Download BIOS update

You can select Do not install. It does not refer to the bios update. It's asking about installing the Dell Download Manager. You do not want to install that since it can cause problems. Just say no and download just the bios update to any computer--preferably the computer you want to update so you don't have to copy the file to move to your computer. Read the install directions on the download page. You probably know that you should have a good reason for updating the bios. If everything is working OK and you are not upgrading to a diff operating system, you should not mess with bios updates. 

i cannot get online with the computer tha needs the BIOS update.

Thanks,

bob

I did not wait for a answer I used the install option and it downloaded the file ME051A10.exe so now I can copy to the computer that does not have internet access & hopefully update the BIOS of my Inspiron 1300.

Be sure to use your adapter when applying the update. The bios update requires a working battery and the adapter plugged in. If your battery is not recognized or dead, the update will not install.

I have a similar problem and I don't quite see this thread answering it, but almost... My laptop got completely messed up, had to reinstall Windows XP but did not get the drivers on it so can't connect to internet nor do almost anything else. I was told I need to download the drivers, but when I do it seems they just will get downloaded onto the computer I am using. Do not want that! I just want the file onto a hard drive so that I can copy to a disk and then install on the computer I am trying to revive. How do I do this??

You should make a new post and include your exact model and explain how you reinstalled the operating system. Also mention which version of XP and the service packs you have. For example--XP Home SP2. Downloading is not installing. You are just downloading the programs that will install the drivers. You can use another computer to download the driver files, copy them to disk and copy to your computer. Then you run them on your computer. XP requires installing the drivers in a certain order. Directions HERE under Manual Installation.

Mary G, I think now from what you just said that I cannot do what I had planned to do. Assuming that the BIOS was a file I was, hopefully, going to take the hard drive out of my Dell Inspiron 1300/B130 and externally update it with another computer then replace the hard drive and then try to boot up. Presently, this computer will not startup or soft boot. It seems you must have a computer that can boot before you can flash the BIOS. Right? so I'm dead in the water.