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BIOS Upgrades

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6 replies

by kstorrs

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I have a Dell, since I bought, they've come out with like 7 bios upgrades. When I first got the PC, when you power on, the Dell logo comes up for about 5 seconds, then the drives are recognized and the OS loads, no real delay. After I upgraded last time, there is a 45 second delay as the Dell logo dioplays, then the computer goes through its boot process. It's awful, it takes forever to restart. I have tried loading old bios versions and nothing seems to be working. Is there something I can do?

6 replies

by thechas

First, this type of issue belongs in the Technical Q&A section.
You usually get faster, and more responses to questions there.

What you likely need to do, is to enter BIOS settup, and set some of the settings to speed the boot process.

1. Every time you flash the BIOS, you should go through the CMOS memory reset procedure.
(This usually involves changing a jumper on the motherboard)

2. Set all drives to the actual settings for the drive.
Set the detect option for IDE channels that do not have a drive to 'none'

3. Set the memory check or selftest to fast, single, or enable fast test.

4. DELL may have added delays to the BIOS to allow the system to settle to improve stability.

NOTE:
It is not a good idea to update the BIOS unless the update addresses a specific issue or problem that you are having with your system.

Bad BIOS flashes have killed many a motherboard.

Chas

by lordinfidel

I have never heard of resetting the bios after flashing it.

Isn't that "counter productive". Clearing the CMOS will bring it back to the original bios version.

This is usually reserverd for 3 things, 1 for a bad flash, 2 when the battery diesor 3 if there is a bios password that needs to be deleted and you don't know it.

I always prefer to flash the bios when ever I build a new system.

The only time I have heard of a flash killing the MB is when the wrong flash was applied or the system shutdown in the middle of the flash.

If a vendor supplied flash killed the MB, then the vendor will have to replace it. I don't know of any MB manufacturers that would tell you to screw off if something they distributed killed the motherboard. As long as you applied the flash correctly.

by kstorrs

Turns out the Dell setup has a boot option called quick boot, which is set to "disable" every time you flash. Enabling it, skips the memory scan and boots normally. After digging around Dell's website I found a post about it.

by thechas

Well, I have had several motherboards where after the CMOS was flashed, the motherboard would not POST until the CMOS memory was reset.

Most of the Flash procedures posted at the motherboard manufactures that I use include resetting the CMOS memory.

What happens, is that the location or format of the CMOS data for each setting can change with each revision of the BIOS code.

This happens most when new features or options are added.

Resetting the CMOS memory does NOT revert the BIOS back to the original version.
Resetting the CMOS memory ONLY clears your specific user settings. (It is the same as selecting use defaults in BIOS setup.)
It has NO effect on the flash memory that holds the actual BIOS code.

For an IT pro, (who buys in volume from a manufacture or distributor) flashing the BIOS, and getting support from the manufacture, should there be any problems, is common.

For the home user, the support path is the retailer that sold them the motherboard. Unless the manufacturer's tech support specifically instructed the end user to flash the BIOS, there usually is no support if the flash failed.

(Check the disclaimer on most motherboard manufactures BIOS download page.)

Another issue for many home users, is that they may not have a UPS, and are at risk of power spikes and dropouts during the flash process.
(And, yes, many times they download and use the wrong BIOS file.)

Chas

by lordinfidel

Every Time you flash the Bios, it will set it back to factory deafults.

After yous flash, you have to go in and set your bios back up again.

This is vendor non-specific, meaning it applies to all BIOS upgrades, regardless of BIOS type (award or amibios) or MB vendor.

by lordinfidel

Just curious....

I've never heard this one before and want to see with my own eyes. I'm always up for learning something new.

I've always had to go back in a set the bios back up. I have never had to clear the CMOS after a Flash.

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