upgrading bios

Question

i have a dell iii, l...r, w/win 98, 2nd ed. bios ver 3 whenever i try to upgrade my bios to latest ver 14, i get a message cannot reflash bios memory manager in use. dell techs no help at all. is it worth my effort to upgrade bios. is so, any thoughts here?

Majestic · Answer

The reason for the error is because you are trying to do the BIOS upgrade from with-in Windows or with Windows running in the background.    Click here for a better BIOS version for the L__r model that will create it's own bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk for updating the BIOS to version A14.  Just download the file and run it from your hard drive.  The program will then prompt you into creating a bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk so have one available.  When done, just reboot your machine and the upgrade program will run and prompt you into updating the BIOS.  If the BIOS program doesn't boot and Windows does instead then check your system's boot order to see that the floppy is listed before the hard drive in the boot sequence.   Is there a particular reason you are upgrading the BIOS?  The reason I am asking is that there is always a slight element of risk in updating the BIOS.  If your current BIOS is working good and fully supports any hardware changes you may have made then upgrading it really isn't necessary.  Since there is always a slight element of risk in updating the BIOS they shouldn't be done needlessly on a machine out of warranty.  A bad BIOS flash can create additional problems that you may not wish to deal with or pay for in repairs.

likesbb · Answer

Say, thanks for your input.  I just assumed a bias upgrade would be a good thing.  I mean an upgrade is an upgrade  however based on your input it does appear to be a risk, so i'll stick with the old one.  thanks for your time and effort

Majestic · Answer

Basically an 'upgrade is an upgrade' for most things related to computers.  If a software or driver upgrade goes bad you can simply re-install the previous version and no harm is done except for the time spent re-installing it.  A BIOS upgrade on the other hand is more of a firmware update that if gone wrong can trash your motherboard.  Unlike some other computer manufacturers which have the BIOS chip socketed onto the motherboard and can be easily changed, a Dell system has their BIOS chip soldered onto the board.  If the information on that chip becomes corrupted due to a bad BIOS flash the only way to resolve the problem is by replacing the whole motherboard.

fred fisher · Answer

Hi   Kinda along the same lines as the previous post I have this question. I am trying to prepare my machine for updating to service pack 2. Dell recommends checking to see if I need to flash my BIOS. Heres where I get confused. My BIOS is A01 & all seems to work fine btw. When I go to the Dell download section about BIOS it lists BIOS A06, but if I press pervious versions my A01 version is listed there. It says the A01 is the original version. So my question would be do I need to download & flash the A06 version to bring mine up to date or is that a different version that dont apply to my machine ? Additionally do I need to flash at all or can I just upgrade my windows to sp2 ? Im kinda scared of this whole flash deal as I have heard that it can go way bad & Murphys Laws seem to apply more to me than others sometimes. Although Im not a computer wiz Im usually able to perform any tasks that are needed to keep runing smooth.   thanx in advance Fred Fisher

Majestic · Answer

Fred,  if your current BIOS version is working good and it fully supports any hardware changes that may have been made then upgrading the BIOS for Service Pack 2 really isn't necessary.  A lot of people have skipped the BIOS upgrade step and encountered no problems with SP2.  The main thing prior to updating to SP2 is to check your system for the presence of any viruses or ad/spyware.  Either of those two items have been known to create problems with Service Pack 2.      If your machine is still under warranty you might consider upgrading the BIOS anyways.  Since a BIOS does have a slight element of risk, you can use the opportunity of having the warranty to get current with your BIOS versions.  In the unlikely event of a bad BIOS flash you will have the warranty protection to fall back on for repairs.  The alternative is to not upgrade the BIOS and let your warranty expire.  Then, like a lot of people, you decide later on to add some new hardware that will require a newer BIOS version and that BIOS update happens to go bad.... the cost of repairs will come out of your pocket.  The smart move is to keep the BIOS version current while the warranty coverage is in effect in my opinion.

Frandy · Answer

I am getting ready to use the SP2 upgrade CD-Rom. I have a Dimension 8300 using Bios Version A01. My Logitech mouse has been acting strangely and I have purchased a Microsoft  IntelliMouse Explorer (still in the box) and a HP AOI PSC 1315 (also still in the box). I currently have an HP Scanjet 3500c that is working and connected to my computer. The old Epson printer gave up the ghost and I disconnected the printer and cable, but the printer is still in Device Manager. I have extended the warranty on my Dell but have no idea how to proceed with the update. My system also includes  the All-In-Wonder Radeon 9000 Pro TV Tuner Card if that ingo is pertinent. Do I need to up the bios, and if I do how do I do that. Should I try to install the HP printer or the new mouse before I proceed with the SP2 upgrade? Do I have to remove the old scanner first and how do I do that? Hope I haven't asked too many questions but any feedback as to my options and how I proceed would be appreciated. Thanks, Frandy

likesbb · Answer

i appreciate  your feedback.  i've found that routine functions can turn in to nightmares. i dont think i want to touch anything that  initally states some risk involved.

t2surfer · Answer

Tech support recommended keeping up with the latest BIOS updates. I think that the flash in the newer PC's is partitioned with a section that is not changed during the flash, that can be used to recover if there is a bad flash. As a last line of defense, there should be a way to connect a flash burner to the motherboard, to flash the device, in the worst case (would require a service tech). Correct me if I'm wrong, but the motherboard is never toast. That said it makes sense to upgrade just to get the bug fixes, some of which Dell might not document in the release notes. Out of warranty is more problematic, but maybe worth the small (very small?) risk.

Dimension 8400
1905 FP
HP 2710
1G
XP Pro SP2

Majestic · Answer

Frandy, I would get all the new hardware connected and working properly before even attempting to do the Service Pack 2 update. The SP2 update can cause enough problems on it's own let alone doing that update on the system that is having hardware problems.

As far as the BIOS upgrade, with the hardware changes you made I would think a BIOS upgrade is in order. Over the history of the BIOS upgrades for your model there have been a number of fixes related to just the video. You can click here for the A07 BIOS version for your model. Just follow the instructions on the download page for updating the BIOS.

Here is the order I would proceed with your system..... first update the BIOS, then get the hardware installed and running good, then check your system for viruses and ad/spyware, then install SP2.

Message Edited by Majestic on 03-08-2005 08:59 AM

fred fisher · Answer

very much for the info

likesbb · Answer

are you sure bios ver 7 is suited for my dell demension III, L...r win 98, 2nd ed?

and can i truely upthe bios from windows enviroment as stated in the dell download instructions?

pretty testy, arent I?

thanks for your feedback

volcano11 · Answer

likesbb,

Note that majestic's response was to Frandy. There is no BIOS upgrade for the L series that can run from within the Windows environment. This is one of the problems that happens when other people jump into an existing thread. It gets rather confusing.

Steve

likesbb · Answer

i thought so.  thanks

likesbb · Answer

I think it was Dinaro that once said you talking to me? you talkint to ME? you TALKINg to me?

Frandy · Answer

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I haven't had the opportunity yet to follow your suggestions but did follow the link to Bios AO7. I still have a couple of questions regarding the hardware installation. Can I leave the scanjet 3500c and install the All-In-One which includes a smaller scan surface or will I get conflicts with the software for each H-P device. If I have to remove the 3500c, how do I go about it. Do I go to Add/Remove to get rid of the H-P software? Can I just add the MS mouse, do I do that with Add Hardware and then remove the Logitech mouse? I really don't know what I am doing so step by step directions would be appreciated. This really doesn't have anything to do with Dimension>Bios>upgrades, and if you can direct me to the proper forum I will redirect my questions, but appreciate any input that will help.

Thanks,

Frandy

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upgrading bios

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