R710 Bios update failure - At my wits end!!

Question

Hello all I need your help.

I have been trying to upgrade the BIOS of several Dell Poweredge R710's and for some reason I have been unsuccessful. Currently my BIOS is at version 1.2.6

I have tried the following.

1). Linux based ISO created form Repository Manager - It will act like its loading the update and ask me to reboot but when it goes to reboot it says BIOS attempt update failed. I have ran through this process about 50 times. All firmware and drivers are updated on the servers except the bios.

2) Loaded Win2008 and tried updating the BIOS through windows using the file "R710_BIOS_4HKX2_WN64_6.4.0.EXE" that I downloaded off Dells website. It runs successful then asks me to reboot. Once rebooted it mentions that the BIOS update attempt failed.

3) Created a bootable USB flashdrive. Copied the un-packaged file called "R710-060004C.EXE" to the USB flashdrive and renamed the file to conform to the 8.3 format. Booted to the USB flash drive and ran the program. It verifies the program then immediately fails with the error "cannot use a dell system poweredge r710 bios in a " - ".

4) Tried updating from a non-bootable USB drive through system services using Unified Server Configurator. I used files "R710-060004C.EXE" and "R710_BIOS_4HKX2_WN64_6.4.0.EXE". It failed with the error message stating that I needed to use a valid catalog or windows file as it couldn't find one.

*Edit*

5) Just tried using a SUU package to do the update. Once again it looks like it applies the BIOS update ok and then asks for a reboot. Once rebooted it mentions that the BIOS update attempt failed.

For the life of me I can't get this to update. All the methods I have tried have not worked. If anyone can help I would greatly appreciate it.

John

DELL-Chris H · Accepted Answer

Jpalmieri_HDS,

The issue you are running into is that the R710 that you have has a customized BIOS, specifically created per the original customer. Now you can get the update to run and update the BIOS to the Dell standard, but you can't go back. So if there is software dependent on the custom BIOS, then you shouldn't update. If you are doing a clean OS install and such, then there shouldn't be an issue.

I would recommend not going to the latest BIOS though, I would step it up. So I would start with this BIOS version, then walk up to the current.

The process you will use is with the bootable USB, and non-packaged update. Boot to it as you did, but when you run the filename include /forcetype after it.

For example

R710-060100C.exe /forcetype

That will force the update through, and after that you will be able to use the future BIOS updates from support.dell.com as they are released.

Let me know how it goes, and if this helps.

jpalmieri_HDS · Answer

Chris, Thank you! This worked perfectly. I had no idea these servers has a custom BIOS on it. Thank you for all the help. John

DELL-Chris H · Answer

Glad to get that cleared up for you. Happy to help.

jostafew · Answer

Thanks very much! I had the same issue on an R510

Michael Valentine · Answer

So I attempted to boot to usb and then run the recommended bios update. It gives me a error. This program cannot be run in DOS mode. Any suggestion on methods of setting up the USB and then booting and running from CMD?

Ah, So used rufus to install FreeDOS. FRom there threw the file from version 6.1 over. Booted to usb which ran FreeDos and then ran the EXE. aka. R710.exe /forcetype. Worked like a charm. FINALLY. However, I am curious. Has anyone updated to the new version of BIOS for OEM dells yet? I am tempted to go with at least 6.3 for now.

bmorales · Answer

Hello for everyone, I have a BIOS error after the update, someone can help me please.

Now the server stay on "Configuring memory..." and the BIOS never starts. Is DELL PowerEdge R720.

Thanks and Bless in advance.

PowerEdge Hardware General

R710 Bios update failure - At my wits end!!

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