How does Dell validate Driver/BIOS Releases?

Question

Hello everyone:

I have an XPS-8930 SE and was about to install that bad 1.1.27 BIOS downloaded three days ago, when I was cruising by and read the horror stories from many forum members. It is now deleted from my system and I see that it is not being offered to me again via a Dell Technical Bulletin by email or by Dell's Support Assist.

This leads me to an important question.

If the BIOS is not operational, how can the system be restored?

Another member said that the motherboard had to be replaced.

There must be a better way, no? This is really scary.

Thanks for your time and Happy Holidays.

ProfessorW00d · Answer

Dell BIOS Validation Process - flip a coin; heads release it now . . . tails release it in 3 days

RoHe · Answer

@Brainiac You can use Dell's BIOS Recovery to recover from a bad BIOS update. Quite a few users did exactly that to revert their XPS 8930 systems from 1.1.27 back to 1.1.26 and restore full function.

It's not clear what happened after 1.1.27 got installed. Stalling at the Dell splash with solid white PC power button would indicate the PC passed the Power On Self-Test (POST) and BIOS handed over control to Windows. That suggests -to me- a setting in this new version is incorrect for the way Windows is installed, so Windows essentially freezes.

Even with thorough validation, BIOS updates can only be tested based on a system without any addition/replacement of factory hardware, and/or BIOS and Windows settings changes. Dell may use equivalent hardware from different manufacturers (eg, SSD, RAM, GPU, etc) and even a new generation Intel CPU. So it's impossible to test all the factory combinations.

On top of that, users add and/or replace factory hardware, change BIOS and Windows settings in different ways all the time. So there's never a guarantee a BIOS update will work on every system, even if it works in Dell's tests.

FWIW, BIOS 1.1.27 installed on my XPS 8930 without any issues at all. Not clear what's different about my PC which boots and runs fine with BIOS 1.1.27 installed. Obviously, that doesn't guarantee I'll be so lucky with the next BIOS update...

Brainiac · Answer

@RoHe

How would you be able to reach the BIOS if it is wiped or bricked, as it is called?

The Dell BIOS Recovery procedure is quite flawed in this respect.

How do they re-flash the BIOS at the factory?

Thanks.

P.S. How do I enable single line forum spacing by default?

garioch7 · Answer

@Brainiac

With respect, did you even check out the BIOS Recovery link that @RoHe provided in his reply?

@RoHe even provided a direct download link for the BIS recovery image file that was necessary when the BIOS Version 1.1.27 borked some computers, including mine. Thanks to his expertise, I was able to roll back to BIOS Version 1.1.26 successfully in one of the topics to which he responded.

Experts here, and @RoHe is one of the foremost, if not the foremost, dedicate countless hours and share their knowledge to freely help other Dell users. He receives no compensation from Dell.

Personally, I applaud his dedication. I don't know how you concluded that the Dell "BIOS Recovery procedure is quite flawed in this respect." As @RoHe replied, it has worked quite well for those of us who followed the instructions exactly.

Working voluntarily as I do at Bleeping Computer helping users with their real or imagined malware issues, I have too often seen my efforts go unappreciated. That is very discouraging for volunteers.

This Forum is so fortunate to have an expert of @RoHe 's obvious in-depth knowledge of Dell computers and his willingness to spend so many hours assisting other users.

Just my two cents. Have a great day; and, please read his link.

Regards,
Phil

PS: You can "tell" the Forum editor to use single-line spacing by holding down the Shift key when you press "Enter" for the following paragraph.

RoHe · Answer

You don't have to 'reach' BIOS. You can start the process on any PC. Go to the Support page for your PC model (eg XPS 8930) and on the Drivers/Download tab select System Firmware from the options.  Expand the entry for the current BIOS version, and click 'Older Versions'. Click the link for the version before the one that failed to install. So, in this example, if BIOS 1.1.26 failed to install, you'd select version 1.1.24. (Safer to go back one version, in case the latest version has problems.) When that page opens, look for the link to download the BIOS Recovery Image File (.rcv). Download the file onto an empty FAT32-formatted USB stick.  Do not change the name of the .rcv file on the USB. When that's done, plug the USB into XPS 8930 will power fully off. Power on and immediately press Ctrl and Esc at same time and HOLD both keys down until the keyboard backlight comes on, or if no backlight, until the Cap light comes on. Then release Ctrl and Esc and just follow the prompts when the recovery window opens...

Brainiac · Answer

@garioch7I am not questioning anyone's competency here. Everyone's dedication is quite appreciated. What is totally confusing to me, is the ability to boot from this USB Recovery without a working BIOS. I did look at the procedure in-depth and it mentions nothing about a totally nuked BIOS. How would this USB Recovery Device be detected in the first place.If this could be clarified for me, I would be most appreciative. Additionally, thanks for the single spacing tip! Brainiac.

RoHe · Answer

That's how the Recovery is designed.The Recovery instructions may be permanently programmed into a separate area of the CMOS chip that can't be changed by doing a flash update.

So as long as the CMOS chip isn't damaged, that area should still work even though corrupted BIOS instructions may be stored in the programmable area.

You really don't need to know/worry about the geeky details. Just look how many users were able to do the Recovery from BIOS 1.1.27 and fully restore their PC to a working state.

Brainiac · Answer

@RoHe-

Interesting point for a true geek like me.

I will investigate this further. One can also argue that if the CMOS battery is removed, that capability, if it exists would be gone. Then again, if that code is in a different bootstrap type of chip, it would be novel.

The Dell motherboard is proprietary, so I don't have enough information at my disposal.

If anyone knows the answer, please chime in!

Again, happy holidays and thanks for your kind input.

XPS Desktops

How does Dell validate Driver/BIOS Releases?

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