you need a program that will take an iso image file and convert that to data on a CD. nero and cd creater are both programs that support this.
as you have stated, you will need to upgrade to A22. from there you can go to whatever version you like (I like A31). there is no need to flash to the other versions in between
Thank you for your reply. I do have Nero so I'll give that a go. I just reformatted my system and am still in the process of loading stuff.l The Nero software is on my list, just didn't get that far yet before I decided it was time to update my BIOS!
Well... so much for that. I am so frustrated at this point I'm ready to toss this computer out the window.... I installed my version of Nero 5.5 so that I could write the A22 BIOS ISO file on it so I could update the BIOS on my system.
Following instructions I got from a link here on using Nero Burning ROM 5.5 to create a CD from an ISO image file I got nowhere (great instructions tho'!)
I have the ISO file, no problem. Getting Nero to recognize the file format is the problem. I've tried every file type option in Nero and it simply doesn't recognize this ISO file altho' Nero's File Browser shows it.
So I went to Nero.com. Checked to see if they had an update. They do, to 5.5.10, whoop dee do. So I attempt to dowload the update (18 MBs) and it tells me it's going to take an over an HOUR with a BROADBAND connection so Nero's downloads have a problem. I tried other sites and was able to download 25 MBs here, 50MBs there so it's not my connection; it's the Nero site.
I don't want to wait over an hour to download a Nero update that probably won't accomplish what I am trying to do nor do I want to pay for a full upgrade simply to get this darn Dell BIOS updated.
Do I have any other options to get this BIOS update done??? With no floppy drive?? Please, somebody say yes!
I have NERO 6.6 so I'm sure it looks a little different. If you're using an ISO you need to tell NERO to burn from a disc image. Simply burning the ISO to the CD-R will not work.
Also, if you want the update to download faster, click download from http ... nero's ftp servers are always horribly slow
Nemesis , they fixed that ISO file. It works now. You just download it to your desktop and open it; it opens Roxio and you add it to the bottom half for files to be burned. When I tried it before , it gave a MS generic symbol for an unknown file type and an "open with" prompt. I'm sure it is similar with Nero 6 as it did the same thing with Nero 5.5, both yesterday and today.
This procedure works, but on the computer you are using to do the CDRs creation, you need first to go to Folder Options in either Start/Settings or Control Panel, click the View Tab and make Hidden Files Show
You only need 2 files to update., the A22 and A32. I did not have any luck with that stupid ISO file either. I used the Floppy version to make a BIOS Flash Floppy, then copied all the files to a CDR using Nero's Bootable Data Disc Application, which will include the BOOTIMG and BOOTCAT files. After adding the files from the flash floppy, remove it and insert the W98 Boot disk, select that source for the boot files and click to start the burn.
Then do the same thing with the Universal A32 version. If you use a W98 Boot Disk as the Boot files source, when you boot up with the CDRs, you will swear you are using a W98 Boot Diskette in a floppy drive and you will get a W98 Start menu in DOS. The W98 designation means nothing as you are in DOS before any Windows even loads. Anyway, Start your Computer with CDROM support and eventually you will get an A: prompt. Just above it, you will see a letter Designator for the CDROM, which is one letter higher than normal; this is due to the MSRAMDRIVE (Virtual Drive)pushing it up a letter. Type a switch to that drive(ex. E:\ where E is the letter above the A: prompt) and you will get a new prompt for that drive. Type/Enter dir and you will see your BIOS Flash File along with BOOTIMG BIN and BOOTCAT BIN, and a new prompt for the drive. Type/Enter that BIOS file line at the Prompt and the BIOS Flash procedure will start. I have used this procedure on occasion-and with other models-with complete sucess and it is done in DOS like the Floppy method.
As I said, I don't have a floppy drive and I understand that copying the ISO file to a CD doesn't work (tried that the very first time then came here and realized my mistake).
Nero 5.5. just does NOT recognize the ISO file itself. I downloaded the A22 ISO file to my desktop, opened Nero and tried to get it to burn the ISO image file but Nero can't even "see" the ISO file. Nero's File Broswer shows it sitting right there on my desktop. But if I Choose Recorder then File|Open to select the ISO file in Nero, Nero can't "see" it - it's like it's not one of the types of files Nero recognizes so I can't even select it in Nero.
Thanks for all the replies. This shouldn't be this difficult. Think I should ask Dell to send it to me on a CD and go from there?
for me I open nero burning rom (express should work too though) then click file, then click open. Note there is a second box under where you would enter a filename that lists the type of files NERO will display. Try changing it to ISO. Mine defaults to "all supported compilition file types," but perhaps nero 5 does something else. Regardless, change that buttom box to "all files" or to ISO. That should make the file show up.
Well... I did contact Dell and they did send me a CD with the BIOS update - to A32.
Now, my fan runs all the time and then my 5100 shuts off for no reason. I'm learning it's an overheating problem. This didn't happen previous to the BIOS update and now, hopefully not too late, I read that the A31 and A31 BIOS update contained fixes for the "thermal dust issue when system is powered off by the temperature being the critical temperature under OS."
Seems to me this BIOS update made the "thermal" issue worse, instead of better.
Any BIOS for Idiots suggestions on if I can try to rollback to a lower version of the BIOS, say, something right below the A31 version or even go back to the original?
Somewhere I read that a backup is saved wwhen doing a BIOS update but don't know if that's true or not.
I do blow it out with compressed air, frequently. This just normal activity for me and has been for years on all kinds of systems. There is never much dust present at all, I think because there's not much airflow to begin with - that being the problem potentially.
Also, 8 months after I bought it, I DID replace the fan/heat sink unit... it is probably time for a new one now that I'm at almost 18 months - that seems to be some magical number for some reason - more people having problems again at 18 months. But not happy that they want to just keep replacing parts on a $3000. machine that I only had for 8 months before things started acted up this way.
It does still shut down with A32 installed. In fact, it got worse AFTER I updated - two days ago it wouldn't stay on for more than 15 minutes at a time.
Hopefully you're already aware of the dust problem, but here's a brief recap. Your computer brings in air from the bottom, passes it over a heatsink, and exhausts it out the back. Overtime, dust collects on the heatsink and acts as insulation, preventing the heatsink from giving off the CPU's heat to the air. The result is that the machine overheats. When things get too hot, the machine powers down to protect itself.
Bios A31 gave a warning message when these shutdowns occured -- so you knew the reason your machine "randomly" turned off. Bios A32 changed the fan profile -- instead of having the fans run on low most of the time and on high when things got hot, bios A32 turns the fan off until things get really hot, at which point it kicks on high. The idead behind A32 was that less overall fan use would mean less dust -- the tradeoff was higher all-around temperatures.
The easiest solution for you is to buy a can of compressed air. Every couple of weeks, turn the system off, then spray the compressed air into the back exhaust vent (back right). If the fan profile annoys you, I highly recommend downflashing to A31, which does not require a CD to do.
If you downflash, I would downflash to A31 as it is the last bios without the fan changes. Furthermore, if you've been cleaning, the the A32 shutdowns are not normal behavior. It might be time for a new heatsink/fan assembly
Oh, yeah, I am well aware of the dust bunnie syndrome. I blow my stuff out about every week. I'm kinda a fanatic when it comes to taking care of my stuff. Been doing routine maintenance on systems since my first one back in 1981!
Went out this morning and got a cool pad so it's sitting on that now. The fan is running quietly right now, not full blast but I hear one of the purposes of the A32 is to not run the fan until it gets so hot it kicks on high, then next you know,it's shutting down. I get the boot up screen that tells me it shut down to basically keep it from bursting into flames, hit F1 and it boots right back up. I actually wait until the unit is cool to the touch on the bottom before re-booting.
I still believe this system has a serious design flaw and the more I read up on it everywhere, I feel Dell knows this. They knew this when they shipped me mine last June. Thought I had done a fair amount of homework before my purchase but with 4 Dells in my background, I admit I had an inherent faith this would give me no trouble. I actually found a review at Personal Computer World where a big shot at Dell actually admitted they have a problem with this model. Guess the 5150 is just about as bad.
I'm so disappointed right now. This is my 5th Dell, first Dell laptop. My sister is still using a Dell desktop I sold her and the thing is almost 6 years old and never a whimper...
I would like to flash back but I don't know to where. Dumb or what?? I know you mentioned there being a backup of the old version kept (which in my case would be A06) but I don't think I want to go back to that. I jumped from A06 to A32 using a CD that Dell actually shipped to me. Didn't have the right burning software to burn the ISO image. Contacted Dell and they sent me this BIOS update CD that took me from the A06 to A32. Wish I'd never done it now..
Can I download like A28 or something and just try flashing it again to go back a few BIOS update steps?? I'm the first to admit this BIOS stuff makes me more than nervous!
NemesisDB
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February 25th, 2005 22:00
you need a program that will take an iso image file and convert that to data on a CD. nero and cd creater are both programs that support this.
as you have stated, you will need to upgrade to A22. from there you can go to whatever version you like (I like A31). there is no need to flash to the other versions in between
Mrs TMCD
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February 26th, 2005 09:00
Mrs TMCD
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February 26th, 2005 15:00
NemesisDB
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February 26th, 2005 19:00
leduke30
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February 26th, 2005 19:00
leduke30
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February 26th, 2005 19:00
This procedure works, but on the computer you are using to do the CDRs creation, you need first to
go to Folder Options in either Start/Settings or Control Panel, click the View Tab and make Hidden Files Show
You only need 2 files to update., the A22 and A32. I did not have any luck with that stupid ISO file either. I used the Floppy version to make a BIOS Flash Floppy, then copied all the files to a CDR using Nero's Bootable Data Disc Application, which will include the BOOTIMG and BOOTCAT files. After adding the files from the flash floppy, remove it and insert the W98 Boot disk, select that source for the boot files and click to start the burn.
Then do the same thing with the Universal A32 version. If you use a W98 Boot Disk as the Boot files source, when you boot up with the CDRs, you will swear you are using a W98 Boot Diskette in a floppy drive and you will get a W98 Start menu in DOS. The W98 designation means nothing as you are in DOS before any Windows even loads. Anyway, Start your Computer with CDROM support and eventually you will get an A: prompt. Just above it, you will see a letter Designator for the CDROM, which is one letter higher than normal; this is due to the MSRAMDRIVE (Virtual Drive)pushing it up a letter. Type a switch to that drive(ex. E:\ where E is the letter above the A: prompt) and you will get a new prompt for that drive. Type/Enter dir and you will see your BIOS Flash File along with BOOTIMG BIN and BOOTCAT BIN, and a new prompt for the drive. Type/Enter that BIOS file line at the Prompt and the BIOS Flash procedure will start. I have used this procedure on occasion-and with other models-with complete sucess and it is done in DOS like the Floppy method.
Message Edited by leduke30 on 02-26-2005 03:06 PM
Mrs TMCD
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February 26th, 2005 23:00
P. S.
I don't use Nero much.....How do I tell Nero to burn from an ISO image?
NemesisDB
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February 26th, 2005 23:00
Mrs TMCD
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February 26th, 2005 23:00
As I said, I don't have a floppy drive and I understand that copying the ISO file to a CD doesn't work (tried that the very first time then came here and realized my mistake).
Nero 5.5. just does NOT recognize the ISO file itself. I downloaded the A22 ISO file to my desktop, opened Nero and tried to get it to burn the ISO image file but Nero can't even "see" the ISO file. Nero's File Broswer shows it sitting right there on my desktop. But if I Choose Recorder then File|Open to select the ISO file in Nero, Nero can't "see" it - it's like it's not one of the types of files Nero recognizes so I can't even select it in Nero.
Thanks for all the replies. This shouldn't be this difficult. Think I should ask Dell to send it to me on a CD and go from there?
NemesisDB
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February 26th, 2005 23:00
Mrs TMCD
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March 10th, 2005 09:00
Now, my fan runs all the time and then my 5100 shuts off for no reason. I'm learning it's an overheating problem. This didn't happen previous to the BIOS update and now, hopefully not too late, I read that the A31 and A31 BIOS update contained fixes for the "thermal dust issue when system is powered off by the temperature being the critical temperature under OS."
Seems to me this BIOS update made the "thermal" issue worse, instead of better.
Any BIOS for Idiots suggestions on if I can try to rollback to a lower version of the BIOS, say, something right below the A31 version or even go back to the original?
Somewhere I read that a backup is saved wwhen doing a BIOS update but don't know if that's true or not.
Mrs TMCD
64 Posts
0
March 10th, 2005 14:00
Also, 8 months after I bought it, I DID replace the fan/heat sink unit... it is probably time for a new one now that I'm at almost 18 months - that seems to be some magical number for some reason - more people having problems again at 18 months. But not happy that they want to just keep replacing parts on a $3000. machine that I only had for 8 months before things started acted up this way.
It does still shut down with A32 installed. In fact, it got worse AFTER I updated - two days ago it wouldn't stay on for more than 15 minutes at a time.
NemesisDB
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March 10th, 2005 14:00
NemesisDB
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Mrs TMCD
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March 10th, 2005 14:00
Went out this morning and got a cool pad so it's sitting on that now. The fan is running quietly right now, not full blast but I hear one of the purposes of the A32 is to not run the fan until it gets so hot it kicks on high, then next you know,it's shutting down. I get the boot up screen that tells me it shut down to basically keep it from bursting into flames, hit F1 and it boots right back up. I actually wait until the unit is cool to the touch on the bottom before re-booting.
I still believe this system has a serious design flaw and the more I read up on it everywhere, I feel Dell knows this. They knew this when they shipped me mine last June. Thought I had done a fair amount of homework before my purchase but with 4 Dells in my background, I admit I had an inherent faith this would give me no trouble. I actually found a review at Personal Computer World where a big shot at Dell actually admitted they have a problem with this model. Guess the 5150 is just about as bad.
I'm so disappointed right now. This is my 5th Dell, first Dell laptop. My sister is still using a Dell desktop I sold her and the thing is almost 6 years old and never a whimper...
I would like to flash back but I don't know to where. Dumb or what?? I know you mentioned there being a backup of the old version kept (which in my case would be A06) but I don't think I want to go back to that. I jumped from A06 to A32 using a CD that Dell actually shipped to me. Didn't have the right burning software to burn the ISO image. Contacted Dell and they sent me this BIOS update CD that took me from the A06 to A32. Wish I'd never done it now..
Can I download like A28 or something and just try flashing it again to go back a few BIOS update steps?? I'm the first to admit this BIOS stuff makes me more than nervous!
Thanks so much for your replies and sage advise.