This video is very helpful. However, I found that on my Dell Latitude e5470, the process was even simpler. I just downloaded the appropriate bios update file from the Dell website using my service tag number. I then copied it to /boot/efi (I have Ubuntu 17.04). Then just rebooted, used F12 to access the one-time boot setup menu, and selected "flash bios" or "update bios" (forget the exact words). It then allows you to select the update file. Of course, I chose the one I just copied into /boot/efi. Worked like a charm! Took about 3 minutes. But it was actually this video that gave me the courage to even try doing it. On the forums there were many skeptical voices cautioning against messing with the bios unless there was a real issue. "Fear will eat you alive" :) Also, it allowed me to directly update to bios version 1.14.4 from 1.3.8, so just needed a single file, no increments required.
Great video, but before following the instructions check the following: - press F12 at startup, in my case (Optiplex 9020) I could update the bios directly from USB flash without booting into dos (saves a lot of time) - also it is not necessary to update every version in between: the bios is a self contained program and every update will erase the previous version. I successfully updated from A12 to A23 directly.
As some others have already commented, Unetbootin failed to create a usable boot disk for me. If you find the same, here's the procedure that worked perfectly for me, this is specific to Dells but you can use your loaf to adapt it: 1./ Go to the FreeDOS website and downloaded the ISO file for USB (N.B: Use the FULL Installer version... the 'Lite' version when flashed to a USB drive, was tightly partitioned with only a tiny bit of free space even though using a 8GB USB stick, and DID NOT HAVE SPACE for the [8MB] Dell BIOS file!). I did this on another Windows machine. (The Full version is on the order of 500MB, use at least a 1GB USB stick if you want plenty of room). 2./ Write that ISO file to your USB flash drive using your favorite image writer like Win32DiskImager. You now have a bootable DOS. 3./ For Dell users: Download the latest BIOS for your machine from Dell. (Go to Dell Support page and enter the Service Tag of your machine, click the maginfying-glass icon, then click 'Drivers and Downloads' option about half way down the new page). From the list, find the appropriate BIOS file. Download that file - they are helpfully named e.g. for my Optiplex 7010. 4./ Save the above file to the same USB drive you just flashed with the FreeDOS. Just copying it under Windows worked fine for me. 5./ Now Insert the USB stick into the Linux box that needs its BIOS updated. 6./ Boot the linux machine with USB stick inserted. As soon as it displays the Dell roundel, press F12 for a One-Time boot. Select 'Legacy Boot: USB Storage Device'. Then select Language and OK it. At 'Welcome' screen, click 'No - return to DOS' (don't go further with FreeDOS install, I didn't go further but it might easily try to install DOS over your Linux HDD - NOT GOOD!!). 7./ Now you should have a nice black DOS screen, almost like the old days but with some colour. You should be on the USB drive, with a C: prompt. You can 'DIR' to see what's there. Should just be the FreeDOS components, plus the Dell executable for the latest BIOS, i.e. in my case . 8./ So now just type that filename to run it, follow the instructions on screen. 9./ Share & enjoy ;o)
Lovely clear explanation, many thanks for all your hard work. Just one point, regarding the use of MD5 with Bioschecksums, I struggled until I discovered that the .TXT file needs to be renamed as an .MD5 file. After that, it worked OK. But the whole point of this was to downgrade my BIOS. Unfortunately, although Dell permit a downgrade of BIOS in Micro$oft by using Run As Administrator, no such solution appears to be available for doing so in Linux or DOS.
thanks a million. didn't know it was possible to update my bios on Linux. been using the same bios for the last 10 years (kids computer now). But very helpful. thanks.
Hi Martin, It really depends on the machine. On the particular Dell latitude in the video it won't let you skip versions. If you try and install a BIOS version that isn't the direct next version an error pop's up on the screen and it won't let you proceed.
It worked really good. No issues at all. I updated my dell optilex 790 (DT) from verion A10 to A19. I use linux so install versions A21 and A22 will be an overkill. Thank you.
To get unetbootin on Ubuntu 18.04, get it from this ppa: sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gezakovacs/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install unetbootin
If you happen to have the "gnome-disk-utility" installed on your Linux system it has the ability to format and write the FreeDos image file to your thumbdrive. The nice part being you have a graphical representation of all the drives connected to your machine...less chance to pick the wrong one :)
Excellent post. I have a problem here after I type *.exe bios file, it asked Start to flash......[Y/N] and I typed Y, then it prompted Decompress ROM file, flash setting ... done Get related information from Rom image file. -Error: Problem allocating memory The bios did not install, why did this happen?
Thanks for the Video, but it did not work for me. I use a Lenovo E430 Machine (64-bit) , and i get the Error "This program must be run under Win32". Could you help out with a fix on that ?
it only works like that because DELL luckely still provides you DOS compatible bios upgrade tools and freeDos supporting USB, while MSDOS sucks ass, as any Microsuck products do.
Good video, However this isn't what I'm looking for. The title is a little misleading. I want to be able to flash a bios using LInux only not FREEDOS or any variation of DOS. Just Linux. Is there away to do that ? You just showed us how to create a DOS bootable usb drive to run an exe file that's DOS based. I want a PURE linux flash bios option.
I bought an old Dell T3610 and it had no hard drive... When you update the bios, does it update the chipset software too or is that separate. I purchased windows and did it through dell support downloads, which I was not happy to shell out $ for Win10. Is there another way ?
I'm not able to install UNetbootin in Lubuntu 19.04. An error is showing,"Unable to locate package unetbootin." What can i do for Lubuntu operating system. Please help someone....
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:gezakovacs/ppa sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install unetbootin UPD: But that didn't help me to update my BIOS anyway. I spent like 16 hours on that already with 0 results. But that's how it usually goes for me when I am trying Linux. And I was using Ubuntu for quite a long time, for years. Years of pain. People who are good with Linux are very delusional of how hard and inconvenient it is to use.
So you didn't need to click download for any of the bios file? Does it mean the terminal downloaded it automatically? Would this work if I need to do it for a separate pc that needs a bios update?
need help. Did everything as he explained, reebooted my laptop with 'boot mode' to levacy support and 'boot Priority' to legacy first and 'OS optimized defaults' to disabled. Rebooted to usb all I got is 'SYSLINUX 6.04 EDD Copyright (C) 1994-2015 H. Peter Anvin et al' its stuck there. Need help
geez. why is updating BIOS on Linux have to be such a painful fucking process though. I loved Linux the moment i started using it until it came to upgrading BIOS.
Cheers for the info. I had to clear (toggle off) the Intel Virtualization Technology enabled in the original BIOS on my Dell machines for it to work though. (As described in Dell support). Also, although the Optiplex 990 support said I'd need to install version A10 first, it did actually go all the way to A23 from A05 in one go. Adding the link in case it helps anyone else... www.dell.com/community/Inspiron/BIOS-Will-Not-Install/td-p/6024805
Follow up to say I tried this on my HP and it did not work. Booting to DOS wasn't an issue but the HP BIOS executable said it was unable to run in DOS. Are some executables unable to be run? Or is there a different method for HP than for Dell?
No. Technically what this does is enables you as a user, to run .exe files without having to install windows. Meaning .exe files only EXECUTE in windows, free dos is able to execute windows files, those which end on .exe ROM files will not work.
My USB is not recognized (bootable) after installing DOS via Unebotin. Any advice on how to fix/override this issue? I tried with different USBs. I am using Ubuntu 18.04
Have you only installed unetbootin or did you add uetbootin-translations? I ask because when translations were added bizarrely the usb drives did not work for me. Used another pc with only unetbootin and the stick would boot ok. If this isn''t/wasn't the problem please could you post how you resolved it. Thanks
Thanks for answering! I installed just unetbootin, didn't add translations. And it;s still not working, I tried to repeat the process with different USBs, but it seems something else is causing the problem. In case I manage to solve it, I will post it here.
Hi Not being rude but are you sure you followed all the instructions? Just wondering if you are trying to open something other than the .exe executable? What machine are you trying to update and what is the file name you are trying to open please?
DELL Studio 1558 - BIOS A08 here. Only downloadable new Version from Dell is A12 (R301434.exe) and can't be startet in FreeDOS. "This programm cannont be run in DOS mode." I already "unzipped" the three files in R301434.exe (with my other Windows machine) and got a text file and two exe files (1558_A12.exe and WIN_1194.exe). Neither of them can be run under DOS. I also tried the command prompt from a Win7 CD (repair options) with the same results. Any ideas?
I personally managed to update my BIOS on a Mini Windows XP from Hiren's Boot CD although it was a bit stressful because the .exe didn't do anything after clicking the upgrade button, but it seemed to start the upgrade process upon a restart. I don't really know if that's how the BIOS upgrade on my Dell Optiplex 755 should've gone, or if I was just lucky not to brick my PC.
Hey MrSpecialR! Thanks for your answer. I'm happy you got it done! :) Since I hadn't heard of that Boot CD in particular and was being impatient, I installed Win7 back on my laptop (only offline, no registration.. just for those couple of minutes), did the update and then re-installed 'my Linux OS'. A pity, but at least I got it done. Should have wrote that earlier, but I was so frustrated and didn't feel like anyone would be helped with my "solution".. so I remained calm. I hope your way will help others. (Sorry for mistakes.. english is not my native language and I already had a couple of beers ^^)
While I like that you're using FreeDoS to install the BIOS, whoever told you that you have to install every single BIOS version to get the latest is a flipping idiot. You wear out your BIOS chip that way because it erases and then rewrites the entire BIOS portion of the chip each time. It's like saying that you would have to erase your entire hard drive and install each and every OS version from Windows 7 through 10 just to upgrade.
Hahaha. The funny thing is I did, with a supposedly lint free microfibre cloth. What you are seeing on the screen is fibres from the cloth that were statically attracted to the screen. I couldn't get them off without making it a whole lot worse.
