Flash the bios-cmos is a memory chip that is designed to draw very little current. this memory is used to contain system configuration settings, bios passwords and time and date. bios is the basic input/output system that could be referred to as the motherboards firmware. bios is contained on a chip that usually is soldered to the motherboard and should not be replaced. flashing a bios is the term used when upgrading the program (firmware) on the bios chipuse extreme care when updating bios, any disruption of power or reset during flashing or upload will render the computer useless.