Really, when it comes down to it, if your computer is working just fine, you don’t need to worry about updating the BIOS. But it is sometimes required if your having problems with your computer booting properly. Or, in some cases, you can update the BIOS to get other features, like running virtual machines via Hyper-V.
Find Your Computer BIOS Version the Easy Way
I’ve seen many techs who go into the BIOS to check which version it is. This is time-consuming and a hassle — there’s an easier way, actually a few of them. First, an easy and comfortable method is to use a free utility to find it. Several free utilities will do the trick, but my favorite is Speccy. It’s developed by Piriform, the makers of the popular CCleaner. Download and install Speccy. Launch it, and Speccy will analyze your system — which should only take a few seconds. Click Motherboard in the left pane, then you’ll see your BIOS version. In the screenshot below, you can see that mine is P01-A0.
Use the Registry
If you feel comfortable going into the Windows Registry, it’s easy to find your BIOS version. First, open the Registry by hitting Windows Key + R to bring up the Run dialog box and type: regedit and hit Enter or click OK.
Then go to: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DESCRIPTION\BIOS And in the right pane, look for the BIOSVersion string. Here is my example. I have a Gateway desktop computer, and it’s telling me my version is P01-A0 – just like Speccy did.
Use the Command Line
This is probably the fastest method for finding your BIOS version. Open the Command Prompt and type: wmic bios get smbiosbiosversion In the shot below, you can see it’s a simple command that gives you the BIOS version:
Now that you know the current version of the BIOS, you can head to the computer manufacturer’s website and search to see if there’s a newer version available. In this case, I can get an update that improves a few things.
Conclusion
I’m not going to go into how you update a computer’s BIOS because the instructions for each manufacturer vary so greatly. When you download the new version, typically, you’ll find the directions on how to update in a separate “Read Me” file. Make sure to read them carefully and do everything verbatim as it’s explained. Or, if the computer is still under warranty, make sure to get tech support involved. Also, remember your Wi-Fi router’s firmware needs to be updated from time to time too. However, it’s much easier to do and can drastically improve performance and stability. For more on updating your router, read: How to Upgrade Router Firmware
