Vista - bios updating in vista

Hi,My first post!, I have a compal FL90 notebook and I don't know much about making a bootdisk,flashdrive for the bios updates, I'm running Vista 64 bit ultimate retail

this is my bios update page Bizcom Sales Support Online - Compal Notbook Service & Distribution Center

Im supose to have 1.16 bios but it came with 1.12 I've been at this for a few days now looking around and i'm not comfortable flashing in a bootup flash drive that I have created I think it was done corectly but I'm not sure , there is a phenix flashing software for my bios but it doesn't work in vista it's called Phonix Winphlash Utility I've tried this in my XP notebook and it looked for the bios automatically so i'm sure it would work but not in my vista OS compal notebook, I was thinking about removing the vista 64bit and putting in my XP full version and then updating and going back to vista once it's done ,but it seems like a lot of work! , is there a way around this whole mess ? like I said I put together a flashdrive bootable bios but I'm not comfortable booting to it , I could give a screen shot of it! but I would rather flash from the phonix utility on screen , any thoughts would be appreciated

Thanks in advance!

Hi justabrake,

Welcome to Vista Forums.

I would not use the BIOS flash program unless it was made for your 64 bit version of Vista and specific motherboard. I would wait until there was one available at the Intel site below or wherever you feel safe at.

From this company below, I tracked down a download link at Intel for your Compal computer BIOS.

Microtronica UK - Notebooks


From Intel:
Download Search Results

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Is your laptop working correctly?
If the answer is yes do not flash your BIOS.

If it is not broken, dont try to fix it.

I undestand "if it's not broken don't fix-it, but it's 4 bios down from what it should be and people are getting way better specs with the new bios plus it's suppose to support penry cpus in some cases ,

Thanks!

I agree with Roy in that flashing the Bios is a "Big Change" and if done incorrectly can/will reduce your computer to nothing more than a very expensive paperweight. I also (ESPECIALLY!!!) agree with Brink that you should never ever change the Bios from within the Operating System. This is especially true with laptops, since manufacturers often make proprietary additions which may or may not work.

There *are* valid reasons to do so. however. The aforementioned support for Penryn processors being one. Also various fixes to SATA ports, memory fixes, and the like, are very good reasons to perform the update. So when you've determined there is a valid reason to update your Bios, you should create a bootable disc (floppy, cd, thumb drive - whatever), and NOT run the operating system at all. Update the bios from the old school C prompt, and DO NOT TOUCH THE COMPUTER until it's done. If you don't know how to create a bootable disc, or run a command from a C prompt, please please please find someone who does to do it for you.

Having said that: Penryn is a Desktop chip - You will not be able to put one in your laptop. So if that's the reason you want to make the change, then it doesn't apply to you and you should leave your laptop alone.