Your daily dose of practical, easy to follow tech tips!
Question from Betty: I read an article suggesting that everyone needs to keep the software on their smart phones up to date.
It also said to be careful not to ‘brick your phone’ while you’re updating it. Can you tell me what they mean by that? Thanks.
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]
The motherboard in every Windows PC is equipped with firmware code that the CPU uses to initialize the computer’s hardware components and prepare the machine to boot up into Windows.
Depending on the age and model of your PC, this firmware is typically referred to as either the BIOS or the UEFI.
In a nutshell, the firmware in older PCs is referred to as the BIOS while newer computers have a UEFI Control Panel.
Just keep in mind that regardless of what the manufacturer of your particular motherboard calls it, the onboard firmware performs the same basic “bootstrap” tasks.
Manufacturers occasionally release firmware updates for their motherboards in order to fix bugs, optimize hardware performance and add new features.
Personally, I don’t recommend installing BIOS/UEFI updates unless they are absolutely necessary, for the following reasons: [Read more…]
Question from Mike: I bought a custom-built PC from a local computer shop back in February 2017.
I recently found out there’s a major UEFI firmware update available for this computer’s motherboard, and I’d like to install it.
I asked for advice and tips for installing the update on a computer forum that I’m a member of and several people recommended that I don’t update the firmware because it’s dangerous to do so.
They all said I should take it to a computer shop and have them update it for me.
I’d take it to the folks who built the computer but they shut down a while back and they’re no longer in business. The closest computer repair shop is now located over 40 miles away.
I’d really like your opinion on this. I want to install the update but not if there’s a real chance that I could mess something up. Do you think there is?
Rick’s answer: [Read more…]