In this article, we’ll guide you through the process of updating your Gigabyte motherboard using the Q-Flash BIOS update method. If you’re interested in the Q-Flash Plus method, we have a separate video linked at the top of this page. Before we begin, it’s important to note that updating your BIOS carries some risks, so it’s crucial to follow these steps carefully to avoid potential issues.
Important Precautions:
- Potential Risks: Updating the BIOS incorrectly can harm your motherboard. Although some motherboards have features like BIOS flash or dual BIOS recovery, it’s best to minimize the chances of failure.
- Power Backup: We recommend using a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) or battery backup while performing the update to prevent any power interruptions that could lead to a failed update.
- Never Interrupt: Once you initiate the BIOS update, avoid interrupting it under any circumstances. Don’t turn off your motherboard, unplug it, or let power outages occur.
- Verify the Correct BIOS: Double-check that you’re downloading the correct BIOS version for your motherboard from Gigabyte’s official website. Using the wrong BIOS can lead to compatibility issues.
Preparing Your USB Drive:
The safest way to update your BIOS is to use a USB 2.0 flash drive with FAT32 file system support. Here are the steps to prepare your USB drive:
- Insert your USB drive into your computer’s USB port.
- Open Windows File Explorer and right-click on the USB drive. Select “Format.”
- In the format dialog, ensure “FAT32” is selected (if not already), and leave other settings at their default values. Click “Start.”
- Click “OK” when prompted, and after a few seconds, you’ll see the “Format Complete” window. Click “OK” again and close the format window. Your USB drive is now formatted.
Downloading and Copying the BIOS Update:
- Visit the product page for your specific Gigabyte motherboard on the official website. Ensure you choose the correct motherboard revision.
- Under the “Support” tab, scroll down to the “BIOS” section.
- Expand the BIOS section and select the latest BIOS release. Download the file to your computer.
- Navigate to the folder where you saved the downloaded file, right-click on it, and select “Extract.”
- Copy all the extracted files and paste them into the root directory (top-level) of your USB drive.
- Safely eject the USB drive and insert it into the USB port on the motherboard you intend to update (if not already inserted).
Updating the BIOS:
- Boot your computer and repeatedly press the “Delete” key to access the BIOS.
- In the BIOS menu, find and select the “Q-Flash” option. Note that the BIOS menu appearance may vary depending on your motherboard model. You can also press “F8” to access Q-Flash.
- On the Q-Flash screen, choose the “Update BIOS” option.
- You should see the contents of your USB drive on the left and the BIOS update file (ending with “.f8d” in our case) on the right.
- If you have multiple USB drives inserted, select the one containing the BIOS update file.
- Double-click the BIOS update file and confirm by clicking “Yes” to start the update process.
- The system will verify the file, and once complete, click “Press to Start.”
- When prompted, click “OK” to continue. Do not shut off your PC or interrupt the BIOS update process in any way.
- Allow the update to run without interruption. It may take a few minutes, and your PC may restart several times.
- After the update is complete, reboot your computer and access the BIOS using the “Delete” key to verify that the BIOS version has been updated successfully.
Congratulations! If you followed these steps correctly, your BIOS should now be up to date. If you found this article helpful, Let us in the comment box.