Why can't BIOS/Motherboard manufacturers collate all necessary device drivers (of a motherboard)?

Question

Why also BIOSes can't be stored in theROM instead of device manufacturers individually distributing them?

The BIOS is special software that interfaces the major hardware components of your computer with the operating system. It is usually stored on a Flash memory chip on the motherboard, but sometimes the chip is another type of ROM.

One of the most common uses of Flash memory is for the basic input/output system of your computer, commonly known as the BIOS (pronounced "bye-ose"). On virtually every computer available, the BIOS makes sure all the other chips, hard drives, ports and CPU function together.

Answer 1

For many reasons:
- Companies are in competition so they thrive on bringing something new and they can't force other companies to do what would be needed to support such an approach.
- The space needed just to include the necessary drivers for a very specific computer model would take hundreds of times more space than what is available on the biggest BIOS. Imagine the size needed to support all hardware configurations possible with one single motherboard and you'd probably exceed a couple of GBs.
- Motherboards would need to be updated each time you change, add or remove any device from the computer (weren't you looking for simplicity?).
- Drivers are usually updated after they come out to fix bugs and give new functionnalities which wouldn't be available if drivers were staticly taken from the BIOS.

Answer 2

the bios is stored on the ROM of the motherboard. the manufacturers distribute updates to previous versions of the BIOS. the updates usually provide support for various bugs or newer hardware distributed by other makers

Answer 3

They could but you would need an extra hard drive to store all the different hardware drivers!

Answer 4

too many different products and version and upgrades to keep track of.

Thats what the vendors website is for.