You have downloaded the wrong version as there is no A03 Bios for the M18x R2. Latest version is A01

Mutumba,
M18x-R2 has A03 and A01 Bios Files
M18x-R1 has A05, A04, A03, and A02 Bios Files

Odon,
That should have worked on your M18x-R2. What bios version is currently installed? Go into the Bios to see it.

Sorry Chis, I looked at Frank L's post which listed the newest bios as A01, then looked at my own down load list for my service tag which did not list any bios updates at all. After your post I looked in the all files for the M18x R2 and found it.

I downloaded it and it installed perfectly. Sorry for the mistake.

Mutumba, which method did you use to install?

Chris, ty for your prompt reply.

I have version A01. it seems however that the file I downloaded does not want to run at all (ref error msgs I posted above).

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Odon,

Send me your service tag number via private message.

How do I do that :)

Ah, I used d/l M18R2A03_ZPE.exe. I'll try M18R2A03WIN.exe.

Hi Odon, I used the M18R2A03WIN.exe bios file. I just clicked file to download to my downloads folder and ran it from there, no flop disk or flash drive.

Dell Alienware M18x R2 System BIOS

Release Date: 7/18/2012

Version: A03

Importance:

Download Type: BIOS

File Format: Non-Packaged

File Size: 4MB

OK, found the problem.

Don't d/l M18R2A03_ZPE.exe. I believe this is the DOS-Bootable drive approach. This is the default file that gets downloaded unless you go here

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/DriverFileFormats?driverID=V8VPP&FileId=2991901239&productCode=alienware-m18x-r2&urlProductCode=False

On this page however, the files or descriptions are switched.

If you're not going to use the DOS-Boot approach, you need to d/l  M18R2A03WIN.exe. Just d/l it and run it like Mutumba said.

I'm sure DELL will update the above page soon :)

Hi. Yes, the workaround is that the BIOS update is offered in two versions - choose the other one called "M18R2A03WIN.exe"

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails/Product/alienware-m18x-r2?DriverId=V8VPP&FileId=2991901240&DriverName=Dell%20Alienware%20M18x%20R2%20System%20BIOS&urlProductCode=False