A typical BIOS chip has many pins and attaches to a socket.
The ROM BIOS is the small chip on a computer that stores the programming code necessary for the hardware to function. Computer and motherboard manufacturers frequently release code updates for these chips, and updating the BIOS code carries an element of risk. If the computer loses power during the operation, the update will fail and the computer will become inoperable. However, if the ROM BIOS chip for your computer is in a socket rather than soldered to the motherboard, you can replace it with an identical chip to resolve the issue.
Instructions
1. Open the case of your computer and remove the motherboard. The motherboard is the large circuit board on the bottom of the computer case. You may need to remove one or more add-on cards to free the motherboard from the case. Place the motherboard on a desk or other work surface. If your motherboard has a ROM BIOS chip that is in a socket, it is a rectangular chip with approximately 32 pins or a small square chip in a recessed socket.
2. Note the current orientation or the existing ROM BIOS chip. You should see that the chip has a marker on one side shaped like a half-circle. You should install the replacement chip in the same orientation.
3. Place your finger and thumb on both sides of the ROM BIOS chip. Rock the chip back and forth lightly while lifting it out of the socket. Be careful not to bend or break the pins while doing this. If your ROM BIOS chip is in a recessed socket, you may need to use a chip extraction tool. An extraction tool is shaped like a large pair of tweezers. Place each end of the tool under one side of the ROM BIOS chip and squeeze gently while rocking and lifting the chip out of the socket.
4. Place the new ROM BIOS chip on the socket so that the marker on the chip faces the same direction as the original chip. You may also see a half-circle marker on or near the ROM BIOS socket confirming that the chip is facing in the correct direction. Ensure that each of the chip's pins is directly over a hole in the socket.
5. Push the new ROM BIOS chip into the socket so that each pin goes into the corresponding hole. If a pin fails to line up, remove the chip to avoid bending a pin and begin the installation procedure again.
6. Push the ROM BIOS chip fully into the socket after ensuring that each pin is in the correct hole.
Tags: BIOS chip, that each, chip recessed, chip recessed socket, chip socket