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coco51

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coco51

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November 19th, 2004 03:00

Help--BIOS UPGRADE QUESTION

I am getting ready to upgrade to SP2.  I am not sure if I have a Dimension 4300, or a 4300S.  I know when I purchased my system, I requested the 4300S.  I can not find any documentation which shows mine to be a 4300S.  According to the Dell website, there is a bios upgrade for the 4300, but none for the 4300S. Any input on what I should do would be "greatly" appreciated.    
  • Majestic

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    Posted November 19th, 2004 12:00

    This question has been asked before and the Dell Moderator has directed the person to download the 4300 BIOS update.  I have since tried clarifying with the Moderator if the BIOS upgrades for the 4300 are the same ones used for the 4300s model, but I never received a reply.  You can click here for a link to that discussion.
     
    If you are uncertain about upgrading the BIOS then you might consider holding off on it.  Since the last BIOS release for the 4300 model was back in May of 2003,  you can be sure there is nothing contained in that BIOS release that is needed for the Service Pack 2 update.  If your present BIOS is working good and fully supports any hardware changes that you may have made then upgrading the BIOS for the SP2 update is unnecessary.  
  • coco51

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    Posted November 19th, 2004 13:00

    Majestic,

    Thank you very much for responding to my question.  I currently have the A-02 version.  There have been a number of upgrades since, but I have had no problems with the hardware I now have connected.  It seems to me that upgrading the BIOS is a little tricky...

  • coco51

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    Posted November 19th, 2004 14:00

    Thank you again!!  I will install SP2 later on this evening.  Hopefully, all will go well.  Upgrading the BIOS was a concern for me, after reading what could possibly happen.  Your input was great appreciated!!!
  • Majestic

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    Posted November 19th, 2004 14:00

    Well.... there is a slight element of risk upgrading the BIOS and for the average computer user it is generally recommended here "if it ain't broke.... then don't fix it."  In otherwords if your present BIOS is working good and fully supports any installed hardware it is best left alone.  That element of risk can range from the easy solution of having to clear the NVRAM to the worse case scenario of the BIOS upgrading going bad which will result in the trashing of your motherboard.  For the average user that risk can not only be an additional headache, but also an additional expense if the machine is no longer in warranty.  In your situation without a better clarification on the correct BIOS version to use I would be reluctant to try a 4300 BIOS file.  Although most of the Dell BIOS upgrades won't install on a machine that it was not intended for, there is always the possibility that it might and then be incompatible with the system.  
  • Majestic

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    Posted November 20th, 2004 21:00

    Just for future reference.... I had some time this afternoon and downloaded the A06 BIOS version for the 4300 model as I wanted to check over the documentation.  Although the file's release notes give no indication the upgrade can be used on a 4300s model, the program that actually creates the bootable BIOS upgrade floppy disk indicates that the A06 version is for both the 4300 and 4300s model.   So even though it is poorly documented, the 4300 BIOS versions can be used on a 4300s.
  • coco51

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    Posted November 21st, 2004 03:00

    Thank you very much for taking the time to research the A-06 BIOS version for the 4300S. In case I encounter any problems in the future, I will certainly keep your information in mind. You have been so helpful!