Dell BIOS updates

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I have a Dell precision 3630 tower [running win10/pro]. I’ve had it for about three months now and I’ve gotten something like four BIOS updates [in the 10+ years I had my previous Dell computer I never got one!]. Two questions:

1) is there some way to find out what was changed in the BIOS update — I didn’t see any info in the program that did the update. Why updating so often?

2) What happens if, after I do a BIOS update my computer won’t boot? I find the prospect of that happening very very scary.

Thanks! /bernie\

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You can read the change log on Dell’s support site. I would never allow Dell’s update program update my BIOS. Too many issues. Download the BIOS file and update manually or through the USB flash option.

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? says:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=rcd86

link to Dell bios patch above

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I have to agree with @anonymous… I would *never* allow any automatic firmware updating of any kind on any device I owned or supported.

IMO firmware updates need to be considered on their individual benefits, especially as it’s usually impossible to downgrade to an earlier version once installed.

I usually only install firmware updates to fix specific issues… and then only after reading around.

Having said that, I’ve never had a problematic Dell (or HP) BIOS update… I just wouldn’t let them happen automatically (but then I always remove all manufacturer’s bloatware anyway so autopatching wouldn’t be an issue).

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? says:

RickC,

i’m wondering just where our OP is getting (4) (recent) “bios,” updates? i’ve used Dell patches extensively over the years w\o problems, just delete the package reminants from C:\ afterwords and any left over .ini’s. (pnputil.exe) and now your Nir USB tool .

P.S. Rick i was looking for KB4474419 on my windows machines and stumbled upon Nir’s “WindowsUpdateList,” wow another great tool!

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wul.html

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I’m assuming that OP is using a pre-installed Dell app that carries out a scan/update automatically, i.e. the Dell Command suite as @Mr. Natural suggests.

Just be aware that WindowsUpdatesList hasn’t been updated since June 2017. I think Nir may possibly have abandoned it… the last couple of updates were just minor bug-fixes.

You can use a PowerShell query to see the same, albeit not in a nice GUI. For example, to use your example of looking for KB4474419:

Get-HotFix -Id KB4474419

Example of ‘Not Found’:

Hope this helps…

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? says:

thank you, RickC, your posts always help!

when PS came out it felt like voodoo so i learned how to run it (from Channel9) and then put it to sleep. i use a coulpe of the non-powershell cmd’s from:

https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/lync/en-US/edaac7af-d67f-4162-85ec-c24a78edaf03/commandprompt-to-check-installed-windows-updates?forum=winserverManagement

so the abandoned Nir tool “wul,”seemed nice as it pops up in seconds from my toolbox sandisk cruzer…

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Use Dell Command update on Dell PC’s. I use it all the time to insure all drivers are up to date but I don’t allow it to run automatically. Run it manually. The bios update will create a backup in case of install failure. Much safer than the old days.

Red Ruffnsore

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anonymous wrote:

? says:

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=rcd86

link to Dell bios patch above

Thanks for the info. It confuses me a little bit. When I originally got my Dell it told me that I needed a BIOS update, and then I got one more [not two, sorry] before I got the BIOS update yesterday. I don’t remember about the first but for the middle and recent one I know it was a BIOS update because I watched doing the BIOS_update-dance as the system was rebooting. I’m not sure what version of the BIOS I’m running now but the update you pointed me at says:

Version Version 1.0.4, 1.0.4
Category BIOS
Release date 31 Aug 2018
Last Updated 29 Mar 2019

and that would kinda fit with the second update I mentioned but it is still mysterious because I definitely got a BIOS update *yesterday*. I wonder what version I have now….

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Run msinfo32 to find out what BIOS you have.

2 users thanked author for this post.

berniec, Bluetrix

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? says:

hi berniec,

i’m going to step back and let the experts help you on this. i’m old school bios so i get the updates from the mfg and deposit it on the desktop and run it. i once updated the bios on a laptop with no hdd using the windows repair cd and it worked!

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berniec wrote:

I wonder what version I have now….

1. *Right*-click on Start.

2. Select Windows PowerShell (Admin) from the context menu.

3. Copy/paste the following cmdlet:

Get-Wmiobject -class "Win32_BIOS" -namespace "rootCIMV2" | Fl * -Force

Result (on my own Dell Precision tower)… more BIOS info than I could ever possibly need:

Hope this helps…

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anonymous wrote:

? says:

RickC,

i’m wondering just where our OP is getting (4) (recent) “bios,” updates? i’ve used Dell patches extensively over the years w\o problems, just delete the package reminants from C:\ afterwords and any left over .ini’s. (pnputil.exe) and now your Nir USB tool .

P.S. Rick i was looking for KB4474419 on my windows machines and stumbled upon Nir’s “WindowsUpdateList,” wow another great tool!

https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/wul.html

OK, let me just clarify [and this addresses another followup here]: I have no idea how the dell update machinery works.  I occasionally get a notification about a Dell Command-Update is required.  I discovered early on that it breaks if you run it as a normal user, so I do an explicit run-as-admin Dell Command | Update.  I don’t download or install anything — I just let the coommand|update do its thing.

BUT I checked command|update and looked at the update history — you’ll see that it did, indeed, install a BIOS update yesterday and one in mid July, which is what I remembered.

I can only comment that it seems to be “safe enough” to let Dell download their own updates and install them.     And in fact, although I just did dell updates yesterday I see that I have another update pending today [Gigabet ethernet network controller update].  It is a recommended update, not a critical one.   In the spirit of DEFCONs  should I install it or not??

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berniec wrote:

I have another update pending today [Gigabet ethernet network controller update]. It is a recommended update, not a critical one. In the spirit of DEFCONs should I install it or not??

Are you using a wired (i.e. ethernet) connection or wireless? If wireless then you don’t need it.

If using a wired connection, are you having problems? If not then IMO you probably don’t need it (using the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rule).

Hope this helps…

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[Mr. Natural]

Dell command should be on the start menu. Open it up and turn off the automatic update and auto check for updates. All the bios updates are from all these Spectre and other Intel related issues. I can’t say for sure but I think the newest round of updates may be needed to allow installation of Windows 10 1903. I’ve been getting a lot of failures trying to push 1903 to pc’s and I believe they need the latest intel updates. So my plan is to get on the pc’s having the issue and manually run Dell command to update the system hoping this will allow 1903 to be installed (which is not yet recommended here at Askwoody). The majority of our Windows 10 users are still on 1803 and I need to start upgrading before 1803 loses support.

Forgot to mention if you run anything that blocks scripts from running you will want to disable that before running Dell Command update or you may have issues updating.

Red Ruffnsore

• This reply was modified 5 years, 10 months ago by Mr. Natural.

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PKCano wrote:

Run msinfo32 to find out what BIOS you have.

That was easy:

Thanks

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berniec wrote:

I’m not sure what version of the BIOS I’m running now

Run the portable Speccy and you will get all your hardware and bios data.

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Rick Corbett wrote:

berniec wrote:

I have another update pending today [Gigabet ethernet network controller update]. It is a recommended update, not a critical one. In the spirit of DEFCONs should I install it or not??

Are you using a wired (i.e. ethernet) connection or wireless? If wireless then you don’t need it.

If using a wired connection, are you having problems? If not then IMO you probably don’t need it (using the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rule).

Hope this helps…

Nope — in fact, I’m _on_ a gigabit ethernet!  So I think I prolly oughta get this one

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Berniec, Rick mentioned, “are you having problems? If not then IMO you probably don’t need it (using the old “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” rule).”

I have to agree with Rick that you need to look closely at each offered fix from Dell and see if it is one you actually need. While it may be good to download and keep the file on hand, if everything is running properly, it is not a security update and it does not specifically fix an issue you have on your computer, you might pass on the install.

Others here have mentioned not AUTO installing everything, but manually (after investigating) installing what was necessary.

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I have always had a Dell, many iterations, since 2000, and have always followed a policy of having up-to-date copies of drivers, and that includes BIOS updates.  I rely on Dell SupportAssist to tell me that I need new drivers or BIOS versions, but I always install manually.  I may need these driver or BIOS updates in the event that I have to do a complete re-install.  Dell Support tells me what drivers are new for my Service Tag.

Dell E5570 Latitude, Intel Core i5 6440@2.60 GHz, 8.00 GB - Win 10 Pro

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