But again, what can change in the Flash BIOS? It can change
insutructions (machine code) for the processor to execute. But does
that cause damage? Again, CPU can execute any instruction in any order
without damage. Peripheral chip registers cannot be loaded with
hardware destructive values.

One condition can cause computer problems. BIOS code can be changed
so that it does not execute - does a software crash. This is not
hardware destructive. Hardware acts as if defective until BIOS is
reloaded. Some machines did not have provisions to reload defective
BIOS. Newer machines did.

So yes, it is possible to destroy the BIOS and cause computer
failure. But this does not cause hardware damage. Any machine code
instruction (in BIOS) can be executed in any order and will not cause
hardware damage.

Robert Mabee wrote:
> The flash-upgradable BIOS is an industry standard that creates the
> opportunity for malware to make major or subtle changes to system
> behavior that will persist even through a reinstall of the software.