8 Ways to Repair and Reset your BIOS Firmware

A BIOS corruption can cause your computer to malfunction or fail to boot. Fortunately, if your BIOS firmware has become corrupted, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can take to repair it. However, in some cases, the only option may be to replace the motherboard entirely. This wikiHow teaches you how to repair a corrupted BIOS with expert tips from computer specialist Luigi Oppido.

How to Fix Bad BIOS Firmware

Computer specialist Luigi Oppido says you'll need to identify your motherboard model and BIOS version, then download the appropriate BIOS firmware from the manufacturer's website. Since BIOSes vary, read the instructions carefully. You'll likely need to install the firmware from a flash drive.

Method 1

Method 1 of 8:

Checking Your Warranty

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1
Contact customer service. Before attempting any repairs yourself, check whether your computer is under warranty. In many cases, simply opening your computer will void your warranty. If your computer is still under warranty, it is recommended that you contact the point of sale or manufacturer to have them repair it for you.
- If you built the computer yourself, you'll want to see if your motherboard is still under warranty.

Method 2

Method 2 of 8:

Resting Your BIOS

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1
Reset your BIOS from within the BIOS. If you can boot into your BIOS, go ahead and do so. See if there is an option to reset your BIOS to the factory default settings from within the BIOS menu. The BIOS menu varies from one make and model to another. Sometimes you can fix BIOS issues by resetting it to factory settings.
- You can boot into the BIOS by pressing the setup key as soon as your computer boots up. It will usually tell you which key to press when your computer boots up. Common setup keys include F1, F2, Del, F10, F12, or Esc.
Go ahead and power off your computer. Then go ahead and unplug it.
3
Open your computer. You’ll need to access the motherboard. If you are using a desktop computer, remove the side panel from your computer. If you are using a laptop, turn it over and remove the bottom panel.
- When handling the inside of your computer, be careful to avoid static discharge, as it can damage your motherboard. Touch something metal before handling the inside of your computer, or wear static wrist straps.
4
Reset the CMOS. The CMOS is a small amount of memory on the motherboard that stores the BIOS settings. Resetting the CMOS may fix any issues with the BIOS, as it resets the BIOS to its default settings. Use one of the following steps to reset the CMOS:^{[1]
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- Remove the CMOS battery. The CMOS battery is usually about the size of a coin. If your motherboard has a CMOS battery holder, remove the CMOS battery for about 5 minutes. In some cases, the battery may be in a battery pouch connected by a cable. If so, disconnect the cable. Some laptops don’t have a battery, but use the main battery. If so, disconnect the main battery. Wait about 5 minutes.
- Short the CMOS jumper pins. Some motherboards have a pair of jumper pins. The are usually labeled RESET_BIOS, CLEAR_CMOS, CLR_CMOS, CLR_BIOS, JBAT1 or something similar. Either place the jumper that comes with your motherboard (it may be in positions 1 & 2, change it to positions 3 & 4 instead), or place something metal, like a screwdriver, in between the two pins and hold it for about 30 to 45 seconds. ^{[2]
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While your computer is still unplugged, press and hold the power button for about 10 seconds to completely discharge the capacitors on your computer.
See if this fixes the issue. If the issue is fixed, go ahead and reattach your computer’s panel.

Method 3

Method 3 of 8:

Updating Your BIOS

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1
Find out which BIOS version you are running. In many cases, you can fix BIOS issues by updating your BIOS firmware. You’ll need to find out which version of the BIOS you are running. According to Oppido, if you can boot into your BIOS, it will tell you which version of BIOS it is running.^{[3]
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Expert Source

Luigi Oppido
Computer & Tech Specialist

Expert Interview} If you can boot into Windows, click the Windows Start menu, type "System Information," and open the System Information app. Check which BIOS version you are running next to "BIOS Version/Date."
- You can boot into the BIOS by pressing the setup key as soon as your computer boots up. It will usually tell you which key to press when your computer boots up. Common setup keys include F1, F2, Del, F10, F12, or Esc
- If you cannot boot into the BIOS or Windows, you most likely will not be able to update your BIOS. However, you can try downloading the latest BIOS update file for your computer or the motherboard’s make and model from the manufacturer’s website.
You can download the latest BIOS update file from the manufacturer’s website for your computer or motherboard. If you are not able to boot into Windows, you can use a different computer.
3
Write the update file to a flash drive. Follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully when updating your BIOS. The process will vary slightly from one computer manufacturer to another. In most cases, you will need to copy the BIOS update file to a flash drive or create a bootable flash drive. You will either boot from the bootable flash drive or boot into the BIOS and select the option to update the BIOS from a flash drive.
- If you need to copy and update a file to a flash drive, make sure the flash drive is formatted in FAT32 file system.
Depending on the manufacturer’s instructions, you’ll either need to boot from a flash drive or boot into the BIOS.
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Select the option to update your BIOS. The BIOS menu or update screen may look different from one motherboard model to the next. You’ll likely find the option to update the BIOS in the Advanced or Tools menu. Select the option to update or flash your BIOS.
- If there is an option to back up your current BIOS, select it.

Method 4

Method 4 of 8:

Using BIOS Recovery

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Boot from the backup BIOS. Many computer manufacturers have a backup BIOS stored on the hard drive or on the motherboard itself. This generally will only work if you have the original hard drive that came with your PC. To boot into the recovery backup, you’ll need to power off your PC, then press and hold the recovery key combination and power your PC on. Different manufacturers have different recovery key combinations. Some common recovery key combinations are as follows:
- Dell: Press and hold Ctrl + Esc. Release when the recovery screen appears.^{[4]
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- HP: Press and hold Win + B or Win + V and press and hold the power button. After 2 or 3 seconds, release the Power button, then continue holding the button combination.^{[5]
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- Asus: Press and hold Ctrl + Home and power on your computer.^{[6]
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- Other combinations: Press and hold Alt + F2.
If you do not see a recovery screen, it may mean there is no BIOS recovery file on your hard drive or motherboard. If this is the case, you may need to use a recovery flash drive.
If you do see a BIOS recovery screen, follow the prompts to restore the BIOS. This will be different from one computer manufacturer to another.

Method 5

Method 5 of 8:

Using a Recovery Flash Drive

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1
Format a flash drive in FAT32 format. If your hard drive or motherboard doesn’t have a backup BIOS, you can create a recovery flash drive. If you are not able to boot into Windows, you can do this from another computer. This will wipe all data on your flash drive, so be sure to save anything you want to keep. Use the following steps to format the hard drive:
- Right-click the Windows Start menu.
- Click Disk Management.
- Right-click your USB flash drive.
- Click Format.
- Enter a name for the USB drive next to "Volume name."
- Select FAT32 as the file system (select exFAT if this option isn’t available).
- Click Ok.
You can download the recovery file from the manufacturer’s website for your computer or motherboard. Make sure you download the correct file for your motherboard or computer make and model.
You’ll need to follow the manufacturer’s instructions for this. In some cases, they may ask you to download an installer to create a bootable flash drive. In other cases, they may have you download the file, rename the file to something specific (i.e., "BIOS_IMG.rcv ") and copy and paste it to the flash drive.
4
Boot from the flash drive. To do this, you’ll need to power off your computer. Power it on and press the recovery key combination for your computer’s make and model to boot from the flash drive. The key combination will be different for each computer make and model. The following are some common key combinations.
- Dell: Press and hold Ctrl + Esc. Release when the recovery screen appears.^{[7]
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- HP: Press and hold Win + B or Win + V and press and hold the power button. After 2 or 3 seconds, release the Power button, then continue holding the button combination.^{[8]
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- Asus: Press and hold Ctrl + Home and power on your computer.^{[9]
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- Other combinations: Press and hold Alt + F2.
5
Follow the recovery prompts. If successful, your computer should boot into a recovery mode. Follow the prompts in the recovery mode to flash your BIOS with the recovery file.
- If your computer does not boot into recovery mode, listen for beeps, watch for flashing lights, or look for an error message. Count the number of beeps or flashes. This is usually an error code. You can Google the number of beeps or flashes for your computer or motherboard model to see what is wrong. It’s possible you may not have the right recovery file.

Method 6

Method 6 of 8:

Using a Programmer

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1
Make sure you have a secondary computer. For this method, you’ll need a second computer or laptop that is in good working order. You’ll be using this computer to run and programmer software and flash the BIOS chip.
- This method is going to get pretty technical. It involves removing your motherboard, identifying the BIOS chip, connecting the programmer to it, and writing to the chip using special software. If this is beyond your technical skills, you may want to take your computer to a professional repair technician.
2
Purchase a programmer. A programmer is a device that you can connect to another computer. It comes with a variety of adapters and clip attachments you can use to connect directly to the BIOS chip on your motherboard and write to it. You can purchase a CH341A programmer from Amazon for about $13.
3
Download the driver for the programmer. You’ll need to download the driver to a working computer or laptop you plan to use to flash your BIOS chip. You can download the driver for the programmer from the manufacturer’s website. Download and run the executable file in your Downloads folder.
- You can download the driver for a CH341A programmer here.
4
Download NeoProgrammer. This is the software you will use to load the programming file and flash the BIOS chip on the motherboard of your other computer. You can download NeoProgrammer from here. You will download the program as a ZIP file. Once it is downloaded, extract the ZIP file, which includes an executable to launch the program.
- Your programmer may come with its own programming software.
- You can also use the Ch341A programming software. It has a very similar user interface.
5
Remove the motherboard from your computer. To do so, you’ll need to disconnect all cables and ribbons attached to the motherboard, as well as any PCI attachments. Remove the screws holding the motherboard in place, then remove the motherboard.
- When handling the inside of your computer, be careful to avoid static discharge, as it can damage your motherboard. Touch something metal before handling the inside of your computer, or wear static wrist straps.
- In some cases, the motherboard may be soldered in. If you are not able to remove the motherboard, you may still be able to access it. Make sure your computer is powered off and unplugged.
6
Disconnect the CMOS battery. If your motherboard has a CMOS battery, be sure to disconnected. The battery is usually a small coin-sized battery. If it is in a battery holder, remove it from the holder. If it is in a pouch connected by a cable, disconnect the cable.
7
Locate the BIOS chip. The BIOS chip is usually a square-shaped chip with 8 prongs. You’ll usually find it near the super-IO chip, which is the large square-shaped chip with multiple prongs on each side. The BIOS chip usually has a colored dot on the 1-pin.^{[10]
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Check the markings on the BIOS chip. The easiest way to do this is to use your phone camera to take a close-up photo of the chip. Make sure you have enough light to see the markings on the chip.
9
Connect the connector to the programmer. The CH341A programmer has two sections right next to each other. The first section is for BIOS chips, and the second section is for other chips, like EEPROM chips. Connect the connector to the BIOS side. There is a diagram below the programmer. Make sure pin number 1 aligns with the number 1 slot on the programmer.
10
Connect the clip to the BIOS chip. The clip attaches directly to the chip. Make sure you connect it so that pin 1 on the clip connects to pin 1 on the chip, which is usually marked with a colored dot. The clip has a red cable that corresponds to the 1 pin.
- If the clip doesn’t fit the BIOS chip, you may need to purchase a different attachment clip for your BIOS chip model.
11
Insert the programmer and launch the programming software. Insert the programmer into a free USB slot on the working computer where you installed the programmer drivers and software. Then launch the programming software.
12
Click Detect. It’s on the right side of the screen. This will automatically detect what type of chip is connected.
- If you get an error message that the chip is not responding, detach the clip and remove the programmer. Reinsert it and reattach the clip, and try again.
13
Select the chip model. You should see the chip model marked on the top of the chip. Select the chip model from the list of chips. If the exact chip model doesn’t appear, you can enter it in the box at the top. Click your chip model and click Select. Once detected, it will display the correct placement of the clip attachment and the chip model's operating voltage.
- The most common operating voltage is 3.3 volts for most chip models. If the chip model has a different operating voltage (e.g., 1.8 volts), you’ll need to attach the voltage adapter to the top of the programmer, then attach the clip to the voltage adapter.
14
Click the "Read IC" icon. It’s the icon that resembles a chip with a green arrow at the top of the program. This will read the chip's data and display it in NeoProgrammer as assembly code.
15
Save a backup of the BIOS file. Once the programmer reads the data on the chip, it is a good idea to save it as a backup in case this process doesn’t work. You can write the old BIOS back to the chip. To save a backup of the BIOS file, click the floppy disk icon at the top of the app. Select a save location, give the file a name, and click Save. This will save the BIOS data as a BIN file.
16
Download the BIOS firmware as a BIN file. You’ll can usually download the BIOS firmware from the manufacturer’s website. Make sure you download the correct firmware for your motherboard and chip model. You’ll need to download it as a BIN file. If they have that as a download, download that file. It may be in a ZIP file.
- If they don’t offer a BIN file, you can extract the contents of an executable file using 7-Zip. You can use a free hex editing program, such as HxD, to create a BIN file from the contents. The process is a bit complicated, but you can find plenty of YouTube tutorials that walk you through it. Make sure you follow the instructions carefully.
17
Erase the chip. To do so, click the Erase IC icon at the top of the NeoProgrammer. It’s an icon that resembles a chip with a red "x" over it. Click this icon and then click Yes to erase the chip.
18
Open the firmware BIN file. To do so, click the folder icon at the top of the page. Then select the BIOS firmware BIN file and click Open. You should see the assembly code for the file in the programming software.
19
Click the Write IC button. It’s the icon that resembles a chip with an arrow pointing to the chip. Click the button at the top of the page to write the BIN file to the chip.
- If your BIOS still doesn’t work, use this same process to write the backup BIN file to the BIOS chip.

Method 7

Method 7 of 8:

Replacing the BIOS

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Locate the BIOS chip on your motherboard. The BIOS chip is usually a square-shaped chip with 8 prongs. You’ll usually find it near the super-IO chip, which is the large square-shaped chip with multiple prongs on each side. The BIOS chip usually has a colored dot.
- When handling the inside of your computer, be careful to avoid static discharge, as it can damage your motherboard. Touch something metal before handling the inside of your computer, or wear static wrist straps.
- If you are not comfortable working on your computer, you may want to take it to a professional repair technician.
If your motherboard has a slotted DIP or PLCC BIOS chip, replacing it will be a lot easier. If the BIOS chip is soldered to the motherboard (as is usually the case), you’ll need soldering skills and equipment to remove it. You should only attempt this if you have the proper skills and equipment.^{[11]
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If you have a laptop, you can look up the make and model of your computer or its motherboard on the manufacturer’s website. If you can boot into Windows, you can find your motherboard model in the "System Information" panel, next to "Baseboard Manufacturer" and "Baseboard Product." If you can’t find the make and model on your motherboard, look for printed text and try to identify it.
Make sure you get the correct chip for your motherboard model. You can purchase BIOS chips online from eBay, specialty websites like Newegg, or BIOS-Chip24. Some places may require you to send your old BIOS chip for reprogramming.
If it is a slotted BIOS chip, you can remove it with an extraction tool or carefully pry it loose with a small pick or a jeweler's flathead screwdriver. If it is soldered in, you’ll need to desolder it and remove the chip.
Make sure the notch faces the same direction as the notch on the old BIOS chip. If the prongs are too wide, you can carefully bend them inward by pressing them against a solid flat surface. Reattach or resolder the chip to the board.

Method 8

Method 8 of 8:

Replacing the Motherboard

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If you cannot replace the BIOS chip, and you can't reprogram it or fix the problem by resetting it, then the only option is to replace the motherboard. There may be another hardware failure on the board apart from the BIOS. You can purchase a new motherboard from Amazon, eBay, or any computer specialty store such as Newegg.com.
2
Remove the old motherboard. Make sure your computer is powered off and unplugged. Open your computer and detach all cables and PCI cards from the motherboard. Remove all screws holding the motherboard in place and pull it out.
- When handling the inside of your computer, be careful to avoid static discharge, as it can damage your motherboard. Touch something metal before handling the inside of your computer, or wear static wrist straps.
- Be sure to place the new motherboard on a flat, clean surface. Do not place it on fabric or carpet, as there may be static electricity.
Once you remove the old motherboard, insert the new motherboard and attach all the cables and PCI cards.
4
See if your computer works. Once your new motherboard is properly installed, plug your computer in and make sure it works. If it is working, go ahead and reattach the panels.
- If your computer still isn’t working, you’ll need to take it to a professional repair technician.

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Question

Is it safe to upgrade the BIOS?

Joseph Alexander
Tech Repair Specialist & Founder of Mobile Kangaroo
Joseph Alexander is the founder of Mobile Kangaroo, a full service repair shop and Apple Authorized Service Provider headquartered in Mountain View, CA. Mobile Kangaroo has been repairing electronic devices such as computers, phones, and tablets, for over 19 years, with locations in over 20 cities.

Joseph Alexander

Tech Repair Specialist & Founder of Mobile Kangaroo

Expert Answer

It is generally safe to do this so long as you pull the update directly from whoever manufactured your device and you follow their instructions carefully.

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I am unable to save settings in the BIOS. I have tried changing my CMOS battery, but it didn't work. What should I do?

Community Answer

You don't need to change the battery; just reset it before changing any settings. If you change the battery afterwards, it won't do anything.

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I have a Gigabyte B75M-D3H board with i3-3220 processor, 2Gb+4Gb DDR3 RAM 1600Mhz, 1TB Seagate HDD. I've been using this machine for the last 3 years without any problems, and suddenly 2 days ago when I started the machine it went to BIOS recovery screen. After recovery completed the machine didn't start. What do I do?

Community Answer

Remove your CMOS battery and boot your computer, then once you have booted into your OS (windows Linux, whatever it is), shut it down and put your CMOS battery back in.

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Remove the dedicated graphics card. Some users have reported that problems with the BIOS can be fixed by removing the dedicated (discrete) graphics card and forcing your PC to utilize the integrated graphics card.^{[13]
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Have an anti-static bag or plastic container to keep the bios chips in when they are set aside so they are not damaged.

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Note: Not all CPUs come with an integrated graphics cards. These include Intel CPUs with an F product line suffix. For more information, check your manufacturer's product webpage.

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