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What
is ROM?
ROM
stands for Read Only Memory. You can read from it, but you cannot
write to it without using special procedures. ROM is where your
BIOS is stored. BIOS stands for Basic Input / Output System .
For more information, see the article What Is The BIOS.
You
may also have to someday update the BIOS code on your ROM chip.
Whether it be to add new features, fix a bug or combat the Y2K
problem, sometimes the code on the ROM chip needs updating. How
this is done depends on the ROM type, and I recommend that unless
you REALLY are sure of what you are doing, you consult a professional.
If done wrong, you can completely disable your motherboard for
good! You have been warned!
DIFFERENT
TYPES OF ROM
PROM:
Programmable
Read Only Memory requires a special machine called a PROM burner
to burn the BIOS code into the chip. If this type of ROM needs
updating, it usually means removing the whole chip and putting
in a newer one. Thank goodness this type of ROM is rarely found
anymore.
EPROM:
Erasable
Programmable Read Only Memory also requires a special PROM burner
to write the BIOS code, but it can be erased by shining ultraviolet
light through a window on the top of the chip. This can only be
done by a professional with the right equipment, and it usually
is not worth the trouble.
EEPROM:
Electrically
Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory is erased by applying a
slightly higher than normal voltage to the chip. Unlike the other
types, EEPROM can be erased a byte at a time rather than all at
once, and then written to. This type of ROM is found in devices
like printers.
Flash
ROM:
Flash
ROM, the newest type of ROM, is erased by applying a super charge
of electricity. It is then reprogrammed with new code. BIOS code
manufacturers have created Flash ROM programs that erase your
ROM and rewrite it with new BIOS code in one very quick step.
It is a very simple process, but like I said, if you get the wrong
BIOS code, you can destroy your motherboard. Nevertheless, this
type of ROM is easily the easiest and quickest to work with.
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