Updated Inspiron 530 Desktop to bios 1.0.18 Problem

I have been trying to make and boot from a USB without success. Any adivce?

SanDisk and most thumb drives can be made bootable using the HP USB Format utility. On that same page are the Windows 98 files to add when you format the thumb drive. Look for the line that reads..... "Optionally you can also make the disk BOOTABLE by specifying a file location. Use the Windows 98 system file available here." Here's the LINK from that page for the 98 files. The link has instructions on how to add them during the format of the USB thumb drive.

That all sounds so simple only problem it does not work [like most web solutions there are about 5 that will out of a 100!]. Did all that with a Sandisk trying to revert from awful bios 'update' so that my HDTV would display PC screen as before , when it failed even copied files to a CD [the boot order to boot from a cd first is usually a default setting and if not should be so set in the cmos / bios setup screen] and that did not work either.

I have a Inspiron 530s and had the exact same problem as the poster. I had verion 1.0.10, and I was trying to install 4GB of ram but it wouldn't post past 3 sticks. I thought a BIOS upgrade would fix it, so I did it, but then it would'nt post at all anymore. The reason was I use my Sharp Aquos HDTV as a monitor, using a DVI to HDMI converted into a Radeon 1650. The main difference is that I don't run dual monitors, just the HDTV. 

I unplugged the HDTV and plugged in a 17 inch LCD to the onboard VGA port and the computer post and booted no problem. I downloaded 1.0.16 as per the instructions and followed them exactly and it worked. My HDTV now posts fine and I am back to normal. Now all I have to do is find why it won't read 4GB (4th stick), I have a feeling its related to voltage or a bug in memory.

It is simple to fix the bios problem for those who upgraded and find the ...18 is not working. Download from Dell site an earlier version of bios and then from the command window ('dos') in windows type in the bios file name, forward slash then word forcebios . The previous version of bios loads up. There you go. Now you can watch your HDTV picture again.

It has been some time since anyone posted here on BIOS 1.0.18 problems.  I need to update a 530 and I am concerned about 1.0.18.  Does anyone know if Dell has resolved the issues posted here and on a lot of other forums?

Many thanks..........bruce

Most likely not.  What BIOS version are you running now?  I would not go past version 1.0.16.  This is the version I run and have no problems with it.  It is not necessary to install 1.0.18 for any updates you want to make. 

Just follow my instructions above and add /forcebios to the command.

this thread was huge... thanks for the help guys... i updated to 1.0.18 and all it really seemed to do was give me a new logo, i had to reset bios via the jumper on the motherboard just to get it to boot... i had to go back to the onboard graphcis card due to an issue with my pcie graphics card and couldnt for the life of me get the resolution to go to the native 1440x900 my monitor supports... therefore the text looked horrible and i was at a loss since the only real thing that i did was update my bios to a new version.    after i went back to 1.0.16 i am able to reselect the native resolution for my montior and all seems well jeez all this headache for a new bootup logo is not worth it. thanks again even though this thread is a bit dated it helped me tremendously.

I too have upgraded to 1.0.18 and now  cannot even boot to the bios screen, my 530 is connected to a Sony LCD TV on boot i just get a black screen, i know it is not blank because the the screen info changes changes, the usb keyboard(no caps or num lock light) or mouse are not working either. so now i'm stuck can't boot to usb stick .Is there anything i can do to the motherboard,i have a graphics card i can plug which i removed because it was crashing windows 7, would this help?

I too have upgraded to 1.0.18 and now  cannot even boot to the bios screen, my 530 is connected to a Sony LCD TV on boot i just get a black screen, i know it is not blank because the the screen info changes changes, the usb keyboard(no caps or num lock light) or mouse are not working either. so now i'm stuck can't boot to usb stick .Is there anything i can do to the motherboard,i have a graphics card i can plug which i removed because it was crashing windows 7, would this help?

Tiger_66

Try removing the CMOS battery on the motherboard, wait 30+- minutes, replace it and see if the PC starts.

If this does not fix the problem, then the typical remedy for failed, or corrupt BIOS flash, is to replace the motherboard.

If you have a Dell warranty in effect on the Inspiron 530, you should contact Dell about this.

Bev.

That remove battery etc advice will not work  on a 530. Just borrow a pc monitor, get an older bios online and add /forcebios to the command when you install it.Then you will have your hdtv working again.

This thread has been going on for over a year, and there's no new BIOS update- still the same broken 1.0.18.  Unbelievable!

For me, I didn't update the BIOS until recently, and ran into the same problems as all of you guys.  Thanks for the suggestions to get it working again, I'm back at 1.0.16, about to move the machine back to my entertainment center.  Guess I'll hang on to my old hot power-sucking VGA monitor for a while longer.

The 530s was a good deal at the time with the BluRay drive, but now you can pick up standalone players for far less than a PC.  This will likely be my last Dell machine due to the complete lack of BIOS support for this machine after hosing DVI output and offering no solutions on their site (present company excluded, but they still don't get credit for helpful end-users).

Thanks for your help.

Same issue. Installed 18 version (recommended by Dell) and I got the dead screen when booting. Took me 3 days and tons of trials do go around this. What it worked: using a different LCD monitor, using CMD and starting DOS command, downloading the 16 BIOS version (third party, could't find it on Dell site) and then using the forcebios (as recommended above). version 16 was installed and I am back to the previous monitor. What a drag and how bad for Dell to recommend an update that creates such a huge issue!!

Thank you ,all!