Boot from USB flash for Dimension 4600?

Hello,

You can see what Dell lists as BIOS fixes on each of these previous BIOS files for your system.

Just expand, "Fixes and Enhancements" for each of the files. :emotion-55:

Thanks, I had seen that page and here is all I am able to glean from it

by going to the fixes and enhancements for each from A07 on:

The following changes have been made to BIOS rev A09 to create A10:

1. Add support for faster processors and latest Celeron processors and
update processor microcode to support latest CPUs.
2. Added support for special keyboard.
3. Enabled SMBIOS token for integrated NIC with RPL.
4. Enabled use of the VESA 4F09h function to correct system splash video
corruption with some AGP video cards.
5. Added detection code for CPU/Cache failures.
6. Added new manufacturing mode messages.

The following changes have been made to BIOS rev A04 to create A05:

1. Add support for external system management tools to adjust asset tag.
2. Prevent boot failure in F12 Boot Menu if "Hard-Disk Drive C:" is
unchecked.
3. Prevent problems on first customer boot with manually going into
Utility Partition.

The A04 to A05 was actually listed in the A09 revision fixes for some

reason.  I have no idea what the fixes were from A07 through A09, so

I still don't know if any of them would allow me to boot from USB flash.

By clicking on these revisions all I get is a link to an executable without

any mention of fixes.  I am getting frustrated with Dell support.

Since any BIOS update has the possibility for bricking the motherboard ...

The choice is yours to update the BIOS and see what options have been added. Or THIS PAGE might give you a shot at booting to a USB thumb drive anyway.

As for BIOS my policy is "if it ain't broke, don't fix it".  That is why I don't plan on

flashing my BIOS unless there is something I absolutely have to have.

Thanks for the link, I will study it.

Bios A12

 D4600A12.EXE

The following changes have been made to BIOS rev A11 to create A12:

1. Added display of error message if an FMB 1.5 processor is inserted.

2. Fixed error in 32 MB AGP video frame buffer memory allocation.

3. Added display of the Intel processor badge on the Dell splash screen.

4. Permit utility partition to be on any DOS accessible drive.

5. Updated processor microcodes.

6. Minor change to the RBU header to set PRGBOOT.

7. Correct amount of memory displayed on setup screen when 32 MB AGP
  video frame buffer is allocated.

8. Improved SMART error message reporting.

9. Insure diag LEDs show GGGG after a sucessful PXE boot.

10.Fixed possible issue with the auto-power-on WEEKDAYS function of SETUP.

11.Fix issue with some multichannel PCI graphics adapters and other PCI
  cards with multiple processors on the card.

12.Fixed POST hot-key reboot persistence problem.

13.Fixed problem resuming from S3 Stand by.

14.Updated USB code to fix system hangs with some USB multi-function
  printers, USB disk keys and USB CD-ROM drives. Improved USB boot
  operations for USB devices. Fixed USB bulk transfer end point checking.
  Enhanced USB support in Manufacturing. Fix issues with USB hard drive,
  key, CD and floppy booting when large numbers of bootable USB devices
  are present.

15.Improved USB keyboard and mouse emulation and clear USB Keyboard SHIFT
  status on disconnect. Ignore error packets from a USB mouse to prevent
  erratic mouse movement after a USB mouse is unplugged.

16.Eliminate several limited CDROM boot and install issues with some Linux
  configurations.

17.Flush F3/F10/F12 state information after handling each option ROM setup.
  Failing to do so could cause an unexpected boot menu appearance, etc.

18.Eliminate a case where an option ROM BIOS might fail to be cached.

19.Fix hang when the F12 boot menu is brought up with no bootable devices
  attached.

what is the password of BIOS setup plz tell me

I was able to get it to boot to the USB key by hitting F12 (boot menu) and choosing the option there. While this works for a manual work around this will be unacceptable in the event of a power failure. Is there anyway to modify the BIOS to default boot to the USB Key?

I updated my 4600 from A02 to A12 because I need to boot from a USB flash device. The BIOS version now reports A12 but it does not look like anything else changed(except one thing - see below)...not even some of the settings I had modified in the A02 BIOS (had turned off onboard sound). Going to the Boot Sequence option I do see a new entry....for a 3.5" floppy. There are no options to enable ANY kind of usb device to boot.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Randy

Thanks for the reply.

The usb key is bootable but there is no option in the BIOS for it. Only HDD, CD ROM, and Floppy shows up. I have to hit F12 during BIOS POST to access the Boot Menu and then Boot From USB device appears as option#5. Is there anyway to get a Boot From USB Device to appear in the F2 Menu?

Somehow, I doubt you're going to be able to configure a 4600 to boot from a USB key. USB keys were just starting to become popular when those machines were designed.

I am booting it from a USB key but I have to manually choose Boot from USB Device in the F12 Boot Menu. Ideally I would have it set as the boot option in the BIOS but I'm starting to come to the conclusion this will not be doable.

Ahhh....that's what your were trying to tell me in your post. OK...thanks for your help.

Success! As I was reading up on unRAID NAS at their website they recommended plugging the USB key directly into the mobo and not using a front port which I was for convenience.

I plugged the key into the back of the PC and in BIOS changed the "Hard-Disk Drive Sequence" to "Option 1. USB Device" and now it boots like a charm. (After flashing the BIOS to A12 as per Speedstep's post)

I had tried this before but with the USB key plugged into the front port it didn't work unless I booted as I outlined in my previous posts.

Sounds promising, BUT...

Searched for downloads for my 4600 and the newest BIOS listed for download is A09 (what I already have). 

(1) Where to get A12 for this machine? (the A12 link in the above Speedstep post produces an error when trying to run/extract it, something about an admin password required when I'm trying to run it as a user with admin privileges already, doesn't even run when right-click to Run as Admin).

(2) I have since "updated" the OS of my 4600 from WinXP to Linux (grub dual-boot of Debian Desktop and CentOS).  Thus, I need the typical BIOS file that can be manually installed with a flasher utility or via BIOS direct from CD or USB HDD.  Any ideas about accomplishing that?

For those inquiring minds: I'm trying to regularly/easily boot the 4600 into Tails from a USB stick (Tails is a version of Debian that allows anonymous, private, secure web browsing, email, IM, etc, with encryption).