ASRock Develops First Web-Update Tool Within BIOS Setup Program

btarunr · Jul 18, 2012

A decade ago, updating system BIOS was a cumbersome and risky task that required you to have spare bootable disks and the know-how of flashing from MS-DOS command-line. One wrong command-line argument, and your motherboard is bricked. Then came utilities that flashed BIOS for you, if you specified the updated BIOS ROM image files located on a floppy. As these image files grew in file-size these utilities added support for bigger media, such as USB flash drives. ASRock's latest innovation could see you getting rid of storage media holding BIOS images.

ASRock has developed an update to its UEFI BIOS program that lets it update itself from the web. All you have to do is point it to a working internet connection that uses the motherboard's onboard Ethernet controller. Once configured, the utility calls home to ASRock, checks if a newer version of the BIOS is available, downloads it, and updates itself, with minimal user-intervention. The feature cuts down time spent in finding the right BIOS ROM image online, and copying it to a USB flash drive. Unlike Intel's Express BIOS Update program, it does not need the motherboard to have any storage devices connected. Upcoming ASRock motherboards could ship with the feature, and select current ones could get this feature via a BIOS update.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

m1dg3t · Jul 18, 2012

Pretty cool feature!

I thought Asus had something like this, or was working on something like this a few years back?

Disparia · Jul 18, 2012

I question the history lesson (they do know that a decade only puts them back to 2002, right?), but welcome the feature. Nice.

cadaveca · Jul 18, 2012

Jizzler said:
I question the history lesson (they do know that a decade only puts them back to 2002, right?), but welcome the feature. Nice.

Yes, ASRock has only been around for 10 years.

AlienIsGOD · Jul 18, 2012

AsRock is pretty good about BIOS updates, i expect to see most of their existing mobos get this support.

hhumas · Jul 18, 2012

awesome feature

cadaveca · Jul 18, 2012

There are a few other cool features in ASRock BIOSes...next review from me is the ASRock Z77 Extreme9 that includes this features plus others. Keep an eye out for it!

OneMoar · Jul 18, 2012

this wont end well
one error in the server back end
or a corrupt download ....
= :banghead:

badtaylorx · Jul 18, 2012

yeah.....im not so sure that id want the web having access to my rig at a bios lvl....

somewhere a hacker is cleaning up the sticky underware mess he made upon hearing this

btarunr · Jul 18, 2012

OneMoar said:
this wont end well
one error in the server back end
or a corrupt download ....
=

I imagine the update to be downloaded as a *.zip archive, extracted, and then used. If the downloaded file is corrupt, the archive won't give out the file (CRC failure).

Wastedslayer · Jul 18, 2012

This reminded me to update the bios on my Extreme4, seems with the newest bios (2.0) they have fully implemented this. The option was there before it just didnt work. Now it has internet options and choice of download server etc.

thumbs up to AsRock

Edit: They also added power on by keyboard support which is fantastic since my front panel header is dead on my board! No more opening the case!

OneMoar · Jul 18, 2012

btarunr said:
I imagine the update to be downloaded as a *.zip archive, extracted, and then used. If the downloaded file is corrupt, the archive won't give out the file (CRC failure).

A file could pass a crc or checksum and still have it brick it(been there done that)

id like to see asrock come up with there own version of Dualbios or usb bios boot

OneCool · Jul 18, 2012

This reminds me of the time I flashed my Ati 9700 non pro to a pro in an electrical storm....... didnt end well.

Where is the adventure these days ..

Disparia · Jul 18, 2012

There's a new BIOS for my ASRock board! Too bad I can't go into my BIOS and update it...

But if support does come to my ASRock board I'll use it. One less program to install (Windows based BIOS update tool) and if it has basic checksum calculation, then it's doing more than I usually do. At 1000+ firmware flashes and no problems, I'm either due for one or with a few basic precautions taken, failure is really rare. One of those precautions I take is waiting until after a storm

suraswami · Jul 18, 2012

Is this similar to MSI's live update?

baggpipes · Jul 18, 2012

suraswami said:
Is this similar to MSI's live update?

+1 MSI has had this for awhile...

D007 · Jul 18, 2012

I like it, simplification at it's best..

Completely Bonkers · Jul 18, 2012

OneMoar said:
this wont end well
one error in the server back end
or a corrupt download ....
=

I understand your fear, but nearly every modern router has a "working bios" and a "reset/default bios". Simply hit the reset pin and the "working bios" is reset to the default one. I cant see any problem so long as Asrock implements it.

white phantom · Jul 19, 2012

they still need to make it save mu F***in overclock profiles, lost them countless times forgetting to write them down or that before an update...not a big fan of the asrock stuff but will have to make do with this

pantherx12 · Jul 19, 2012

Think next time I'm buying new parts I'll go Asrock since gigabyte seam to have well, crappy bioses/bios support.

OneMoar · Jul 19, 2012

Completely Bonkers said:
I understand your fear, but nearly every modern router has a "working bios" and a "reset/default bios". Simply hit the reset pin and the "working bios" is reset to the default one. I cant see any problem so long as Asrock implements it.

cmos != bios

INSTG8R · Jul 19, 2012

Clever, but my Abit IP35 Pro did that back in 2008...

pantherx12 · Jul 19, 2012

INSTG8R said:
Clever, but my Abit IP35 Pro did that back in 2008...

It could connect to the Internet via the bios?

INSTG8R · Jul 19, 2012

pantherx12 said:
It could connect to the Internet via the bios?

No I suppose your right it was Windows based. I guess I have to suck it up that UEFI BIOS can do it too. I love my UEFI BIOS minus THIS issue.

anonymous6366 · Jul 19, 2012

thats tight, and really the way they should all be by now if you think about it. Most other technologies like blu ray players tvs etc update their firmware over the internet. not quite the same as bios but the same ballpark

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ASRock Develops First Web-Update Tool Within BIOS Setup Program

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