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E521 Bios update is faulty
I ran the BIOS flash on my Dimension E521 to upgrade to V1.1.4 last week
It has all been working well....I thought.
Tonight I tried to boot from a USB stick that was plugged into a USB port on my Dell 1907FP monitor, which I have done in the past, but it didn't work - just loaded windows.
I restarted and this time tried pressing F2 at the appropriate moment to get into Setup.
F2 didn't work, the keboard was not receiving power until Windows was in the final stages of loading.
Since the the only other USB device plugged in was the monitor, ie for the ports on it, I disconnected it and rebooted again.
This time I was able to use F2 to get in to BIOS.
I tried the monitor usb connection cable on each of the other 3 rear USB ports and the two front ones and it had the same effect, basically disabled the keyboard from booting into BIOS.
Also whilst the USB stick was plugged into the monitor it wouldn't work either whearas plugging it into a port on it's own it booted from it, so this would imply that the monitor USB hub is also not recieving power either until in Windows when everthing works fine.
Since the information for the 1.1.4 bios upgrade specifically mentions:-
"1. Fixed issue where the USB keyboard would not work in the front ports when a USB 2.0 hub was connected in rear USB port 2."
I'd say that there's still a problem around this whole area.
It has all been working well....I thought.
Tonight I tried to boot from a USB stick that was plugged into a USB port on my Dell 1907FP monitor, which I have done in the past, but it didn't work - just loaded windows.
I restarted and this time tried pressing F2 at the appropriate moment to get into Setup.
F2 didn't work, the keboard was not receiving power until Windows was in the final stages of loading.
Since the the only other USB device plugged in was the monitor, ie for the ports on it, I disconnected it and rebooted again.
This time I was able to use F2 to get in to BIOS.
I tried the monitor usb connection cable on each of the other 3 rear USB ports and the two front ones and it had the same effect, basically disabled the keyboard from booting into BIOS.
Also whilst the USB stick was plugged into the monitor it wouldn't work either whearas plugging it into a port on it's own it booted from it, so this would imply that the monitor USB hub is also not recieving power either until in Windows when everthing works fine.
Since the information for the 1.1.4 bios upgrade specifically mentions:-
"1. Fixed issue where the USB keyboard would not work in the front ports when a USB 2.0 hub was connected in rear USB port 2."
I'd say that there's still a problem around this whole area.
arbeitstier
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February 21st, 2007 15:00
Majestic
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February 21st, 2007 18:00
arbeitstier
15 Posts
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February 26th, 2007 08:00
arbeitstier
15 Posts
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February 26th, 2007 08:00
Message Edited by arbeitstier on 02-26-2007 07:55 AM
arbeitstier
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February 26th, 2007 11:00
Majestic
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February 26th, 2007 11:00
arbeitstier
15 Posts
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February 27th, 2007 09:00
Message Edited by arbeitstier on 02-28-2007 03:00 AM
Majestic
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February 27th, 2007 10:00
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
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February 27th, 2007 11:00
I am making inquiries.
Nniixx
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February 27th, 2007 20:00
Message Edited by Nniixx on 02-27-2007 04:38 PM
arbeitstier
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February 27th, 2007 21:00
On my way back home I was asking myself why the official web page for the BIOSes actually provides older BIOS versions? This is not a "rouge" page as this community forum ;-) (see mail above) but from the official web page provided by Dell:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/previousversions.aspx?c=br&l=pt&s=gen&vercnt=4&osl=en&SystemID=DIM_P4_C521&deviceid=308&libid=1&os=BIOSA&releasetype=BIOS&typecnt=1
As Majestetic put it: is any BIOS flashing a risk, especially when the support people just turn against you whatever you've done. Obviously, it's a very cost saving measure (for Dell): Dell produces a faulty computer, the user tries to fix it and fails. Then the support blames the user for his/her initiative. Bottomline is: just tell them "it doesn't work". Minimalistic approach. Don't give anything away.
Here's a cost saving method for the user. One of my friends usually solves these problems in this way: he takes a 9V battery and holds it against the pins of the BIOS chip and then calls support and tells them "It doesn't work. Just a blank screen!" Just joking, guys from Dell. I'm just getting a bit cynical.
Good night.
/Bernd
Message Edited by arbeitstier on 02-28-2007 02:59 AM
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
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February 28th, 2007 02:00
If the customer is directed to flash the bios (up or down) by a Dell representative, and the flash fails, we will replace the motherboard.
If the customer elects to flash the bios (up or down) on their own, and they somehow corrupt the BIOS, that damage to the motherboard is NOT covered under normal warranty.
=====
Nniixx,
Flash down to bios 1.0.3 to attempt to restore the PC and your USB key usage.
The E521 System Setup must have these settings -
USB Controller = On
Rear Dual USB0 = On
Rear Dual USB1 = On
Front USB = On
All bootable USB devices must be plugged into the PC rear USB ports. The monitor USB uplink cable must be plugged into the PC rear USB ports.
=====
pvandenhouten,
The E521 System Setup must have these settings -
USB Controller = On
Rear Dual USB0 = On
Rear Dual USB1 = On
Front USB = On
All bootable USB devices must be plugged into the PC rear USB ports. The monitor USB uplink cable must be plugged into the PC rear USB ports.
=====
Tony Little,
Flash down to bios 1.1.2 to attempt to restore the PC.
The C521 System Setup must have these settings -
USB Controller = On
Rear Dual USB0 = On
Rear Dual USB1 = On
Front USB = On
All bootable USB devices must be plugged into the PC rear USB ports. The monitor USB uplink cable must be plugged into the PC rear USB ports.
Nniixx
59 Posts
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February 28th, 2007 03:00
Well what happens if it's the Dell Support program that pops up a window saying that the BIOS is available - is that a user choice or Dell advisory ?
That's why I updated in the first place and then when I found my problem tried a second flash of the same number BIOS which failed.
After explaining all that when I ran Dell support they sent out a technician to replace my Mobo and that mobo had version 1.0.3 back on it so I've stuck with that and now ignore the BIOS update message from Dell Support program.
arbeitstier
15 Posts
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February 28th, 2007 06:00
> warranty.
Is that an ad-hoc deceision from Dell or has this been written down before?
Problem is: NOW I know that. But it hasn't been named in the terms and and conditions, neither in this community forum nor on the Dell web site. If it is please point me to that place. I did a google search on that issue and I haven't found anything on the Dell pages so far. Obviously, you cannot just change your rules to save money. Or at least it's a very interesting question.
Regards
/Bernd
Majestic
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February 28th, 2007 10:00
Message Edited by Majestic on 02-28-2007 06:52 AM