# How to reflash bios on a dead motherboard? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 29, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067 "2013-11-29T14:59:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067/1 "2013-11-29T14:59:44Z")
I had three computers in the last few days with “BIOS Checksum error”. I tried clearing the CMOS on all three computers and then they wouldn’t even power up. I managed to save the third computer though. It had a dual BIOS motherboard, selectable via a jumper. I switched to the second BIOS and it started! But what about the other two? They are totally unresponsive. How can I reflash the BIOS? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067/2 "2013-11-29T15:47:22Z")
Are you sure it isn’t just a dead CMOS battery issue? ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067/3 "2013-11-29T16:04:42Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Are you sure it isn’t just a dead CMOS battery issue? Checked original battery with multimeter and it was ok. Just to be sure I swapped it with a new one. ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067/4 "2013-11-29T16:38:27Z")
Is the BIOS in a socket? You can probably get new ones from the manufacturer. There is some useful info [here](http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php?topic=126212.0) ---
**Author:** ![Dog80](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@Dog80](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dog80)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067/5 "2013-11-29T19:51:19Z")
> [@arnesw](#): > > Is the BIOS in a socket? You can probably get new ones from the manufacturer. > > There is some useful info [here](http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php?topic=126212.0) Thanks! Both motherboards have surface mount SOIC chips, but I do have the equipment to replace them. However the price on ebay is a bit high for my liking. These are old motherboards and I am not 100% sure a BIOS swap will fix them. Do you know if these [universal programmers](http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR1.TRC0.A0.Xuniversal+progra&_nkw=universal+programmer&_sacat=0&_from=R40) on ebay can reflash (with appropriate SOIC to DIP adapter) a BIOS chip? ---
**Author:** ![Archeonomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7cd45c/32.png) [@Archeonomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Archeonomist)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067/6 "2013-11-29T23:13:12Z")
> [@Dog80](#): > > Thanks! > > Both motherboards have surface mount SOIC chips, but I do have the equipment to replace them. However the price on ebay is a bit high for my liking. These are old motherboards and I am not 100% sure a BIOS swap will fix them. > > Do you know if these [universal programmers](http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1311.R1.TR1.TRC0.A0.Xuniversal+progra&_nkw=universal+programmer&_sacat=0&_from=R40) on ebay can reflash (with appropriate SOIC to DIP adapter) a BIOS chip? I haven’t tried this so take this with an appropriate amount of salt. Check the list of supported chips on the programmers. If yours is there, it should work with an adapter if needed. As long as you get the pins in the right place, the chip packaging doesn’t matter. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [November 29, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-reflash-bios-on-a-dead-motherboard/675067/7 "2013-11-29T23:30:21Z")
How old are these motherboards? You have to ask yourself, is it really worth the bother/expense of trying to revive them rather than replace them?