Solved!
Go to Solutionm15 R1, set BIOS Admin password, cannot BIOS flash update
Alienware m15 R1
BIOS 1.6.1
-------------------------------
After setting the BIOS admin password, if I try to go through the BIOS Flash update from the F12 method, select the new BIOS v1.6.2, it'll ask me for the BIOS admin password. I put in the correct admin password, but it flakes out stating it's incorrect. After too many times the computer shuts down.
I can blank out the admin password, then go through the BIOS flash update fine. Then after it updates I can set the BIOS admin password. I test the new password by selecting unlocking BIOS setup, put in the admin password, and boom I unlocked the BIOS.
I'm curious if this is a bug or not.
Thank you for bringing this up!
We have replicated the password issue as you have described it. We're now working to pass this feedback to engineering to see what can be done next.
I will get updates back to you as soon as I know more.
It is recommended that any BIOS or admin passwords be temporarily disabled before using the firmware update feature. You can re-enable the admin or BIOS password after your firmware update is complete.
Definitely sounds like a bug. Is your password using any special characters? If so, it could be that the password prompt that appears during the update process doesn't process them correctly or something. That of course would still count as a bug, but you might find that the bug's impact is limited to somewhat more "complex" passwords.
@joschmitz wrote:
It's only lowercase letters, numbers, and a period.
If you feel like experimenting, try it without the period.
@joschmitz wrote:
How should I report it?
I PMed a Dell moderator that's been helpful performing internal escalations of clearly reported and confirmed issues like this in the past and sent him the link to this thread, so hopefully this gets addressed! :)
jphughan
11 Legend
•
13985 Posts
•
79931 Points
4149
0
Posted May 24th, 2019 07:00
Interesting. Yes if the BIOS interface accepts a password with a period, then the password prompt for a BIOS update should as well, so this is definitely a bug.