Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
30 Posts
0
10997
August 3rd, 2005 14:00
Create a Floppy for BIOS Upgrade?
I am a noob at much of this........I have a Dimension 2350. It came installed with BIOS A00 about three years ago. I have downloaded the BIOS A02 file to Desktop, and I am trying to "send to" a floppy disk. I get get the screen that asks me to format the floppy to either "quick" or MS-DOS format. I believe it should be the MS-DOS format.
I then create the floppy disk, and I have changed the Boot-up to hit the floppy disk for first boot (F2).
When I restart the computer, it bypasses the floppy and starts normally. I tried F12 to change the Boot sequence, still same result. Do I need to do something to create a "bootable" floppy?
I even burned a copy of the BIOS A02 file to a CD, with the same results (after changes the Boot sequence to run the CD-ROM first).
I am trying to upgrade to BIOS A02 in order to install a new video card (GeForce FX5200). I have been advised I need the BIOS upgrade in order to accomplish this.
No Events found!
Mark500
30 Posts
0
August 3rd, 2005 15:00
Majestic
2 Intern
•
9.4K Posts
0
August 3rd, 2005 17:00
The actual time it takes the new BIOS code to be written is less than 30 seconds. While the upgrade is in progress do not interrupt the upgrade or do the upgrade when weather conditions might indicate a possible power failure such as doing the upgrade during a thunderstorm. An interrupted BIOS upgrade will corrupt the currently installed BIOS and make your motherboard unusable.
Mark500
30 Posts
0
August 3rd, 2005 18:00
You are right on all counts. After I posted the message, I discovered I had downloaded the wrong version. I have downloaded the correct "floppy" format.
Thanks.
Mark500
30 Posts
0
August 4th, 2005 14:00
Well, I downloaded the correct floppy version of BIOS A02. However, when I tried to install, I ended up looking at the "BIOS is Loading" screen for about 45-minutes. Feeling this was way too long, I called Dell. Dell Support said it should take only 3 to 5 minutes. I turned off the computer and tried again. Same thing (load screen, but no load).
I turned the computer off again, withdrew the floppy, and the computer booted (fortunately) using the old BIOS.
Not sure where to go from here...........
nontoxicsafe
29 Posts
0
August 4th, 2005 22:00
# go to their web site (uk) - (US site not sure if different method)
# click on support & services > customer care
# enter your tag number (info box top left hand corner)
# once you've entered your tag no. & got your system info in the top info box
# under the quick links menu > Downloads
# you get a menu of choices > select flash Biosupdates > select your o/s
# click submit
# go form there -
I found, you have an option to directy download a software agent to
your computer .. then just download the updates > click on the .exe files & the update download or you can put the upgrade on a disc and boot it from start up (update)
I found thro trying the disc way first but when with the software agent method
(click & forget!!)
Hope you find away which suits yourself ~
nontoxicsafe
Majestic
2 Intern
•
9.4K Posts
0
August 5th, 2005 13:00
Mark500, try another download of the file and try using another floppy disk. If either of those two items are bad they will prevent a successful BIOS upgrade. Some people have reported back here that they had to try a couple of different floppy disks before they were successful.
The actual time it takes for the BIOS upgrade program to write the new BIOS code is less than 30 seconds. To do the whole procedure from boot up to restart is probably 5 minutes at the most depending on how fast you respond to the screen prompts.