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1737
October 29th, 2019 15:00
XPS 8930, BIOS update not working
Dell support page suggested I should upgrade to BIOS 1.1.8, and i clicked to download the offered file, which turned out to be "XPS8930_1.1.8.exe". When ran it (as administrator and not) it showed something working in the background for a few seconds (rotating blue circle on my cursor) and then just stopped. BIOS is still on the old version, the only difference I see is that in the Download folder I now have a file "amifldrv64.sys", which did not exist before I ran the exe file. Not sure what I am doing wrong, but any help will be appreciated.
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RoHe
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October 29th, 2019 17:00
Did you download the file manually or let Dell Update or SupportAssist download it?
Do you have BitLocker enabled on this PC?
Did you disable your anti-viral app and close all other open apps and windows, and then "Running as Administrator"?
Read this and try #7 using the F12 menu with the .exe file on a USB stick connected to a USB2 port on PC.
8930user
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October 29th, 2019 21:00
VJ2
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October 30th, 2019 05:00
Thanks. Dell Update did not suggest BIOS or any other updates, but Dell Support page on the Dell's web site had about 20 recommendations for my machine, two of which were urgent,. One of these was this BIOS 1.1.8, and that is the first one I tried. Sorry if I did not make myself clear.
My Win10 is Home edition, don't believe I can turn BitLocker on at all. Did close all apps and windows except File Manager, Don't have any anti-virus apps other than Win Defender, will try disabling it and will try the USB method (as soon as I find out what the USB2 port is if this does not work, will report the outcomes.
Other thing I noticed, don't know if it is related, is that I am still on BIOS 1.1.3, seems to be the one my machine was delivered with about 18 months ago. I remember having several alerts about new BIOS versions available through Dell Update and thought I made these updates, but apparently none of them went through
savvy2
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2.5K Posts
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October 30th, 2019 09:00
this PC is near new, Id bet a newer bios is not doing you any good.
when you boot the PC hammer F12, see that line item in the black window there, BIOS update
no safer way exists. period, use that always.
here are all ways to update bios from safe to crazy risk
if UEFI is fully enables non of this can work.
same with bitlocker or fancy SED HDD encrypted, and enabled.
my guess is you did not read the instructions in the BIOS page.
that sys file is from AMI, and is safe, virus total scanned it just now and passes, and the signatures are good.
from AMI bios company.!
use F12, read how in the bios instructions.
MICROSOFT WAY invites doing so with corrupted OS, why in the world risk that? IDK but why?
I always boot from safe media, DOS at least. (of any kind) but class 3 UEFI bans this, and leaves 2 ways if true, F12 or hold fingers in the ears, and windows crash and burn way. sorry. but UEFI is a huge pain now.
It will be fun to watch this in year 2020 with all new Dell PCs are class3 UEFI, fun to watch , not own ever.
windows is multi tasking OS with endless infections, or even hdd bad making the oS corrupted. sad to watch.
savvy2
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October 30th, 2019 09:00
here are the lame instructions, cut and pasted 14th update in 2 years, wow. (pain)
"Updating the BIOS from Windows
Note 1: Before updating the BIOS, ensure that you suspend BitLocker encryption on a BitLocker-enabled system. If BitLocker is not enabled on your system, you can ignore this step.
Note 2: Do not turn off the power or interrupt the BIOS update process during the update.
Download and Installation
1. Click Download File, to download the file.
2. Click Save to save the file to your hard drive.
3. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file.
The system restarts automatically and updates the BIOS at the system startup screen. After the BIOS update is complete, system restarts again."
so if running LINUX what then,?
all PC older told what to do for Linux, or other OS sold by DELL,
now missing, i guess dell and MS are now married?
the first PC ever to abandon all other OS.... wow.?
Vic384
6 Operator
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October 30th, 2019 10:00
"the first PC ever to abandon all other OS.... wow.?"
The BIOS update file format is Windows/DOS. So someone could use RUFUS to make a bootable DOS (FreeDOS) USB drive and put the BIOS update file on it and run the update by booting the USB drive.
RoHe
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October 30th, 2019 10:00
I should have looked...this model only has two USB2 ports on the back for mouse and keyboard. So prepare the USB stick as described in the link I posted above and plug it into one of the three USB3 ports on the right end of the top row on front of PC, with PC off. Then power on and tap F12 to get to the menu and follow the instructions in that link to run the update. Do not turn off or interrupt the update. PC should reboot automatically when the update is done.
BIOS updates are supposed to be cumulative so you should be able to go directly to the latest one.
Post back and let us know how it goes...
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
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October 30th, 2019 11:00
List every device plugged into this XPS 8930 when you ran that BIOS update.
VJ2
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October 30th, 2019 12:00
@DELL-Chris M
Original Dell keyboard and mouse, HP Envy 3 and Dell ST2310 monitors, two Western Digital external Hard Drives for backups, JBL Spot speakers, Microsoft LifeCam VX-5000, think that is all. Oh, and a Canon MX922 printer, it is connected over Wi-Fi
VJ2
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October 30th, 2019 12:00
Tried the same with Win Defender disabled, same outcome. Will try the USB method probably tomorrow. Thanks again!
RoHe
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October 30th, 2019 14:00
IIRC, a similar problem was posted a few months ago. The solution was to disable Virtualization and VT for Direct I/O in BIOS setup, enabled by default, before trying to run a BIOS update.
Don't change anything else in BIOS setup, but be sure to save the change before exiting setup. And run the update from the USB stick.
Hopefully that helps you....
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
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October 31st, 2019 06:00
OK. Based on other users past BIOS installation failures, my suggestion when doing a desktop PC BIOS update is to disconnect from the desktop PC EVERY peripheral device except monitor, wired USB keyboard, and wired USB mouse. Then try to run the BIOS update from within Windows.
Below are the steps I send out =
* Download/Save the BIOS file to the Windows desktop
* Turn the desktop PC off
* Disconnect all external USB (drives, printer, headset, etc.) peripheral devices from the desktop. Leaving only the following devices connected to the desktop =
power cable
monitor video cable
wired USB mouse
wired USB keyboard
* Turn the desktop PC on
* Close/end task all unnecessary software applications (SupportAssist, Steam, Anti-virus, etc.)
* Find the saved BIOS file on the Windows desktop
* Right click the file and choose, "Run as administrator". Note, you do not need to "extract" the file. Just run it
* Follow the prompted instructions. The desktop will reboot on its own. Do NOT force it to reboot or power off