Aurora R9, BIOS 1.0.24

I don't think I'm going to update  from 1.0.23 to 1.0.24.  Supposedly, 1.0.24 only fixes:

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@Doghouse Reilly wrote:

It's February 2023 and Dell/Alienware has bestowed upon us BIOS update #1.0.24.

1. I don't seem to recall ever having this many BIOS updates on any other motherboard in the past 30 years;

2. one must pause to reflect on the reason and endeavor to persevere.

 

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1. Every since Meltdown and Spectre came on the scene ... seems like it's the new-normal. At least Dell pursues the updates and releases them. 

2. Very nice. I think I will borrow that if you don't mind. 

Among other things, it would make an excellent (and wise) Meme.

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@Darqology wrote:

1. I don't think I'm going to update  from 1.0.23 to 1.0.24.  Supposedly, 1.0.24 only fixes:

- Fixed the issue where you cannot update the BIOS when you install the Windows 11 22H2 Cumulative Update KB5019980 on your system.

 

2. I feel that at this point there's just too much uncertainty and don't really feel like risking a bricked system.  Installing a windows update shouldn't cause an issue with BIOS especially if it causes your BIOS Install to hang.  A hanging BIOS install is guaranteed to at minimum cause you to move the jumper and reset the BIOS. It's annoying at best and catastrophic, potentially bricking your MOBO.   I'm pretty over it for at least right now. 

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1. At least they give a revision history (or at least the major issue fixed). Updates for Compatibility issues seem to be common (when not patching a vulnerability). It is strangely specific though.

I haven't got v22H2 on all my machines yet. With the early issues, I've been letting the dust settle and hope for the final fixes before I jump in with the older machines. 

 2. Right, don't fix what's not broken.

The Dells bricking has always been an issue (but it's not just reserved to Dells). It seems to have gotten better since UEFI-class became the norm. Like always, as long as:

- the system is running properly
- freshly booted (nothing weird running)
- You download the perfect file to your local system and un-block it (skip all the automation like Support-Assist, Dell-Update, etc.).
- Back in the day, we also verified checksums before using vital files like these

the initial un-packing and write-down (into UEFI Environment space) "should" work fine and then it will actually flash the BIOS Firmware on next cold reboot/restart. 

You can also flash BIOS/Firmwares from outside of Windows (directly from Legacy-BIOS or UEFI-Environment). That has always been the most reliable and trouble-free way (and still is I think).

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@Tesla1856 wrote:

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2. Very nice. I think I will borrow that if you don't mind. 

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Thank you, by all means, use it with my blessings.

So I accidentally installed this update.

How? Advanced Options under Windows Update. Optional updates. I didn't read it closely, until it was too late. It ultimately installed fine, but it did take a hot minute or two with numerous automatic restarts. 

Thanks for the information, I'll be sure to check first and only download from the Dell download website to my Rufus USB stick regarding BIOS updates.  I'm not sure who thinks it's a good idea that we get updates from Windows Updates, Windows Optional updates, Microsoft Store, and several different Dell/Alienware automatic update programs.  Seems like a good formula for disaster.

Glad you didn't have any problems with the BIOS update.

Yeah and it didn't go through the typical BIOS Update screen such as the writing/rewriting of the new block and filling the bar from 0 to 100%. 

It was: Alienware logo and name: "Please wait while we install a system update" Those are the worst, I feel, because there's no indication of progress and no warning about the dangers of rebooting or powering off.