CNET Editors' review
This is an efficient, easy-to-use tool to help you figure out the details that make your computer tick. BIOS Agent is a lightweight freeware application with a clean and well-designed interface that lets you get the information you need with only a few button clicks.
The program can retrieve information on the type of BIOS your computer runs and chipset type, as well as information on CPU, ROM, and RAM. Once you've gathered the details you need, you can save the report in TXT format or print it. There's no installation required for BIOS Agent. This program will be useful for administrators or power users looking to keep their systems up to date.
Publisher's Description
From eSupport:
BIOSAgent Plus easily and automatically identifies, locates and updates the latest BIOS and device drivers you need for your computer. It saves you precious time and ensures your PC runs at its very best.
What's new in this version: Version 2.2010.1.8 is updated to support more BIOS and adds Windows 7 compatibility.
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All versions:
1.9 starsout of 105 votes
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Current version:
1.5 starsout of 41 votes
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My rating:
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"useless software without a purchase"
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
found a bunch of items that possibly needed updating (I didn't)
Cons
the software to get the updates cost too much nor did not immediately mention cost involved so my time was wasted
Summary
might be worth it if have real problems and arewilling to pay to update
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"This is the best."
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
Solved several problems with drivers that were slowing down my system, and resolved a crash problem with Skyrm and my video card.
Cons
none I can see yet
Summary
I have a faster computer and my gaming continues now.
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Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
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Cons
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Summary
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Updated on Mar 28, 2012
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"DO NOT BUY. Inaccurate scan. Misrepresented guarantee."
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
Easy to use when it works right, which is practically never.
Cons
Poor scanning accuracy
Wrong drivers delivered
Bad drivers delivered
Returns false positives
Reports "unknown" on an updated BIOS
Can't tell when a driver is already up to date
DON'T CLICK TO REQUEST A BIOS UNLESS YOU ARE READY TO PAY FOR IT.Summary
BIOSAgentPlus wasted me time and money. It only led me into a long, one-sided dialogue with an arrogant and tone-deaf "customer service" rep who refused to recognize my complaints or return my money despite my near-total dissatisfaction with the program's performance. ESupport.com does not care whether you received any benefit, only inquiring about whether you installed the BIOS they send---or any BIOS at all.
First, the drivers. How did BIOSAgentPlus perform? Of the several drivers BIOSAgentPlus provided or claimed were needed,
8 were for the same 2 devices
3 were already installed
2 "broke" a device and required a rollback
1 was actually older than the current driver
1 was a driver for a different type of device from a different manufacturer: an ATI graphics card driver for a standard dual PCI IDE controller!
Several drivers are still claimed to be out of date even after updating with drivers from the manufacturer (different filename but the same driver)
Number of drivers that were needed, were delivered, and worked properly: ZERO.
Hours wasted: 4.
But the BIOS process was icing on the sh**cake. After several rollbacks and aborted and/or unnecessary driver installations, I turned to the BIOS selection, which required clicking a link to see where BIOSAgentPlus led me. And this is where BIOSAgentPlus truly fails, because the company behind BiosAgentPlus, ESupport.com, is a comprehensively ethics-challenged enterprise that does not even pretend or try to stand behind the 30-day trial period it claims to offer.
For the BIOS, the company delivered nothing more than a link for the latest version from the motherboard manufacturer's Web site, which I already had in my possession. No problem with that---I half expected it.
Now you may wonder---why did I check out BIOSAgentPlus's suggestion of what BIOS to use when I already had one I thought was at least OK to use? Why, because of these claims:
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
30 Day Satisfaction Guarantee.
30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE Use BIOSAgentPlus for 30 days. If we fail to deliver, you get a FULL refund.
See that? "Use BIOSAgentPlus for 30 days." Since I had paid for the software and had already suffered from it, I wanted to see more. I thought I had full use of the software for 30 days. No part of the product was set outside that guarantee. Nothing in the process told me that I was voiding that guarantee, regardless of the fact that only hours had passed.
But, according to Mr Customer Service, I did void that guarantee, such as it was. Turns out to be a lie. The buyer does NOT have full use of the program for 30 days, as one would think. The buyer ONLY has use of the driver agent part of the program for 30 days (and I am not even sure of that). If you click on the BIOS link, you will see no warning of this. Mr Customer Service explained it to me thus, but only when pressed:
"Our refund policy is quite clear:
Should BIOSAgentPlus be unable to provide the updated device driver or BIOS that we indicated is available upon scanning your hardware, we will promptly provide a FULL refund of your money."
The following is a condensed summary of the conversation up to that point, after I asked for a refund:
"What was the problem with the BIOS you were sent?" [Nothing. I didn't install it.]
"So what happened to the BIOS that we emailed to you?" [Nothing. I didn't install it. What's that got to do with it?]
"Well here is what it has to do with. . . . a BIOS was sent to you, and for all we know you installed it and are now asking for a refund. So THAT IS what it has to do with. Got it now?"
Then:
"So now, you can run our program again, and send us the results of your scan so that we can verify that the BIOS we sent you has not been installed."
What! Do you mean I have to open up my PC to your software to prove to you that I did not go ahead and install a BIOS from another source? Not only is that an unacceptable demand from a merchant you are quickly concluding is a scammer, not only had I already uninstalled the program---I had already updated the BIOS as originally planned before I found BIOSAgentPlus. WITH A FILE THAT BIOSAgentPlus NEVER TOUCHED.
Back to the conversation:
"Now can we please stop this nonsense?
. . . If you want a refund then you do have to prove it. We didn't fail to deliver. The BIOS was provided to you in the link above.
There will be NO REFUND. Any further emails from you will be ignored."
The funny thing about this last remark is that Mr Customer Support (I'm pretty sure there's only the one) spent a week ignoring my emails. Even though his responses to tickets say "reply to this email," he apparently only sees replies you post on his site. So I sent him three replies before I was able to talk to him. But Mr Customer Service denied there had ever been any problem at all:
"There was no error. The only error is that you were incorrect. . . . All of your emails were responded to."
And that sums up the attitude of this company: The only error is that you were incorrect. -
"Scam scam scam scam"
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
None discernible.
Cons
Don't be fooled by the initial scan; it'll tell you you need something -- in my case a BIOS update -- but to get it you have to buy the product. Fair enough. But after I spent the $30 or so and ran the program, it told me my current BIOS is up to date. Wish I'd purchased this with AmEx because I know I'd get a refund. Will try my luck with PayPal.
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"Turns out to be scam"
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
Absolute scam
Cons
Scam
Told me I needed bios upgrade, but had to pay the 30 dollars to download it. I did this. Then it told me they would notify me by email with the bios update. 10 hours later the email said, "congratulations! you already have your bios up to date!" The only other 2 drivers it said were out of date, I tried to install them also and they never show up. THIS WAS A WASTE OF 30$Summary
SHAME ON YOU CNET
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"Shame on you, CNET and BIOSAgent"
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
Now I know better than to trust CNET's reviews.
Cons
It doesn't work whether you pay or not.
Summary
In illo tempore CNET used to be a reliable source of reviews for products.
Where have the cowboys gone?
This alleged Editor's Choice software isn't free, as advertised by CNET. What you get for free is a report of outdated software, which may not even be accurate, and a peek to the purchase screen of the manufacturer.
And pray it works if you pay for it, because you're not getting any word from the BIOSAgent crowd if it doesn't.
One CNET just wiped out a thousand attaboys. -
"SCAM, NOT FREE, WAIST OF TIME"
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
NONE WORTHLESS PROGRAM
Cons
NOT FREE AS ADVERTISED.
lists drivers I know are up to date.
bad links.Summary
VERY DISSAPOINTED IN CNET EDITORS RATING
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"0.5 isn't low enough"
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
there is nothing good you could possible say about this software.
Cons
the fact i have got a phoenix BIOS which Packard Bell would of PAID to use, only to be asked to pay more for an update, sure it tell me I need an update for BIOS/drives but is in no way helpful to update these 100% waste of time to even download
Summary
not even worth the effort to click the link.
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"Useless software"
Version: BIOSAgentPlus 2.2010.1.8
Pros
Absolutely nothing
Cons
Before paying : free Scan will show lot of bad drivers on your system
After pay for license : You will get set of latest drivers (though your drivers are latest on your system) which you cannot install on your machine as these will not be suitable/compatible for your system
Upon complaint, You will answer from their support .. "this happen sometine"Summary
Completly rubbish software I have ever seen.
It is really surpirse to see that company like CNET is giving such high rating for such useless product.
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