Updating the BIOS is usually pretty painless
With the exception of some cheap motherboard manufacturers like Foxconn, ASRock etc, it's pretty difficult to make a mistake. All you need to do is create a boot disk, download the correct ROM file and flashing software and read the instructions carefully. These are good guidelines though:
- Make sure you're using the latest or recommended version of flash software; occasionally a new BIOS will require a more recent version of flash software. The readme files accompanying the ROM file will tell you what to use.
- Check your floppy for errors. From the command prompt (Start, Run, cmd), type chkdsk a: /r. If you get any errors, re-format the disk and copy the flash/ROM files over again. If you keep getting errors, use another disk.
- If the flashing software refuses to flash, force it at your peril. Flash software usually makes several checks to ensure you're not trying to do something stupid, but it can still be forced to flash, which you would regret
- Avoid using Windows flashing software. They rely on your Windows environment being rock solid, which is never assured.
Any of us who'd been into computers for a while have killed at least one motherboard with a bad flash. This is pretty difficult to do today though, as motherboards are often released with buggy firmware, necessitating the need for idiot-proof flashing software.