Skip to main content
Sign Out

Welcome to Dell

My Account
  • Place orders quickly and easily
  • View orders and track your shipping status
  • Enjoy members-only rewards and discounts
  • Create and access a list of your products
Sign In Create an Account Premier Sign In Dell Financial Services Partner Program Sign In
Contact Us

Your Dell.com Carts

PowerEdge: 14G - BIOS update fails on the first attempt, second attempt works

Summary: A workaround for when the BIOS update fails for the first time on 14G PowerEdge servers.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
Check out other resources

Symptoms

For servers with greater than 24 days of power on time since the last AC power cycle, the first BIOS update fails because the Intel Management Engine (ME) fails to enter recovery mode for the BIOS update. Upon failure, the server stops at the F1 prompt and requires intervention to continue. A subsequent BIOS update is successful because the BIOS recovery issues a global reset.

In the Lifecycle Controller (LC) log, the error show up like this:

UEFI0305: Unable to update BIOS firmware in the previous boot because of some issues

Dell Update Package (DUP) BIOS updates (whether using the Operating System (OS) or the iDRAC UI) or even using the .efi file fails the first time if the server's power on time is greater than approximately 24 days (without global reset, AC power cycle). This affects all 14G BIOS versions 1.3.6 and below.

Cause

Intel (HSD125807This hyperlink is taking you to a website outside of Dell Technologies.) has confirmed that this issue is an industry-wide for all vendors who flash the BIOS in a similar way to our process.

Resolution

Workaround

BIOS versions newer than 1.3.6 (1.1.5 for C4140) contains the Intel ME code that resolves this issue. However, since the code running in BIOS is used to perform updates, customers have to use a workaround until the BIOS with the Intel ME fix is installed.

There are multiple workarounds available. If the server AC power on time is greater than approx. 24 days, the key to ensure that the BIOS update is successful the first time is to perform a complete AC power cycle (more about this later) prior to attempting to update the BIOS. This is the case until the BIOS with the Intel ME fix is installed (version 1.3.7 or newer for all 14G servers except for the C4140 which is 1.1.6 or newer).

Prior to installing the BIOS DUP package, apply one of the following solutions:

1. Scripted steps

  1. Graceful OS shutdown
  2. After the server shutdown is complete, run a racadm script that performs the following:
    1. Perform racadm powerup  (racadm -r [IP address] -u [username] -p [password] servaction powerup)
    2. Pause for 5 s (sleep 5 for Linux or timer 5 for Windows)
    3. Perform racadm powercycle (or virtual reseat for module blades: racadm -r [IP address] -u [username] -p [password] servaction powercycle)
  3. Install the BIOS DUP

2. Manual steps

  1. Graceful OS shutdown
  2. After the server is shut down, perform a complete AC power cycle (Remove power cables, press and hold power button for 10 s, reinstall power cables, turn the machine on)
  3. Install the BIOS DUP


3. Double reboot:

  1. Install the BIOS DUP package twice (the first time may fail. Human interaction is required to bypass the F1 prompt during the POST)
  2. Install the BIOS DUP again

Affected Products

Storage Spaces Direct R440 Ready Node, Storage Spaces Direct R640 Ready Node, Storage Spaces Direct R740xd Ready Node, Storage Spaces Direct R740xd2 Ready node, OEMR R240, OEMR R340, OEMR R440, PowerEdge XR2, OEMR R540, OEMR R640, OEMR XL R640 , OEMR R740, OEMR XL R740, OEMR R740xd, OEMR XL R740xd, OEMR R740xd2, OEMR R840, OEMR R940, OEMR R940xa, OEMR T140, OEMR T440, OEMR XL T640, OEMR XL R240, OEMR XL R340, Poweredge C4140, PowerEdge C6420, PowerEdge FC640, PowerEdge M640, PowerEdge M640 (for PE VRTX), PowerEdge R240, PowerEdge R340, PowerEdge R440, PowerEdge R540, PowerEdge R640, PowerEdge R740, PowerEdge R740XD, PowerEdge R740XD2, PowerEdge R840, PowerEdge R940, PowerEdge R940xa, PowerEdge T140, PowerEdge T340, PowerEdge T440, PowerEdge T640, VxFlex Ready Node R640, VxFlex Ready Node R740xd, Dell EMC vSAN C6420 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN MX740c Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R440 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R640 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R740 Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R740xd Ready Node, Dell EMC vSAN R840 Ready Node, PowerFlex appliance R640, PowerFlex appliance R740XD, PowerFlex appliance R840, VxFlex Ready Node R840 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000144961
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 16 Apr 2025
Version:  5
Find answers to your questions from other Dell users
Support Services
Check if your device is covered by Support Services.