BIOS Update, how?

[timhiggins]

How do i update my bios? i think its not working properly, my comp is quite tempramental.

[kosova]

What are the specs?
Did you build it yourself or did you buy it from dell, hp..etc
What is happening with you computer, what are the symptoms?

Edit: sorry i didn't see the sig

Your problem is probably hardware related, but if your dead sure the BIOS is somehow faulty here would be a great guide. LINK

[timhiggins]

well i am always getting messages saying internet explorer, msn messenger, windows explorer telling me it is experiencing a problem and needs to shut down. Not only this but sometimes when i turn on my computer, nothing happens, the screen doesnt come on. Other times it wont install things properly. i have re-installed and re-formatted my computera few times without much change in its reliability.

[pam123]

Hold off on the bios flash.
Make sure the power supply is doing it's job ( I know it's an Antec, but hey it can happen to any of them. ) by checking the bios to see the voltages and checking the power connector to the motherboard.
Take the side off the case and really eyeball everything. You're looking for bits that are loose or bulging capacitors, anything that rouses suspicion.
Run memtest, get it here : http://www.memtest.org/
The 'no response' at boot up makes it sound like a power supply going flaky unless you sometimes get multiple beeps at boot up, in which case the bios is telling you a part isn't right.
It doesn't seem to be your hard drive so I won't recommend testing that.

[timhiggins]

ooo, it does make some funny beeping on boot-up that it hasnt before. how do i find out what this means?

[pam123]

Originally Posted by timhiggins ooo, it does make some funny beeping on boot-up that it hasnt before. how do i find out what this means?

Whatever you do don't monkey with the bios, it's not the problem.
Those beeps are a code which is telling you what part is malfunctioning and/or on it's way out.
I'll see if I can't download the manual from the Asus web site and you find where you put your copy.
Meanwhile I need to know what beeps you're getting; long or short, repeating patterns of 2 short and 3 long, that sort of thing. It's indicating what isn't working.

[kev7555]

Google search: "motherboard beeps".

I had to do this a while back for a beeping computer. Unfortunately, I am not at home where I can send you the links.

-Kev

[kosova]

Originally Posted by kev7555 Google search: "motherboard beeps". I had to do this a while back for a beeping computer. Unfortunately, I am not at home where I can send you the links. -Kev

http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/awardbeep.htm

[pam123]

Okay, the Asus board has an AMI bios so these are the beep codes ( thanks for the heads-up Kev and Kosova ) : http://www.bioscentral.com/beepcodes/amibeep.htm

[timhiggins]

Poo, my comp is making that three short beep noise, apparently indicating my ram is bad, although i have two sticks in so i am trialing removing one and seeig if it becomes any more stable. But can bad ram really cause all the problems ive described above?

[glc]

You need to run memtest as Pam has indicated. If you get failures with both sticks in, test one at a time.

Yes, bad ram can cause all kinds of problems.