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Is it safe to update my XPS 8910 BIOS from 1.1.2 straight to the 1.1.5 meltdown fix BIOS
I'm curious, since the official list here:
...says the BIOS update isn't available yet for the XPS 8910, but when I goto my support page it does show that's its available as 1.1.5 dated 1/9/18. I'm scared to brick my motherboard like so many others I have read about on other systems.
Also is it better not to jump versions? I passed on 1.1.3, which is the only other one listed for my Service Tag.
vtoy116
307 Posts
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January 16th, 2018 04:00
The document you linked to is not up to date. BIOS version 1.1.5 was posted around 1/9. The previous version of the document said the BIOS would be available on 1/10/18. I updated my BIOS on 1/9.
There is always some risk when updating a BIOS, the power could fail, etc. Luckily for the XPS 8910 there is a recovery option but I have never had to use it.
You can skip BIOS versions. I skipped version 1.1.2 because I felt it was minor and went from 1.1.1. to 1.1.3. There was no version 1.1.4. Hope this helps.
Version 1.1.5 is not related to the Meltdown flaw but fixes a security issue related to the Intel Management Engine. There will be another BIOS update to fix the Spectre security issue, I don't think Meltdown requires any microcode changes. This document, http://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/19/sln308587/microprocessor-side-channel-vulnerabilities-cve-2017-5715-cve-2017-5753-cve-2017-5754-impact-on-dell-products?lang=en, indicates that update will be available on 1/19/18.
Ebojager
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January 16th, 2018 23:00
Thank you for your answer, have you updated to 1.1.5 already?
vtoy116
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January 17th, 2018 05:00
I have already updated to 1.1.5 but if I had known that the Meltdown/Spectre update was coming so soon I probably would have waited and only do a single BIOS update. I will probably hold off on the next update because there are some reports of random reboot problems with older processors (Broadwell & Haswell) although none have been reported for Skylake.
vtoy116
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January 18th, 2018 10:00
Now there is a report that random reboots are occurring on newer Intel processors, http://www.zdnet.com/article/meltdown-spectre-intel-says-newer-chips-also-hit-by-unwanted-reboots-after-patch/?loc=newsletter_large_thumb_featured&ftag=TRE-03-10aaa6b&bhid=22325645616361655772278415828202
vtoy116
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January 20th, 2018 19:00
It appears that the Dell document I linked to earlier has been updated and now indicates that for the XPS 8910 the BIOS version 1.1.5 includes microcode changes to address the Spectre security issue. Previous the document indicated that version of the BIOS would not be released until 1/19/18, version 1.1.5 was released on 1/9/18.I do not recall if the release details previously indicated anything about the microcode update.