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140289
Update bios in DELL laptop running ubuntu
Hi all.
I have a dell inspiron N411Z (or N14z).
I have installed as sole OS on the laptop ubuntu 12.04. Present kernel is 3.2.0-30, gnome 3.4.2.
The details of my BIOS are: A02 10/19/2011
I have logged in the support web-page of DELL, and after providing my service tag, I was re-directed to the following web page: http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/gr/en/grdhs1/ServiceTag/ Service tag removed per privacy policy>
As you will see, there is a new update for my BIOS, namely A05 4/19/2012, however is an ".exe" file and consequently can only be used with MS windows operating systems.
I would appreciate very much if you will guide me through the process step-by-step how to update the BIOS of my said laptop, considering that the sole operating system is linux - ubuntu 12.04.
For your info, my laptop is ubuntu certified: http://www.ubuntu.com/certification/hardware/201106-8252/
Thank you.
madvinegar
12 Posts
0
March 9th, 2014 06:00
Since I opened this thread, I will let you know how I managed to update my BIOS.
First of all, I believe that since the BIOS update is a very sensitive matter (taking in mind that if something goes wrong you may brick your laptop), the best way to do it is to follow exactly the instructions of the manufacturer. Since there is no official file for linux use, it is advisable to use the .exe file provided for windows.
So, I managed to find a way to actually update my BIOS through windows, without actually installing windows.
What you need:
1) A windows7 32bit installation. Either on another PC or install same via Virtual Box. (I actually installed win7 via virtual box. I found the iso of win7 from google. I did not have to register windows since they give you a 30 days period of grace and we actually need windows for 5 minutes).
2) A USB stick with at least 1gb of space
3) The right bios.exe file which we get from the manufacturer's web page.
4) A specific dll file. In my case it was oledlg.dll.
5) One empty CD.
Step1.
We boot into windows and we create a windows7 rescue disk.
Step2.
We format the USB stick at FAT32. We copy/paste all the files of the rescue disk inside the usb stick.
We open command prompt and we follow the following sequence of commands so as to make the USB stick bootable:
diskpart (it will change the prompt to diskpart)
listdisk (it will list the available disks)
select disk 2 (you select the USB stick disk. In my case it was the No2. Be very careful in this step).
list partition (it lists the partitions of the usb stick. It will only be 1 since we just formated it).
select partition 1 (we select the partition)
active (we make it active i.e. bootable)
Step3
We open the usb stick and we create a file called BIOS. Inside this file we put the bios.exe we need, plus the dll we need. In my case it was oledlg.dll. I found it here: http://www.dll-files.com/dllindex/dll-files.shtml?oledlg
Step4
We boot the PC from the USB. In case your PC does not have an option to boot from USB do it via Plop Boot Manager CD.
Windows will start loading, you will choose language and you will get to a window named "system recovery options". Choose the first option "use recovery tools...." and hit next.
On the new window that will open, choose the last option named "command prompt". The command prompt will open. Type the following commands pressing enter after each one:
c: (it changes the prompt to C, i.e. the usbstick drive letter).
cd BIOS (it changes to the BIOS file we created)
bios.exe (it runs the bios.exe file we downloaded from the manufacturer's website to update our BIOS).
Hopefully the BIOS window will open and you just follow the options to update your Bios. In my case I had to reboot twice. In this case be minded to boot from the USB the second time as well.
This is how I updated my Dell N14Z BIOS from A02 to A06.
Notes:
- It is without saying that I do not take any responsibility in case something goes wrong with your laptop. I just state above how I did it in my laptop
- In case you have a friend who uses windows you can kindly ask him to use his computer for 5 minutes to create the rescue disk and the bootable use stick (without having to install windows on VB). I just had to mention the VB option in order to say to you how to do it 100% on your own.
- As regards the dll file: When I was experimenting with all above, the first time I actually run the bios.exe file from the command prompt I got an error message that the oledlg.dll is missing. So I found it via google, added same inside the BIOS file and then the bios.exe run just fine. In your case it may ask from another dll or more dlls. Act accordingly.
DELL-Allan D
4 Operator
4 Operator
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2.6K Posts
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September 20th, 2012 01:00
Hello,
Please refer to the link mentioned below to download and install the latest version of BIOS.
http://dell.to/PrSjgq
Please write back with the results.
madvinegar
12 Posts
0
September 21st, 2012 11:00
Dear Dell-Allan D,
Thank you for your reply.
However, as I have already explained, my laptop runs ubuntu 12.04 only.
The link you have provided redirects me to a web-page from which I can only download an .exe file.
.exe files are purposed to be used by MS windows operating systems.
How can I use an .exe file in ubuntu? Should I run it using "wine"?
Kindly clarify/explain step by step the process for updating the BIOS of my laptop under UBUNTU.
I thank you very much in advance for your kind assistance.
Regards
Mike
DELL-Allan D
4 Operator
4 Operator
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2.6K Posts
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September 23rd, 2012 03:00
Hello,
Download and Install Files to Flash BIOS
-- Type getSystemID at the command prompt and then press .
System information similar to the following information appears onscreen.
# getSystemId Libsmbios: 0.XX.XSystem ID: 0x00XXService Tag: XXXXXXXExpress Service Code: 0000000000Product Name: Dell XX0XXBIOS Version: 2.3.2Vendor: Dell Inc.Is Dell: 1
Download the latest BIOS update.
-- Scroll down the list to find the system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_SYSTEM_ID_version_BIOS_VERSION directory.
-- Type system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_SYSTEM_ID_version_BIOS_VERSION at the command prompt and then press to open this directory.
-- Type download bios.hdr and press to download the BIOS update file.
Type modprobe dell_rbu at the command prompt to load the dell_rbu driver.
Flash the BIOS
--Type dellBiosUpdate -u -f ./bios.hdr-2.3.2 at the command prompt and press .
The following message appears onscreen (Figure 1).
# dellBiosUpdate -u -f ./bios.hdr-2.3.2 Supported RBU type for this system: (MONOLITHIC)Using RBU v2 driver. Initializing Driver. Setting RBU type in v2 driver to: MONOLITHICPrep driver for data load.Writing RBU data (4096bytes/dot): .................................................................................................................Notify driver data is finished.Activate CMOS bit to notify BIOS that update is ready on next boot.Update staged successfully. BIOS update will occur on next reboot.
-- Type reboot and press to reboot the system.
For more details please follow the link mentioned below.
http://dell.to/R99lBn
Knoxbrder
1 Message
0
January 15th, 2013 14:00
I can't find the Linux page you linked any more.
I tried to download the BIOS for the XPS12 and haven't been able to extract the BIOS from this exe.
Is there any newer information on how to do this?
All the Linux commands you mention work fine under Ubuntu on the XPS12, I just can't get the BIOS blob out of the Dell EXE.
ytsolov
11 Posts
0
January 16th, 2013 04:00
When I updated the BIOS for my Alienware M17xR3 I found no other way except to install Windows 7. Because at that time I didn't have enough big flash memory I used my swap partition to install it on. I installed it, then I upgraded the flash and then reverted my partition back to swap.
zimike
13 Posts
0
February 7th, 2013 13:00
Dear Allan !
I'd like to flash my BIOS for DELL 5720 Inspirion
I installed OMSA repository
( sudo apt-get install srvadmin-all )
then I gave the command :
imre@imrelaptop:~$ sudo wget -q -O - linux.dell.com/.../bootstrap.cgi | bash
[sudo] password for imre:
Unable to determine that you are running an OS I know about.
Handled OSs include Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS,
Fedora Core and Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Server and OpenSUSE
I did here the steps : http://linux.dell.com/repo/community/deb/latest/ but :
2. To verify OMSA packages, add the repository key to apt ....I had the warning massage :
gpg: WARNING: unsafe ownership on configuration file `/home/imre/.gnupg/gpg.conf'
It's gonna be more & more & more complicated ..............
I am not able to understand how to go on . Please help me ! thx for your workmanlike answer in advance
I have Bios : A03 and I have seen the latest one is already A13 !
I found the exe file for WIN7/WIN8 :http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/DriverDetails?driverId=NFM0M&fileId=3080128536
But under Wine I can not run this exe file !
I d like to have a simple way which could help me flashing BIOS without windows !
zimike
p.s. Ubuntu 12.04 LTS as OS I have .
Me2000
4 Posts
0
March 8th, 2014 14:00
Steps I am taking, in case this helps someone.
# wget -q -O - http://linux.dell.com/repo/hardware/latest/bootstrap.cgi | bash
Downloading GPG key: http://linux.dell.com/repo/hardware/latest/RPM-GPG-KEY-dell
-i used with no filenames on the command line, reading from STDIN.
Importing key into RPM.
Downloading GPG key: http://linux.dell.com/repo/hardware/latest/RPM-GPG-KEY-libsmbios
-i used with no filenames on the command line, reading from STDIN.
Importing key into RPM.
Write repository configuration
Downloading repository RPM
# yum install firmware-addon-dell
Loaded plugins: langpacks, refresh-packagekit
Resolving Dependencies
--> Running transaction check
---> Package firmware-addon-dell.x86_64 0:2.2.9-7.fc20 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: firmware-tools >= 2.0.0 for package: firmware-addon-dell-2.2.9-7.fc20.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: smbios-utils for package: firmware-addon-dell-2.2.9-7.fc20.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: python-smbios for package: firmware-addon-dell-2.2.9-7.fc20.x86_64
--> Running transaction check
---> Package firmware-tools.noarch 0:2.1.15-1.fc20.6 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: gnome-python2-gnome for package: firmware-tools-2.1.15-1.fc20.6.noarch
---> Package python-smbios.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: libsmbios = 2.2.28-9.fc20 for package: python-smbios-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64
---> Package smbios-utils.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: smbios-utils-python for package: smbios-utils-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: smbios-utils-bin for package: smbios-utils-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64
--> Running transaction check
---> Package gnome-python2-gnome.x86_64 0:2.28.1-13.fc20 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: gnome-python2-gnomevfs(x86-64) = 2.28.1-13.fc20 for package: gnome-python2-gnome-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64
--> Processing Dependency: gnome-python2-bonobo(x86-64) = 2.28.1-13.fc20 for package: gnome-python2-gnome-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64
---> Package libsmbios.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 will be installed
---> Package smbios-utils-bin.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 will be installed
---> Package smbios-utils-python.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 will be installed
--> Running transaction check
---> Package gnome-python2-bonobo.x86_64 0:2.28.1-13.fc20 will be installed
--> Processing Dependency: pyorbit(x86-64) >= 2.0.1 for package: gnome-python2-bonobo-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64
---> Package gnome-python2-gnomevfs.x86_64 0:2.28.1-13.fc20 will be installed
--> Running transaction check
---> Package pyorbit.x86_64 0:2.24.0-14.fc20 will be installed
--> Finished Dependency Resolution
Dependencies Resolved
=================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
=================================================================================================================
Installing:
firmware-addon-dell x86_64 2.2.9-7.fc20 fedora 51 k
Installing for dependencies:
firmware-tools noarch 2.1.15-1.fc20.6 updates 171 k
gnome-python2-bonobo x86_64 2.28.1-13.fc20 fedora 87 k
gnome-python2-gnome x86_64 2.28.1-13.fc20 fedora 82 k
gnome-python2-gnomevfs x86_64 2.28.1-13.fc20 fedora 85 k
libsmbios x86_64 2.2.28-9.fc20 fedora 230 k
pyorbit x86_64 2.24.0-14.fc20 fedora 51 k
python-smbios x86_64 2.2.28-9.fc20 fedora 65 k
smbios-utils x86_64 2.2.28-9.fc20 fedora 16 k
smbios-utils-bin x86_64 2.2.28-9.fc20 fedora 99 k
smbios-utils-python x86_64 2.2.28-9.fc20 fedora 61 k
Transaction Summary
=================================================================================================================
Install 1 Package (+10 Dependent packages)
Total download size: 998 k
Installed size: 3.8 M
Is this ok [y/d/N]: y
Downloading packages:
(1/11): firmware-addon-dell-2.2.9-7.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 51 kB 00:00:00
(2/11): gnome-python2-gnome-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 82 kB 00:00:00
(3/11): gnome-python2-gnomevfs-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 85 kB 00:00:00
(4/11): libsmbios-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 230 kB 00:00:00
(5/11): gnome-python2-bonobo-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 87 kB 00:00:00
(6/11): pyorbit-2.24.0-14.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 51 kB 00:00:00
(7/11): python-smbios-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 65 kB 00:00:00
(8/11): firmware-tools-2.1.15-1.fc20.6.noarch.rpm | 171 kB 00:00:00
(9/11): smbios-utils-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 16 kB 00:00:00
(10/11): smbios-utils-bin-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 99 kB 00:00:00
(11/11): smbios-utils-python-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64.rpm | 61 kB 00:00:00
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total 1.0 MB/s | 998 kB 00:00:00
Running transaction check
Running transaction test
Transaction test succeeded
Running transaction
Installing : libsmbios-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 1/11
Installing : python-smbios-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 2/11
Installing : smbios-utils-python-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 3/11
Installing : smbios-utils-bin-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 4/11
Installing : smbios-utils-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 5/11
Installing : gnome-python2-gnomevfs-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64 6/11
Installing : pyorbit-2.24.0-14.fc20.x86_64 7/11
Installing : gnome-python2-bonobo-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64 8/11
Installing : gnome-python2-gnome-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64 9/11
Installing : firmware-tools-2.1.15-1.fc20.6.noarch 10/11
Installing : firmware-addon-dell-2.2.9-7.fc20.x86_64 11/11
Verifying : libsmbios-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 1/11
Verifying : firmware-tools-2.1.15-1.fc20.6.noarch 2/11
Verifying : firmware-addon-dell-2.2.9-7.fc20.x86_64 3/11
Verifying : pyorbit-2.24.0-14.fc20.x86_64 4/11
Verifying : smbios-utils-python-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 5/11
Verifying : smbios-utils-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 6/11
Verifying : gnome-python2-gnomevfs-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64 7/11
Verifying : python-smbios-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 8/11
Verifying : gnome-python2-bonobo-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64 9/11
Verifying : smbios-utils-bin-2.2.28-9.fc20.x86_64 10/11
Verifying : gnome-python2-gnome-2.28.1-13.fc20.x86_64 11/11
Installed:
firmware-addon-dell.x86_64 0:2.2.9-7.fc20
Dependency Installed:
firmware-tools.noarch 0:2.1.15-1.fc20.6 gnome-python2-bonobo.x86_64 0:2.28.1-13.fc20
gnome-python2-gnome.x86_64 0:2.28.1-13.fc20 gnome-python2-gnomevfs.x86_64 0:2.28.1-13.fc20
libsmbios.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 pyorbit.x86_64 0:2.24.0-14.fc20
python-smbios.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 smbios-utils.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20
smbios-utils-bin.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20 smbios-utils-python.x86_64 0:2.2.28-9.fc20
Complete!
Now what ? I can't find the man page for anything.
Me2000
4 Posts
0
March 8th, 2014 14:00
Piecing this together as I go. It appears that getSystemId was part of that toolset and can now be run.
# getSystemId
Libsmbios version: 2.2.28
Product Name: Dell System XPS L702X
Vendor: Dell Inc.
BIOS Version: A14
System ID: 0x0570
Service Tag: XXXXX <- edited by me
Express Service Code: XXXXXXX <- edited by me
Asset Tag:
Property Ownership Tag:
So I was able to download and install the tools. I was able to get the system ID. And I have the BIOS file. How do I install it ? Just a little bit of documentation would go a long way here !
Me2000
4 Posts
0
March 8th, 2014 14:00
I have the same problem, in that I'm running Fedora 20 (no Windows) on a Dell XPS17 and want to update the BIOS.
I'm trying to use the USB 3.0 port for the first time, with a USB 2.0 hard drive caddy. It keeps dropping the connection to the drive, it unmounts itself. I have tested the caddy+ drive on several other machines and it works fine.
When I searched XPS17, I found the L702Xs had USB 3.0 problems from new. I called Dell and they said mine has an updated motherboard, but that I need to update the BIOS. I found the new BIOS for my machine, (A19), but like everyone said, its an .exe, that runs under WINDOWS !
So now what ?
Me2000
4 Posts
0
March 8th, 2014 14:00
# yum info firmware-tools
Loaded plugins: langpacks, refresh-packagekit
Installed Packages
Name : firmware-tools
Arch : noarch
Version : 2.1.15
Release : 1.fc20.6
Size : 747 k
Repo : installed
From repo : updates
Summary : Scripts and tools to manage firmware and BIOS updates
URL : http://linux.dell.com/libsmbios/download/
License : GPLv2+ or OSL 2.1
Description : The firmware-tools project provides tools to inventory hardware and a plugin
: architecture so that different OEM vendors can provide different inventory
: components. It is intended to tie to the package system to enable seamless
: installation of updated firmware via your package manager, as well as provide
: a framework for BIOS and firmware updates.
# yum info firmware-addon-dell
Loaded plugins: langpacks, refresh-packagekit
Installed Packages
Name : firmware-addon-dell
Arch : x86_64
Version : 2.2.9
Release : 7.fc20
Size : 141 k
Repo : installed
From repo : fedora
Summary : A firmware-tools plugin to handle BIOS/Firmware for Dell systems
URL : http://linux.dell.com/libsmbios/download/
License : GPLv2+ or OSL 2.1
Description : The firmware-addon-dell package provides plugins to firmware-tools which enable
: BIOS updates for Dell system, plus pulls in standard inventory modules
: applicable to most Dell systems.
dheeruk
1 Message
0
June 13th, 2014 05:00
I am unable to find the system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_SYSTEM_ID_version_BIOS_VERSION directory after the getSystemID command.
Could you please help me