Dell Precision System BIOS, A13

Floppy
Creating the disk:
NOTE: This procedure requires one blank, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk; label the disk BIOS.

1. When the File Download window appears, click “Save this program to disk”.
2. Choose “Desktop” as the location.
3. Click “Ok”.
4. After the file has finished copying files, click “Close”.
5. Press the “Windows” + “M” keys at the same time to minimize all the open windows.
6. Find the downloaded file on your Desktop, if it looks like a floppy disk, double-click it and skip to Step 7.

NOTE: If the Security Warning window appears, click “Yes”.


7. Click “Setup”.
A DOS Window appears.
8. Press the “Enter” key.
9. Insert the floppy disk into the floppy disk drive and press the “Enter” key.
10. Press the “Y” key to begin copying files.
An End of the disk set prompt appears.
11. Press the “Enter” key.
12. Click the “Start” button, click “Run”, and then type a: in the Open box. Click “OK’.
The list of files on the floppy disk appears.
13. If there is a readme file in the list, double-click it for additional instructions.
14. Close all open windows and leave the disk in the floppy drive. Skip to the section Flashing the BIOS below

NOTE: If you are creating this disk on another computer, remove the disk. Then insert it into the system that needs the BIOS flashed, and resume the procedure.

Non-Packaged
Creating the disk:
NOTE: This procedure requires one blank bootable, formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk; label the disk BIOS.

1. When the File Download window appears, click “Save this program to disk”.
2. Choose “Desktop” as the location.
3. Click “Ok”.
4. After the file has finished copying files, click “Close”.
5. Press the “Windows” + “M” keys at the same time to minimize all the open windows.
6. Insert the blank bootable formatted 3.5-inch floppy disk.
7. Right-click the copy of the file, point to “Send To , click “3 1/2 Floppy (a)”, and then skip to the section Flashing the BIOS below.

Flashing the BIOS:
NOTICE: Changing the system BIOS may result in unintended side affects, such as incompatibility of the new BIOS with installed hardware. If problems arise after a BIOS change, it may be necessary to return the system to the original version of the BIOS.
1. If you are flashing the BIOS on a portable computer, be sure that the AC adapter is plugged in and the computer is not operating on battery power.
2. Ensure that the Flash BIOS disk is inserted into the floppy disk drive.
3. Click the “Start” button, click “Shut Down”, click “Restart”, and then click “Ok”.
The computer should restart and boot to the floppy disk.

NOTE: If the flash BIOS program does not start, and you see only an A:\ prompt, refer to the instructions from the Dell File Library page for the BIOS update or to the Readme.txt instructions. Generally, you will type the name of the executable flash BIOS file such as BGX1_A10.exe for BIOS version A10 on the OptiPlex™ series system.

A Press any key to continue prompt appears.
4. Press the “Enter” key.
A Press Y to replace old BIOS with new BIOS prompt appears.
5. Press the “Y” key.

NOTICE: Do not interrupt the system during this process. Please refrain from pressing any keys on the keyboard, moving the mouse, or interrupting power to the system. Failure to do so could result in damage to the system BIOS.

When the computer has finished updating the BIOS, a Flash program successful. Press any key to reboot prompt appears.
6. Remove the floppy disk and press the “Enter” key.
7. The computer will now restart with the new revision of the BIOS installed.
The boot screen will indicate the BIOS version.