Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Dell recommends updating to the latest BIOS before installing SP2.
But I sure hate to mess with the BIOS unless there's a very good
reason. Is this really necessary, if everything appears to be working
ok?

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Good question. BIOS is something that you only update if you need to.

SP 2 is, in essence, a major upgrade to Windows XP. It's a good idea to
update the BIOS before upgrading your operating system, ergo Dell's
recommendation.

If you carefully follow Dell's instructions for updating your BIOS, the
process is safe. The rap against updating the BIOS is based on the fact that
if you mess up, or if there's a power surge or interruption while the update
is proceeding, your computer becomes a paperweight. Not permanently, but
it's a royal pain to get it going again. So, don't update the BIOS without
good reason. Installing SP 2 is a good enough reason.

Now, will your computer work properly if you install SP 2 without updating
the BIOS? Probably, but I'm not qualified to say that definitively.
--
Ted Zieglar


"Steve" <xfr@xvzvx.com> wrote in message
news:84aej0tbkgsdt09r8ijvsegmdthkvpun5c@4ax.com...
> Dell recommends updating to the latest BIOS before installing SP2.
> But I sure hate to mess with the BIOS unless there's a very good
> reason. Is this really necessary, if everything appears to be working
> ok?
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Steve wrote:

> Dell recommends updating to the latest BIOS before installing SP2.
> But I sure hate to mess with the BIOS unless there's a very good
> reason. Is this really necessary, if everything appears to be working
> ok?
>

What model is it and what BIOS version is it?

FWIW, I upgraded a Dimension 4500, 4550, 8100, 8200 as well as an
Inspiron 1100 with no issues at all.

Bob

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Thu, 2 Sep 2004 10:25:18 -0400 Ted Zieglar aka "Rocky" wrote:

> If you carefully follow Dell's instructions for updating your BIOS, the
> process is safe.

I have an (German) Dimension 8250 with BIOS-Version Dell A02. I
couldn't find any information on the German Dell site. Could you give
me some links for the English site to gather some information if an
upgrade is necessary and how it has to be done? Thank you.

Hans

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Steve" <xfr@xvzvx.com> wrote in message
news:84aej0tbkgsdt09r8ijvsegmdthkvpun5c@4ax.com...
> Dell recommends updating to the latest BIOS before installing SP2.
> But I sure hate to mess with the BIOS unless there's a very good
> reason. Is this really necessary, if everything appears to be working
> ok?
>
I upgraded an 8200 to SP2 without changing the BIOS with no apparent problems.
(The thinking was if there were significant issues they would have popped up
by now.)

Bill

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

I used a site to help update a computer today. I did not follow all of the
direction, but some. The update went well on my 8300.
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/spackins.htm


"Bill" <xxx@yy.zz> wrote in message
news:EAJZc.7154$ZC7.707@newssvr19.news.prodigy.com...
> "Steve" <xfr@xvzvx.com> wrote in message
> news:84aej0tbkgsdt09r8ijvsegmdthkvpun5c@4ax.com...
>> Dell recommends updating to the latest BIOS before installing SP2.
>> But I sure hate to mess with the BIOS unless there's a very good
>> reason. Is this really necessary, if everything appears to be working
>> ok?
>>
> I upgraded an 8200 to SP2 without changing the BIOS with no apparent
> problems. (The thinking was if there were significant issues they would
> have popped up by now.)
>
> Bill
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

It's probably not necessary to update the BIOS unless you're having
problems. That said, I wanted to try it myself with my Dell 2400. It came
preinstalled with BIOS version A02 and I downloaded and installed version
A05. Very easy.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Steve" <xfr@xvzvx.com> wrote in message
news:84aej0tbkgsdt09r8ijvsegmdthkvpun5c@4ax.com...
> Dell recommends updating to the latest BIOS before installing SP2.
> But I sure hate to mess with the BIOS unless there's a very good
> reason.

That's old think. Always flash the latest BIOS but carefully.

> Is this really necessary, if everything appears to be working
> ok?

It's necessary for SP2 if you have a Prescott CPU on a 865 or 875 chipset
mobo.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Ted Zieglar aka "Rocky"" <teddyz@notmail.com> wrote in message
news:T1GZc.60394$7y4.48071@roc.nntpserver.com...
> Good question. BIOS is something that you only update if you need to.

That's old think. Always flash the latest BIOS but carefully.

> SP 2 is, in essence, a major upgrade to Windows XP. It's a good idea to
> update the BIOS before upgrading your operating system, ergo Dell's
> recommendation.
>
> If you carefully follow Dell's instructions for updating your BIOS, the
> process is safe.

And has been in most all cases for years now.

> The rap against updating the BIOS is based on the fact that
> if you mess up, or if there's a power surge or interruption while the
update
> is proceeding, your computer becomes a paperweight.

NOPE, just a slightly tedious process of replacing a BIOS chip.

> Not permanently, but
> it's a royal pain to get it going again. So, don't update the BIOS without
> good reason.

Nope, just don't do it when/where a power outage may be pending.

> Installing SP 2 is a good enough reason.

The existence of a more recent BIOS is a good enough reason.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"History Fan" <IHateSPAM!@IreallyHATESPAm.com> wrote in message
news:jNLZc.289842$fv.27550@fe2.columbus.rr.com...
> It's probably not necessary to update the BIOS unless you're having
> problems. That said, I wanted to try it myself with my Dell 2400. It
came
> preinstalled with BIOS version A02 and I downloaded and installed version
> A05. Very easy.

And quite safe with due caution.

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

What a smart guy you are: You can even tell when a power outage is pending.
Or maybe you're just a smart alec.

Ted Zieglar

"Ron Reaugh" <rondashreaugh@att.net> wrote in message
news:jjSZc.547133$Gx4.530276@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Ted Zieglar aka "Rocky"" <teddyz@notmail.com> wrote in message
> news:T1GZc.60394$7y4.48071@roc.nntpserver.com...
> > Good question. BIOS is something that you only update if you need to.
>
> That's old think. Always flash the latest BIOS but carefully.
>
> > SP 2 is, in essence, a major upgrade to Windows XP. It's a good idea to
> > update the BIOS before upgrading your operating system, ergo Dell's
> > recommendation.
> >
> > If you carefully follow Dell's instructions for updating your BIOS, the
> > process is safe.
>
> And has been in most all cases for years now.
>
> > The rap against updating the BIOS is based on the fact that
> > if you mess up, or if there's a power surge or interruption while the
> update
> > is proceeding, your computer becomes a paperweight.
>
> NOPE, just a slightly tedious process of replacing a BIOS chip.
>
> > Not permanently, but
> > it's a royal pain to get it going again. So, don't update the BIOS
without
> > good reason.
>
> Nope, just don't do it when/where a power outage may be pending.
>
> > Installing SP 2 is a good enough reason.
>
> The existence of a more recent BIOS is a good enough reason.
>
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Ted Zieglar aka Rocky" <teddyz@notmail.com> wrote in message
news:uvSZc.63343$7y4.7918@roc.nntpserver.com...
> What a smart guy you are: You can even tell when a power outage is
pending.
> Or maybe you're just a smart alec.

Get a clue. In most all places in the USA today power outages occur once in
a blue moon. Figure out the odds of a random unpredictable power outage
hitting in the 30 second period while the BIOS is acutally being updated.
Better start worrying about gaint meteroid impacts instead! If you are in a
situation where power is generally unstable or there's a lightning storm in
town then DON'T flash.

> Ted Zieglar
>
> "Ron Reaugh" <rondashreaugh@att.net> wrote in message
> news:jjSZc.547133$Gx4.530276@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
> >
> > "Ted Zieglar aka "Rocky"" <teddyz@notmail.com> wrote in message
> > news:T1GZc.60394$7y4.48071@roc.nntpserver.com...
> > > Good question. BIOS is something that you only update if you need to.
> >
> > That's old think. Always flash the latest BIOS but carefully.
> >
> > > SP 2 is, in essence, a major upgrade to Windows XP. It's a good idea
to
> > > update the BIOS before upgrading your operating system, ergo Dell's
> > > recommendation.
> > >
> > > If you carefully follow Dell's instructions for updating your BIOS,
the
> > > process is safe.
> >
> > And has been in most all cases for years now.
> >
> > > The rap against updating the BIOS is based on the fact that
> > > if you mess up, or if there's a power surge or interruption while the
> > update
> > > is proceeding, your computer becomes a paperweight.
> >
> > NOPE, just a slightly tedious process of replacing a BIOS chip.
> >
> > > Not permanently, but
> > > it's a royal pain to get it going again. So, don't update the BIOS
> without
> > > good reason.
> >
> > Nope, just don't do it when/where a power outage may be pending.
> >
> > > Installing SP 2 is a good enough reason.
> >
> > The existence of a more recent BIOS is a good enough reason.
> >
> >
>

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Fri, 03 Sep 2004 04:21:35 GMT Ron Reaugh wrote:

>> If you carefully follow Dell's instructions for updating your BIOS, the
>> process is safe.
>
> And has been in most all cases for years now.

Same question again:
Where do I find these instructions? Have you a link?
Hans

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Ron Reaugh" <rondashreaugh@att.net> wrote in message
news:fgSZc.547122$Gx4.431198@bgtnsc04-news.ops.worldnet.att.net...
>
> "Steve" <xfr@xvzvx.com> wrote in message
> news:84aej0tbkgsdt09r8ijvsegmdthkvpun5c@4ax.com...
>> Dell recommends updating to the latest BIOS before installing SP2.
>> But I sure hate to mess with the BIOS unless there's a very good
>> reason.
>
> That's old think. Always flash the latest BIOS but carefully.
>

<snip>


Flashing a BIOS is actually very easy to do, whether it works as designed or
turns your mainboard into a TV tray.

Beware of others using superlatives in their advice (always, never, best,
worst, everybody, no one, etc....).


Stew

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

On flashing a BIOS...

Yes, as long as one has the correct BIOS update and follows the manufacturer's
instructions exactly, a BIOS update is not risky. The major risk of a failed
BIOS update and a comatose motherboard is from a power outage, so it's a good
idea not to run a flash BIOS update in the midst of an electrical storm or when
trucks from the local power company are parked outside.

As a rule, the BIOS manufacturer (in this case, Dell) builds enough safeguards
into the flash BIOS software to prevent flashing with the wrong BIOS and to keep
people out of trouble. Occasionally, it is useful to know how to defeat these
safeguards, but that is beyond the scope of what most people need to do.

As to the downside of a failed flash BIOS update, the consequences are
considerable. The "slightly tedious process of replacing a BIOS chip" involves
de-soldering the old chip and soldering on a new chip, at least on all the
current Dell models. Any de-solderin