Procedure: How to update a BIOS

To be able to update your computer BIOS, you need to know three basic things: the motherboard manufacturer, the motherboard model and the BIOS manufacturer.

Once you know that, you need to go to the download section of the manufacturer's website and download the BIOS file/s.

Two files are usually needed:
1- The BIOS contents – usually a .bin or .rom file
2- The program to record the BIOS contents inside the ROM chip (if your motherboard has a built-in programmer, like the one used in this procedure, you won’t need it.)

First of all, keep in mind that updating a BIOS should only be done if your system is not stable, and you think a newer BIOS could fix the problem, or if a newer version offers extra functionality for your motherboard.

Now I'll explain the specific procedure you need to follow to update the BIOS on a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP Ultra Motherboard.

Note that this motherboard has 2 BIOS chips, so in case you mess up you'll be able to restore your BIOS from the backup chip.

Here is the step by step guide:

1- Save your uncompressed BIOS file (usually a .rom or .bin file) to an empty floppy disk. (Make sure to extract those files if they're compressed)

2- Reboot your computer and enter the built-in BIOS programmer. (Press F8 on the BIOS menu. You can get there by pressin DEL key on POST)

3- Backup the current BIOS file used by your motherboard into a floppy disk.
This can be done by selecting “Save Main BIOS to Floppy” on the Dual BIOS utility menu. Name the backup file “oldbios.bin”.

4- Load the new BIOS file from the floppy disk by using the “Update Main BIOS From Floppy” option, in this case the file to choose is "7VAXPU.F7"

The programmer utility will ask you to confirm that you want to upgrade your BIOS. Hit Enter and wait while your BIOS is being upgraded. It's very important not to turn off your computer during this process.

5- When the upgrade is finished you will be able to reboot your computer, and your BIOS will be updated. In the uncommon case that it failed just go back to your programmer utility and choose the "Update Main BIOS from Floppy" option and select "oldbios.bin", the backup file we created earlier.
If by any chance you lost the floppy drive where you had your backup file, just choose the "Save Backup BIOS to Floppy" option in order to create a new one.