New system Bios A07 (M15x)

As much as you do for the M15x community, they owe you a machine that is working perfectly. Glad they're going to try.

 

hahaha thanks rev. wish i could turn my rep point into dell dollars, hahah
yeah i wasn't really asking for a replacement, but my tech saw the amount of service calls a had on the machine and talked the dell rep into gaving me a new lappy. these unisys guys have been really great.

ok i think i've taken over this thread long enough, lol

 

I tried to use usb drive, it doesn't work either.
I'm out of cd/dvd also -,-
Gonna buy some later on
So to burn the image
Just download the bios from dell site
Open nero and just click burn image yea?
I wanted this bios so bad, I've been playing gta 4 since I bought this laptop and still feels the choppy graphic sometimes..
Hope they fixed this

 

A07 is not gonna fix any of the throttling problems, but a fix is on the way. most likely a bios fix with a upgraded psu. but i'm not 100% sure yet.

 

I don't think he has any throttling issues as he got 5850. Maybe stealth mode on or power saver settings?

 

opps i missed that thanks phoestre. yeah could be what you said.

 

Wow you are one of the few who can spell my nick correctly
I think his issue is with a driver or CCC settings(probably powerplay?).

Anyways have you been able to feel a difference between A07 and A06?

 

In case anyone else is having trouble with the install, I had to switch the boot order of the hard drive to very last. I think this is because I replaced the original CD drive with a BD drive, which fell under the category of "removable _____"

I'm sure this doesn't come as a surprise to most of you, but I had no idea this would happen

 

true i've just recently got my 5850 and been seeing a few problems with power play. probably gonna disable it and use amd clock tools.

no difference really between A06 and A07 that i can see.

btw had to check your name 2-3 times before typing it,lolz

 

You actually don't have to disable powerplay when AMD Clock Tools is active because Clock Tools overrides configurations of any other software like CCC. However just to be safe its a good idea to disable powerplay but just saying I have checked with powerplay on + Clock Tools active and powerplay off + Clock Tools active, powerplay had no effect at all.
I'm thinking about OC'ing a bit but I'm too lazy for thermal paste stuff

 

Been running a few degrees cooler since I installed this BIOS. Left the lappy on all night and recorded the average temp compared to a previous test I did with A05-A06.

 

seems cooler after the upgrade, i'm still finding the difference when watching youtube videos though. Seems the same for me.

 

How I can update bios for Alienware M15x? Could you help me step by step? I knew to burn CD with Bios A07. Sorry, I'm noob.

 

What? This whole thread has been about updating the M15x bios! You need to read previous posts!

 

Sorry, I got it. However, I don't know how to update bios after burn CD. Bios is very important, so I don't want to get a mistake.

 

If you have A06 BIOS, you don't need to update to A07, in case you are worried. If you have received your system recently, you have A06.
The README.HTA file in ISO, explains you what to do.

 

The somewhat involved process I previously described using Nero to burn the bios .iso to CD works fine, but it's much more simple to simply right click on the downloaded file M15x BIOS A07.iso, click on "Open with" and then select Windows Disc Image Burner. A popup box appears and in most cases all you have to do is click Burn. It is very fast, very easy.

 

i've noticed that A07 fixes my large cursor glitch. i went back to A06 and the glitch came back. and now on A07 again.

So A07 is good for 5850 users.

 

Do you think when my M15x arrives in a week or two it will have the a07 bios or is Alienware usually slow in switching bios during production?

 

Not sure but if it does not have A07, just update it. Since A07 just rolled out, it might not have made it to to the factory yet - at least that is my guess. We have had this q come up before with other platforms -

 

I have the A05, and use 10.6 drivers no crazy cursor so far. I think i'll stick with A05 for now, until a major change is made.

 

So i just checked my idle temps for fun cpu core #0 29c core #2 24c

gpu temp 42c

assembly temp 38c

ridiculous temps with A07

 

Anyone who bought their M15x with the stock 256 SSD, notice any downgrade in speed since upgrading to A07? I noticed my read/write speed reduced, and when I run WEI (I know, I know). My speed went from a 6.8 to a 5.9. Just would love some feedback.

 

i have a intel ssd and have the same problem. went from 7.7-7.8 now 5.9 . but tested with crystal disk mark and all seems fine.

 

That windows WEI is crap. My SSD always drops to
5.9 when I change a driver or updated the bios. It used to be 6.8 but i just ignore it now.

Just do like inap said and test it with crystalmark

 

Ok, just wanted to know if someone else showed that. Thanks for the info.

I did use crystal mark which is why I stated about the reduced read/write speeds.. sorry I did not mention that in my post. It did not drop by much, but it did drop and was wondering if the bios altered anything regarding the SSD's. Thanks so much for the reply/info.

 

yeah over time and amount of data the performance will drop slightly, if its not major then i wouldn't worry about. and yeah wei is pretty lame.

 

^^
msofts attempt to simplify things just over-simplified them and effectively made them meaningless.
still its always fun to see high scores. even if it's a mashup.

 

Does anybody know when will the newly support added CPUs be available in system configurator over Dell?

 

how do you update your bios using a USB stick???

 

haven't seen anyone that was able to flash it using a usb afaik.

 

Ok so i was just running borderlands and was recording how high my temps went with a cooler and the room temp is in the high 60's.

after about 30 mins i looked to see where it was staying and it 69c i was pretty satisfied so i don't have to reapply my paste if something wasn't right.

 

It looks as though I might have to call Dell over this one-

I flashed the BIOS to A07 and got the message that it installed properly and would shut down. Well it won't start back up now. At first I thought it might have something to do with the power drain trick, so I tried that and no go: It will start back up but then immediately shut back down. :|

 

Did it also flash the EC after writing the A07 bios but before shutting down? Should happen pretty quickly with no user intervention. I guess another way of asking, did you let it flash and shutdown completely on its own without any action by you?

 

Absolutely. I never interrupt a BIOS update.

What happens now is that the power button glows amber. I'll have to dig out the manual sometime to check this out, but for now I've got other things to do so I've switched to my M11x.

 

Any error lights? Did you try taking out the cmos battery then doing the powerdrain.

 

A brief Google search suggests that the EC may need to be reset, which involves nothing more than shutting down (if applicable), unplugging the power cord, removing the battery and letting it sit for a few (5) minutes. Then replace the battery, plug it in and turn it on.

For example, How to reset the EC (Embedded Controller)

Still looking.

 

I'll need to get a screwdriver set since mine is back in HI.

Thanks. I'm trying this now ans will see how it all goes. If not, I'll be making a call to Dell once I get to FL in a couple of weeks.

 

Update- After trying the EC reset fix, it is still not working. What happens now is the system will power on, and then shut off, and then power on again, and then shut off, then power on once more and then all of the LED's are lit but no visual to the screen. Also the power button is still amber.

 

That's terrible news, mb. And not fair. I'm assuming it won't boot from the flash disc, a bootable stick, W7 CD or otherwise? Is the flash disc still in the CD drive? If the EC reset doesn't work, there may be no easy answer. Hopefully, Dell has a magic bullet.

 

I didn't realize the EC flash was going to run when I updated mine and I started to shut the computer off after the bios flash... I figured that it said "Press enter to exit and restart" meant it was done, but right as I started to shut it down manualy I took out the CD and all of a sudden the EC flash utility popped up saying "Unable to read from drive C." I put the disk back in and hit retry... luckly me or I would have been in the same boat.

I hope you figure this out!!!

 

The disc is still in the drive, but it's not going to help I'm afraid. It's barely getting to the POST stage before shutting down.

Huh, I just got to thinking: This is the very first problem I've ever had with an Alienware in over 5 years of having their computers.

 

Awww that sucks dude.

 

Thanks Miahsoul.

Crap happens I guess. At least I still have my M11X *knocks on wood*

 

No don't knock your m11x on wood!!!!!! Hahaha
My condolences, I feel your pain. Sorry man hope everything is fixed soon.

 

mb, when you took out the battery, did you try disconnecting the button battery for the cmos as well?

sorry for your loss
bios updates make me more nervous than pulling my system apart.

 

Thanks I appreciate it.

Thanks.

I disconnected the CMOS battery as well. Still no go- Just a pretty amber alien head power button and then nothing.


I'll be calling the tech support tomorrow to try and get the ball rolling. I know that it's going to take a trip back to the mothership to repair the issue, but what I'm concerned about is the fact that my assignment is up here in Biloxi in a couple of weeks and then I'm off to FL for 4 more months of USAF weather forecaster training. I don't want the addresses to get crossed.

 

Good lucks dude!
When I first read "trip back to the mothership to repair the issue", I was like "lol they actually call dell's tech center mothership".. before reading the rest

 

I'm surprised they haven't coined that term yet.

*EDIT*

The thing that gets me the most is that it cost me $1600 only to have their BIOS update brick it a couple of months later.

 

Just found an issue since updating to A07, using FN+F4/F5 to adjust screen brightness no longer works for me... Anyone else?