M15x BIOS A09 Discussion Thread

Was really hoping this BIOS update would fix the Shutdown = Restart on AC power thing. Still having to unplug the bloody thing before I shutdown. Been like this for over a year although I'm pretty sure the problem didn't surface during the first few months of ownership. Bit of a pain in the backside..

 

me too It's sure not convenient to have to check every time if the machine shuts down before packing it away..

 

The A09 didn't work for me. I flashed the BIOS with the burn ISO on CD option and there was an error at the flash EC part, like many others. Manually flashing it with "DFLASH EC_W670.118" didn't help.

Problem was, the graphic card seems to be throttling and I ran 3DMark06 and got a score of about 1900. Reverted the BIOS back to A08 and got a 3DMark score of over 11000...

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alienware M15x Nebula Red
Intel® Core™ i7-740QM
NVIDIA® GeForce® GTX 260M
8GB (4GBx2) 1333MHz DDR3 SDRAM
500GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive

 

I suspect a bad flash. I had your configuration, and had 3dMark06 of about 11k after flashing with A09 - Of course, that increased to nearly 14k after I upgraqded to the 940mx and used Throttlestop. If you do decide to try A09 agan, I'd suggest creating a new ISO. You might also want to try Throttlestop as a diagnostic, along with GPU-z - though you can't manipulate multipliers for the 740QM, you might be able to see if throttling is occurring.

Joe

 

I just did the BIOS update from A06 1.00. The flash update was successful and i did the "DFLASH EC_W670.118" and it was wonderful. However when i did a check, it stated my BIOS is A09 1.00. Why mine its not 1.18?

 

There are two entries on the first or opening BIOS screen, one for BIOS -- which should say A09, as yours does. There is a separate entry for EC just below which should now say 1.18.

 

Btw i checked the BIOS version through dxdiag, is that relevant? I still have not get the time to check on proper BIOS setting ( F2 while booting )

 

Dxdiag is fine for the BIOS, but doesn't include EC version. I don't know where else the current EC version can be found.

 

i have a similar problem on my 5850 ever since i switched to ao9 the gpu doesnt go to high clocks it stays at mid or power saving clock so a quick sm on\off fixes the problem for me....

 

Just swapped my 740qm with a 920xm and decided to have a go at A09 again.

The flash went smoothly with no errors and the EC was also flashed without having to do a "DFLASH EC_W670.118". But the graphics card (GTX260M) is throttling again. Guess I'll stick with A08...

 

Finally got A09 working... the flash feels like kind of a hit or miss. Failed the first 2 attempts, guess 3rd time lucky...

 

Good to hear that. I'd to waste two CDs until I followed what rev had said earlier in this thread and went the DOS way. Worked like a charm.

Also in A09, I noticed that the Default Windows Drivers for trackpad works super smooth than the synaptics one. I love this track pad these drivers but two fingers scrolling is gone without the dell drivers but I've started to live with the windows one.

 

Flashed from A07 to A09 successfully. Had to use Revelator's command to flash the EC though(same problem as reported by many people in this thread). No problems have surfaced so far. Thank you, Rev!

 

I have the 460m and had the same problem. I went back to A08 and everything was taken care of. I spent a great deal of time trying to figure out what could have went wrong and would not have figured it was the A09 because my card was fine with it for several weeks.

Here's the thread I made about the problem.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/579715-460m-clocks-running-about-1-3-speed.html

 

Contrary to my first post on this page, I've yet again reverted back to A08 and gave up trying A09.

 

For those wondering (I know this is a bit old but I was somewhat afraid and would have been happy to see such a post, thus I'm posting for the latecomers - I don't usually post there as you can see regarding the join date):

I flashed from A06 with a bootable USB 8GB using FAT32 and Win98boot http://forum.notebookreview.com/7177976-post17.html

=>Everything went fine including EC: I did not have to do it manually at all. I just pressed "any key" (not "y", can't remember, but that was just a random key) when prompted.

No change of performances whatsoever, the ATI 5850 stills clocks smoothly.

By the way, it does not reboot alone. You have to start manually when the flash is over and the M15x off.

 

Hi Folks!!

I'm a newbie on here but I've had my M15x for over a year now. I just have a quick question ( well 2 )

1. I update the to the A09 BIOS - the system is faster than ever but theres a couple things wrong

A- The Facial recognition ( sense ) doesn't show the preview video screen anymore, it still logs in with facial recognition and works fine but the preview vid ( where it shows the circle around your face) is now gone, Any ideas on how to get it back?

Also B- the DVD drive is acting up. In fairness it was doing this before the BIOS update and thought that might fix it. I 've cleaned the lense with a cleaning disc, update the firmware /drivers from the dell site, tried doing a system restore, but it still won't read DVDs, it just says the drive is empty. CD and CDroms working perfect it's just DVDs. Any ideas? I've had so many probs with the laptop that the DVD drive is the only original part left in it. Everything else ( and i'm not exaggerating) has been replaced by Dell.


Thanks,
Sch3cter

 

Flashed my Alienware M15x from A02-A08-09 today successfully, was kind of sketchy on the USB flash method but I figured it out, one error I came across was more like a Loop actually After flashing it asked me about the EC FLASH ('Y'/'N') Every time I clicked Y it said

C:/ Error Command: "Y"

Or something in that Nature.

To fix the issue I stayed in the same screen ran the FA.BAT file again let it Flash again then when EC FLASH asked to be prompted it worked. Thanks for showing the guide!

Anyone having that same problem thats how I solved it.

Currently Playing:
Starcraft 2

Texture = Ultra
Graphic Quality = Extreme
FPS = 60 (Stable)

 

I have been having the same problem also, although it has been reading some CD's that I put in. l have no idea why it does that, it read my blank CD (Sometimes) but when I put in a game CD or DVD it doesn't read it. I have had this problem in A02-A08-and now A09 I have rolled back, uninstall and updated my driver and still no success I really wonder if anyone has a fix for that issue as well.

 

I have been having the same problem also, although it has been reading some CD's that I put in. l have no idea why it does that, it read my blank CD (Sometimes) but when I put in a game CD or DVD it doesn't read it. I have had this problem in A02-A08-and now A09 I have rolled back, uninstall and updated my driver and still no success I really wonder if anyone has a fix for that issue as well.

 

A lot of the dvd drives going bad there is alot on here about it you may look at this it may help..

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware-m15x/594855-fixed-optical-drive-not-working.html

 

Hey everyone,

May I know if M15x BIOS does support GTX580M as well as ATi HD6990?

How about the power supply? Is it sufficient?

Thanks man!

 

Any respond from advance M15x user?

 

I think it is safe to say that the M15x BIOS does not specifically support the 580M; whether the card is sufficiently similar to the 460M to allow it to be used is unknown. Attempts to use the 470M were only partially successful, which does not auger well for the 580M, but no one has yet tried. The BIOS also does not specifically support the 6970/6990M either, but it is recognized and works very nicely.

It is highly questionable whether the M15x can provide sufficient power to feed a 580M under load, particularly if overclocked and/or if paired with a 920/940xm processor.

 

Exactly what The Rev says, but I have to add a detail. The architecture of the 580m is the GF114, which is mainly the same as the GF104 which got used on the 485m and 470m.
Regarding the issues which the 470m had, I doubt that the 580m will be fully supported. Though it would certainly be interesting to test it, especially with the Dell 580m.

 

This may or may not be relevent to this bios update.

I am on A08 at the moment and went to it about a year ago, its been fine since. But recently whenever I start up windows the OSD launch manager always starts up and can be seen in the taskbar, and very faintly in the background of windows. You can move the window around, even though its very hard to see. If you end close it then the OSD features stop working such as the input changing key (F6) I say this because iv just been using a 50 inch TV as my moniter, and I use this key to switch views back and fourth. It was annoying enough trying to get a display port to hdmi cable, as the m15x has display port for some wierd reason.

Is this an issue any of you have had, does this bios version fix it? Im just worried about updating to A09 if its not very needed, since my warrantry has expired for quite a while, and if I brick it then il be stuck. I also bought this in New Zealand but now live in the UK, so im very hesitant to do something that could brick it.

This is tottaly irrelivent but where can you purchase notebook graphics cards, i.e. the "m" verions. I have the nvidia GTX 260m but would quite like the 460, iv seen the dsktop versions in stores and on the nvidia website but how would you go about getting hold of a notebook graphics card.

Thanks for any help

 

ebay is your friend for M15X video cards.
You can also look at the NBR marketplace to see if anyone is selling a card that you might be interested in.

 

Hey guys, bit new here and to this. I want to update my bios to A09 but i'm not sure what i'm doing when it comes to the ISO file. I downloaded the bios A09 but i don't know what files in the zip to use, could anyone explain in detail what to do with the zip file once you've opened it. thank you

 

Download the iso version, unzip the file, and right click on the extracted .iso file. Select "Burn disc image." Insert a CD and burn. Load the newly burned CD and reboot (if the CD drive is not ahead of HDD in boot order, tap F12 continuously at the BIOS screen (large Alienhead) and select boot from CD). The CD will execute automatically and will flash the BIOS. After flashing the BIOS, it will ask if you want to flash EC. Type "y" and it should continue the flash. If, however, it reports bad command, reboot and start again. If the same error occurs when it attempts to flash the new EC, then at the DOS prompt, type "DFLASH EC_W670.118" (no quotes) and press Enter. At the prompt, enter "y". The EC should flash to version 1.18, and you are finished. Be sure that you are plugged in and DO NOT INTERRUPT THE FLASHING PROCESS ONCE STARTED.

This thread covers every aspect of flashing to A09 and will answer any questions you may have.

 

Hi guys, i updated my m15x to A09 from i'm not sure what version. Will it include the throttle fix issues that were in A08? Or shld i downgrade back to A08 and reinstall A09? Cheers

 

Sorry to dig up this old thread, but I've burned the .iso but my m15x won't boot to the disc. Not sure what the issue is. the only thing I can think is I'm using DVD+RW instead of a CD, would that make a difference?

 

You could try booting through a USB thumb drive instead.

 

crap, I was hoping you wouldn't say that, I have at least a dozen thumb drives in my house and don't know where a single one is. I noticed that some people were having troubles booting to a thumb drive though, was there a fix for that? I have to be honest, I didn't read through all 28 pages :/

 

What program did you use? I used the suggested program http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&sqi=2&ved=0CFMQjBAwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.imgburn.com%2Findex.php%3Fact%3Ddownload&ei=P1U0UMD4MuTq2QXIvIHIDQ&usg=AFQjCNFMUGPn_s6Ka8sB-2BhiJVM0Rrhng&sig2=i1ZxVUn98ycFWRLvpmdjlg

Then ran it as slow as I could ( 4X I think ) Worked first time like a charm for me.To be honest though I also read through this whole thread and took down some notes mentioned a bit earlier on about a line of code to plug in if things go awry.

Edit: One day I'll be cool and learn how to make a Name into a URL lol!

 

I used both Nero and Windows' version.

I figured it out though, turns out it has to be CD-R/CD-RW. For me that worked anyway. Thanks for your help, guys!

 

I've read through the first 25 Pages but still have a problem

I don't know what version BIOS I started off with.
Since my DVD ROM DOESN'T WORK, I made a pen drive bootable and tried installing A09 and tried loading it but got a phlash 16 error "cannot flash if memory managers (e.g. HIMEM) present PRESS ANY KEY TO EXIT"
I read that i should do A02>A08>A09 so i downloaded and installed A08 which loaded succesfully.
Tried installing A09 again and I get the same error.
I can't find the exe of A02 to try going from A02 to A09.
What should i do?

 

Help, can the Bios be reset to accept another CPU, say an i5 to i7? I did add i7 820qm ES but all I got was a black screen, with power running fine. What am I doing wrong. Just want to get the i7 to work. Will reseting even do anything?

 

I'm at a loss really, I feel like I've tried all the ways in this thread and it refuses to boot from the disc and just goes straight to Starting Windows.

I started with a DVD+R and couldn't get that to work. Then I read nickvca's comment

and so went and got several of those.

I've tried writing it with Imgburn, nero and windows. After unzipping it, and leaving it as is. Nothing I do seems to work. I even tried putting .iso at the (I was pulling at strings there). I'll try to do the flash drive method now I suppose.

Edit: Thought I'd add what exactly I was doing after burning the files to the cd.

With the cd in I shut down the computer, then I start it up and tap f12 until it brings up the menu. I tap the down arrow key and then enter (on boot from cd drive). It then goes to a black screen for a bit and then straight to starting windows.