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 Precision M40 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.
Precision M40 FlashBIOS Version A11
Recommended

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Fixes & Enhancements

The following updates were made to the A10 BIOS to create the A11 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
1. Fixed issue in which ISA devices could not be manually reconfigured
to use IRQ 10 in Device Manager.
2. Fixed issue in which some bootable CDs do not boot.
3. Improved accuracy of the battery discharge rate reported to ACPI for
purposes of battery time remaining calculations.
4. Fixed issue in which some external serial port devices attached to
the system may detect a break or framing error when the OS loads.
5. Fixed issue in which the OS may not be allowed to throttle the CPU
after the system is resumed from Standby.
6. Fixed issue in which the internal modem may be redetected by the OS
after enabling the modem to receive incoming calls then performing
a system reboot.
7. Fixed intermittent issue in which the system may fail to complete
POST with AC power attached and a fully discharged battery installed.
8. Fixed issue in which the user may need to suspend touchpad and
trackstick use for several seconds before either device will respond.

Enhancements:
1. Replaced with as the hotkey used to exit the
One Time Boot Menu screen.
2. Improved battery status reporting algorithm to reduce time spent
in SMM when updating the OS battery information.
Read More

Version

A11, A11

Release date

02 Apr 2003

Download Type

System BIOS

Category

BIOS

Importance

Optional
Dell 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-M40.EXE
File Size: 2.15 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: M40-A11.EXE
File Size: 514 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: M40_A11.EXE
File Size: 312.16 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: M40_A11.TXT
File Size: 15.74 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.

Additional details

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Important Information


  • The Floppy Format is recommended for most users. Floppy format creates a bootable self-extracting disk.

  • The Non-packaged Format is intended for advanced users that only require the bootable disk.




Installation Instructions

Floppy Format

Creating the disk:

This procedure requires one blank, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk. Label the disk BIOS.


  1. Click Download now from the Download and install section, to begin.
    The File Download window appears.

  2. Click Save this program to disk.


  3. In the Save in: section, click the down arrow and click to select Desktop as the location then click Save.


  4. When the file download is complete, click Close button.
    Close all open windows.


  5. Double-click the down loaded file M40_A11.EXE on your Desktop.
    If the Security Warning window appears, click Yes.


  6. Click the Setup button.
    A black MS-DOS window appears.


  7. Press the <Enter> key.


  8. Insert a formatted floppy disk in the floppy disk drive and press the <Enter> key.


  9. Press the <Y> key to begin copying files.
    The message End of the disk set appears.


  10. Press the <Enter> key.


  11. Click the Start button,


  12. Click the Run button.


  13. Type a: in
    the Open box and click OK.
    A list of files on the floppy disk appears.


  14. Close all open windows and leave the disk in the floppy drive.

    Skip to the section Flashing the BIOS below.



If you are creating this disk on another computer, remove the disk. Then insert it into the system that needs the BIOS flashed, and resume the procedure.




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Non-Packaged Format





Creating the disk:

This procedure requires one blank, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk. Label the disk BIOS.




  1. Click Download now from the Download and install section, to begin.
    The File Download window appears.

  2. Click Save this program to disk.


  3. In the Save in: section, click the down arrow and click to select Desktop as the location then click Save.


  4. When the file download is complete, click Close button.
    Close all open windows.



  5. Insert a blank, bootable, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk.


  6. Right-click the downloaded file, point to Send Tothen click to select 3 1/2 Floppy (a), and skip to the section Flashing the BIOS
    below.





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Flashing the BIOS


NOTICE:


Changing the system BIOS may result in unintended side affects, such as
incompatibility of the new BIOS with installed hardware. If problems arise
after a BIOS change, it may be necessary to return the system to the
original version of the BIOS.




  1. If you are flashing the BIOS on a portable computer, be sure that
    the AC adapter is plugged in and the computer is not operating on battery
    power.

  2. Ensure that the Flash BIOS disk is inserted into the floppy disk
    drive.

  3. Click the Start button, click Shut Down, click
    Restart, then click OK.

    4. The computer will restart
    and boot to the floppy disk.

NOTE:

If the flash BIOS

Need help with BIOS issues?

Find a solution in Dell's BIOS troubleshooting and usage guide.

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