The BIOS, otherwise known as the "Basic Input Output System," is the most basic operating system on your computer, stored not on your hard drive but on a small chip physically located on the motherboard itself. Repairing a BIOS can be tricky, involving a substantial amount of time and heartache on your part, but it can be accomplished. There are a number of methods that can be used to fix a BIOS under Windows XP, so start with the easiest and work your way up to the complex.
Instructions
1. Consult your motherboard instruction manual to determine whether there is a backup BIOS chip on your motherboard. A number of modern motherboards contain a second BIOS chip that can be used when the initial chip is experiencing errors, preventing an outright computer failure. If your board has such a chip, follow the specific instructions contained in the instruction manual to refresh the broken chip with the good version of the BIOS stored on the backup.
2. Go online with another computer in the house, and download a copy of the BIOS for your particular motherboard. Be sure you know the make and model of the motherboard correctly, as a BIOS is often individual to a particular motherboard, and you could cause further problems by downloading the wrong one. The motherboard version is often contained in the documentation for the PC, but if all else fails you can call up your manufacturer and ask for your specific model. Once you have the correct copy, save it to a flash drive or floppy disc (3.5") and reinstall it on your broken computer by using the specific BIOS installation instructions contained in your computer's operating manual.
3. Contact the manufacturer of your motherboard or PC about the possibility of ordering a new BIOS chip. Once you have a new BIOS chip, you can physically replace the defective chip, restoring your computer to full working order. Note that a computer hardware repair shop can perform the operation for you if you do not feel comfortable working on the innards of your PC.
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