1 Rookie
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4 Posts
6
2457
June 23rd, 2025 09:34
Inspiron 13 5310, critical issues after BIOS 2.32 → 2.34, NO DOWNGRADE POSSIBLE
Hello DELL Community,
Need help - my system is completely unusable after BIOS update and DELL has blocked downgrades.
System: Inspiron 13 5310 | BIOS 2.34 (was 2.32) | Windows 11
Problem:
- Stuck in "Preparing Automatic Repair" loop after BIOS update
- Automatic repair fails repeatedly
- Error code: 0x0000221
DELL states version 2.34 cannot be downgraded due to security enhancements. I'm locked into this broken state. Any BIOS 2.34 specific solutions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your kind help!
DELL-ChrisM2
Community Manager
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1.2K Posts
0
March 10th, 2026 19:06
The Inspiron 13 5310 BIOS 2.40.0 was released today.
Let us know if this resolves the issue.
(edited)
DELL-Nat M
Community Manager
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3.6K Posts
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January 15th, 2026 15:19
Hi everyone,
Great news! The new BIOS for Inspiron 5310 and Vostro 5310 is now available. Version 2.38.0 was released on 13 Jan 2026. Update, 2.38.0 has been pulled. Latest version we see now is 2.33.0 14 Apr 2025.
When you have a moment, please install it and let us know if it resolves the issues discussed here.
Quick, gentle install notes
Thank you once again for your patience along this journey!
(edited)
DELL-ChrisM2
Community Manager
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1.2K Posts
1
February 18th, 2026 13:49
I heard from the team this morning. I guess they made some changes in the chat tool. They asked me to repost this.
Click the blue GHN (Get Help Now) on the right to start a private live chat session. The GHN AI should not stop you from chatting with an agent. GHN agents should not turn you away if out of warranty. Share with them the private Service Tag, issues, this thread link, and all of your troubleshooting. This will in turn generate a unique Technical Support case for your unique Service Tag. Mention to the Dell Technical Support agent that they should read SFDC article =
000427561 No Boot or Memory Errors After Updating to BIOS Version 2.38.0 on the Inspiron 5310 and Vostro 5310
akula1
1 Rookie
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6 Posts
2
August 11th, 2025 22:55
<Private data removed from public view. DELL-Admin>
(edited)
ALEXding
2 Intern
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43 Posts
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September 16th, 2025 02:11
@ cougar81 I have the same problem with my G16 and I think the engineers should be responsible for it~
ALEXding
2 Intern
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43 Posts
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December 4th, 2025 02:50
我降级后就再也没更新过BIOS，目前一切良好
LFTM
1 Rookie
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4 Posts
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February 7th, 2026 20:25
Hi all. Same issues of crashing and looping. This error is beyond reasonable. This is the second time. I was able to fix it the first time this defect occurred by reinstalling V 2.32 back in October 2025.
For whatever reason, Windows Update didn’t get the memo and slipped in a bios update 2 days ago that installed bios version 2.37. I see no references to this version on the driver download page, yet Windows update was able to push this bios into my laptop.
Once I discovered what happened, I tried to revert back to 2.32 and was locked out stating that the older version is no longer supported. My laptop has essentially been bricked by this unstable update. I do not see or have access to version 2.38 anywhere on the Dell driver download page to resolve the lockout.
The crashes are so severe that it has now corrupted my Windows installation and I no longer see a tool bar or have access to applications. It just completely freezes up a few minutes after that and cycles into a reboot process.
I called dell support. I was looped into AI runarounds for 15 minutes. I cannot get a human on the line. All I get are referrals to drop $75 to renew a tech support plan. Really? I don’t think so. I am not paying to fix breakage caused by a defective update in the first place.
This is a harsh situation. Distribution of a notably defective bios update for a laptop no longer supported, that crashes the system with no present resolution is not reasonable. My laptop is useless. I just want to reinstall an older stable version of the bios and move along.
Dell support, please help.
(edited)
SR1984
1 Rookie
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1 Message
1
February 10th, 2026 21:27
I'm having the same problem as LFTM above. No ability to find or download 2.38. No ability to downgrade to any older bios version.
Please fix this, Dell.
ESLOW
1 Rookie
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2 Posts
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February 12th, 2026 02:24
@DELL-Nat M Where can we get BIOS version 2.38? I'm running into same issue and laptop is useless right now. Can't work. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
Tried downgrading to 2.33 as that's the latest you provide on your site but got the unsupported downgrade message using both exe through BIOS update and rcv file through recovery as well.
(edited)
user_7ef3d8
1 Rookie
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5 Posts
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February 12th, 2026 09:23
@DELL-Nat M Where is the new Bios, I can't find it at that link
user_7ef3d8
1 Rookie
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5 Posts
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February 12th, 2026 09:27
@LFTM That's exactly what happened to me just now.
(edited)
user_7ef3d8
1 Rookie
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5 Posts
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February 12th, 2026 09:28
@SR1984 Same here, it just happened.
user_7ef3d8
1 Rookie
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5 Posts
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February 12th, 2026 09:29
@DELL-Nat M Windows just updated my BIOS to 2.37.0 and now my laptop is messed up.
(edited)
user_7ef3d8
1 Rookie
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5 Posts
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February 12th, 2026 09:30
@zurnedden How did you revert back?
godsxr
1 Rookie
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16 Posts
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February 12th, 2026 09:36
I downloaded the newly released 2.38 and installed it by manually updating the rcv file.
It worked for me, but not for others. Dell removed it from the downloads. I have a copy if you want.