Do you set BIOS to defaults when updating to newer version?

TVeblen · Feb 10, 2023

I'm old school, so I've always reset BIOS to defaults before updating to a new version.
Does anyone else do this today? Is it still a good idea?
Also, some people do it before, some people after the update. What do we think about that?

OAT · Feb 10, 2023

TVeblen said:
I'm old school, so I've always reset BIOS to defaults before updating to a new version.
Does anyone else do this today? Is it still a good idea?
Also, some people do it before, some people after the update. What do we think about that?

I have updated many BIOS in my days and in truth I can't recall ever resetting the BIOS.

safron · Feb 10, 2023

It hasn't happened for a while, but I have noticed modifications made to the BIOS (UEFI) can sometimes be switched back to default values after an update, so we always check by running Get-BIOS (Elevated) in Powershell and looking for the mods we've implemented.

PerpetualCycle · Feb 10, 2023

TVeblen said:
I'm old school, so I've always reset BIOS to defaults before updating to a new version.
Does anyone else do this today? Is it still a good idea?
Also, some people do it before, some people after the update. What do we think about that?

Yes I clear the cmos first. Some settings can be carried over and affect things like memory training.

OAT · Feb 10, 2023

safron said:
It hasn't happened for a while, but I have noticed modifications made to the BIOS (UEFI) can sometimes be switched back to default values after an update, so we always check by running Get-BIOS (Elevated) in Powershell and looking for the mods we've implemented.

Sadly that option only works on Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba machines and this after a module installation I think.

safron · Feb 10, 2023

OAT said:
Sadly that option only works on Dell, HP, Lenovo, Toshiba machines and this after a module installation I think.

@OAT Yes, I believe you're correct - I should have mentioned this.

DigitalGoat · Feb 10, 2023

The manufacturer of the hardware usually suggests setting the BIOS to optimised defaults and when, before or after update.
It is often best to follow such instructions as sometimes the update can break the relation between some settings by writing default values during the update process, which can cause boot issues or instability.
Of course you will get many different answers and people saying they never reset the values and have never had an issue, but there are so many versions of BIOS with different hardware support, so following the instructions should be the safest/ least frustrating method, IMHO.

neves · Feb 10, 2023

But, why?!

While Updating the BIOS - the update process will erase the previous version, copy the new version - run a basic check - then reboot. The settings from your older version are irrelevant (they won't get ported to the new version - cause again - it deletes & copies the new bios without taking past changes into account). So, basically - after Updating the BIOS the settings - will be the Default settings.

TVeblen · Feb 10, 2023

neves said:
But, why?!

While Updating the BIOS - the update process will erase the previous version, copy the new version - run a basic check - then reboot. The settings from your older version are irrelevant (they won't get ported to the new version - cause again - it deletes & copies the new bios without taking past changes into account). So, basically - after Updating the BIOS the settings - will be the Default settings.

One Reason: I will have to re-enter all my custom BIOS settings after the update anyway. By resetting to defaults, when I go to save and exit > there is a list of all the changes I will need to remember to re-do.
It's easy to forget a change that you didn't write down sometimes.

safron · Feb 10, 2023

neves said:
But, why?!

While Updating the BIOS - the update process will erase the previous version, copy the new version - run a basic check - then reboot. The settings from your older version are irrelevant (they won't get ported to the new version - cause again - it deletes & copies the new bios without taking past changes into account). So, basically - after Updating the BIOS the settings - will be the Default settings.

This has not been my experience. The last 8 or so BIOS updates we've applied (coming fast and furious now) have retained the modifications we've made to settings - e.g., CapsuleFirmwareUpdate = Disabled

glasskuter · Feb 10, 2023

I have only a couple of bios settings that are not the default settings. Dell has issused at least 8 new bios in the last year and a half. A bios update retains my settings. I update through the Dell app but I can't see that would make any difference. An update is an update no matter how it's applied.

Alex__ASSR · Feb 10, 2023

I reset only 1 time to default , the other times I risked it and after the update my settings went back to the default, and the preset settings saved were no longer valid, so I don't think it makes any difference to reset or not, I've already updated the bios 4 or 5 times without reset, and it always goes back to default.

glasskuter · Feb 10, 2023

I think it depends on what motherboards are involved. This is just my opinion and not backed up with any hard evidence.
For OEM machines, such as Dell, the OEMs write their own bios and they write their own bios updates.
For self builds, a motherboard manufacturer(such as MSI) writes the bios and all bios updates for the motherboard.
Whoever writes bios updates controls whether or not the update will set all settings back to default.
It seems OEM bios updates retain custom settings but flashing bios updates from the mobo manufacturer do not.
Just my opinion.

rick99 · Feb 10, 2023

I don't reset when I do a BIOS update. Also, I've noticed the few changes I made were retained. Lenovo says write down your settings prior "in case" the update changes them.

pparks1 · Feb 10, 2023

i don't reset it. And once I have a box built and the initial BIOS is updated, I often don't keep up to date on my BIOS versions unless there is a known issue I am having problems with.

I just looked at my Asus Rog Strix X570-E Gaming board and I'm on BIOS version 3602 from 3/5/2021. The latest is 4408 from 11/24/22. When I get around to going to windows 11 from Windows 10, i'll probably update the BIOS as there is at least 1 for better support of Windows 11 listed.

ThrashZone · Feb 10, 2023

Hi,
No
Should of added a poll

iPanda032 · Feb 10, 2023

I've updated countless bios at work and my own personal PC. I thought that always got reset to default settings regardless. If anything I've always had to go back in and reset the preferred settings after a bios update.
update: Post about OEM, I didn't think about that. Yea I am usually updating a motherboard from ASUS, MSI, Gigabyte, etc. The few times I update bios of OEM PC I never think to check the settings since most of the time those have very few configuration options available. But that depends on the laptop. I've seen some laptops with a plethora of configurable settings while others barely had any.

NavyLCDR · Feb 10, 2023

I don't.

Senecio · Feb 10, 2023

I do set optimized defaults before and after flashing the BIOS on my desktop. The reason for this is that sometimes settings are carried over from previous BIOSs and can interfere with how the new BIOS functions. Or at least they have occasionally done that for people with my Gigabyte motherboard. On the other hand, I have never done that on my Dell laptop, where BIOS is updated from Windows.
Incidentally, although I often read comments implying that flashing a BIOS is a highly risky endeavour, which can result in bricking your system, I have flashed BIOSes for years including large numbers of Beta BIOSes, and never had a problem.

glasskuter · Feb 10, 2023

Senecio said:
flashing a BIOS is a highly risky endeavour

IMO Not as much so as it used to be. As computer hardware has gotten more sophisticated, so have the manufacturers and OEMs methods and self-checks. Thru their safe-guards, they also have ways of reflashing old bios versions. That's not to say you can't be bricked...you can. Just not as likely as in years past. I'm old school in a lot of things, but flashing bios is not one of them. When a new update is released, I give it about a month before I apply it. I figure if it's going to cause a problem, in that time it's either already been fixed or it's been pulled from my OEM's database.

And for anyone who allows windows update to update your bios, I feel you should not. Get it from your OEM.

Do you set BIOS to defaults when updating to newer version?

How do you update your BIOS?

I just install it. I do nothing before.

Reset to defaults before installing.

Reset to defaults after installing.

Reset to defaults before and after installing.

I try not to update my BIOS.

I update my BIOS from within Windows.

I update my BIOS using the OEM app.

I get someone eles to do that.

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