BIOS root kit? Or, how do I fresh install a clean BIOS?

So I was installing questionable operating system onto my EEE pc and it required me to downgrade the BIOS which I really am not an expert at. I used a patch and it appeared to work.

Now, I'm paranoid about the downgrade because, honestly, I have no idea where the code came from or what could be in it.

My question, then, is it possible to "start over" completely fresh with my BIOS? As in wipe out the possibly malicious BIOS and go back to the manufacturer-provided one?

Has anyone done something similar to this? I just want to install Ubuntu Netbook Remix to the EEE pc 1000 but I want to make sure the BIOS are secure.

Any advice would help tremendously, or am I just being uber paranoid? BIOS are definitely not my strength.

If you really have a rootkit in your bios, one of the things that rootkit would likely do is refuse to allow any other updates to be applied. At least, that's what I'd do if I wrote a bios rootkit since, ya know, the computer kinda has to use bios functions to update the bios...

In that scenario, your only options are to force flash it by setting a reset jumper (not likely an option on a netbook) or ripping out the chip and soldering a new one to the motherboard (and good luck with that; you're gonna need it).

The good news is that you probably don't have rootkit, and if you are able to successfully flash the bios with one downloaded from the manufacturer (asus) via the normal means that would pretty much confirm it.

applying an official BIOS from the ASUS support website is perfectly safe.

if you want to use some 'experimental' 3rd party BIOS you do this at your own risk and you'll void the warranty.

as for installing Netbook Remix on the Eee PC 1000, check the Wiki and browse the forum at eeeuser.com, plenty of guides and tips.