DELL 2350 BIOS and CPU upgrade!

For the 2350 model BIOS version A02 is the latest and last version released by Dell.  Although there is mention of additional support for processors, the file's description doesn't specify exactly which ones.   For that I would suggest visiting the Dimension - Upgrade Hardware forum as the folks visiting there can best advise you as to what will and what won't work in your system. 

 

In the event you need to update your BIOS then click here for the A02 version that will create a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk.  Just follow the directions I have listed below for using that download.

 

Once the file is downloaded to your hard drive just run the file.  The program will then prompt you into creating a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk so have a "good" blank one available.  Once the floppy is created just leave the floppy in the drive and reboot your system.  The BIOS upgrade program will then prompt you into updating the BIOS.  If the floppy fails to boot then check your system's boot order and make sure the floppy drive is before the hard drive in the boot sequence.  Once the BIOS upgrade is successfully done just remove the floppy disk and reboot the system.

If you encounter problems then try another download of the file and use another blank floppy disk.  If either of those two items are bad it will prevent a successful BIOS update. 

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 may corrupt the currently installed BIOS and thus require a motherboard replacement.

The BIOS upgrade program contained in the A02 BIOS update has a quirk which can cause it to abort before the BIOS is flashed.  In the event you run the BIOS upgrade program and get a blank screen with the A:\ prompt displayed just type  2350_A02.exe  and then press the Enter key.  The BIOS upgrade program will then restart and flash your BIOS.

Sometimes for reasons unknown the bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk won't work or automatically start up on it's own when the system is rebooted.  The cause for this can be a bad download of the file or the floppy disk on which the program is created is bad.  There have been instances where people have tried several floppy disks until they found one that would boot the system and automatically run the BIOS update program.   The 2350 model also has the additional problem with the BIOS update program will just abort on it's own.  If the BIOS update program starts Ok and then stops with the A:\ prompt, just restart it as I mentioned earlier.

Your welcome.  Best of wishes on your upgrade.

Sorry, but I am the wrong person to ask when it comes to swapping parts.  Again, I would suggest the upgrade hardware forum.  That forum is popular so you shouldn't have to wait long for a reply.