Hi,
I have problems with my GeForce 5200 graphics card on a Kubuntu 6.06 Athlon 2600+ computer. I would like to upgrade my BIOS to see if that solves the problem (this is a tip from NVIDIA) but I have no idea of where to start. Can anyone please assist my on this?

Thanks,
Martin

Generally you go to your computer manufacturer's website (or motherboard manufacturer if you built your own machine) and look at the software updates section. If there is a bios update available, you download that file and copy it to a floppy. (Note you might have to find a windows computer to do this as the files might be self extracting zips or something like that). Then you reboot with the floppy in the drive and it will flash your bios.

If you're successful (99.999% of the time it is), then you'll have an updated bios. If you're unsuccessful, you'll have a really big paperweight...

As an example, here's a link to the bios updates for a Dell Dimension 2400.

Hi,
thanks for your reply. For example, by BIOS manufacturer is Phoenix. If I go to their website (http://www.phoenix.com/en/Customer+S...AQ/default.htm) I really don't find anything to download.

Thanks,
Martin

The easiest way would be to find out what motherboard you have, then go to your manufacture homepage and grab the latest bios. New motherboards usually comes with very easy tools to update your BIOS. Unfortunately, most of them are for Windows... But you may still be lucky to find Non-Windows solutions (like a boot disk or something).

A little tip though: When posting, try to give as much detail as possible. Have you posted your motherboard here, somebody could most likely had found the BIOS and a way to update it (if possible). If you don't know what kind/mark of board you have, maybe somebody could help you to identify the model. Have you posted what problems you are having with Nvidia, maybe somebody could have tried to help you out...

EDIT:
Note to myself; Have to learn to type faster than pljvaldez!

No, not the BIOS manufacturer. You want the motherboard manufacturer or computer manufacturer. If you tell us what your computer/motherboard is, maybe we can help you.

Updating the BIOS is not forgiving to beginners. If the power goes out or you quit the process thinking it is done because the progress has not change in a few minutes, the BIOS will be toast. It sounds like you are incapable of doing a BIOS update, so I recommend take it to computer technician to do it for you. I am not being mean, but when I read that you do not know your motherboard brand and model gives me an alarm.

The GeForce 5200 sucks for the price. I recommend GeForce6 6200.

I bought a new PC and the motherboard is unbranded. Comes with a reasonable manual but no mention of the manufacturer, other than the fact it is based on an ATI RS482 chipset

Flashing the bios is not that risky. Just make sure you get the RIGHT bios update and do it from the floppy. Have the original bios on another floppy in case you need it.

Some manufacturers have software to do this right from windows but I would pass on that if I were you.

I would never flash the bios if everything was working well but you do have issues so a flash is in order.

Flashing the BIOS is risky. It is even riskier if you do not know the motherboard brand and model. I recommend buying the BIOS chip from the motherboard company instead of flashing the BIOS.

I managed to fry my BIOS. Had to buy a new BIOS chip (not that expensive, actually) to get my system up and running again. At least I've got a spare now