I have an Award BIOS that seems to keep getting corrupted. My question is not why this is happening, but I wanted to know can I just replace a BIOS chip on a Mo Bo? If so, does it have to be the exact same BIOS chip?

yes it needs to be the same. why do you think your bios keeps getting corrupted? this isn't a cmos checksum error is it? That means change you cmos battery not the cmos.

Not so sure about that. I had HEARD, that some have successfully turned a computer on, REMOVED the bios chip from the computer whilst still on, put a corrupt one in, flashed THAT, shut down, and put the original back in. SOunds like it would work, but I am not so sure about the risks to the hardware. Jonoh will no doubt jump in here and give us some technical references. Over to you.......

Each Bios chip is programmed especially for the motherboard it is on. It's possible for a chip for another similar motherboard to work, but it's a matter of luck.

Only us a bios chip meant for that board. I also ask what makes you think it gets corrupted ??? If you settings vanish it may be an empty battery! Francis: I even read the procedure with the removing of the bios chip on the running board and then rewriting a bad one on the site of a motherboard manufacturer. They mentioned it as only possible solution beside giving the board to repair. It may have been Asus because I only have Asus boards but I think I checked another manufacturer for someone elses board!!!

Have you tried flashing the bios to a new version? The old version may be corrupting itself without outside help. Also, a new bios chip may get corrupted just like this one is. I've seen a video card corrupt a bios before. On one system a reflash of the bios got the bios back, but on the next system it destroyed the bios altogether. What do you mean by "corrupt"?

The most logical reason for a Bios to be corrupted is a virus. But I have to go along with response #1.