Dell Beta BIOS?

steve_r123

I've just got a new system, and I'm fairly sure there is a problem with the BIOS in it. I tried to reflash it, but the current version is newer than the one installed on the PC.

Does anyone know where I may be able to get a new copy of this BIOS, either through a beta program etc etc?

I really dont want to have to phone Dell support unless I really have to, because it will be 2 or 3 hours of my life that I will never be able to get back......:rolleyes:

Thanks

CHR15

Try the Dell support site and forums (forums may be able to point you to Beta BIOS versions but I would not recommend a Bios in Beta form, if it goes wrong you have a doorstop!)

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/?category.id=Tech_Talk

http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

steve_r123

CHR15 wrote: »

Try the Dell support site and forums (forums may be able to point you to Beta BIOS versions but I would not recommend a Bios in Beta form, if it goes wrong you have a doorstop!)

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/?category.id=Tech_Talk

http://support.dell.com/support/index.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen

Thanks. I know about a beta BIOS and not to install it, I was more thinking that as my bios is newer than the one available on the Dell support site that my current bios might be available to download from Dell's testing/beta area, as they obviously haven't got round to making it available for public download yet.

Looks like a call to tech support is in order.... I might wait until the new year though:cool:

sco0ter

What makes you think it was a BIOS problem???

If you have a problem with the BIOS reflashing will pretty much do the same as a Corrupt BIOS will usually halt a PC before it boots.

Could you explain what your problem is and what you have tried to do to rectify it

steve_r123

I am a techie by trade, but I work more on software than hardware. I originally thought it was a processor/motherboard fault, but as it doesn't do it everytime, I thought a reflash of the BIOS may be worth a try before contacting Dell.

The symptoms are as follows:

Switch PC on, all boots up with the maximum fan speed for about 2 seconds when you first push the power button, then it all boots up fine. System is very quiet, all good. Problems start when it is restarted. The same happens with the 2 seconds of max fan at first, then it dies down. Then it gradually spins back up to max speed, and then won't stop! CPU is idle, but the fan is spinning off its trolley. I think that it is the CPU fan which is giving it the big licks, but I cant be certain its not the chassis fan at the rear. 99% sure its not the pwr supply.

Pwr supply fan and chassis fans are single speed apprently, so that only leaves the CPU fan, or the GPU fan. I doubt the GPU fan is big enough to make the noise that is being created.

It is a new build, so it's not any software I've put on it. Its a Dell Inspiron 530, Geforce 8600GT, Intel E2140 CPU, 1 gig memory.

Any thoughts folks?

CHR15

What happens if you disable the fan speed control through BIOS, reboot and leave it in the BIOS screen?

No doubt you can view the CPU temp in the BIOS, perhaps it is set too low to reduce the fan speed. If it only happens after a restart it may have gone above the threshold but from cold, it is below the threshold.

steve_r123

CHR15 wrote: »

What happens if you disable the fan speed control through BIOS, reboot and leave it in the BIOS screen?

No doubt you can view the CPU temp in the BIOS, perhaps it is set too low to reduce the fan speed. If it only happens after a restart it may have gone above the threshold but from cold, it is below the threshold.

No sign of fan speed control and also no CPU temp......

fwor

Not a Dell-specific reply, but more a confirmation that the BIOS may well be the thing to aim for:

I have a Shuttle that I built a few months ago, and as originally shipped the CPU fan would blow at 100% on every alternate boot-up. Flashing the BIOS fixed the problem. The thing that puzzled me was how they could ship the previous BIOS version and not ~notice~ the problem!

Conor_3

Latest BETA Geforce drivers have had known problems with the GPU fan speed control...