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This topic has moved here: Poll [11 votes]: BIOS, Firmware, software updates. Wat U do?
  • Poll [11 votes]: BIOS, Firmware, software updates. Wat U do?
Subject: BIOS, Firmware, software updates. Wat U do?
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Well, here we are. I guess that it was destined to come to this.

Poll: BIOS, Firmware, software updates. Wat U do?  [closed]
All of the above, I stay up-to-date:  36%
(4 Votes)
Never. If it ain't broke, don't fix it:  18%
(2 Votes)
Software yes, hardware no:  36%
(4 Votes)
Only if it is automated, I don't do "manual":  9%
(1 Votes)
Total Votes: 11

I'm in an idle loop at work right now, so I took on a task of taking about 70 or so laptops and getting them all "up to speed" with OS install, apps, updates, configuration and the like.

Sadly, I don't have admin access to the domain imaging tools, so each is a bare-metal image and then a manual update (talk about old-school).

Anyway, I was in the process and a colleague was shocked that I was taking the time to make sure that all devices were consistently updated on BIOS and firmware before I even started on the software installation. They took the position of "firmware should only be updated if you are having problems with a device/component".

I disagree. But wonder how many fellow members actually take/spend any time making sure that their BIOS, firmware and other "under the hood" installations are as up-to-date as possible.

  • 12.20.2012 10:26 AM PDT

+1 for you good sir.

I tend to get lazy with my hardware.

  • 12.20.2012 10:28 AM PDT

Posted by: Adamal123
I tend to get lazy with my hardware.

Me too!

  • 12.20.2012 10:29 AM PDT

Updating all drivers and software helps eliminate bugs and any small kinds of issues a majority of the time. Whenever I see an update for something, I update immediately.

I rarely have any kinds of software or hardware related issues. I'd like to think it's because I'm always on top of the updates.


I've even updated the BIOS for my GPU recently.


Plus, if something does go wrong, and you need some kind of tech support, the first thing tech support asks is "is everything up to date?"


might as well update just for that sole purpose.

  • 12.20.2012 10:30 AM PDT

Per Audacia Ad Astra

I was unaware that it was outdated.

  • 12.20.2012 10:30 AM PDT
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Scream at the top of your lungs and pound the keyboard.

[Edited on 12.20.2012 10:31 AM PST]

  • 12.20.2012 10:30 AM PDT

BIOS? No. Drivers/software I try to keep up date when I see it or remember to check.

  • 12.20.2012 10:30 AM PDT

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  • 12.20.2012 10:31 AM PDT

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Nope. The only time I'm looking at a BIOS screen is when something has gone terribly, terribly wrong.

  • 12.20.2012 10:32 AM PDT
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What's your job? And nope, I never take the time to check the firmware.

  • 12.20.2012 10:33 AM PDT

NON FACET NOBIS CALCITRARE VESTRUM PERNĒ¢UM

Hmmmm.....seeming as I have no clue what all that stuff is, I can't really comment. I just turn my laptop on and go. If it starts getting buggy/etc, I just drop it off with my buddy. He's good with stuff like that.

  • 12.20.2012 10:34 AM PDT
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Well, here we are. I guess that it was destined to come to this.

Posted by: Alec9224
What's your job? And nope, I never take the time to check the firmware.

I am a healthcare IT consultant for a large multi-national corporation.

I'm at home for the month, a corporate office is nearby, so I went in and was told that we (our team) has just under 100 "spare" laptops that management would like to have "pre-configured for consultants" so that if/when someone in the field needs a really rapid replacement, they can get one of these overnight and not have to spend the next 2 days remotely attempting to get it updated (from the default, non-consultant friendly corp image) and usable to them.

So this tasks is pretty much "thumb-twiddling" for me (I really wish that I could have made a proper image and would have been done in a day or two, but policies are strict) but I see it as a "Christmas present" to any of my colleagues who may be in need of a fast replacement. Since I can do this for them, I certainly don't mind doing some old-fashioned PC support for them. Especially since many of my fellow consultants are more clinical in their expertise than technical.

  • 12.20.2012 10:40 AM PDT
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I've updated the BIOS on a few machines over the years, but it's not something I have ever done regularly - typically only when a driver issue occurred.

My personal/home computers all use EFI/UEFI bootroms, which I have never touched. I do keep all my software up to date, however.

  • 12.20.2012 10:48 AM PDT

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I guess ill update if its automated :D and a message tells me to update.

  • 12.20.2012 10:50 AM PDT

I have a script set to run the following once a week:

$ sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Other than that, I don't really do much.

  • 12.20.2012 10:56 AM PDT