Last Updated on July 19, 2026
There is more to making a computer work than just installing an operating system such as Windows for example. There are settings and configurations that need to be done correctly on your system before you can even install an OS. If these settings are incorrect then you will run into problems such as your computer not recognizing your hard drive or reading your processor speed incorrectly.
The BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) runs at the startup of your computer and it configures devices and then boots the operating system. The BIOS is stored on a ROM chip. It contains the hard coded instructions that the CPU uses to boot up and to control I/O devices. It basically makes it possible for a computer to boot itself.
The BIOS runs off the onboard flash memory when the computer is powered on. It initializes and performs diagnostic tests on your memory, video card, and other critical hardware. You can tell the BIOS which device to boot to first such as a USB flash drive or an NVMe SSD.
Many computer manufacturers design systems so that BIOS is copied from ROM to RAM each time the computer is booted. This process is known as shadowing. Modern motherboards now use UEFI instead of the legacy BIOS format, but people still use the terms interchangeably in the IT industry.
Major BIOS Manufacturers
1. American Megatrends (AMI)
American Megatrends is one of the oldest and most prominent firmware developers in the world. You will see the AMI logo on countless motherboard startup screens across the globe. They provide the underlying code that hardware vendors customize for their specific circuit boards.
2. Phoenix Technologies
Phoenix Technologies acquired Award Software International many years ago to expand their firmware dominance. They specialize in creating highly customized BIOS environments for laptops and pre-built desktop computers. Many enterprise devices rely entirely on Phoenix firmware to handle strict boot security protocols.
3. Insyde Software
Insyde Software focuses heavily on modern UEFI firmware replacements for traditional legacy systems. They provide the core boot architecture for millions of mobile devices and gaming laptops. Their firmware guarantees fast boot times and secure hardware initialization right out of the box.
4. Coreboot Open Source Firmware
Coreboot represents a powerful open-source alternative to traditional proprietary firmware. It strips out unnecessary bloated code to deliver lightning-fast boot times. Hardware manufacturers like System76 and Google heavily utilize this lightweight architecture for their modern laptops and Chromebooks.
5. Byosoft
Byosoft is a massive firmware developer dominating the Asian hardware market. They provide custom UEFI BIOS solutions for enterprise servers and consumer desktop motherboards. The company works closely with major processor chipmakers. This ensures deep hardware compatibility across international technology sectors.
Upgrading Your BIOS (Flashing)
Upgrading your BIOS (flashing) can be a very easy or dangerous process. Sometimes the BIOS needs to be updated in order to understand brand new hardware like a modern processor. Many users are unfamiliar with this type of update and are afraid of ruining their computer. You should absolutely respect this process. Because of the risk of damaging your computer and making it inoperable, it is recommended that you flash your BIOS only if needed. If everything is working fine as is, just leave it as is.
1. Identify Your Current Version
The first step is to identify your exact motherboard model and current firmware version. You can easily find this information without restarting your machine by typing “msinfo32” directly into the Windows search bar. The System Information app will clearly display your BaseBoard Product and BIOS Version.
2. Download the Required Update
Next you need to download the upgrade directly from the official manufacturer’s website. You will usually receive a compressed zip folder containing the raw firmware file. Extract this file and copy it directly to an empty USB flash drive formatted in FAT32.
3. Enter the BIOS Menu
You must access the firmware interface to begin the actual installation. At startup press the appropriate key repeatedly to get into the configuration menu. The most common key combinations to access these settings are the Del, F2, F10, or F12 keys.
4. Execute the Flash Utility
Most BIOSes these days are flash upgradeable using software built right into the motherboard. Select the integrated flashing utility and point it to the update file sitting on your USB flash drive. Begin the flashing process and step away from your keyboard entirely.
5. Allow the Process to Finish
Do not turn off or reset your computer during this process or you will instantly corrupt the BIOS. The computer will likely reboot several times on its own while updating the microcode. After it is done, you might need to reconfigure your boot order or clear the CMOS before loading back into Windows. Check out our dedicated article on BIOS vs. UEFI for more information on modern firmware standards.
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