XPS 8930, ongoing issue BIOS Firmware Windows Update

Not sure I understand your issue.  Today Windows update installed a new BIOS firmware.  It was Firmware - 0.2.2.0.  I have seen no problems with it.

@CTG_8273  - Capsule updates are done differently than "regular" BIOS updates. I have no idea how long it takes to run capsule updates vs "regular" updates. Did WU reboot the PC in the process?  Your WU history lists BIOS 0.1.1.18, but go to Start>Run>msinfo32.exe and click OK. What BIOS version (and date) are listed in the System Summary, 0.1.1.18 or 1.1.18?

@WSZsr  There are several issues about running BIOS updates via Windows Update.

(1) Control over what Microsoft can/should do to our PCs.

(2) Risk- BIOS updates can fail and brick the motherboard. Letting Windows Update run BIOS updates inside Windows is a risk some don't want to take. If WU runs a BIOS update without permission and it fails, is Microsoft going to replace the motherboard?  We all know that's not going to happen! So we should be able to prevent Microsoft from doing these updates. If we run a BIOS update ourselves, we accept the risk, and if we don't want the latest BIOS update, we accept the potential risk of having an unfixed security issue.

When WU installs a bad driver, it's relatively easy (but still annoying) to revert to the previous driver. But recovering from a failed BIOS update is much more complicated and in some (many) cases impossible so Microsoft killed the PC.

Dell hasn't commented on why Microsoft puts 0. in front of Dell's BIOS version numbers. Or if WU actually checks to see what version is already installed and accepts the installed version is actually the same as the one it wants to install, despite the extra 0. in the WU file name.

@WSZsr 

Do you have a XPS 8930? Anyway I am referring to the extra 0. That seems to make the Firmware force itself even if capsule updates in the BIOS is turned off.

Awhile back when Dell Firmware 1.1.15 was released on ‎07-28-2021 I made this post and I was being helped by @RoHe And Ron posted that they put an extra 0.

Please let me know if you are using a XPS 8930. And Ron to answer your question about msinfo32.exe in system information it shows BIOS Version/Date Dell Inc. 1.1.18, 9/6/2021 I installed that back on 9/6/21 I did not realize it had been that long. But there was just one 2 months before that. There may be another one if @WSZsr is using a XPS 8930 has Dell Firmware - 0.2.2.0.  Looks like it still has an extra 0.

It should be Dell Firmware - 2.2.0 without the extra 0. I am sorry if this does not make much sense I have tried the best to explain. 

@CTG_8273  - @WSZsr can't have an XPS 8930 because " Firmware - 0.2.2.0" was installed via WU on whatever PC model that is. The XPS 8930 never had a a BIOS version number with a 2 at the beginning (with/without the lead 0.).

The date shown in msinfo32.exe is the BIOS release date, not the date it got installed on your PC. So that date doesn't tell you anything. But if your WU History says 0.1.1.18 was installed and msinfo32.exe says 1.1.18 is running, then it would seem the lead 0. get ignored once it's installed. So I wonder if the lead 0. is an indicator it's a capsule update rather than a stand-alone .exe file.

@RoHe 

I am still working on this issue and I do for sure have UEFI Capsule Updates is disabled.

I have an XPS8940.  My point was I've had no issues updating my bios vis Windows update.

@WSZsr It is good you had no issues. But there is always a chance something can go wrong. Personally I would do it with a Flash Drive. When It installed through Windows Update this past time I think it is because it was already downloaded and waiting to be installed. The UEFI Capsule Firmware was on a few weeks ago and I did not realize I may have did a BIOS reset and forgot to turn it off. But please take our word it's better to do it through USB. You just need a blank flash drive formatted FAT32. Nothing else should be on the drive just the BIOS update file.

@RoHe 

I did a clean install with UEFI Capsule Firmware turned off. This time it did not pick it up through Windows Update. I am going to make a backup image of this clean install and try it again in a few weeks and see if it shows Dell Firmware - BIOS 0.1.1.18. Not marking the issue resolved just yet.

I have BIOS 1.1.18 installed on my XPS 8930 with capsule firmware updates disabled in BIOS, but WU keeps offering 0.1.1.18 to me as an optional update....

Dell and Windows Update are on a roll recently.  I just had this same BIOS issue today, and that's after the Realtek driver pushed a couple weeks ago.

I was already running BIOS 1.1.18 on my 8930 and had capsule updates disabled.  This morning I  got a notification that my computer needed to restart.  I checked Windows Update and the previously optional 0.1.1.18 BIOS update forced itself and needed a re-start.  Everything seems to be running fine with the updated 0.1.1.18 showing successful, But ...

I already has 1.1.18 on my system, and this is yet another instance of Windows Update forcing optional divers and BIOS without intervention, and this time capsule updates were turned off and I already had 1.1.18.  I also need to chime in that DELL needs to work with MS to stop this issue

@RoHe Looks like you me and @Brocktoon623  had the forced capsule update even when capsule is turned off.

Ron you said Dell has not commented on my there is a extra 0. Why don't they comment? They really need to address this issue. It seems to be an issue with Dell XPS 8930 I think.

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@CTG_8273 wrote:

@RoHe Looks like you me and @Brocktoon623  had the forced capsule update even when capsule is turned off.

Ron you said Dell has not commented on my there is a extra 0. Why don't they comment? They really need to address this issue. It seems to be an issue with Dell XPS 8930 I think.

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I have capsule updates disabled and didn't get a forced BIOS update to v0.1.1.18 until today, but it had been on my "optional" list until now. I had installed this version manually long before WU even offered it. 

I don't work for Dell and it's up to them whether to comment about the numbering WU uses for BIOS updates. Dell may not even know why WU puts that extra 0. in front of their official BIOS version numbers. For all we know, that extra 0. may be required in file names for capsule updates.

And it's not just an issue with XPS 8930. WU put the extra 0. in front of the latest BIOS update for the XPS 8940, and for Alienware systems too. At least the XPS 8930 doesn't seem to be having issues like some Alienware systems that won't boot after WU forced a BIOS update on them...