BIOS upgrade without a floppy drive

Question

Hello,

I have an inspiron 8600 that i got about a month ago, can someone share with me the procedure for a BIOS upgrade for someone who doesnt have a floppy drive.

I think this should find it's way into the faq, but that is just me.

I am sure it is simple, but I just dont know how. I dont need to do an uprgade yet, but I am sure I will at some point.

Thanks in advance,

-Eric

David611 · Answer

The BIOS upgrade program can be run from hard drive. I've done it once or twice without a problem.

If you really want to boot to a 'floppy', I think there is a bios installer that will create a floppy image. You probably can use a USB flash drive to do that kind of upgrade.

mm

GreyMack · Answer

There may be two separate BIOS update files available for your system in the Downloads section, one for floppy and one for hard drive. The instructions are also listed there. GM

roccovw · Answer

A wise investment is a usb floppy drive as the safest way to flash is the floppy method. Usb floppy drives are rather inexpensive to buy.

leduke30 · Answer

Not all USB floppies are DOS bootable, unless they are USB 2.0. The BIOS Version for the 8600 is a Non-packaged version and there is no other. That file is downloaded and then sent to a Floppy Disk with System Files already on it. It boots the laptop into DOS and then Flashes your BIOS when you enter a Command to do so at an A:\Prompt. You can find the proper command to enter by typing and entering   dir     at the A:\Prompt first.  If you are definite about updating your BIOS, I would invest in a Dell floppy before doing so. While it is possible to flash the BIOS from  CDRs in your optical drive, getting  the CDRs made is difficult and tricky. A BIOSFlash is risky enough without making it moreso.

Bay Wolf · Answer

If you want a bootable ISO image file with the BIOS already setup, you can download it from my web page. http://www.bay-wolf.com/flashbios.htm   You can also use a USB 2.0 memory key to boot from.  To make it bootable is easy.  You can then just copy the BIOS update file to the Memory Key, boot into DOS from the memory key and then flash your BIOS.

dimgr · Answer

i have been on your pagebefore but you do not have anything for the 1150 :(
I had alos emailed you last week.

I have an inspiron 1150 with bios A05 and was looking for a bootble iso image with bios A06 or whatever the newer is

Bay Wolf · Answer

I saw your post and email and uploaded version A06 to that page.  Give it a look.  The 1150 is right after the 1100.       Message Edited by Bay Wolf on 12-12-2004 09:21 PM

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BIOS upgrade without a floppy drive

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