Download Files
File Format: This file format consists of a BIOS executable file. The Universal (Windows/MS DOS) format can be used to install from any Windows or MS DOS environment.
File Name: 3442A12.EXE
File size: 5.64 MB
To ensure the integrity of your download, please verify the checksum value.
MD5: 72e070ee8b4d07f999e6d2615dfe736b
SHA1: 914de1962b86ca081c677cb323c1cb6f3fe19662
SHA-256: 0b3dd660a2fd75c1e93b5c51fdb39514877329662c2e54995484f6ae1e132dc4
Fixes & Enhancements
- Added the support for FreeBSD operating system.
Supported Operating Systems
Installation instructions
Updating the BIOS from Windows
Note 1: Before updating the BIOS, ensure that you suspend BitLocker encryption on a BitLocker-enabled system. If it is not enabled on your system, you can ignore this step. For information about how to disable BitLocker, see How to Enable or Disable BitLocker with TPM in Windows at support.dell.com.
Note 2: Do not turn off the power or interrupt the BIOS update process during the update.
Download and Installation
1. Click Download File, to download the file.
2. Click Save to save the file to your hard drive.
3. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file.
The system restarts automatically and updates the BIOS at the system startup screen. After the BIOS update is complete, system restarts again.
Updating the BIOS from DOS (Non-Windows users)
Note 1: Before updating the BIOS, ensure that you suspend BitLocker encryption on a BitLocker-enabled system. If it is not enabled on your system, you can ignore this step. For information about how to disable BitLocker, see How to Enable or Disable BitLocker with TPM in Windows at support.dell.com.
Note 2: Do not turn off power or interrupt the BIOS update process during the update.
Installation
Note: You must provide a bootable USB drive. This executable file does not create the DOS system files.
1. Copy the downloaded file to a bootable USB drive.
2. Power on the system and then Press the F12 key.
3. Select USB Storage Device and boot to the DOS prompt.
4. Run the file by typing following command. For example:
C:\ Inspiron_3442_X.Y.Z.exe
Where C is the drive letter of the USB device where the executable file is located and Inspiron_3442_X.Y.Z.exe is the name of the downloaded file.
The system restarts automatically and updates the BIOS at the system startup screen. After the BIOS update is complete, system restarts again.
Updating the BIOS from DOS with UEFI boot mode enabled (Non-Windows users, Load Legacy Option Disabled)
Note 1: Before updating the BIOS, ensure that you suspend BitLocker encryption on a BitLocker-enabled system. If it is not enabled on your system, you can ignore this step. For information about how to disable BitLocker, see How to Enable or Disable BitLocker with TPM in Windows at support.dell.com.
Note 2: Do not turn off the power or interrupt the BIOS update process during the update.
Installation
1. Copy the downloaded file to a bootable DOS USB drive.
2. Power on the system and then go to BIOS Setup by pressing the F2 key.
3. Go to General > Boot Sequence > Boot > Boot List Option.
4. Change UEFI to Legacy of Boot List Option.
5. Go to Exit > Save Changes and reboot system.
6. Press F12 and then select USB Storage Device and boot to the DOS prompt.
7. Run the file by typing the file name.
The system restarts automatically and updates the BIOS at the system startup screen. After the BIOS update is complete, the system restarts again.
8. Go to BIOS Setup by pressing the F2 key and go to General > Boot Sequence > Boot > Boot List Option.
9. Change Legacy to UEFI Boot Option.
10. Go to Exit > Save Changes, and reboot the system.
Applies to
Dell Inspiron 3442,3542,5748