[SOLVED] How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

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[SOLVED] How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

16 May 2023, 13:16:48

Hallo,

I have a warranty for my xmg Laptop with included Service for an Bios Update. Because I use Linux, the support tell me:

Quote

Since it cannot be guaranteed whether your Linux system will be affected, it is better here that the BIOS is not updated.

I guess it is, because they only support Windows an the have 2 separate Updates. For that, there are 2 Chips on the Mainboard. One is the EFI Update and the second is called EC-Update.

Tuxedo explain it like this.

Quote

The embedded controller (EC for short) is a small hardware component, a so-called microcontroller, which is installed in notebooks and performs various basic control tasks within the computer.

These control tasks include receiving signals from the notebook keyboard, charging the battery and controlling the fans. At TUXEDO, we customize these control tasks in the EC so that your notebook works best with our drivers and the TUXEDO Control Center.

Therefore, we recommend that you perform an EC update if it is available for your device.

So may be it is better, not to do the EC-Update? Because it is possible there are special modifications for Windows?

But an EFI/Bios update. Why not? Are there known general Problems with Bios/Efi Updates? The support is not able to give an exact answer, if there are special Windows "konfiguration".
Is it really possible, that my hardware no longer works, if I do an Bios Update??

Thx TM

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #1 – 16 May 2023, 13:37:01

Since Tuxedo is not a huge corporate OEM I'd say the BIOS updates won't cause any problem, their response was simply generic.
Same goes for EC update which is less significant, it's just a glorified acpi controller and some updaters do both anyway (I remember Clevo did).

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #2 – 16 May 2023, 20:23:22

It is unlikely that an UEFI update would suddenly make your hardware incompatible with Linux. The worst thing I've ever had happen is that I had to reset the firmware to default settings. It's annoying, but completely recoverable.

Quote from: Thats_me – on 16 May 2023, 13:16:48

Is it really possible, that my hardware no longer works, if I do an Bios Update??

This is a more difficult question to answer. The short version is yes, a firmware update gone wrong could brick your hardware regardless of which operating system you use. That said, a lot of the anxiety around firmware seems to be leftover from the 'old days' when the advice was to never risk an update unless you really, really needed it. Doing a BIOS update in the 90s had a very different risk profile than UEFI does in 2023. My procedure for firmware these days is the same as any other big change - backup your current setup and never turn the PC off while it's updating.

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #3 – 16 May 2023, 20:32:44

The manufacturer says this on its website:

At TUXEDO, Linux is not a sideshow or niche business. Linux is our brand essence!

So in addition to the advice above, it would seem that there is little risk in updating. If in doubt, I would contact them directly.

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #4 – 17 May 2023, 07:06:18

Thanks @all

I have expressed myself in a misleading way. I do not have a Tuxedo device.

Quote from: Thats_me – on 16 May 2023, 13:16:48

Hallo,
I have a warranty for my xmg Laptop ..... Because I use Linux, the support tell me:
....I guess it is, because they only support Windows....So may be it is better, not to do the EC-Update? Because it is possible there are special modifications for Windows?

Quote from: andyscott – on 16 May 2023, 20:23:22

It is unlikely that an UEFI update would suddenly make your hardware incompatible with Linux. The worst thing I've ever had happen is that I had to reset the firmware to default settings. It's annoying, but completely recoverable.

How do I do that? I guess I then make a downgrade in that way, that I then install again the older Bios and EC Version. So the Update is made undo?

Quote

This is a more difficult question to answer. The short version is yes, a firmware update gone wrong could brick your hardware regardless of which operating system you use. That said, a lot of the anxiety around firmware seems to be leftover from the 'old days' when the advice was to never risk an update unless you really, really needed it. Doing a BIOS update in the 90s had a very different risk profile than UEFI does in 2023. My procedure for firmware these days is the same as any other big change - backup your current setup and never turn the PC off while it's updating.

Thanks. Which backup do you mean? I would remove the hard drives, before updating the bios. Because the hard drive is not needed therefore
Let's assume that the update runs smoothly.
For my understanding There is a difference between EFI an EC-Upadate. The EC is a customized update. Like discribed above. Tuxedo apparently adapts this EC update to the linux drivers. Xmg apparently does not.

The Difference I do not understand. Because I thought, when I start the operating system, the Kernel look for the needed drivers?
When there is no power failure, usually the update should work fine?
An so I do not understand, why an update can distroy my hardware. I thougt, if the driver is nor compatible, the operating system do not start.

If it is so, then I can install the older Bios and EC version? An then all should run like before?

Sorry for long Text.

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #5 – 17 May 2023, 09:48:30

Update all UEFis and Firmwares. If you have Windows license, use Windows to do it. If you want to do it under Artix, don't. Use distro with systemd (to be sure service runs on boot) and follow wiki for fwupd.

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #6 – 17 May 2023, 11:37:19

Quote from: sonar – on 17 May 2023, 09:48:30

Update all UEFis and Firmwares. If you have Windows license, use Windows to do it. If you want to do it under Artix, don't. Use distro with systemd (to be sure service runs on boot) and follow wiki for fwupd.

Thank you. sorry, but I do not understand this. In the Artix Wiki I don't find a howto for fwupd.
But in the Reps I can find. fwupd and fwupd-efi
Also in the Arch Wiki. https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Fwupd

For me is is not clear, when I can use instructions from Arch Wiki (with systemd) and which instructions are not for Artix.

Quote

Results of search for fwupd:
0 pages found out of 1286 pages searched.
Results of search for firmware:

Main /
InstallationOnZFS
InstallationWithFullDiskEncryption

I do not have Windows an I do not have systemd.
I only have Artix and MX Linux.

Ok, it seems it is the best I do not make the Efi and EC Update.
Al sounds very complicated and I am unsecure what to do.

Thx TM

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #7 – 17 May 2023, 14:49:20

You can often update the BIOS by following the manufacturers instructions and copying a bootable iso file to a usb stick or similar, this is usually very simple. It occurs to me though that you should find out what changes are in the BIOS update, which are usually published along with the update files. It's possible what they mean about you not using Windows is that the changes are only for Windows specific features and won't make any difference if you use Linux.

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #8 – 17 May 2023, 15:43:30

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I have expressed myself in a misleading way. I do not have a Tuxedo device.

Okay, so what the xmg OEM has meant about Tuxedo software support was like if e.g. Clevo OEM would mention Eurocom support. I kinda get what you meant now since I had some contact with these custom kind of laptops before.

In this case I would really, really encourage you to ask a specialized forum about what kind of BIOS to flash and how to do it, it is indeed very possible to just switch brandings from one to another without issue provided the hardware is identical, to get a better/more up to date/etc. image.

Re: How important is an Efi/Bios Update?

Reply #9 – 18 May 2023, 11:33:40

Thank you!!
I was very lucky and Tuxedo answered me for once.
They usually only give support for Tuxedo.
They told me to have both updates done.