Inspiron 7520 new BIOS?

That’s a good question. I mean how does Dell justify going from an A14 bios to a A04 bios and call it an update. Firmware update improvement is labeled as enhance video controller, but still doesn’t explain the bios downgrade. 

I don’t know about you, but I never got my 15R SE 7520 to really properly work with the AMD switchable graphics in Windows 10. I’d like to think maybe this adds some setting in the bios addressing the problem, but what, after all this time on a laptop that came out 8 years ago, I’d be truly surprised if that’s what this bios update was dealing with. My 7520 is just a backup computer, so I might attempt to install the bios anyway and see if I can see anything changed in the bios settings or see if the GPU is now activated with switchable graphics. 

Just tried updating the bios to this so called new one. It can't be done. Ended up with a flash IHISI Flash write error in SMI. SMI Return Code ox-25. Support Assist states there are no new drivers. This has to be a mistake from Dell posting this June 2020 A04 bios update. I'd just ignore it and stick with what you have. 

About graphic...
It's a shame that the latest AMD driver on Dell's website is from 2015 (sic!) and company "shut down" support since then.
I am using Windows 10 (1909) and my latest drivers are:
a) INTEL:  10.18.10.5129  
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/29473/Intel-Graphics-Driver-for-Windows-15-33-?product=97499

b) AMD: Adrenalin 2019 Edition 19.12.1 Optional
https://www.amd.com/en/support/previous-drivers/graphics/amd-radeon-hd/amd-radeon-hd-7000m-series/amd-radeon-hd-7730m
[ I know there are newer drivers but this is last with NORMAL SWITCHABLE graphics menu in amd ccc settings]
With these I can play many games, switchable option works and my laptop does not have overheating problems (with newer adrenalin 2020 Inspiron works like vacuum cleaner...)

Well, i hope that someone explain us what's the situation with BIOS 

Thanks for info!

This laptop to this day is a very good laptop with quite good specs inside that allows us to work/play with new systems or games. I know i sound like "complaining guy" but it bothers me why Dell don't want to once again update all versions of drivers, and provide us functionality in Windows10 variations. Start from conexant audio drivers to intel/amd drivers. Yeah, i can understand that new laptops must sell, but come on...

Completely agree on everything you said. Thanks for posting those driver links. I gave up on the switchable graphics working in Windows 10 a while back. Over the weekend, I'll install the drivers you posted to see if I can get it to work on mine. Can't hurt in trying. 

Hopefully someone from Dell will chime in here and provide further information regarding this strange bios update that was posted.

Thanks again and take care. 

I hope it will work out for you.
I know that you know this i think but let me remind some things:
Do not use AMD CLEANUP UTILITY from AMD site to uninstall the drivers (it messes system very badly, at least i had that problem: audio, wifi and graphics were corrupted when i used that, some files went away. It took me 2hrs to put everything in use).

Sorry for tutorial but maybe someone watch this post and like to update drivers so little manual is included
Due to this "switchable problem" many have serious problems including BSOD etc. I found this many years ago on this forum and this is my ETERNAL TUTORIAL

1. Disable ‘Automatic Updates’ for the system.

2. Uninstall the AMD drivers from the ‘Device Manager’ and also uninstall the ‘Catalyst’ application.

3. Uninstall the Intel drivers from the ‘Device Manager’.

4. Restart the system.

Once system restarts, install the drivers in the order given below:

Install the Intel drivers from the link 

After installing Intel drivers, install the selected AMD drivers from the link

Please post here a message if these drivers works for you.
PS: In new Adrenalin 2020 there is no option for switchable graphics because amd decided that Windows 10 will do everything for you. I give a youtube link when guy explains everything about newer drivers (AMD Adrenalin 2020). 

LINK: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hR_IEoJ_zK8

PS2: Like I said before I am using AMD Adrenalin 2019 19.2.1 and for me everything works out very good but many people=many choices

Best of luck!

Of course I am using AMD Adrenaline 2019 19.12.1 THE LAST DRIVER with switchable graphic option in CCC menu

Sorry, for repeat but I can't edit my last post (I don't know why) when near the end I put incorrect number.
All previous links of course are working

Thank you for providing all that. What I’ve done is install the drivers from your original post. Will test them tomorrow on some older pc games to see if the graphics are switching over to the AMD GPU. If that doesn’t work, I’ll follow the information in your new post and try to fix things that way. It’s been a while, but I remember giving up because I thought I had tried everything to get the switchable graphics to activate. In every other aspect, the laptop is in perfect condition with a few upgrades like a SSD drive and more RAM. Everything works great except for the switchable graphics, so it would be nice if that can be fixed with the right drivers. Will get back to you after some testing, but thank you for the help.

Regards.

Just F.Y.I, looks like I’m posting with two different accounts on two different devices. Still me, just different name. 

Installed those drivers last night and then blew the cobwebs off of some old PC CD games today, which I Installed. Games like Need for speed Most Wanted, Carbon and Undercover along with Fallout 3 and Doom 3. All of them ran great, so I'm pretty sure the AMD switchable graphics must be working as I doubt that the Intel HD 4000 card could have ran all of these on high settings ( Doom 3 I had to make some minor adjustment ), but I'm 99.9% convinced the graphic card is doing the heavy lifting here. 

Just wanted to pass along a big thanks for providing me with the correct drivers in order to get this switchable graphics driver working again. 

Regards

I am glad it helped

Like I said, it's such a shame that Dell gave up any support for this laptop. Even on Dell Windows 10 May2020 update (compatibility) list 7520 isn't there! Read the statement:

"As pointed out by OnMSFT, even if your device doesn't appear on the list of tested devices, it might still receive the Windows 10 May 2020 Update. But Dell said that it will not provide driver updates for untested machines, stating, "If your device is not listed in the tables below, Dell is not testing the device and drivers will not be updated for that model."

Of course we will receive May update but the are many WEAKER laptops who were tested and checked for compatibilty.
Well, I am glad that these drivers helped you. I will be testing newer drivers in couple of months to see if overheating problem is gone. But for now I'm using these, and I'm monitoring situation with ANY dell support:)

Let's hope that this BIOS issue will be solved soon and maybe there will be a new version

I hope they can release a new BIOS version with support for Crucial 16GB DDR3L SODIMMs (so you could have total 32GB RAM)

My inspiron 7520 became do not resume from hibernate. from the same pretty day of dell releasing this BIOS.

coincidence ?

I doubt that you have this A04 BIOS installed. It won’t install, even if you bypass the revert to an older BIOS version option. Your problem lies elsewhere. Did you do any major software upgrades lately, like install the newest version of Windows, the May 2020 upgrade. 

I installed that build on my 7520 and have experienced no issues, but when I installed on my 7580, I’m having sleep / shut down issues. Reverted back to my previous backup image with Macrium Reflect and all is well, so I’m staying away from the Windows 10 May upgrade for now on my 15 7580

Would you do another check to see what BIOS version you are currently running with? If your problem is with hibernate, do you have the same problem with sleep mode? Is fast startup on under power options? If it is, try turning that off, rebooting and try hibernate again. 

Have you tried everything here?

https://pureinfotech.com/fix-hibernate-problems-windows-10/

This definitely solved my problem.
All the drivers I tested didn't have the option of switchable graphics, but with this tutorial it finally appeared again.
Thank you

@Toshi650 I just can't belive after searching for days i found your guide for the graphic drivers in this thread.

I have win 8.1 OS in my inspiron 7520 and was planning to stick with it because i read it's lighter  and runs less tasks in second plan but i'm struggling to make the AMD graphic card work properly .

Do you recommend update to windows 10 and install the drivers from your guide? I think they aren't compatible for windows 8.1.

I would like to thank you for sharing those links and  the guide. I think they will help me a lot. Really appreciate it!