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    M15x BIOS A09 Discussion Thread

    Discussion in 'Alienware M15x' started by Mr Pras, Jan 20, 2011.

  1. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Might be helpful to post a bit more info. Where is the error? Can you provide a walk-through (meaning, what steps do you take which lead up to the error)? A screenshot of the error?

    Without additional info, none of us know what you are talking about.
     
    BatBoy, Jan 27, 2011
    #101
  2. MuckSavage

    MuckSavage Notebook Enthusiast

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    Burn iso to cd. Boot via cd, the flash loads up gets through the first 2 steps then stops with this error saying press any key to continue and I have to switch off the laptop.
     
    MuckSavage, Jan 27, 2011
    #102
  3. BatBoy

    BatBoy Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Might want to burn again, others have been able to flash via CD without issue. Might be a bad burn. :(
     
    BatBoy, Jan 27, 2011
    #103
  4. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

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    Use imgburn, google it, and try burning it at 4x.
     
    Indiran, Jan 27, 2011
    #104
  5. MuckSavage

    MuckSavage Notebook Enthusiast

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    used image burn, have burnt multiple times. Pretty stumped here. Cheers for help though.
     
    MuckSavage, Jan 27, 2011
    #105
  6. maxilick

    maxilick Notebook Consultant

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    Looks like no door stops have been created in deploying this update. :) A03
     
    maxilick, Jan 28, 2011
    #106
  7. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Enter the BIOS (F2 at the boot screen) and report the BIOS version and EC version shown on the first/opening screen.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 28, 2011
    #107
  8. MuckSavage

    MuckSavage Notebook Enthusiast

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    BIOS version A01
    EC version 0.92
     
    MuckSavage, Jan 28, 2011
    #108
  9. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    I'm pretty sure you can't go directly from A01 to A09. You need to flash to an interim BIOS version/EC first.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 28, 2011
    #109
  10. MuckSavage

    MuckSavage Notebook Enthusiast

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    Cheers revelator, that must be what the error is then. What do I need or where can I get an interim BIOS/EC? Thanks for your help so far.
     
    MuckSavage, Jan 28, 2011
    #110
  11. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Not certain that it is true. With the A08 BIOS update, you had to update from A01 to A02 before flashing A08, but I can't find a similar notice for the A09 BIOS. Makes sense that if it was required for A08, then it would also apply to A09, but can find no confirmation. Can't think of any reason not to flash to A02 and see if that works.

    Can find A02 here: http://support.dell.com/support/dow...dateid=-1&formatid=-1&source=-1&fileid=368320
     
    The Revelator, Jan 28, 2011
    #111
  12. MuckSavage

    MuckSavage Notebook Enthusiast

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    yeah i just done A02, I am thinking the same thing can I jump from A02 to A09? I have 6, so I could go to 6 then 9.

    So jumped from A02 to A09, without problems. Cheers again Rev.
     
    MuckSavage, Jan 28, 2011
    #112
  13. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Great news.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 28, 2011
    #113
  14. lastOne

    lastOne Notebook Guru

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    with A09 BIOS StealthIndicator doesn`t seems to sense then i press the button.
     
    lastOne, Jan 28, 2011
    #114
  15. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Well, even more than that, it appears that the Stealth Mode button on the touch panel has been disabled. It worked the first time I pushed it, but not since. Can still enable/disable through Stealth Mode Indicator, so the function is still present, but the button seems dead. Good catch. Maybe accidental Stealth Mode is a thing of the past. +Rep
     
    The Revelator, Jan 28, 2011
    #115
  16. inap

    inap .........................

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    wow no more stealth mode thread, yeah!!!!
     
    inap, Jan 28, 2011
    #116
  17. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Is it disabled for you too, Inap? That will cut our response posts by 1/3rd! LOL.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 28, 2011
    #117
  18. Indiran

    Indiran Notebook Evangelist

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    It is not disabled for me, i removed wattos app and it still functions normally with or without the app. So im using the modified osd package that wattos newbie guide linked to replace the stealth on and stealth off.
     
    Indiran, Jan 28, 2011
    #118
  19. inap

    inap .........................

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    i know right, ahahha. honestly haven't even installed A09 yet. haven't seen the need to but will prolly gave it a whirl this weekend. and may as well update the video driver too.
     
    inap, Jan 28, 2011
    #119
  20. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    @Indiran: Yeah, false alarm. It's working again for me, same as always.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 28, 2011
    #120
  21. inap

    inap .........................

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    awww, the stealth key should of been an fn combo key from the start.
     
    inap, Jan 28, 2011
    #121
  22. gfefss

    gfefss Notebook Geek

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    exactly, that touch stealth button should be replaced with the combo mute function :/
     
    gfefss, Jan 29, 2011
    #122
  23. inap

    inap .........................

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    does anyone remember the command line to flash the ec?
     
    inap, Jan 29, 2011
    #123
  24. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    "DFLASH EC_W670.118" (no quotes) and press Enter. At the prompt, enter Y.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 29, 2011
    #124
  25. inap

    inap .........................

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    you sir are the greatest :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:
     
    inap, Jan 29, 2011
    #125
  26. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    Honored to be of service, my friend.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 29, 2011
    #126
  27. inap

    inap .........................

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    thanks bud done with the flash now on to the new ati driver. gonna try to do some benching today.
     
    inap, Jan 29, 2011
    #127
  28. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    The Revelator, Jan 29, 2011
    #128
  29. inap

    inap .........................

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    i just tried to run the set up but nothing happened. maybe something wrong with my download, used my phone to dl it. re dling it now.
     
    inap, Jan 29, 2011
    #129
  30. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    If you keep having problems, I'll upload it.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 29, 2011
    #130
  31. inap

    inap .........................

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    yeah still a few more mins to download. been using the dell drivers for the longest time, heheheh
     
    inap, Jan 29, 2011
    #131
  32. The Revelator

    The Revelator Notebook Prophet

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    These ought to take you over P3,000 in 3dMark11.
     
    The Revelator, Jan 29, 2011
    #132
  33. inap

    inap .........................

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    that would be awesome,

    have a few goals set out for today, bsod here i come. ok dl just finished gonna try to install now.

    edit. ok just installed it, guess it was a bad dl.
     
    inap, Jan 29, 2011
    #133
  34. djerck21

    djerck21 Notebook Enthusiast

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    wow this scared me to hell... i think my spirit is still floating above me
     
    djerck21, Jan 30, 2011
    #134
  35. Lacey

    Lacey Notebook Enthusiast

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    Congratulations, djerck21. First time is the toughest.
     
    Lacey, Feb 1, 2011
    #135
  36. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    Finally got round to flash the BIOS A09... and for all those who have a QWERT Z keyboard... you need to press the "z" to flash the EC :D
     
    svl7, Feb 1, 2011
    #136
  37. Steveyruss

    Steveyruss Notebook Consultant

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    Has anyone tried more powerful graphics cards with the new BIOS?
     
    Steveyruss, Feb 2, 2011
    #137
  38. Ldmoose

    Ldmoose Notebook Consultant

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    I don't think anyone has yet. if I could get my hands on a 470m I'd definitely try it out.
     
    Ldmoose, Feb 2, 2011
    #138
  39. Thumper_pup

    Thumper_pup Notebook Evangelist

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    been searching threw this entire thread i been a bit late at this myself do to being out of the Country for the last Month
    but wondring
    what LFM means
    also did this seem to help anyone with the audio crackling because Dell was still trying to push on me that it was a bios problem after they had replaced the board 3 times
    so wondering if this helped that also
    im not in a place where i can flash and find out if it helped or not for antoehr day untill i get somewhere where the system is
    back home in Ohio
    and right now in LA

    so did this help that issue also

    thanks
     
    Thumper_pup, Feb 2, 2011
    #139
  40. Mr Pras

    Mr Pras Hardware and systems

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    Mr Pras, Feb 3, 2011
    #140
  41. Thumper_pup

    Thumper_pup Notebook Evangelist

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    ok cool thank you foir that tibit of info

    i was also wondering so no conclusion on the audio crackling yet so its not with the bios or atleast not fixed with this one they claim to be
     
    Thumper_pup, Feb 3, 2011
    #141
  42. Mr Pras

    Mr Pras Hardware and systems

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    For me the audio crackling was fixed with a05 if I remember right (or a06?)
     
    Mr Pras, Feb 3, 2011
    #142
  43. Thumper_pup

    Thumper_pup Notebook Evangelist

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    didnt do it for me audio crackling never went away im gona call them up and get them to come out with a new mobo again iethere that or im gona go high on the food chain and tell them to just send me a repalcment system casue this is the 4th time they would be out to fix this problem
     
    Thumper_pup, Feb 3, 2011
    #143
  44. eckido

    eckido Newbie

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    Hi guys, so I've upgraded my A01 bios to A09...
    I did it because like a few here, I started having the "plugged in, not charging" issue.
    I'm kinda at a lost to do what next.

    When I was still with A01 bios, I tried taking the battery out and putting it in. That didn't work.

    It should be noted that a few days ago, when I was streaming a video and browsing the web, all of the sudden, my computer screen image became jumbled up, and the computer hanged. So I had to restart. I'm pretty sure that is a graphics card related issue, but I don't see how it can affect the power adaptor.

    Furthermore, when I start my computer with the adaptor plugged in, it tells me the adaptor supplied is not compatible.

    I've contacted Dell, and they are sending an engineer here..but I'm really worried it might not get fixed..
     
    eckido, Feb 8, 2011
    #144
  45. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    @eckido: I answered your other post here as it's probably the better place to discuss these issues.

    Please do not cross post, thanks.
     
    svl7, Feb 9, 2011
    #145
  46. Steven

    Steven God Amongst Mere Mortals

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    Does this BIOS come already installed with new/refurbished M15X systems or will I have to install it from here?
     
    Steven, Feb 10, 2011
    #146
  47. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    It should definitely come on a new system. You can't be sure with a refurbished though... if they have it laying around for a while I doubt they will update the BIOS before shipping the system.
     
    svl7, Feb 10, 2011
    #147
  48. inap

    inap .........................

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    my friend just got a refurb came with a02, man that thing must be sitting there for awhile.
     
    inap, Feb 10, 2011
    #148
  49. Steven

    Steven God Amongst Mere Mortals

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    How do I check what bios it comes with?
     
    Steven, Feb 10, 2011
    #149
  50. svl7

    svl7 T|I

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    You can press F2 while booting and go to the BIOS and check the version or even easier get CPU-Z and you can check it directly from the OS, without going to the BIOS.
     
    svl7, Feb 10, 2011
    #150
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