1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
2
210
December 21st, 2024 18:09
Area-51m R2, BIOS 1.30 update fails
Alienware Area-51m R2
Tried to install via Support Assist -> hangs in the state of installing for hours so I aborted
Tried via support website https://www.dell.com/support -> process goes up to a 100% but does not finish. so I aborted.
Downloaded the EXE file from https://www.dell.com/support/home/de-de/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=fy37k&oscode=wt64a&productcode=alienware-area51m-r2-laptop -> Error: Driver version fail!
So far, not so good.
Ok. BIOS could be broken. Downloaded the recovery file from the link above and got into BIOS recovery mode like this www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000132453/how-to-recover-the-bios-on-a-dell-computer-or-tablet (ok. in my case I had to press CTRL+ESC as the computer was switched on). The process starts but back in Windows I can see in the device manager the my firmware is still 1.28.
It could be that the recovery file just repairs a broken version which is there so I tried again.
the exe give the same error as before.
Support assist and website don't do anything but saying 100% / installing.
How do I get my BIOS from 1.28 to 1.30?
I even tried to use the 1.29 version but the exe gives the same error.
HTGBlackGuard
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
January 9th, 2025 19:19
I found a partial solution.
Press F12 durcing startup, choose Flash Firmware Upgrade, have an USB stick or DVD present with a Windows 10 boot image created with the Media Creation Tool and the Afudell.exe, choose the AFUDELL.exe and flash BIOS.
Now it is on 1.30
But:
If I open the device manager and navigate to Firmware, there is still listed "System Firmware 01.28" instead of "System Firmware 01.30". Checked for driver updates but nothing.
HTGBlackGuard
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
1
December 24th, 2024 13:34
I thought that maybe the recovery file is version dependet so I downloaded the 1.28 recovery and installed it. Afterwards I tried to update my BIOS to 1.30 again but same error.
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.8K Posts
0
December 24th, 2024 22:16
My opinion = For any out of warranty but still working system, I would never attempt installing a BIOS update. Why, because a failed BIOS update could break the motherboard. BIOS 1.30.0 did not correct any hardware issues.
HTGBlackGuard
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
December 24th, 2024 23:33
As you can see by the error message 1.28 is allready broken so I should update and I want to
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.8K Posts
0
December 26th, 2024 17:02
@HTGBlackGuard
"still working" meaning you can boot into Windows OS and use the system. You stated, "The process starts but back in Windows I can see in the device manager the my firmware is still 1.28.".
If you can see the Device Manager, then the Windows OS booted up correctly. My opinion, do not attempt to install BIOS on this out of warranty system.
HTGBlackGuard
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
December 26th, 2024 17:13
I want to update therefore „don’t do it“ isn’t helpful
ann_droid
2 Intern
•
508 Posts
0
January 8th, 2025 22:41
Hi
Did you do the checksum?
HTGBlackGuard
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
January 9th, 2025 07:35
The checksum matches. But this file is not meant for a BIOS upodate. Just for recovery.
And I disabled Bitlocker as well. But the AFUDELL does this on its own anyhow.
To no avail.
ann_droid
2 Intern
•
508 Posts
0
January 9th, 2025 15:32
Hi
So nothing I am posting has not already been tried, probably.
However ..............
Note: You must provide a bootable USB drive. This executable file does not create the DOS system files.
1. Copy the downloaded file to a bootable USB drive.
2. Power on the system and then Press the F12 key.
3. Select USB Storage Device and boot to the DOS prompt.
4. Run the file by typing following command. For example:
C:\ Alienware_Area_51M_R2.exe
Where C is the drive letter of the USB device where the executable file is located and Alienware_Area_51M_R2.exe is the name of the downloaded file.
The system restarts automatically and updates the BIOS at the system startup screen. After the BIOS update is complete, system restarts again.
Updating the BIOS from DOS with UEFI boot mode enabled (Non-Windows users, Load Legacy Option Disabled)
Note 1: Before updating the BIOS, ensure that you suspend BitLocker encryption on a BitLocker-enabled system. If BitLocker is not enabled on your system, you can ignore this step. For information about how to disable BitLocker, see How to Enable or Disable BitLocker with TPM in Windows at support.dell.com.
Note 2: Do not turn off power or interrupt the BIOS update process during the update.
Note 3: Your system requires a restart after installing the BIOS. The restart can be deferred but must be completed to ensure that the update is installed.
Installation
1. Copy the downloaded file to a bootable DOS USB drive.
2. Power on the system and then go to BIOS Setup by pressing the F2 key.
3. Go to General > Boot Sequence > Boot > Boot List Option.
4. Change UEFI to Legacy of Boot List Option.
5. Go to Exit > Save Changes and reboot system.
6. Press F12 and then select USB Storage Device and boot to the DOS prompt.
7. Run the file by typing the file name.
The system restarts automatically and updates the BIOS at the system startup screen. After the BIOS update is complete, the system restarts again.
8. Go to BIOS Setup by pressing the F2 key and go to General > Boot Sequence > Boot > Boot List Option.
9. Change Legacy to UEFI Boot Option.
10. Go to Exit > Save Changes, and reboot the system.
HTGBlackGuard
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
January 9th, 2025 16:04
Great Idea but the laptop has no option to change from UEFI to legacy. This is greyed out.
furthermore I am quite sure that this Updater is for Windows only.
Tried in the command window in safe boot mode. even there it does not work
HTGBlackGuard
1 Rookie
•
22 Posts
0
January 9th, 2025 19:28
Ok. Windows Catalog says that there is no newer version than 1.28
https://catalog.update.microsoft.com/Search.aspx?q=60cddcbe-195d-4200-97ed-712269a37b4f
Seems to be a coincidence that BIOS and Firmware had the same version before.
Alien74
1 Rookie
•
3 Posts
0
March 2nd, 2025 20:36
@DELL-Chris M : And WHY is every BIOS-Update from Dell declared as a "Critical" Update and therefore must be installed???
(edited)
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
•
56.8K Posts
0
March 3rd, 2025 13:52
@Alien74 The platform teams decided that any BIOS update that deals with "Security" (This update addresses the Dell Security Advisories) be defined as critical.