problem flashing bios to a09

Question

I have an Inspiron 2100 laptop that has W2k and ntfs file system. I need to update the bios to version a09, but can only find the floppy download version. The floppy formats fat, and will not run. When I try, the pc recognizes the program, says' About to flash inspiron 211 to version a09, press any key to continue. When I press a key, it says Error! This utility does not support this system. Does anyone know what I need to do to update this bios? I am new to to this site, but expect to hang around; looks like a good group. Thanks. oops, it looks like I somehow clicked to put my message in the top of the list. Sorry!! Message Edited by nubob on 11-23-2004 05:43 PM

leduke30 · Answer

Are you by chance trying to flash the BIOS while up under Windows? That will not work. You must boot up into DOS with the Floppy in the Floppy drive, and do the flash from there

nubob · Answer

Thanks for the quick response! No, I am not trying to flash while Windows is running; I shut down the pc, inserted the floppy, started up the pc, it recognized the floppy and got to the point where it said "error! This utility does not support this system.
I'm still stuck.

leduke30 · Answer

Okay, try removing the Harddrive and flash the BIOS with it not installed. If you still get that message, redownload this file to your desktop(just to be certain),open it and follow the directions to create the Flash Floppy. Then try the Flash again. Good Luck.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R60633&SystemID=INS_PNT_P3C_2100
&category=1&os=BIOSA&osl=en&deviceid=969&devlib=1&fileid=75875

nubob · Answer

Thanks again ledke 30. I found the problem. A while back, Dell replaced the MB on this pc. They put a Latitude l400 in to replace the original Inspiron 2100. I just successfully reflashed the bios to a09. This little pc has been a challenge from the getgo. It came with WinME. I updated it to xp when xp first came out, and had all sorts of problems. Then I installed Win 2k. Everything has been ok, except it won't hibernate all the time; sometimes it does, sometimes not. The reason I hibernate is it is used in a vehicle and takes a while to start up, so hibernating it solves that problem. I read that the a09 bios update solves some shutdown problems. If it doesn't solve my problem, I plan to revert back to xp, now that it is fairly stable. I have been running xp on a desktop with no problems for a year. Again, Thanks for the suggestions!

leduke30 · Answer

I would repartition and reformat your drive during W-XP setup, and reinstall W-XP as a clean install. You will save yourself a repeat of the problems you had. If you have the upgrade version, that can also be used for a clean install; just have your older windows CD handy to put in when demanded by setup for scanning for eligibility to use the upgrade. Everything on the socalled full set is on the upgrade, plus this extra lock. I always buy Upgrades if I get a Retail boxed version, and have never used any of them other than for a Clean Install, plus I use a W95A CD as a 'kicker' even with W-XP.

nubob · Answer

That was my plan of attack, a clean install of xp, if I still have problems with it. But for now, I will stay with w2k for a while to see if the bios upgrade solved the problem. I am familiar with the procedure for a clean install, I always do it that way. My xp problem with this pc was due to the buggy 1st Dell release issue of the xp upgrade. That was when xp first came out and was not even available retail yet. Even though I did a clean install, I had multiple problems with two Dell laptops. After converting them to w2k, with the exeption of the hibernation issue on one pc, they both have been fine for over one year of daily use. Since I could not resolve the xp issue and could get no help from the Dell 'English as a second language' support staff, I built my own desktop pc instead of buying another Dell.

leduke30 · Answer

SP1a  took care of most of the 'Buggy' ride with the original issue of W-XP, including the Java shortage, caused by the p *ssing match between MS and Sun Microsystems at the time. This homemade PC of mine is quite content with W-XP SP1a  with a dual boot of W98SE. I left you a Private Message. Home built PCGigabyte 7VTXE+1.0 M'board60gb Maxtor HDD512mb DDR PC2100 SDRAM AMD 1.6ghz CPU ATI Radeon 32mb Video card w/ Hardware DVD DecoderDual Boot W98SE & W-XP Home52x32x52x CDRWBTC 16x DVDROMAn ancient Canon BJC-3000 Printer17' Hyundai Flat Screen Q770 MonitorLogitech Wingman Extreme Digital 3D Joystick Message Edited by leduke30 on 11-24-2004 03:55 PM

nubob · Answer

Here are the specs for my homebuilt bodacious box! It has performed flawlessly for one year, editing videos, converting vhs to dvd, recording tv to dvd, photo editing and enhacement, recording music from the radio and copying to dvd, and a host of other things. My next investment for it will be a Bose speaker system, when I can afford it, and the second hard drive.

Motherboard ASUS P4C800-E Deluxe 800 Front Bus Speed
CPU Pentium P4C 3.0 GH
Ram 1 G Corsair 2x512 DDR400 pc3200
Hard Drive No. 1 Seagate 120GB Serial ATA 7200RPM
Hard Drive No. 2 not instaled yet, will be same as above with Raid
Video Card ATI All-in-Wonder 9800 Pro 128MB
Sound Card Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 zs Platinum
DVD/CD Burner Sony DVD+/-RW Drive
DVD Drive Sony 16X DVD-Rom
Floppy Drive Sony 3.5 1.44MB
New Case Mid tower w/ 420W, three fans
Operating System Windows XP Pro

BTW, I did not get your personal message. I will try to send you one to see if it works.

Locked Topics – Laptops General

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