Update BIOS

[gwcowling323]

I recently experienced a substantial reduction in performance speed with the PC noted. Posed the question on Microsoft Forum. Concensus of the replies I received there was that the first thing I should try is updating the BIOS. Can someone help me with instructions of how to do that?

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

> I recently experienced a substantial reduction in performance speed with the PC noted.

Recently?  If your computer had been running correctly for a long time with the current BIOS, and you have not recently updated the BIOS, then I say "please look elsewhere" for problems.

Also, measure, measure, measure.

Use the "Performance" tab of Windows Task Manager to see how "busy" the computer is: CPU & RAM & disk-drive.

What do you see?

At the bottom of that window, click "Resource Monitor", and click its "Performance" tab to "drill-down" on which tasks are using the most CPU and/or doing the most Input/Output.

What do you see?

Also, a disk-drive in "imminent failure" status can be extremely slow to operate, dragging-down the whole computer.

Turn the computer off.

Turn the computer on, and immediately press the indicated F-key to launch the HP Hardware Diagnostics.

Run the "short" (a few minutes) test against the disk-drive.

If you do not get a "fail" result, then run the "long" (many minutes) test against the disk-drive.

What are the results?

> Posed the question on Microsoft Forum.

> Consensus of the replies I received there was that the first thing I should try is updating the BIOS.

I very strongly disagree.  Sometimes, free advice is worth exactly what you have paid for it.

Other users on this forum have reported that a BIOS-update "bricked" their computer.

Personally, a BIOS-update is the _last_ thing that I would try.

I have found that a BIOS-update almost never solves a problem that I have experienced.

Please try my "less-invasive" suggestions, before attempting a BIOS-update.

[gwcowling323]

I was leery about the BIOS update. That's why I asked here first. What you suggest was also suggested by one of the Microsoft responers so that's where I'm goin next. Thanks.