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    To update Bios or not?

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by dktkd, Jul 13, 2006.

  1. dktkd

    dktkd Newbie

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    Should I update my Bios or wait to see if I
    am expreiencing any problems?

    I just bought my laptop and there is already
    a new Bios available.

    Thanks...
     
    dktkd, Jul 13, 2006
    #1
  2. mach_zero

    mach_zero Casual Observer NBR Reviewer

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    I'd say wait and see. BIOS flashing is a bit risky (although it's becoming less so as time goes by) and I wouldn't do it unless I was experiencing problems. You know what they say: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."
     
    mach_zero, Jul 15, 2006
    #2
  3. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    I would agree. I never update unless forced.
     
    ZaZ, Jul 16, 2006
    #3
  4. dktkd

    dktkd Newbie

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    Thanks, I'll hold off.
     
    dktkd, Jul 17, 2006
    #4
  5. Karl Gruber

    Karl Gruber Notebook Consultant

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    I update regularly, but I like to live dangerously. Whenever the IBM software program says a bios is ready, I install. I've done it at least 4x in 9 months.
     
    Karl Gruber, Jul 18, 2006
    #5
  6. strikeback03

    strikeback03 Notebook Deity

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    after the whole fiasco with access connections and the wireless drivers, I have started not updating stuff unless it looks like something I will actually use.
     
    strikeback03, Jul 18, 2006
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  7. MP5

    MP5 Notebook Consultant

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    the bios is safe, and the newest patch of wireless seem to fix wireless issues
     
    MP5, Jul 19, 2006
    #7
  8. dietcokefiend

    dietcokefiend DietGreenTeaFiend

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    First thing I do when I get my laptops is flash whatever eeprom stuff there is to the newest versions, and any kinks are worked out then. Better to find a problem under exchange replacement, or inside warranty, then down the road without.
     
    dietcokefiend, Jul 19, 2006
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  9. pbdavey

    pbdavey Notebook Consultant

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    As someone who deals with production machines - if it ain't broke, don't fix it. However, the hobbyist thought is that the new BIOS (or driver or whatever) may have a important optimization in it, giving you a little performance increase. Typically they don't give large performance increases unless written very poorly in the first place. Personally, stability/security is the only reason to update something like a BIOS and most drivers. Display drivers (ATI Catalyst and NVidia ?Forceware?) are the only things that I'll update consistently just for performance.
     
    pbdavey, Jul 19, 2006
    #9
  10. dietcokefiend

    dietcokefiend DietGreenTeaFiend

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    For me, one thing is seeing what the fixes were between the last bios, and the new one. One big error I could see causing problems is someone who does a bios upgrade with a craptacular software lineup. AIM, Norton, Google Desktop, firefox, IE, 50 laptop special utilties and everything under the sun running. This makes for a horrible situation where something might crash while it is trying to flash part of the eeprom, and kill your bios in notime flat.
     
    dietcokefiend, Jul 19, 2006
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  11. compaq64

    compaq64 Notebook Consultant

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    I just flashed my gateway pc's, and compaq notebook's bios. if you have a 2000 computer or older, worry about flashing the bios, now adays its not a huge deal and rarley a problem. I would say go for it but thats my opinion.
     
    compaq64, Jul 19, 2006
    #11