When to update Bios? Mixed messages.

Hi joeranger,

This is a very good question; I would recommend you to update the BIOS whenever there is a newer version available on our website: www.support.dell.com

Updating the BIOS helps creating better synchronization between the hardware components, hence should be done whenever  an updated version is available.

Glad to be of assistance.

Ravi Mohindroo

Social Outreach Professional

You can reach us at http://en.community.dell.com/

What is the definitive answer on when to update the Bios?

In short?  When if offers something you need or want.

For example, the latest BIOS version for the Inspiron 531 states the following "Fixes and Enhancements":

• support new cpu

So, if you haven't or do not intend to upgrade your CPU, then this BIOS update does not offer anything that will benefit you.  It is safe to skip it.  While there are occasionally undocumented changes in BIOS updates, it is rare, and you probably don't want to count on wishful thinking for undocumented changes to fix whatever issue you are experiencing.

How's that for "mixed messages" :)

There are many "opinions" on this topic.  You might ask 10 people and get 10 different answers as to whether you should or shouldn't and why or why not.  

Many who say you shouldn't update it ("ain't broke") have had a bad experience during a flash.  If a BIOS update goes bad, it cannot be recovered, so the only fix is to replace the motherboard.  Fear of this possibility probably drives most of the schools of thought against an update.  These failures are extremely rare, and the BIOS has built-in error checks, so that most update problems are reversed before they are ever committed to the BIOS ROM.

Many who say you should just blindly update it have probably never had a bad experience.  I have updated hundreds of machine BIOS and have never seen one "brick" the motherboard, but in my travels on Internet support forums and in my everyday life of computer tech, I have heard of a few instances.  Three common causes for failed BIOS updates are 1) impatience ("it just sat there and sat there, so I turned it off"), 2) unhealthy hardware (if your system only occasionally completes POST and/or you are getting other hardware-related errors, and you try to flash the BIOS in hopes that it will fix it, you may break something that was previously only cracked), and 3) power outage (updating without using laptop power cord or an actual power outage).

BIOS updates are are safe, but don't put yourself through the worry if you have nothing to gain from it.

Well there you go, you have just been given 2 conflicting answers. It is a subject of debate.

The update is recommended by Dell however you need to be careful when applying it. A failed BIOs update = death of your system. This happens rarely, working 99.9 % of the time. Failed BIOs updates can occur e.g. if the system loses power or if the system is already malfunctioning. Likely  you won't run into troubles installing it so the risk is minimal. As mentioned earlier, the update adds support for more CPUs so unless you are going to install a new CPU then its not too going to change much for your system.

I personally update the BIOs of my systems if an update is available after performing A Clean Install of Windows, I don't necessarily update the BIOs at every BIOs revision only if I see a fix that could be an improvement.

In your case if you have warranty I would say might as well update it, if you don't have any left then its not worth the risk.