The following changes have been made to the A12 BIOS to create A13:
1. Updated selectable boot code
- Fixed problem where adding multiple devices could corrupt the device list.
- Fixed problem where device list was being written on every boot.
- Fixed problem where system would hang if no boot devices were found.
2. Updated PCI code to better handle devices behind bridges.
3. Reverted to old LPT strategy with a new fix for ECP.
4. ESCD is now cleared when the NIC or AGP setup options change.
5. Updated IRQ window in setup to identify new vendor IDs.
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.
Floppy Disk Boot to Disk for BWS22013.exe
Download
1. Click Download Now, to download the file.
2. When the File Download window appears, click Save (Windows XP users will click Save) this program to disk and click OK. The Save In:
window appears.
3. From the Save In: field, click the down arrow then click to
select Desktop and click Save. The file will download to your desktop.
4. If the Download Complete window appears, click Close. The file
icon appears on your desktop.
Hard Drive Floppy Disk Creation
1. Get 1 blank, formatted floppy disks.
2. Double-click the new icon (it looks like a floppy diskette) on
the desktop. The Self-Extractor window appears.
3. Click Setup. An black MS-DOS window appears with a message
indicating that you need 1 floppy diskettes.
4. Press the [ENTER] key.
A message appears prompting you to insert a blank floppy diskette.
5. Insert a floppy disk into the floppy disk drive.
6. Press the [ENTER] key. A message appears indicating that all
data on the disk will be erased.
7. Press the [y] key and then press the [ENTER] key.
The files are copied to the floppy diskette. If the procedure requires
more than one diskette, repeat steps 5 – 7 until you reach the end of the diskette set.
8. After all the files have been copied to the last floppy disk,
press the [ENTER] key and the MS-DOS window closes.
Install
1. Insert the first (or the only) disk of the set into the Floppy
drive.
2. Click Start, click Shutdown, clic