board supports Flashback+, you can upgrade the BIOS without a CPU by connecting a USB stick to the Flashback USB port. If your CPU is still compatible, try these steps: get the newest BIOS for your board from their site (https://msi.com/Motherboard/support/X470...#down-bios), copy it to a blank USB drive, insert it, restart and press CTRL+F5 during POST, choose "Yes" to boot into flash mode, pick the BIOS file, wait for completion, then reboot. Alternatively, use an MSI utility such as MSI LIVE UPDATE in Windows mode to handle the update. Remember, losing power during a flash update can damage or destroy your motherboard.