BIOS update - should I do it?

[97tbird]

I was just looking at the Lenovo support/Downloads page, and saw that there have been at least 2-3 BIOS versions since my laptop was bought about 2 yrs ago...

Laptop works fine, and no problems. The latest BIOS version seems to have a lot to do with adjustments for Windows 8, AFAIK. But I am sure there are other general improvements as well.

Thing is, I've always heard one should be careful with updating BIOS, etc etc...

I also wonder how may people actually ever do this.

Do you guys always get the latest BIOS? should I do it? I know how/what to do, but what I am wondering is, as everything works ok on my laptop, is it a risk to try this?

Any feedback is appreciated.
Laptop is a ThinkPad T520, Win-7 Prof. i7 CPU.

 

[javacontour]

If it ain't broke, don't break it.

Unless there is a bug impacting you, or a new feature you need/want, why take the chance?

 

[97tbird]

OK. That's how I have been thinking, too.
Was just curious what others do/think.

 

[rjundi]

Under warranty yes. Out of warranty maybe think about it.

 

[antiqueshell]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Under warranty yes. Out of warranty maybe think about it.


Good point!

Like the other poster said, if the lappy does everything you need it to well right now, I would NOT chance it.

Usually BIOS updates are for added features more than to address bugs these days.

Whatever you do make sure you have the computer connected to an AC main and a
UPS with a battery back up. Because if you ever lose power during a BIOS update you are almost certain to have a useless brick on your hands.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
If it ain't broke, don't break it.

+1

 

[90crvtec]

I would do it.

I've been updating BIOS firmware since the 90s. Back when you had to boot to DOS from a floppy, manually call the flash utility, and manually select the correct firmware update before running the flash. I've never had one fail.

On a modern PC, the BIOS update runs from within windows. Since you're running a laptop, the BIOS update will have logic that will require AC power to be plugged in and usually to have a minimal charge on the battery (generally 20% or higher). This means that a BIOS update failure due to a power outage is a virtual impossibility on a laptop.

Today a BIOS update is about as risky as installing the latest windows updates. There's always a chance they could render your PC unbootable but the vast majority of the time, there are little improvements that don't end up harming a thing.

One last bit of info. On a lot of the Dell laptops that I have, the BIOS update supported new power management modes for the processors and also had some new charging algorithms for the battery. Both of these could be beneficial depending on how you use the laptop. I'm not saying your laptop will have the same updates, just that sometimes a seemingly small BIOS update can still have a positive impact on system usability.

 

[saberz]

Do it.

There are usually some undocumented additions to a bios(features), sometimes extra cpu support for upgrades, but most of the time its fixes.

Bios updating now a days is super easy and there is a infinitesimally small chance anything will go wrong.

 

[spackard]

I have a Thinkpad W530 I've updated the BIOS on a few times now.
Thing I don't like is the LED that is supposed to light up the non-lit keyboard originally stayed on when the screen saver came on. After the first BIOS update the LED now turns off with the screen saver. (Awhile ago I had to restore a backup [Lenovo backup, not Windows backup], and the LED behavior I liked so much came back, then after an update and it goes off with the screen saver again.)

Other than that I've usually been in favor of applying firmware updates, since I worked for awhile as a software engineer and know Internet updates were eventually used to ship stuff to market before it was ready.

 

[SuperDave456]

DO IT!

I've done it on several machines that I've been told "its to slow, it won't work like it used to", and it really helped out performance.

I haven't had a problem with them since the mid 90's. That's a long long time of bios updates!

 

[dparm]

The chances of a BIOS flash causing a problem are ridiculously small if you follow the directions. Do the update.

 

[901Memphis]

I would only update the BIOS on a laptop if I needed the newest features or benefit. If you look at the change logs and don't see anything that benefits you don't bother.

 

[dparm]

Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
I would only update the BIOS on a laptop if I needed the newest features or benefit. If you look at the change logs and don't see anything that benefits you don't bother.


You're assuming changelogs list every update.

 

[Subdued]

It's the excluded, undocumented changes that cause problems.

I'm in the camp of not updating a BIOS if you're not experiencing a bug or issue that a new one would address. OR at the VERY LEAST MAKE SURE YOU CAN DOWNGRADE IF YOU EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS!!!

^^ I can't stress the importance of that enough ^^

Regression exists in BIOS updates, and I've seriously seen updates cause more problems than they have fixed. and I'm talking tens of thousands of units, not a mere couple dozen.

I've NEVER seen a BIOS update brick anything, though, so at least you won't need to deal with that.

 

[Lubener]

I wouldn't do bios or driver updates unless you are trying to solve something specific. Everyone thinks the "latest" is best but sometimes things go downhill in a perfectly functioning machine after an update.

 

[PandaBear]

Risk is low unless you turn off the machine or power loss, but it is a risk.

The benefit? You'll have to check the "change log" or "release note" of the new bios, previous one, all the way up to your current version to see what did they change, and whether it is worth it.

If you are not upgrading the CPU, new CPU support means nothing to you, for example.