updating bios question

Question

I followed the directions for updating my dim 2350s bios and I got nowhere.I got to the part were I restart the computer and it installs.When I try that it starts up normally without installing the update.

jackshack · Answer

What instructions are you following?  All the bios upgrades I have done restart the computer automatically after the flash is complete. The only way you can tell if the update has taken place is to look at the Dell start-up screen before Windows loads to see the bios revision number, or enter set-up and look at the copyright info on the first screen. Message Edited by JackShack on 01-28-2006 12:56 PM

jackshack · Answer

The bios update is usually termed 'firmware' since it becomes a permanent part of the computer.  Updating the bios loads this firmware into a special chip similar to a USB Flash Drive.  The act of updating the bios is usually termed 'flashing'.  Therefore when you update the bios you have 'flashed' it.

silver_pioneer · Answer

I'm new what is flashing the bios?

Majestic · Answer

Silver_pioneer, the 2350 model has a quirk in the BIOS upgrade program that will cause it to abort before the program actually updates the BIOS.  Click here for another reply I gave on the same problem and follow my recommendation on running the program from the command prompt.

silver_pioneer · Answer

heres the directions

1. If you are flashing the BIOS on a portable computer, be sure that
the AC adapter is plugged in and the computer is not operating on battery
power.

2. Ensure that the Flash BIOS disk is inserted into the floppy disk
drive.

3. Click the Start button, click Shut Down, click
Restart, then click OK.

The computer will restart
and boot to the floppy disk.

It doesn't work.

Message Edited by silver_pioneer on 01-28-2006 02:34 PM

MrPhysique · Answer

Hi.. I am having a problem updating my Bios on my 8250 to A04. I follow instructions on installing the update but after the PC restarts itself, I still see that I have version A01. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

MrPhysique · Answer

Thanks for the info, I used hard disk format. I will try your method now and hopefull I'll get it working

Majestic · Answer

Mr Physique,  I don't know which format you used, but the best way is the one that creates a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk.  Click here for that download and just follow these generic directions on using that downloaded file.... Once the file is downloaded to your hard drive just run the file.  The program will then prompt you into creating a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk so have a 'good' blank one available.  Once the floppy is created just leave the floppy in the drive and reboot your system.  The BIOS upgrade program will then prompt you into updating the BIOS.  If the floppy fails to boot then check your system's boot order and make sure the floppy drive is before the hard drive in the boot sequence.  Once the BIOS upgrade is successfully done just remove the floppy disk and reboot the system. If you encounter problems then try another download of the file and use another blank floppy disk.  If either of those two items are bad it will prevent a successful BIOS update.  The actual time it takes the new BIOS code to be written is less than 30 seconds.  While the upgrade is in progress do not interrupt the upgrade or do the upgrade when weather conditions might indicate a possible power failure such as doing the upgrade during a thunderstorm.  An interrupted BIOS upgrade may corrupt the currently installed BIOS and thus require a motherboard replacement.

jackshack · Answer

Message Edited by JackShack on 01-28-2006 03:05 PM

Majestic · Answer

Silver_pioneer,   when you try doing the BIOS flash and it stalls instead of restarting, are you seeing a colored screen (usually) a shade of red with an A:\ prompt listed near the bottom of the screen?  If you are the BIOS update program has aborted before flashing the BIOS.  Just follow the directions I have posted in my earlier message to manually restart the BIOS update.

silver_pioneer · Answer

It doesn't show the red screen it just has the words:not a system disk.

Majestic · Answer

Mr Physique,  glad to have helped, your welcome!  Thanks for posting back with an update.

Majestic · Answer

Silver_pioneer,  I wish you had posted that error message earlier and it is important.  If you are getting the 'non-system' message then either you used the wrong BIOS update format or you are using it incorrectly.  Click here for the download that will create a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk and then follow the directions I have listed below in using that download......   Once the file is downloaded to your hard drive just run the file.  The program will then prompt you into creating a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk so have a 'good' blank one available.  Once the floppy is created just leave the floppy in the drive and reboot your system.  The BIOS upgrade program will then prompt you into updating the BIOS.  If the floppy fails to boot then check your system's boot order and make sure the floppy drive is before the hard drive in the boot sequence.  Once the BIOS upgrade is successfully done just remove the floppy disk and reboot the system. If you encounter problems then try another download of the file and use another blank floppy disk.  If either of those two items are bad it will prevent a successful BIOS update.  The actual time it takes the new BIOS code to be written is less than 30 seconds.  While the upgrade is in progress do not interrupt the upgrade or do the upgrade when weather conditions might indicate a possible power failure such as doing the upgrade during a thunderstorm.  An interrupted BIOS upgrade may corrupt the currently installed BIOS and thus require a motherboard replacement.   In the event the BIOS upgrade program aborts then follow my other directions on how to restart it.

silver_pioneer · Answer

I don't even get to the flash utility.

MrPhysique · Answer

Thank you Majestic, I tried it from the floppy and it worked perfect...

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updating bios question

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