E5450 Bios A19 + E Port Plus serial port missing

When you update, does the serial port still appear in the BIOS? If it does, are the settings changed? (it's listed under System Configuration)

I just re-ran the bios update, and checked.

In the bios, there's an entry for Serial Port, and it's still listed as "COM1," and not set to disabled.  Device manager looks clean. 

The E-Dock doesn't have its own serial port controller.  The chip actually resides in the system itself and the connector pins simply extend from the underside docking connector out to the dock to provide a DB9 connector, which means you should actually see the serial port in Device Manager even when you're not docked.  If you're NOT seeing it in Device Manager even when it's enabled in the BIOS, then I'm not sure what's going on there, but note that even if the internal serial port isn't working, that would not at all affect your ability to use a USB to Serial port adapter.  That's an entirely separate piece of hardware that has no dependencies on any internal serial port.

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@plhess wrote:

The usb to com DOES work, I just don't like leaving it out on my desk.

As soon as i back the bios down to A15, the com port is available again.  I've tested the upgrade / downgrade procedure twice today.

Therefore, since it does work with older bios versions, either the bios programmers didn't test with this port replicator, or the code from intel disables this. 

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Ok, just making sure you were aware of the distinction since you mentioned both types of serial ports originally.

@DELL-Justin C, there's some very clear info in this post that should make it easier to determine root cause.  Any chance you might be able to ping Engineering on this to get them to see what broke the serial port between BIOS version A15 and A18 (and remains broken in A19)?

The usb to com DOES work, I just don't like leaving it out on my desk.

As soon as i back the bios down to A15, the com port is available again.  I've tested the upgrade / downgrade procedure twice today.

Therefore, since it does work with older bios versions, either the bios programmers didn't test with this port replicator, or the code from intel disables this. 

@jphughan

Thank you for the mention. Yes, I will coordinate with @DELL-Alasdair R and work on this.

@plhess,

Thank you bringing this up. I will post back here with updates when I know more.

I am seeing this same issue on a Precision 7520 with the E Port Plus. I believe I have to downgrade to bios v1.7.1 in order to get it back. 

Same problem for me.

Latitude E7450 with docking station.

After update to A19 the COM1 was unconnected. Rollback to A17 and the COM1 works well.

@geonerdist,

New BIOS for 7520 solves the issue. It just came out only yesterday. Here you go: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/drivers/driversdetails?driverId=YJ17C

@MauroP

Dell engineering is working to resolve 5450 and 7450 as well. No ETA at this time however. 

I will certainly be back with updates.

@DELL-Justin C - That did the trick, thanks for the notification. 

@DELL-Justin C,
do you have any update for us?

The PC keep asking me to update the fw to A19.....

@MauroP,

 No new updates. Dell engineering is still working towards a solution.

I will update the thread when I know.

@DELL-Justin C

after one month no reply from you.

Still no new updates?

The solution for the 7520 was made faster.....

@MauroP,

I can confirm that the fix for the 5450 will be in the form of a BIOS update that is already in the works. I just don't have the release date yet. I'm trying to get that for the community.