So many people ask for BIOS files, but do they really fix anything?

[inflex]

I've noticed there's a surge over the last 18 months of people seeking BIOS files but it seems strange; are people *really* blowing their BIOS's?

In 30 years I've only replaced a single one (about 12 months ago, and there were still legitimate electronics issues too, so tossed the lot); all the other faults were something wrong in the electronics.

Genuinely curious - are people really getting failed BIOS's or is it a case of "wishful thinking" that a new BIOS will fix their dead machine?

EDIT: Maybe it's just to bypass passwords?

[cyberhack]

Re: So many people ask for BIOS files, but do they really fix anything?

Most bios are asked because they are locked out(password)
Some do fail,i have about 10 fail last year .

[goontron]

Re: So many people ask for BIOS files, but do they really fix anything?

I had a W530 that Lenovo's update software got ahold of. It didn't POST next boot.

[jasko_jacker]

Re: So many people ask for BIOS files, but do they really fix anything?

The problems concerning the bios are relatively recent, one of the first laptops that suffered from this problem, I think, was the asus EEPC.
Some brands, especially asus, hp and now also lenovo, suffer from this problem. I sent to assistance, because under warranty, a never used lenovo that on first power is stuck. The assistance has informed us that they had to reprogram the bios. I think there is a problem of motherboard design. Some have created paid sites where to download the complete bios (unfortunately you can not download the bios from the manufacturer because incomplete ...) and have many customers because the first thing that a "technician" attempt, even without necessity, is reprogram the bios. I think that the bios is the culprit in 30% excluding cases of deleting the password.
What many do not know is that by using a dump is how to make a clone, if you need official assistance from the manufactory, the identification code does not match.

[rookieme]

Re: So many people ask for BIOS files, but do they really fix anything?

I usually need bios dumps because of corrupted old bios.
This usually happens because of the logs a bios keeps [hdd errors , battery errors...] I guess at HP models.
I rarelly need one for a password removal.
I also try to mod the "new" one with the s/n of the old one.

[ala_borbe]

Re: So many people ask for BIOS files, but do they really fix anything?

i personaly get many machines that do not post and after bios write thay do... so yesh it works sometimes

also it least intrusive... first try bios, if its not dig deeper... if it is, saves you alot of tame...
since uefi bios started its a mess, before most problem was wrong bios flash or flash procedure goes wrong