Re: Can update BIOS on old laptop?



While problems are possible, the chance of a battery failing (***IF***, that is, the unit isn't plugged in) during the less than one minute that it takes to do the flash are minimal, and in all cases that I am aware of, the entire bios is read in before the flash starts, so a read I/O error can't cause a problem. I've done hundreds of flashes and my failure rate is zero. You basically have to either use the wrong bios or turn off the power during the flash. There are not a lot of other ways to screw up (and many of flash programs will verify that you are not using the wrong bios. Many, but not all.)


John Doue wrote:

Arvo wrote:

Thanks. So there's no undoing an interrupted bios update?

Well, it sounds too risky unless i was SURE the new BIOS would do what
I want it to do.

I think you have summed up the situation adequately. Although 95% of bios upgrades succeed, there is the occasional problem, the battery you thought was charged and suddenly fails, diskette that cannot be read properly in the middle of the upgrade, and then, yes the only going back is ... to the manufacturer of the laptop. Happened to me ... Make sure the expected gain is worth the risk and have a backup plan in case the worst happens.

.



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