TB16, NVM firmware update 00.00.16 to 00.00.27 ends at update failed

If you have the FW update running, which part is not updating?  When I ran mine, the only things that updated were the MST1 and MST2.

My Dock NVM still shows 00.00.27 and the Cable NVM shows 00.00.16.

This is the part that I think has not updated... 

No matter how many times it I run it I can't get the Dock NVM updated:-( Peter

Are there any logs for the install?  I suppose it is time to look for something to reset the firmware in some manner.  I will do some research.

I did update mine when nothing was connected to it.

Edit:  This site seems to go through a process to reset the dock.  I went to the site so it should be OK but always take precautions.

Resetting a Dell TB16 Thunderbolt dock | Daniel Paul O'Donnell (uleth.ca)

Thanks @Saltgrass I had not seen that article, sadly even though I tried it with no peripherals attached it failed in the same place, but was definitely worth a try:-) Thanks again, Peter

Edit: Forgot to say unlike a normal install file I could not see any logs with this, but will dig deeper and see if I can find any...

On further investigation I could ran the firmware update from the command prompt with the command C:\>DellDockingStationFwUp_1.0.5_TB16_20210716.exe /s /r /l=c:\dellfirmware_1.0.5_TB16.txt resulting in the following log file contents:

Not really a lot more help but there you go:-)

Did you try resetting the Dock by unplugging everything, including power and holding down the power button for 45 seconds, as suggested in the link I provided earlier?

Hi @Saltgrass yes I tried that twice, unfortunately same out come:-( Regards, Peter

I have exactly the same behavior.

I also have the same problem.  I've tried using multiple computers.  Now using a 7480, but they all fail the same way.  

I have been futzing with this thing for months.  I'm begging to believe it is a lost cause.  From Basher-Peter's log above, I can see there is a 0x7 issue, which appears to be an invalid interrupt.  This is really a low-level driver issue that I doubt Dell will have the ability to solve.  You need someone with experience to troubleshoot these issues and I'm almost certain the majority of their development work is in India with very few experienced and seasoned individuals.

Same problem here...

Hi everyone!

I solved the problem using Linux‘s fwupdater. It’s lengthy and maybe a bit tricky for non-linux users.

Do the following :

Download a ubuntu iso, ideally 23.10 or newer, and create a live usb memory stick.

Before restarting, go to your user’s temp directory (..user appdata temp, you can find the path in the log in c:\Dell). Run the Firmware file (I used 1.4) in powershell with the parameter /s Then after a few seconds copy the newly created directory (some hash number). It will contain Bme.bin - Dock firmware - and Cable.bin - cable firmware. Put them aside, accessible, e.g. on a separate USB memory stick.

Boot into the live stick. Select try ubuntu and open a terminal from the program menu. Change into the directory of the bin file. For ease of use, you could also open the folder in the file explorer and then right-click -> open in terminal.

run „sudo fwupdmgr get-devices“ - you should see the dock and the dock cable in list.

run „sudo fwupdtool install-blob Bme.bin“ and select the number with the dock from the list to update the dock. BE SURE TO SELECT THE CORRECT ONE.

run „sudo fwupdtool install-blob Cable.bin“ and select the number of the cable from the list for cable update. Using parameter flags, you could also rewrite the same version. I had to, to solve a display-port issue.

if you want, you can use fwupd also to update the MST display-port firmware. Download the official cab from the LVFS site and use “sudo fwupdtool install <cabfilename.cab>”.

NOTE: the MST, shown as VMM33x0, requires newer fwupdtool versions (I tested the provided 1.9.05 by Ubuntu 23.10, the 1.7 of Ubuntu 22.04 does not work) and might not be visible if no monitor is attached. I had to use HDMI, as DP did not work initially. Also, WARNING : do not unplug for a few mins after write. According to a GitHub discussion, the MST update runs in background internally after writing and may take a bit. Not doing so may brick your dock!

hope it helps.

Flo

@libra1780​ Just FYI, I signed to this website just to thank you for this guide. Couldn't update the FW from the Windows at all cost... Now everything is up-to-date.

THANKS!

@libra1780​ This method 100% worked.