Flash the BIOS in Windows XP
When a user "flashes a BIOS", this means the user has downloaded a BIOS update and applied the update to the computer's Basic Input Output System (BIOS). The BIOS is used to communicate with the computer's hardware, and to enable the operating system to load. BIOS updates are provided by motherboard (and other hardware) manufacturers to update features and fix bugs in the BIOS. Performing a BIOS flash is not difficult, though the process may be intimidating for some users. Though Windows XP may be installed as the operating system, the BIOS must be flashed by booting XP into the "Command Line" (DOS) mode, and running the BIOS update from the DOS prompt.
Instructions
1. Open a Web browser and navigate to the hardware manufacturer's website.
2. Download the BIOS update for the hardware, and save the file to the hard drive. The BIOS update will be an executable or batch file, with the file extension of "EXE" or "BAT".
3. Insert a floppy disk into the floppy drive and copy the BIOS update to the disk.
4. Remove the disk and power down the computer.
5. Boot up the computer and press F8 to enter the Windows XP boot menu.
6. Select "Command Prompt" to enter DOS.
7. Insert the BIOS update floppy disk.
8. Type "cd a:\", without quotes, to change the active drive to the floppy drive in DOS. If the BIOS update is a batch (BAT) file, the update will start automatically. If the BIOS update is an executable file,
9. Type "A:\biosupdate.exe", without quotes, where "biosupdate.exe" is replaced with the name of the executable file. Press the Enter key to start the update. Allow the update to run uninterrupted. The computer will reboot when the update is complete.
10. Boot the computer into Windows XP Normal Mode.
Tags: BIOS update, batch file, Boot computer, drive BIOS, drive BIOS update