Today modern BIOS firmware update still resulting with a bricked machines.  Although, it is possible to perform BIOS recovery on newer machines.

Because each time you are flashing BIOS update, you are taking a risk of something may go wrong, if you really need to update BIOS, just go straight to the latest version.  The prerequisite (follow instructions) will help with the process successful as well.

Thanks, have you actually performed a DELL BIOS by going to the latest one and skipping all those that came before it? I'd hate to brick a perfectly good PC without even knowing the benefit the upgrade is offering.

Yes, I have update by skipping all those before but only around 3 to 4 years worth, never try a 10 years like yours.  I only update BIOS to fix performance (storages, drives) or compatibility (CPU upgrade) otherwise keep running with older version if the machine functioning well.

The newer BIOS image will replace the whole prior, older BIOS images.  It didn't just adding codes continuously.  So what is the point of replacing BIOS images in order or in small stepping (skip only a few).

Each time you flash BIOS firmware, you are taking a chance that something could go wrong.  So, reducing the number of firmware flash, you could lower the risk.

Beside adding compatibilities and improve performances, new BIOS updates address security vulnerabilities and keeping hackers, bad actors from exploit and taking control over your machine.  But, how likely that will happen comparing to your daily usages of emails, surfing internet websites, streaming video, using social media apps, all of those activities do expose your machine to potential infection of virus, malware, ransomware, etc...

So, only you can decide if your machine needs BIOS firmware updates.  If your machine is working perfectly well, just leave it be.

"...just leave it be" is probably good advice. I was just curious if the new way of updating the BIOS is more reliable than the old procedures but I'm probably better off with the "ain't broke don't fix" attitude. The downside risk isn't worth it if there is no backoff procedure.

Thanks, Chino!

Dan

You made a good choice.  Here is the forum for XPS desktop.  If you scroll through the most recent 20 posts, you will find half of them are BIOS update issues, mostly from XPS 8930, not very old system.

I had this question when I bought a 7060 optiplex and it had almost the installation bios and no updates.

They were about 10 - 12 versions to be installed to bring it up to date and the Dell YouTube video showing the process indicated that it was important to install all versions and at most to only allow 1 version to be skipped.

If you google Dell bios update you should find it, it's not a very difficult procedure and it took me about an hour to install all updates with no errors.

I suppose you have already performed your bios update and apologize for not including a link to the guide I used.

This is the Dell official procedure https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2UqYmKsoSYE&t=1s and at 2:14 minutes it clearly states to include each sequential update.

It should be quite easy to follow and I had no problem, unlike the bios updates from years past where I often read of horror stories of machines being bricked following an update.

Hello from Germany

grab the latest BIOS release for your XPS from DELL support site.
right click the exe file and select "run as administator"
Follow the instructions on the screen.
The install routine will detect if it is necessary to install another BIOS release before installing the latest.
All my XPS, OptiPlex, Precsision, Latitude... machines are alwasy updated to the latest release.
Not a single bricked machines since 2006 - and more than 1.500 machines updated and with BIOS mods.

Just go ahead and have no fear

Peter

Hi Peter,

Thanks for sharing your experience and encouragement. Having never had occasion to do a BIOS update and hearing how disastrous the results could be, I'm hesitant to perform it (especially since my perfectly functioning Optiplex appears to be just fine and I have no idea what the benefit would be?!?). But still, I am curious if some improvement can be made.

But I am curious about the individual updates. Are you saying that if a prerequisite update was missing that the process is smart enough to warn me of that and back off the update? This is contrary to what another responder warned me about in this DELL video.

Also, were you ever successful in restoring a bricked DELL PC?

Thanks again!
Dan

1). Are you saying that if a prerequisite update was missing that the process is smart enough to warn me of that and back off the update?

YES! Works exaclty that way! The process will stop, give you the info which version is needed and will NOT proceed with the update until the missing BIOS version is installed.

2) Also, were you ever successful in restoring a bricked DELL PC?

YES, got some PCs from customers with bricked BIOS and restore works fine in all cases.
Same with bricked DELL Laptops.

If you do not need or want to update your BIOS, leave it as it is.
Look at the description for your DELL PC and the changes/improvments made to the newer BIOS releases.

I'm very relieved to know that the BIOS update is savvy enough to back off if it smells a rat, thanks for that piece of info.

Regarding the BIOS restore, is that something I can perform should it ever come to that? I always thought I had to send it back to DELL for their service department to do their magic.

Dan