jwoodfin09 Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 The Dell BIOS A7 update refuses to run. The laptop has been repaired (new hard drive) and the update is run on a fresh install of Windows 7 x64. Here is a screenshot. Dell refuses to admit to the update being faulty. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 30, 2011 MVC Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:00, jwoodfin09 said: The Dell BIOS A7 update refuses to run. The laptop has been repaired (new hard drive) and the update is run on a fresh install of Windows 7 x64. Here is a screenshot. Dell refuses to admit to the update being faulty. Repaired with a new HDD? This makes me think the machine is the problem and not the update. Have you ruled out faulty RAM or other things? Have you done an MD5 comparison of the download on the PC and the one on Dell's website to be sure it is the same? Also, have you seen other complaints of this? You should always start by blaming your machine or self first then when you've ruled out enough possibilities you can jump onto someone else. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837730 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneKnee Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 1) Why the hell is this in the 'Back Page News' 2) Secondly, you should know not to update important stuff like 'BIOS' via Windows or any OS which has applications running in the background which can halt the procedures, that's why it's best to do it either via the BIOS itself (newer motherboards can do it, but not sure in your case), or through a DOS boot disk. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837732 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodfin09 Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:04, Frazell Thomas said: Repaired with a new HDD? This makes me think the machine is the problem and not the update. Have you ruled out faulty RAM or other things? Have you done an MD5 comparison of the download on the PC and the one on Dell's website to be sure it is the same? Also, have you seen other complaints of this? You should always start by blaming your machine or self first then when you've ruled out enough possibilities you can jump onto someone else. I've ruled all those out, as I am an IT specialist. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837740 Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToneKnee Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:08, jwoodfin09 said: I've ruled all those out, as I am an IT specialist. Then do it via DOS then? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837750 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodfin09 Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:11, Tony. said: Then do it via DOS then? Not an option on Dell Latitude E6410 Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837758 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 30, 2011 MVC Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:08, jwoodfin09 said: I've ruled all those out, as I am an IT specialist. I see... On 30/03/2011 at 00:13, jwoodfin09 said: Not an option on Dell Latitude E6410 You shouldn't be so quick to spout off titles as if they mean something... If you are an IT specialist you should know how to read Dell's website. If you were to do so you would know that you can in fact install the BIOS via DOS. Dell Website Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837780 Share on other sites More sharing options...
briangw Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:13, jwoodfin09 said: Not an option on Dell Latitude E6410 Ummm, yes it is Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837782 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Subject Delta Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 Some Bios updating apps will only work in 32 bit versions of windows Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837790 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodfin09 Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:19, briangw said: Ummm, yes it is Unfortunately, that is not an option. Dell no longer supplies floppy drives for their laptops. If you had checked Dell's website, you would know this. On 30/03/2011 at 00:25, jwoodfin09 said: Unfortunately, that is not an option. Dell no longer supplies floppy drives for their laptops. If you had checked Dell's website, you would know this. And USB drives do not work. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837802 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 30, 2011 MVC Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:22, Subject Delta said: Some Bios updating apps will only work in 32 bit versions of windows Some, yes. Dell's BIOSes work in x32, x64, and DOS so it doesn't apply here. Since his concern is about this specific laptop and not BIOSes in general... On 30/03/2011 at 00:26, jwoodfin09 said: And USB drives do not work. They don't work why? You can make USB bootable drives in Windows Vista or later or using free tools online. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837806 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Griffin Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:26, jwoodfin09 said: Unfortunately, that is not an option. Dell no longer supplies floppy drives for their laptops. If you had checked Dell's website, you would know this. And USB drives do not work. sounds like your computer is having major issues if USB drives don't work! Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837814 Share on other sites More sharing options...
briangw Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:22, Subject Delta said: Some Bios updating apps will only work in 32 bit versions of windows You can use Dell's Repository Manager to create SUUs which will install regardless of it being 32 or 64 bit, at least it worked fine in the 6000 series Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837820 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted March 30, 2011 MVC Share Posted March 30, 2011 Aww man. What a bummer of a thread. After reading the thread title I thought Dell released a bios update that was bricking computers. I'm so disappointed now :( fsX 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837822 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shock Doc Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 I've flashed the BIOS of my Dell Latitude E6500 before from DOS, the machine is very similar, it must be possible? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837826 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodfin09 Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:27, Frazell Thomas said: Some, yes. Dell's BIOSes work in x32, x64, and DOS so it doesn't apply here. Since his concern is about this specific laptop and not BIOSes in general... They don't work why? You can make USB bootable drives in Windows Vista or later or using free tools online. Dell allows for booting from usb for Windows installs but not BIOS, something about if the usb drive was accidently pulled, it could brick the mobo. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837828 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raa Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 There is no issue with the A7 bios - no problems whatsoever with our E6410's being updated. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837830 Share on other sites More sharing options...
briangw Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:26, jwoodfin09 said: Unfortunately, that is not an option. Dell no longer supplies floppy drives for their laptops. If you had checked Dell's website, you would know this. And USB drives do not work. OP: I've been managing Dell servers and Desktops a long time. If you were an "IT Specialist", you'd most likely heard of or checked into Repository manager. It will create bootable media for you. Raa 1 Share Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837834 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis W. Veteran Posted March 30, 2011 Veteran Share Posted March 30, 2011 ... [Moved here] Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837836 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 30, 2011 MVC Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:32, jwoodfin09 said: Dell allows for booting from usb for Windows installs but not BIOS, something about if the usb drive was accidently pulled, it could brick the mobo. So how does the computer discern that the OS it is booting from the USB drive is Windows' setup and not DOS? Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837838 Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwoodfin09 Posted March 30, 2011 Author Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:33, Frazell Thomas said: So how does the computer discern that the OS it is booting from the USB drive is Windows' setup and not DOS? Dell will not tell me that info, I asked. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837842 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+LogicalApex MVC Posted March 30, 2011 MVC Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:34, jwoodfin09 said: Dell will not tell me that info, I asked. Tell you? Why would they have to tell you? You would just attempt to boot the machine with the Boot Drive set to the USB drive. You would then be able to see exactly what happens when the machine attempts to boot DOS via USB. I'm sure it would boot just fine to DOS. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837844 Share on other sites More sharing options...
+Warwagon MVC Posted March 30, 2011 MVC Share Posted March 30, 2011 Get a usb floppy drive (or usb key). Create a bootable floppy disk and do the following Quote NOTE: You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable file does not create the DOS system files. Copy the file E6410A07.EXE to a bootable floppy. Boot from the floppy to the DOS prompt. Run the file by typing Y:\E6410A07.EXE (where y is the drive letter where the executable is located). if you try to run the file from dos and it complains about needing windows, then ok. but i'd try this. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837848 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Denis W. Veteran Posted March 30, 2011 Veteran Share Posted March 30, 2011 OP, try this: http://files.extremeoverclocking.com/file.php?f=197 Format a key using that tool and be sure to specify the option to put Windows 98 DOS files onto your key (link also contains Windows 98 files). I've had two Dell laptops so far and I don't believe for a second that its BIOS only boots Windows install media and nothing else. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837852 Share on other sites More sharing options...
briangw Posted March 30, 2011 Share Posted March 30, 2011 On 30/03/2011 at 00:35, Frazell Thomas said: Tell you? Why would they have to tell you? You would just attempt to boot the machine with the Boot Drive set to the USB drive. You would then be able to see exactly what happens when the machine attempts to boot DOS via USB. I'm sure it would boot just fine to DOS. Don't the newer Dell workstations/laptops have something similar to the Unified Server Configurator, where you can FTP to Dell to obtain updates before the OS boots? Otherwise, The Client Repository Manager will create a ISO that you can boot from to install updates. Link to comment https://www.neowin.net/forum/topic/986332-dell-screws-up-a7-bios-for-dell-latitude-e6410/#findComment-593837858 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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