Motherboard driver/bios updates

[metalmaniac]

Just a quick question. I was just wondering if gradual driver/bios updates are automatically included in motherboards that have been manufactured after previous updates. I bought this board during the first week of December ( Intel DX38BT ) and when I check the updates there are a few for the lan driver, audio, chipset utility, etc. Those were listed months back though so I'm wondering if I need to actually download them or if they're already included.

 

[BillParrish]

Varies by company by company basis as to how often they update the drivers on the CD that comes with the motherboard and how long the thing sat in a wharehouse waiting to be sold. Intel is probally pretty good at being current and most likely your are up to date. But it never hurts to check. Learn how to go into device manager and determine the version numbers of your current drivers and then you can determine if you are up to date. Typically it will be something like,

right click My Computer, select Properties from the menu, click the Hardware tab. click the Device Manager button, click on the little tiny squarebox with the + sign next to the name of the device you wish to investigate.

For example click the box with the + next to the Network Adapter listing. This should expand that listing to show all network adapters installed in the machine. Right click one of the specific adapters shown, select Properties from the menu that appears. This will bring up a window with all driver details. Click the Driver tab, this will tell you the version and date of the driver. Both the version number and the date can tell you if the drivers on the web site are newer.

Usually the downloaded drivers have their own install program and there is no need to use the Update Driver button in the window mentioned above. You should refer to your manual, manuf online FAQ or submit a query to the manuf Tech support if you are unsure how to proceed or post again here so someone with an Intel board can tell you how Intel does the driver updates. I am fairly certain you would just download a newer driver and run the install. However it is good policy to go into the procedure above (first check if the driver is in the Add/Remove software list via the Control Panel, if so, use that to remove the driver) and when you select a individual device and right click to bring up the little menu, select Uninstall Driver. Then reboot, on restart windows will typically come up with a "new hardware found " window asking your for some options, cancel that window and then run the new driver install. Reboot. Only install one driver at a time, rebooting between each install and going back into Device Manager and make sure the driver got installed properly (no yellow or red markers).


Your user manual should show you how to determine your BIOS version, typically it is show on the very first screen that appears when the machine is booted and perhaps in the BIOS main screen. Consult your manual. Unless a BIOS update contains a fix or feature you really need it is probally best to leave well enough alone. However if you determine that your bios is outdated (this is unlikely as those are updated more often in production than a batch of driver CDs.) post back for help. A bad BIOS update can make your machine unusable and you need to know exactly what you are doing. It is not hard, it is just a procedure that carries a lot of risk if things go badly.

These are generic instructions for XP, Vista may be different, use at your own risk. If in doubt consult the tech support for your exact machine.

There are other ways to get into the Device Manager application, probally even easier, the above is just the way I learned it ages ago. As long as you can get into Device Manager, any way you can, the rest of the instructions should be the same.

 

[one swell foop]

Be careful. I know a lot of people will disagree, but unless you're having issues with your motherboard, I wouldn't update the BIOS. I've done so a grand total of two times in the last ten years. The most recent was with my DFI P965S and flashing it using Winflash as instructed by their site. My machine locked up part way through and the mobo was totally non functional. Had to ship them the CMOS chip and they should be reflashing it and getting it back to me soon. The first time I flashed a BIOS it was for the hell of it. This time it was to solve a memory compatibility issue and smooth things out, coulda left it but felt there was stability and a better OC to be gained from it. Figures that the time I need an update my machine poops itself.

I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it

 

[DrDoU]

leave the bios alone unless you just have to update,say for cpu support etc.chipset drivers are a little more forgiving if you mess up.these are usually a standard process update.these "updated drivers" can be had from the manufactures website peace.