Critical Intel MEI BIOS Security Fix Soon Area-51 R2 R4 Aurora R5 R6 R7 X51 R3 Laptops 6th 7th 8th Gen

_______________

Dell Client Statement on Intel ME/TXE Advisory (INTEL-SA-00086)

> Intel-SA-00086 Detection Tool https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/27150 <

Affected Systems Intel 6th 7th 8th Gen CPUs only, older models are ok, scan your system w/the tool or contact Dell

The Information below here does not apply to Laptop, X51 or Aurora Owners, read the advisory above please

_________________

51 R4 Owners

Intel Management Firmware is vulnerable & a fix is on the way. 51 R4 is not on the list, the August Bios 1.0.3 available for download now is outdated & potentially vulnerable, new systems are said to be shipping with 1.0.6 or 1.0.7 which may also be outdated vulnerable. Check your Bios Download page in the coming days weeks for your critical security patch & refresh the Dell.com link above often to check

_________________

The Information below only applies to Area-51 R2 Owners

If your 51 R2 is now on A11 or A12 (A12 is the 'latest' June 2017 but is vulnerable), check your download page in the coming days weeks & refresh the link above often

If your 51 R2 is still on Bios A01 A02 A03 etc, it might be time to attempt a jump to A12 now, then again later for what would be 'the new A13', due out soon. There are some people who are on A01 & A02 + Windows 10 (that may or may not be relevant) that have reported that their machine can not update to A03 & beyond, I believe

• if you can not update to A12 now, it is highly likely you can not reach *due out soon* either

________________

Need a new warranty motherboard in order to have the Critical Patch A13?

Now's the time to get one

Tip: If your 51 R2 is in warranty and the Bios will not update, contact Tech Support now for help & attempt motherboard replacement as a warranty claim in order to be on A13

A13 will be mandatory to have the security patch

________________

Tip: It is best to flash your BIOS update on a bootable USB drive, if that does not work, a possible cure is to have Windows 8.1 installed on a hard drive, then attempt to flash Bios (whether booting into 8.1 or into the USB drive was not specified, try flash drive 1st, even if it isn't intuitive) but I can not confirm that for you

Tip: BIOS bootable USB

Tip: "I was having same issue with A03 installed. Downloaded / installed each version from A04 to A12 & it worked"

If your 51 R2 BIOS will not update past A01 A02 etc, I will not participate in your tech support but others might, including the Reps here or on AlienArena forum > hundreds of people may need this critical security patch, not all of whom will have a successful BIOS update experience to 'A13'. I'm on A12, & frankly none of this is my problem. Alienware designed these motherboards, make them tell you how to fix it

Stepwise BIOS update Approach? Example Scenario

If you're on A04, you can try a jump to A12, if no good, try A08

If on A08, try A12, if no good, try A10

if on A01, try A12, if no good, try A02, if ok, try A12, if no good, try A03 A04 A08 etc moving up if you can to newer updates (an 'interim' BIOS update may be needed in order to reach A12 from lower older updates)

***If you plan to skip A12, & wish to try 'A13' soon, see the approach above in the event A13 fails for reasons unknown

Resources

51 R2 Historical (All) Bios Updates Links (A01 - A12)

• http://downloads.dell.com/published/pages/alienware-area51-r2.html

Google Example Search > AREA 51 R2 BIOS will not update

• https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=2DYjWubzIuzj_Qb4uLigDQ&q=AREA+51+R2+BIOS+will+not+update+&oq=AREA+51+R2+BIOS+will+not+update+&gs_l=psy-ab.3...1409.13327.0.13594.32.31.0.1.1.0.98.2050.31.31.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.19.1390...0j0i131k1j0i22i30k1j0i7i30k1j0i13k1j0i8i7i30k1j0i13i30k1j0i13i5i30k1j0i7i5i30k1j0i30k1j0i5i30k1j33i160k1.0.11aaWUv8sP4

Community Forum Example Search > Area 51 R2 BIOS

• https://community.dell.com/search.jspa?q=Area+51+R2+BIOS

Alienware Services AlienTube Bios Update Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-pn9kxu27Q

Cant update Area 51 R2 Bios

Area 51 R2 can't Update Bios

51 R2 Update Bios

Last Resort Methods

Download Win 8.1

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows8

If 8.1 does not help, I'd be forced to try on Win7

• https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows7
• AlienAddict's OEM 7 ISO (x64 Home SP1 installs activated) https://www.alienwarearena.com/ucf/show/917502/boards/technical-support-1/ForumPost/original-windows-7-os > see Mega download, this is not my link >  https://mega.nz/#!6R5XUaqA!mKLuzmTPSvD1y-u1DgWMiVw470vA7iQZqZjUIM6jp0M