Dell DE051 Series BIOS Update?

I don't know what a DE051 is, but there should be some type of model tag on the front of the tower.  "DE" may mean "Dimension" .  e.g. I have a Dimension E510 and there is a label on the front of the tower with that.

A general comment on BIOS updates.  They should only be installed if the BIOS either fixes a problem you are having or will support new hardware that you want to install.  Otherwise "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies.  If you have an error while updating the BIOS and it's corrupted the only recourse is to replace the motherboard.

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@fireberd wrote:

I don't know what a DE051 is, but there should be some type of model tag on the front of the tower.  "DE" may mean "Dimension" .  e.g. I have a Dimension E510 and there is a label on the front of the tower with that.

 

A general comment on BIOS updates.  They should only be installed if the BIOS either fixes a problem you are having or will support new hardware that you want to install.  Otherwise "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies.  If you have an error while updating the BIOS and it's corrupted the only recourse is to replace the motherboard.

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Hi fireberd

DE051 is a Dell Dimension 1100:smileywink:

From Chris

My computer
Dell Dimension 1100
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
512 MB of Ram
Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 256MB
Intel Celeron CPU 2.53GHz
Dell E196FP
HDD WDC WD800BB-75JHCO 80GB C:
HDD Samsung SV2042H 20GB F:
TSSTcorp CDRWDVD TS-H492C D:
LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-851S E:
Linksys Wireless-G WUSB54GS With SpeedBooster
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 90
Logitech Cordless Click Plus Rechargeable Optical Mouse
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.3
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2

My Security Software
Avanquest SystemSuite 8 Professional
Windows Defender

helmecj01,

Is there another way to get the specs you listed. Like I said earlier, my Service Tag says its an Optiplex, which clearly it is not. It has no Sata and the memory layout and requirements are completeley different than the Optiplex...

Hi

Technical Specifications of the Dell Dimension 1100

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

DELL OPTIPLEX GX280 MOTHERBOARD

http://www.ascendtech.us/itemdesc.asp?ic=MB4DELG5611&eq=&Tp=

From Chris

My computer
Dell Dimension 1100
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
512 MB of Ram
Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 256MB
Intel Celeron CPU 2.53GHz
Dell E196FP
HDD WDC WD800BB-75JHCO 80GB C:
HDD Samsung SV2042H 20GB F:
TSSTcorp CDRWDVD TS-H492C D:
LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-851S E:
Linksys Wireless-G WUSB54GS With SpeedBooster
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 90
Logitech Cordless Click Plus Rechargeable Optical Mouse
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.3
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2

My Security Software
Avanquest SystemSuite 8 Professional
Windows Defender

helmecj01,

Can you get me a link to the BIOS update for the Dell Dimension 1100? When I try it will only take me to the OptiPlex BIOS update page...

Thanks,

Tim

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@tim8w wrote:

helmecj01,

Can you get me a link to the BIOS update for the Dell Dimension 1100? When I try it will only take me to the OptiPlex BIOS update page...

 

Thanks,

Tim

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Hi

no more BIOS uprdate for Dell Dimension 1100 and A01 is least BIOS.

From Chris

My computer
Dell Dimension 1100
Microsoft Windows XP Home SP3
512 MB of Ram
Nvidia Geforce FX 5200 256MB
Intel Celeron CPU 2.53GHz
Dell E196FP
HDD WDC WD800BB-75JHCO 80GB C:
HDD Samsung SV2042H 20GB F:
TSSTcorp CDRWDVD TS-H492C D:
LITE-ON DVDRW LDW-851S E:
Linksys Wireless-G WUSB54GS With SpeedBooster
Logitech Cordless Desktop EX 90
Logitech Cordless Click Plus Rechargeable Optical Mouse
Mozilla Firefox 3.0.3
Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2

My Security Software
Avanquest SystemSuite 8 Professional
Windows Defender

fireberd,

Again I do have new hardware. Since my service tag says I have an OptiPlex, Dell told me I could add a SATA Drive. I bought it only to find out that I don't really have an OptiPlex, but as Chris points out, I have a Dell Dimension 1100. So I purchased a SATA PCI card and moved everything over to this drive. Now when I boot, the BIOS stops and tells me tht it can only find the DVD drive on the EIDE bus, which is true, the new HD is on the new SATA Card. If I choose to continue, it boots into Windows XP just fine. I can live with the BIOS message, if everything else worked OK, but it doesn't. ANY DVD burning software I try, cannot find the DVD. Windows is OK with it, it will paly a DVD if I put one in it...

Back to my original problem. I figured that if I could get an updated BIOS that recognizes the new SATA drive, maybe everything would work fine in Windows as well. Although, it looks like Chris has found out that Dell didn't make any new BIOS versions for this Motherboard. So I guess I'm stuck with this messed up system. Is it worthwhile to try and find some kind of EIDE to SATA converter of some kind?

Thanks,

Tim

Thanks, Chris. 

In reference to BIOS updates - any model PC.  BIOS updates, if available, should only be installed if the update solves a problem you are having or supports new hardware that you plan to install.  Otherwise the "if it ain't broke don't fix it" applies, especially if you try to update the BIOS and it fails and corrupts the BIOS as the ONLY option is to replace the motherboard.

The 1100 is limited on what hardware it can support.  Another problem is that some brands of boards will work and some will not, but I can't give you what will and won't as it varies. 

One option, if you don't want to buy a PATA (IDE) drive is to buy a USB enclosure for the SATA drive and connect it to the PC via USB.   But, a new PATA CD/DVD burner drive will be just about the same price.  It may be better to bite the bullet and just buy a correct PATA (IDE) drive and try to sell the SATA drive. 

I don't know where you are located but here is one Lite ON PATA drive for $22.99 US from the newegg site.  

DE051 is a Dimension 1100/B110