How do I flash my BIOS without a floppy drive?

If you need to flash your BIOS and your computer does not have a floppy drive, there are a couple options you could try to accomplish this task.

BIOS flash utility that runs in Windows

Check the motherboard manufacturer website to see if they have a Windows-based BIOS flash utility available for download and use. If this is available for your motherboard, this utility may be the best option to use. Typically the utility runs some of the BIOS flash process in Windows, then restart your computer and run the remainder of the flash process when the computer starts up, within DOS mode.

Create a bootable CD, with the BIOS flash utility

If no Windows BIOS utility is available, create a bootable CD and copy the BIOS flash utility files to the CD. Then restart your computer and boot to the CD to run the BIOS flash utility.

This option does require that your computer has a CD-Writer, blank disc, and that the CD-Writer has the capability of creating bootable CDs. Many CD-Writers have this capability, as do the CD creation software programs. The best way to find out is to either check documentation for your CD-Writer or just try creating a bootable CD and see if it works.

You also need to make sure you force a boot to the CD when your computer starts up. In most cases, there is a function key that displays a list of bootable devices your computer can use to boot. F10 and F12 are common hotkeys for displaying this bootable device list. Select the CD drive and see if the computer will boot to the CD and load the BIOS flash utility.

• How to make a bootable CD.

Install a floppy diskette drive on the computer

Finally, if none of the above options work, try installing a floppy drive in the computer.

• Installing a PC floppy disk drive.