Fortunately, this process has been simplified over time and now the BIOS update process is much easier thanks to Quick Flash, but what exactly is it? The idea is to activate one of the system’s USB ports so that the update process can be carried out, requiring no more than a USB key connected to said port.
The process of updating the BIOS via Quick Flash is very simple, you just need to place the USB stick in the port dedicated to it and press the corresponding button. This saves you from having to open the PC to perform the process.
How does Fast Flash work?
The BIOS, currently UEFI, is typically found in a ROM or programmable flash memory that is addressed to the first memory addresses that the x86-64 processor reads, be it Intel or AMD, because the process of start is the same for everyone. PC.
The BIOS is normally read-only, but what Quick Flash does is put the BIOS in write mode and activate the corresponding pin that places the NAND Flash memory chip that contains the BIOS in write mode, during the process that lasts. few long minutes and using a low bandwidth and also low power port, the data is gradually emptied.
This means that the BIOS update process, even via Quick Flash, can take up to several minutes, the reason is that it is designed to perform this process with very little power and for a period during which most I / O interfaces are inactive. Thus, the associated Quick Flash USB port on the motherboard will be the first to activate the system.
When is it advisable to update the BIOS?
It is not very normal to have to do this, but sometimes it happens that new functions are added to the motherboard, such as supporting new processor models, activating functions that are present, although blocked by the manufacturer, support for higher speeds or that due to an error in the BIOS or firmware of some components, the system is not performing as expected. You can find out what is your PC’s motherboard from Device Manager in Control Panel if you are a Windows user.
It is also possible that the BIOS of the PC does not work as it should and of errors, like the famous failure in which it loops and does not load the operating system to enter it continuously. In any case, each time you update the processor, it is advisable to perform this update, especially if the CPU start date is later than that of the motherboard.
We have to point out that Quick Flash is not the only way to update the PC as there are other ways to do it and not all motherboards have this button because in some cases the process of updating update is different and will depend on that of the manufacturer. BIOS.
Manufacturers versions
For marketing reasons, different motherboard manufacturers are giving exclusive names to the Quick Flash button on their motherboards as part of a rebranding to sell a general brand exclusive feature.
- ASRock uses Instant Flash to talk about the Quick Flash feature.
- ASUS uses the BIOS name Flashback.
- GIGABYTE calls it Q Flash Plus.
- MSI calls it Flash Button.
Either way, the name doesn’t matter, they all have the same function and internally they work for the same thing.
A USB key to update
Well yes, it is highly recommended and whether the motherboard supports Quick Flash or not, since you never know what can happen, the BIOS does not take much memory anyway and you can do it with one with less 32GB capacity, yes, make sure it is compatible with USB 2.0.
Now you will need to format it to FAT32, a task that will be easy for you to do whether you are using Windows, Linux, or macOS. By the way, we don’t have to say that you dedicate this storage unit exclusively to this function that we are telling you about.
Once you have formatted the USB drive, you just need to download the update from the manufacturer’s website and store it there. Read the instructions carefully and follow the folder organization, so do not move any files or create new ones, as this can cause serious problems during the BIOS update process via Quick Flash.
BIOS update via Quick Flash
Once we have the USB stick with the files needed to update the BIOS, it will be as easy as connecting it to the port specifically dedicated to it and pressing the Quick Flash button on the back of the motherboard.
When should we do it? Well, when the computer starts up, just when we just turned on the PC. The reason why we cannot do it at another time is that the operating system uses some BIOS functions for its operation and therefore it would be counterproductive to update it in full operation. On the other hand, when booting the PC where nothing has been loaded into the system yet is the perfect time to perform this process.
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