Do not turn off your computer or disconnect from the power source while updating the BIOS as this could harm your computer. During the update, your computer will restart and you may briefly see a black screen.
Before updating, please read the installation instructions and important information noted below.
Dell Inspiron 8100 System BIOS, A11
AUTO INSTALLED This file was automatically installed as part of a recent update. If you are experiencing any issues, you can manually download and reinstall.Inspiron 8100 FlashBIOS Version A11
Recommended
Find the best download for your system
Please enter your product details to view the latest driver information for your systemSearch support
Enter your Dell Service Tag or model
Want to look up your product? Enter a product identifier. Show me how
This driver is not compatible
This driver is not applicable for the selected product. Choose another product to re-enter your product details for this driver or visit the Product Support page to view all drivers for a different product.
Sign in to Windows as an admin to use automatic scan. If your're already signed in as an admin and seeing this message, please reboot. Your system is managed by your IT admin and features might be limited.
Find more updates. Use SupportAssist to find all the latest driver updates for your device.
Fixes & Enhancements
The following updates were made to the A10 BIOS to create A11:
Issues Fixed:
1. Fixed issue in which the serial port is not initialized properly
preventing some serial comms applications from working.
2. Fixed issue in which ACPI may report that both batteries are
charging even though only one can charge at a time.
3. Fixed issue seen when using Safeguard Easy security software in
which a "No bootable devices" error is seen after entering
the correct password.
4. Fixed issue in which the LCD panel fails to turn off when the
lid action is set to none.
5. Fixed issue in which WinDVD will pause after a Standby is
initiated from the Start Menu with USB speakers attached.
6. Fixed issue in which the user is not able to enter System Setup
after booting to a CD-ROM drive.
7. Fixed issue where "Time-of-Day" intermittently shows up as all
zeros.
8. Fixed issue seen when resuming from hibernate on battery power
only in which the OS may report unsafe removal of a USB device.
9. Fixed issue where system does not correctly detect the battery
when inserted and removed several times.
10. Fixed issue seen Windows 2000 and Windows XP in which a USB
device may be re-enumerated after warm undock.
11. Fixed issue in which the OS does not always detect a battery
change.
12. Fix CMOS error seen on some systems at POST (invalid CMOS
configuration) after over 3 hours of continuous reboots.
13. Fixed issue in which the OS may report that a battery is
charging even if the charger is disabled.
14. Fixed lock-ups seen when the BIOS password screen is repeatedly
aborted (i.e. wrong password entered) and the system re-suspends.
15. Fixed issue in which the system loops on suspend when a
critically low battery is installed.
16. Fix problem that leads to intermittent hangs when playing DVDs
under Windows XP and Windows 2000.
17. Fixed intermittent flickering seen on some UXGA LCD panels.
18. Fixed fan low-speed startup procedure so that the fans do not
run at the high-speed for 5 seconds before transitioning to the
low-speed. This was causing the fan startup to be noisy.
19. Fixed issue in which the IDE activity LED stays on if the modular
bay holds a battery or is empty.
20. Fixed issue in which the system fails to obtain an IP address
from a DHCP server when booting from a PXE-compliant CardBus NIC.
21. Fixed issue seen under Windows ME in which a display
switch may disable extended desktop or result in no video.
22. Fixed issue in which a suspend initiated by closing the lid may
cause the LCD display to resume in compressed font mode.
23. Fixed issue in which some systems may fail to display the Dell
Logo screen during POST.
Enhancements:
1. Upgraded the nVidia video BIOS to version 3.11.01.44.B4.
2. Added support for faster resume from hibernate.
3. Configure PS/2 devices earlier in POST, allowing earlier detection
of "F2" and "F12" keys.
4. Increased the amount of time before the system shuts down when
swapping batteries without AC power attached when in suspend mode.
5. Allow changes to Touchpad/Mouse settings in System Setup to take
effect immediately instead of requiring a reboot.
Read MoreIssues Fixed:
1. Fixed issue in which the serial port is not initialized properly
preventing some serial comms applications from working.
2. Fixed issue in which ACPI may report that both batteries are
charging even though only one can charge at a time.
3. Fixed issue seen when using Safeguard Easy security software in
which a "No bootable devices" error is seen after entering
the correct password.
4. Fixed issue in which the LCD panel fails to turn off when the
lid action is set to none.
5. Fixed issue in which WinDVD will pause after a Standby is
initiated from the Start Menu with USB speakers attached.
6. Fixed issue in which the user is not able to enter System Setup
after booting to a CD-ROM drive.
7. Fixed issue where "Time-of-Day" intermittently shows up as all
zeros.
8. Fixed issue seen when resuming from hibernate on battery power
only in which the OS may report unsafe removal of a USB device.
9. Fixed issue where system does not correctly detect the battery
when inserted and removed several times.
10. Fixed issue seen Windows 2000 and Windows XP in which a USB
device may be re-enumerated after warm undock.
11. Fixed issue in which the OS does not always detect a battery
change.
12. Fix CMOS error seen on some systems at POST (invalid CMOS
configuration) after over 3 hours of continuous reboots.
13. Fixed issue in which the OS may report that a battery is
charging even if the charger is disabled.
14. Fixed lock-ups seen when the BIOS password screen is repeatedly
aborted (i.e. wrong password entered) and the system re-suspends.
15. Fixed issue in which the system loops on suspend when a
critically low battery is installed.
16. Fix problem that leads to intermittent hangs when playing DVDs
under Windows XP and Windows 2000.
17. Fixed intermittent flickering seen on some UXGA LCD panels.
18. Fixed fan low-speed startup procedure so that the fans do not
run at the high-speed for 5 seconds before transitioning to the
low-speed. This was causing the fan startup to be noisy.
19. Fixed issue in which the IDE activity LED stays on if the modular
bay holds a battery or is empty.
20. Fixed issue in which the system fails to obtain an IP address
from a DHCP server when booting from a PXE-compliant CardBus NIC.
21. Fixed issue seen under Windows ME in which a
switch may disable extended desktop or result in no video.
22. Fixed issue in which a suspend initiated by closing the lid may
cause the LCD display to resume in compressed font mode.
23. Fixed issue in which some systems may fail to display the Dell
Logo screen during POST.
Enhancements:
1. Upgraded the nVidia video BIOS to version 3.11.01.44.B4.
2. Added support for faster resume from hibernate.
3. Configure PS/2 devices earlier in POST, allowing earlier detection
of "F2" and "F12" keys.
4. Increased the amount of time before the system shuts down when
swapping batteries without AC power attached when in suspend mode.
5. Allow changes to Touchpad/Mouse settings in System Setup to take
effect immediately instead of requiring a reboot.
Version
A11, A11
Release date
30 Apr 2002
Download Type
System BIOS
Category
BIOS
Importance
OptionalDell Technologies recommends reviewing this update to determine if it applies to your system. The update contains changes that impact only certain configurations or provides new features that may or may not apply to your environment.
Available formats
File Format: ZipPack External
File Name: A11-I81.EXE
File Size: 2.22 MB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
This file contains a compressed (or zipped) set of files. Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, and then run (double-click) it to unzip the set of files. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
Not available
SHA1:
Not available
SHA-256:
Not available
File Format: One or more self extracting disk images inside of a self extracting zip
File Name: I81-A11.exe
File Size: 532.5 KB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
This file contains a compressed (or zipped) set of files. Download the file to a folder on your hard drive, then double-click it to unzip the set of files. Follow the instructions to complete the installation.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
Not available
SHA1:
Not available
SHA-256:
Not available
File Format: Flash BIOS executable
File Name: I8100A11.exe
File Size: 307.77 KB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
This file format consists of a BIOS-executable file. To use it, download the file and copy it to a DOS-bootable USB flash drive, then boot the system to the USB flash drive and run the program.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
Not available
SHA1:
Not available
SHA-256:
Not available
File Format: A text file containing customer friendly fixes and enhancements information
File Name: I8100A11.TXT
File Size: 14.12 KB
This is a large file. Depending on your connection speed, it may take some time to download.
Format Description:
This file format contains plain text which can be viewed with a standard text editor.
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5:
Not available
SHA1:
Not available
SHA-256:
Not available
By downloading, you accept the terms of the Dell Software License Agreement.
Installation instructions
Floppy Disk Boot to Disk for I81-A11.exe
Download
1. Click Download Now, to download the file.
2. When the File Download window appears, click Save (Windows XP users will click Save) this program to disk and click OK. The Save In:
window appears.
3. From the Save In: field, click the down arrow then click to
select Desktop and click Save. The file will download to your desktop.
4. If the Download Complete window appears, click Close. The file
icon appears on your desktop.
Hard Drive Floppy Disk Creation
1. Get 1 blank, formatted floppy disks.
2. Double-click the new icon (it looks like a floppy diskette) on
the desktop. The Self-Extractor window appears.
3. Click Setup. An black MS-DOS window appears with a message
indicating that you need 1 floppy diskettes.
4. Press the [ENTER] key.
A message appears prompting you to insert a blank floppy diskette.
5. Insert a floppy disk into the floppy disk drive.
6. Press the [ENTER] key. A message appears indicating that all
data on the disk will be erased.
7. Press the [y] key and then press the [ENTER] key.
The files are copied to the floppy diskette. If the procedure requires
more than one diskette, repeat steps 5 – 7 until you reach the end of the diskette set.
8. After all the files have been copied to the last floppy disk,
press the [ENTER] key and the MS-DOS window closes.
Install
1. Insert the first (or the only) disk of the set into the Floppy
drive.
2. Click Start, click Shutdown, click Restart, and then click OK.
Windows XP Users need only click restart.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Hard Drive Installation (via WinZip) with Setup.exe File for A11-I81.EXE
Download
1.Click Download Now, to download the file.
2.When the File Download window appears, click Save (Windows XP
users will click Save) this program to disk and click OK. The Save In:
window appears.
3.From the Save In: field, click the down arrow then click to
select Desktop and click Save. The file will download to your desktop.
4.If the Download Complete window appears, click Close. The file
icon appears on your desktop.
Install
1.Double-click the new icon on the desktop labeled A11-I81.EXE.
2.The Self-Extracting window appears and prompts you to extract or
unzip to C:\DELL\DRIVERS\r42242. Write down this path so the executable (I.e.
Setup.exe) file can be found later.
3.The Self-Extractor window appears.
4.Click OK.
5.After completing the file extraction, if the Self-Extractor
window is still open, close it.
6.Click the Start button and then click Run.
7.Type C:\DELL\DRIVERS\r42242 in the Open textbox and then click OK.
8.Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
Floppy Disk Boot to Disk for I81-A11.exe
Download
1. Click Download Now, to download the file.
2. When the File Download window appears, click Save (Windows XP users will click Save) this program to disk and click OK. The Save In:
window appears.
3. From the Save In: field, click the down arrow then click to
select Desktop and click Save. The file will download to your desktop.
4. If the Download Complete window appears, click Close. The file
icon appears on your desktop.
Hard Drive Floppy Disk Creation
1. Get 1 blank, formatted floppy disks.
2. Double-click the new icon (it looks like a floppy diskette) on
the desktop. The Self-Extractor window appears.
3. Click Setup. An black MS-DOS window appears with a message
indicating that you need 1 floppy diskettes.
4. Press the [ENTER] key.
A message appears prompting you to insert a blank floppy diskette.
5. Insert a floppy disk into the floppy disk drive.
6. Press the [ENTER] key. A message appears indicating that all
data on the disk will be erased.
7. Press the [y] key and then press the [ENTER] key.
The files are copied to the floppy diskette. If the procedure requires
more than one diskette, repeat steps 5 – 7 until you reach the end of the diskette set.
8. After all the files have been copied to the last floppy disk,
press the [ENTER] key and the MS-DOS window closes.
Install
1. Insert the first (or the only) disk of the set into the Floppy
drive.
2. Click Start, click Shutdown, click Restart, and then click OK.
Windows XP Users need only click restart.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions.
Hard Drive Installation (via WinZip) with Setup.exe File for A11-I81.EXE
Download
1.Click Download Now, to download the file.
2.When the File Download window appears, click Save (Windows XP
users will click Save) this program to disk and click OK. The Save In:
window appears.
3.From the Save In: field, click the down arrow then click to
select Desktop and click Save. The file will download to your desktop.
4.If the Download Complete window appears, click Close. The file
icon appears on your desktop.
Install
1.Double-click the new icon on the desktop labeled A11-I81.EXE.
2.The Self-Extracting window appears and prompts you to extract or
unzip to C:\DELL\DRIVERS\r42242. Write down this path so the executable (I.e.
Setup.exe) file can be found later.
3.The Self-Extractor window appears.
4.Click OK.
5.After completing the file extraction, if the Self-Extractor
window is still open, close it.
6.Click the Start button and then click Run.
7.Type C:\DELL\DRIVERS\r42242 in the Open textbox and then click OK.
8.Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
Need help with BIOS issues?
Find a solution in Dell's BIOS troubleshooting and usage guide.Drivers help and tutorials
For more downloads go to the Drivers and downloads. For help on using the information on this page, please visit Driver Help and Tutorials.