How to update BIOS on a system that only use Linux as OS.

Asking this because some clowns at Acer decided that they will only provide BIOS updates through Windows Update.

Edit: I’m not talking about installing the BIOS file. They don’t even provide BIOS file in the first place.

5 points

I feel your pain. I’ve searched a bit online and found several different methods (not for Acer though) that all go way over my head. I just leave the BIOS to deprecate on its own by now.

permalink
report
reply
11 points

As someone who’s built his own PCs for years, I’ve never really bothered with a BIOS update.

Then again, one of the main reasons to update BIOS is to gain support for new CPUs, but I’ve been using Intel which switches to a new socket or chipset every other generation anyway. I’ve almost always had to buy a new motherboard alongside a new CPU.

permalink
report
parent
reply
2 points

I don’t have reason to update BIOS either. But just in case.

permalink
report
parent
reply
-2 points

Then why are you making such a huge stink over it?

permalink
report
parent
reply
3 points

🫂

permalink
report
parent
reply
10 points
*

Is there an option to save the new bios update file to a USB stick, then enter bios and trigger an update manually that fetches the file from said USB stick?

I’ve done it this way with an Asrock motherboard for desktop running Bazzite.

permalink
report
reply
5 points

They don’t even provide BIOS file in the first place.

permalink
report
parent
reply
7 points

Depends on the exact model. The usual way on Linux is via fwupdmgr.

permalink
report
reply
2 points

I’m not talking about installing the BIOS file. They don’t even provide BIOS file in the first place.

Also, I don’t think fwupd has firmware for this particular laptop. ( Acer One 14 Z2-493 )

permalink
report
parent
reply
8 points

Try it out. I was often pleasantly surprised by the things provided by fwupd.

permalink
report
parent
reply
55 points

There is no universal solution to this. Some vendors support fwupd (LVFS) on some hardware (Dell, Lenovo), some allow to update via a file on a USB stick (Asus).

Unless it is a system from Linux first company (Tuxedo, StarLabs, System76, Slimbook) expect to manually check what the specific model you are looking at supports.

permalink
report
reply
8 points

I’m not talking about installing the BIOS file. They don’t even provide BIOS file in the first place.

Also, I don’t think fwupd has firmware for this particular laptop. ( Acer One 14 Z2-493 )

permalink
report
parent
reply
17 points

That’s the thing - there is no option to update BIOS on Linux then.

You must install Windows or maybe use one of those unofficial Windows Live USB images.

permalink
report
parent
reply
9 points

unofficial Windows Live USB images.

I just came to know about this

permalink
report
parent
reply
8 points

system from Linux first company (Tuxedo, StarLabs, System76, Slimbook)

Indeed that’s IMHO the solution, namely prioritizing ecosystem that genuinely see Linux as something valuable, with an addressable market, rather than a cost linked to annoying users.

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

it’s just sad that they are not selling on my country

permalink
report
parent
reply
1 point

you can always just put coreboot on a old thinkpad

permalink
report
parent
reply
4 points

Sorry, but in your case the only way is to install Windows. Make a dual boot.

permalink
report
reply
6 points

Thank you.

I think it’s stupid to provide something hardware related like BIOS exclusively through a particular proprietary software like Windows.

permalink
report
parent
reply

Linux

!linux@lemmy.ml

Create post

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word “Linux” in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

  • Posts must be relevant to operating systems running the Linux kernel. GNU/Linux or otherwise.
  • No misinformation
  • No NSFW content
  • No hate speech, bigotry, etc

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

Community stats

  • 7.7K

    Monthly active users

  • 6.5K

    Posts

  • 179K

    Comments