XPS 8960, Dell Update offering wrong Bios update!

* Uninstall the Dell update app
* Restart the XPS 8960
* Reinstall the Dell update app from the XPS 8960 drivers page
* Restart the XPS 8960
* Run the Dell update app

I can tell that you are very smart.  Besides a successful upgrade of system memory, you managed to catch the bad info between Dell Update process before it ruins your system.

There are only few updates issued monthly.  Allow Windows to update drivers and security patches.  You can manually review and update firmware if and when you choose.  While some people may disagree, Dell Update and Dell Assist are for new users and the clueless.  You should take control of the update tasks and ditch all the assist tools all together.

@DELL-Chris M​  Nope....Still thinks that the 8960 needs an Alienware Bios update.

Hi @DiAngelo66 :

While you're waiting for a reply from @DELL-Chris M please answer the following questions.

What is your Windows operating system?  If Win 10 or Win 11 please include the version and build number shown at Settings | System | About | Windows Specifications.

I noticed you just updated to Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.1.0 that was released yesterday (31-Oct-2023). Do you know if the previous Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.0.0 had this same problem after your RAM upgrade?  The release notes <here> for Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.1.0 say "Enhanced the algorithm for qualifying updates" and I'm wondering if there's a bug in the new Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.1.0 that's causing the problem, and not your RAM upgrade.

What is the version number of the incorrect Alienware Aurora R15 AMD System BIOS update that Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.1.0 is offering? To check hover your mouse over the "i" inside the blue circle as shown below.  The current version being offered <here> on the Alienware Aurora R15  support page is Alienware Aurora R15 System BIOS v1.6.0.

If you have SupportAssist v3.14.x installed on your system does it also offer the incorrect Alienware Aurora R15 BIOS for your system?

What is your current BIOS version?  Open a Run dialog box (Windows key + R), enter msinfo32 to open your Windows System Information panel, and look for the field named "BIOS Version/Date".  Then launch Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.1.0, click the System Information link, and confirm that Dell Update detects the same BIOS version.  According to the support page for your XPS 8960 at https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/xps-8960-desktop/drivers you should have  Dell XPS 8960 System BIOS v1.3.0.***

If you enter the command wmic bios get serialnumber in a command prompt as instructed in the Method 4 of the support article Find the Service Tag of Your Dell Laptop does it find the correct Service Tag for your XPS 8960?  Is the Service Tag stored in your BIOS (Method 3 of that article) also correct?

***ASIDE: I would advise against allowing a Dell Utility like SupportAssist or Dell Update to install BIOS updates., even when the correct BIOS update is offered.  See my 12-Sep-2023 post in bear-o's SupportAssist 3.10.4 Unexpected Issue about alternate (and safer) ways to update your BIOS.
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Dell Inspiron 5584 * 64-bit Win 10 Pro v22H2 build 19045.3570 * Firefox v119.0.0 * Microsoft Defender v4.18.23090.2008-1.1.23090.2007 * Malwarebytes Premium v4.6.5.293-1.0.2181 * Macrium Reflect Free v8.0.7690 * Dell Update for Windows Universal v5.0.0 * My Dell v2.2.6.0

@lmacri​ Thanks for the suggestions. It is best just to uninstall Dell Update and Support Assist.  It is unnerving to have it suggest a Bios update for another system, especially since installing it could brick my system.  Best to check manually and update as needed. I do not trust this app anymore!

Thanks,

DiAngelo66

The issue should be fixed. If you still have SA (SupportAssist) and DU (Dell Update) installed, check them.