My Inspiron 600m has a Latitude d600 Motherboard

Question

Attempted to upgrade my Inspiron 600m bios from Dell’s website. After downloading and attempting to install I got an error message that says my system is a Latitude d600. Went to my system info page from the control panel, sure enough Latitude d600, I also verified this on the splash screen. Contacted Dell they told me that I would have to send it in and have the motherboard replaced to a 600m at my own cost because my warranty has expired. For all practical purposes the computer seems to function great and I have very few problems. I have researched via the net and have found that the 600m and d600 are basically the same motherboard. I did go to Dell’s website and downloaded the latest Latitude d600 bios update, it installed without a flaw. My question is should I pursue changing the motherboard and if not what are the conflicts? Also is there anything I can do short of changing the motherboard, maybe a software or driver change instead? Thanks in advance for any help!   Message Edited by jrcdp on 04-24-2005 02:15 PM

Rijko · Answer

hi, and welcome.

as far as i know the 2 boards are the same.

If anything, with the Latitude bios you should be better off than with a Inspiron bios.

More options like infrared when docked, scsi available, you are able to dock with a Dockingstation Serie C/Dock 2 etc. Personally if your system runs fine - i would not change a thing.

If you do want to change back : there is an option if you create a bios bootflop that forces the bios to accept the Inspiron bios but that needs a dos bios executable. I just checked and saw Dell removed all versions prior to L600mA16.EXE even from the ftp site (and that is a windows executable only) so that is not an option - maybe they will make it available to you on request or maybe another forum user will be kind enough to send it to you.

Hope this helps.

leduke30 · Answer

The 600m Bios is an either/or proposition; it can be run from within Windows, but if you send the nonpackaged Executable to a DOS Bootable Floppy made with W98, W-Me or W-XP, you can then execute it in DOS. By adding the   /jabil   or /forcetype  extension to the flash command, you can take the board  back to a 600m BIOS and designation.

NemesisDB · Answer

rev16:  This file format consists of a BIOS executable file. The Universal (Windows/MS DOS) format can be used to install from Windows XP, Windows 2000, NT, Windows 9X, Windows ME or a MS DOS environment.

Raicard · Answer

jrcdp: motherboards for inspiron 600m and latitude D600 are the same. if you want the bios with inspiron version you will need to FORCE the bios upgrade. If you think that you really need to do it then go ahead but if it's not giving you any problem as a latitude then stay like that because you are already out of warranty and if the motherboard goes bad trying to change bios version that error will cost you around $600... Message Edited by Raicard on 04-25-2005 09:11 PM

Rijko · Answer

wow, Nemesis, Leduke, i stand corrected - i was wrong. Thanks !

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