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July 31st, 2026 20:24
BIOS Updating
Inspiron 15 3511
Windows 11,Home, 25H2
BIOS 1.46.0 (Current)
I am normally familiar with updating the BIOS (UEFi).
I'm working on the above system (plugged in) - battery is 95 %, Excellent. Raid On is the (factory) Default. I'm attempting to use the One-Time Boot F12 method (Off line).
System is up-to-date except for the most recent BIOS update. That said there is 3 Critical (July) drivers that may not be installed yet. It is always run (AC-powered) on WIFI.
Apparently Windows Update has updated the previous 3 updates; possibly not > later. Support Assist is long removed (Revo) but many (Remote) SA options appear to be enabled. Connected Service Delivery (in BIOS Setup) is enabled.
My 8 Gb usb drive (FAT32) was formatted on another UEFi/GPT system (Latitude) but I did do a quick format on this Inspiron just in case.
When attempting to run the BIOS update, at the (BIOS) file selection point there is no normal BIOS file to work with (used various ports). When I click on "Flash from file" the File Explorer puts out the ESP (patition) 'data'. In BIOS, under TCG Drive Management\Physical Disks: No disks connected to system. The usb drive is, in fact, input.
Because the Dell Connected Service Delivery is enabled in BIOS the 3 prior BIOS updates could have been installed by that service (instead of Windows Update). Possible ?
Since this is not my system and I have it only for a day or two I am slow to make any major changes; however I would like to regain some control over this system. I was thinking of stopping the Dell-mentioned service and attempt to uninstall the application (in Add|Remove) using Revo, reboot and start the BIOS update process afresh. Any danger in this ?
Maxd1
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August 1st, 2026 18:40
@anne_droid Thanks Anne. I appreciate the effort.
You're thinking something may be wrong on my end. Perhaps. The working usb drive is (fully) formatted MBR/Fat32 (16 Gb - not 8). I will verify the BIOS download is good. I subsequently turned File History off to remove any possible 'claim' to the usb (with no change to BIOS attempts after Re-start).
Dell/MS Updates have been updating the BIOS recently (last 3 prior to 1.47.0). Dell Connected Service Delivery BIOS Update is likely preventing the manual BIOS update I'm attempting. It might be hopeless as things stand; I don't have the time or energy to disentangle all that may be required to get control back on this system. And I don't know enough. ta
anne_droid
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August 1st, 2026 10:48
Hi
Rather than format - reformat, I would create the USB drive again and add the appropriate file.
Is that what you require?
(edited)
anne_droid
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August 2nd, 2026 09:48
Fair enough.
I would have said it should not be MBR, but rather uEFI/GPT.
Maxd1
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August 2nd, 2026 19:02
I'm not entirely sure about the usb drive's Properties saying it's partitioned as MBR (and not GPT). I know that's what it states. I punch in Fat32 (Default) as it says and Bob's...
I recently ran off 13 BIOS updates on a Latitude using this flash drive and I have not converted the format on it since.
https://www.itechfever.com/what-is-gpt-mbr-ntfs-fat32/
https://www.techpluto.com/how-to-format-my-usb-drive-for-mbr/
Dell has control of the BIOS updates (enabled in the BIOS) and MS (Account) everything else; not that there's anything wrong with that. Thanks Anne