Vista - BIOS UPDATE

On Thu, 24 May 2007 16:10:00 -0700, Zman
<Zman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

>I received a BIOS update for my VISTA operation system. I downloaded the
>file, however I get FLASH ACCESS DENIED. Log on administrator and retry. I
>am logged in as the administrator. My sign in is the only person on the
>login and I am designated the admin. Anyone have a answer as to what I need
>to do to apply this update?

Hello Zman,

It's not an update for Vista, but for all Dell machines of a type. In
the instructions, Dell neglected to mention that before running the
update, Vista users must set the "run as administrator" option on the
file. Logging in is as admin is NOT sufficient.

So right-click on the update .exe file in Explorer and choose that
option from the compatibility tab before running the file.

I just did this on my Dell Dimension 9200 and it worked. On my first
attempt, I got the same error message that you did.

FYI, the Dell forums are a better place for questions like this.

Doug M. in NJ

Actually, they have instructions for running the BIOS update either way.

From the Dell website:


Method 1
Run the BIOS update utility from Windows environment
Double click the Icon on your desktop labeled XP051A07.EXE.
The Dell BIOS Flash window appears
Click the Continue button.
The message Pressing OK will close all applications, shut down Windows,
Flash the BIOS, then reboot. appears.
Click the OK button.
The system will restart and the BIOS Flash will be completed.

Method 2
Run the BIOS update utility from DOS environment (Non-Windows users)
NOTE: You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable file
does not create the DOS system files.
Copy the file XP051A07.EXE to a bootable floppy.
Boot from the floppy to the DOS prompt.
Run the file by typing Y:\XP051A07.EXE (where y is the drive letter where
the executable is located).
--

Ronnie Vernon
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User


"Angry_American" <Angry_American@nospam.net> wrote in message
news:767DACFC-4AA3-4963-9FF7-AC87E27B490F@microsoft.com...
> "Njetspam" <njetspam@njetspam.njetspam> wrote in message
> news:utTrA%23rnHHA.4132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Zman wrote:
>>> I received a BIOS update for my VISTA operation system. I downloaded
>>> the file, however I get FLASH ACCESS DENIED. Log on administrator and
>>> retry. I am logged in as the administrator. My sign in is the only
>>> person on the login and I am designated the admin. Anyone have a answer
>>> as to what I need to do to apply this update?
>> Do NOT update bios with Windows. Boot to dos and update or use
>> boot-disk and so on.
>
>
>
> With a Dell the op does not have a choice, the BIOS update is an exe and
> must be run from Windows.
>
> Dan

"Ronnie Vernon MVP" <rv@invalid.org> wrote in message
news:O8gV0uvnHHA.5032@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Actually, they have instructions for running the BIOS update either way.
>
> From the Dell website:
>
>
> Method 1
> Run the BIOS update utility from Windows environment
> Double click the Icon on your desktop labeled XP051A07.EXE.
> The Dell BIOS Flash window appears
> Click the Continue button.
> The message Pressing OK will close all applications, shut down Windows,
> Flash the BIOS, then reboot. appears.
> Click the OK button.
> The system will restart and the BIOS Flash will be completed.
>
> Method 2
> Run the BIOS update utility from DOS environment (Non-Windows users)
> NOTE: You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable
> file does not create the DOS system files.
> Copy the file XP051A07.EXE to a bootable floppy.
> Boot from the floppy to the DOS prompt.
> Run the file by typing Y:\XP051A07.EXE (where y is the drive letter where
> the executable is located).
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "Angry_American" <Angry_American@nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:767DACFC-4AA3-4963-9FF7-AC87E27B490F@microsoft.com...
>> "Njetspam" <njetspam@njetspam.njetspam> wrote in message
>> news:utTrA%23rnHHA.4132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>> Zman wrote:
>>>> I received a BIOS update for my VISTA operation system. I downloaded
>>>> the file, however I get FLASH ACCESS DENIED. Log on administrator and
>>>> retry. I am logged in as the administrator. My sign in is the only
>>>> person on the login and I am designated the admin. Anyone have a
>>>> answer as to what I need to do to apply this update?
>>> Do NOT update bios with Windows. Boot to dos and update or use
>>> boot-disk and so on.
>>
>>
>>
>> With a Dell the op does not have a choice, the BIOS update is an exe and
>> must be run from Windows.
>>
>> Dan
>

Depending on the system, with the newer ones Dell does not offer a DOS
executable BIOS flash alternative.

Dan

"Bruce Chambers" <bchambers@cable0ne.n3t> wrote in message
news:%2353eq8unHHA.3952@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Angry_American wrote:
>>
>> A lot of computer manufacturers are only handing out BIOS updates
>> packaged to be run from Windows, Dell does this now as well. They used to
>> give an option to update the BIOS either by booting with a boot disk or
>> flashing from windows, but now its exclusively a windows package now.
>>
>> Dan
>
>
> Yet another reason to avoid Dell products. Oh well....
>

Or any large branded computers, I prefer local shops.

Dan

Thanks Mr. Chambers. The request for an update to the BIOS came from Dell
(whom I purchased the computer from) due to a setting in the BIOS that did
not work well with the VISTA operating. I really don't know what the problem
was but since this came from the manufacturer, I wasn't going to argue. On
top of that I have had several system failures, which could possibly have
been caused by this problem. They want to fall back to a previous version of
the BIOS. Maybe I should have explained that better. And it was DELL that
requested to do a FLASH to reload the previous version of the BIOS. Anyway
I contacted Dell this morning about the Flash access denied. After spending
an hour and a half on the phone I was given a set of instructions that was
supposed to be full proof to allow me to flash the BIOS. Their full proof
procedure didn't work. However, I figured out how to get it done. I went in
to the CONTROL PANEL - USER ACCOUNTS. Clicked on ADD OR REMOVE user
accounts. My user accounts was highlighted so I clicked on GO TO MAIN USER
ACCOUNT page. Then clicked on TURN USER ACCOUNT CONTROL ON OR OFF. Unchecked
USE UAC and clicked OK. I then booted the machine. Once up I was able to
complete the BIOS flash. After following instructions to boot again, once up
I went back in checked turn the UAC back on. and rebooted one more time. I
checked when coming up and the older version of the BIOS was being called in.
Anyway thanks to all that responded with helpful info.
--
The one and only Zman


"Bruce Chambers" wrote:

> Zman wrote:
> > I received a BIOS update for my VISTA operation system.
>
>
> That's not even remotely possible. Vista is an operating system, a
> form of software. A computer's BIOS is stored on the CMOS chip on the
> computer's motherboard, and is completely separate form any software
> installed on the computer.
>
> http://whatis.techtarget.com/definit...213814,00.html
>
> http://searchsmb.techtarget.com/sDef...213860,00.html
>
>
>
> > I downloaded the
> > file, however I get FLASH ACCESS DENIED. Log on administrator and retry. I
> > am logged in as the administrator. My sign in is the only person on the
> > login and I am designated the admin. Anyone have a answer as to what I need
> > to do to apply this update?
>
>
> Very, very few BIOS flashing utilities run from within Windows, as this
> is a very dangerous thing to do. Have you carefully and precisely
> followed the instructions provided by the computer's motherboard
> manufacturer?
>
> More importantly, why are you trying to flash your computer's BIOS?
> What specific problem are you experiencing that the motherboard
> manufacturer says will be fixed by the Bios flash? If there is no
> specific problem, don't flash the BIOS; it's far to easy to render a
> computer completely unbootable by applying an incorrect BIOS "update."
>
>
>
> --
>
> Bruce Chambers
>
> Help us help you:
> http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>
> They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary
> safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin
>
> Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell
>

Thanks Mr. Vernon. However, the steps I had to follow was not the problem,
it was not being recognized as a user with administrator authority. But I
appreciate your responding.
--
The one and only Zman


"Ronnie Vernon MVP" wrote:

> Actually, they have instructions for running the BIOS update either way.
>
> From the Dell website:
>
>
> Method 1
> Run the BIOS update utility from Windows environment
> Double click the Icon on your desktop labeled XP051A07.EXE.
> The Dell BIOS Flash window appears
> Click the Continue button.
> The message Pressing OK will close all applications, shut down Windows,
> Flash the BIOS, then reboot. appears.
> Click the OK button.
> The system will restart and the BIOS Flash will be completed.
>
> Method 2
> Run the BIOS update utility from DOS environment (Non-Windows users)
> NOTE: You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable file
> does not create the DOS system files.
> Copy the file XP051A07.EXE to a bootable floppy.
> Boot from the floppy to the DOS prompt.
> Run the file by typing Y:\XP051A07.EXE (where y is the drive letter where
> the executable is located).
> --
>
> Ronnie Vernon
> Microsoft MVP
> Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "Angry_American" <Angry_American@nospam.net> wrote in message
> news:767DACFC-4AA3-4963-9FF7-AC87E27B490F@microsoft.com...
> > "Njetspam" <njetspam@njetspam.njetspam> wrote in message
> > news:utTrA%23rnHHA.4132@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> >> Zman wrote:
> >>> I received a BIOS update for my VISTA operation system. I downloaded
> >>> the file, however I get FLASH ACCESS DENIED. Log on administrator and
> >>> retry. I am logged in as the administrator. My sign in is the only
> >>> person on the login and I am designated the admin. Anyone have a answer
> >>> as to what I need to do to apply this update?
> >> Do NOT update bios with Windows. Boot to dos and update or use
> >> boot-disk and so on.
> >
> >
> >
> > With a Dell the op does not have a choice, the BIOS update is an exe and
> > must be run from Windows.
> >
> > Dan
>
>

Thanks Doug. I did end up going to a DELL chat forum. But the instructions
they gave me didnot work. I an earlier post I explained what I did to get by
the problem. Whether or not what I did was correct, I was able to complete
the flash. Anyway, thanks for you responding. Wish i had seen this before i
wasted an hour and a half with Dell. This is the second time I spent
considerable time communicating with DELL, and got no satisfaction. They
last problem (which I still have) ended up costing weeks of recovering lost
data when I followed the instructions per DELL's techs.. I still have not
recovered everything I lost.
--
The one and only Zman


"retroman" wrote:

> On Thu, 24 May 2007 16:10:00 -0700, Zman
> <Zman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I received a BIOS update for my VISTA operation system. I downloaded the
> >file, however I get FLASH ACCESS DENIED. Log on administrator and retry. I
> >am logged in as the administrator. My sign in is the only person on the
> >login and I am designated the admin. Anyone have a answer as to what I need
> >to do to apply this update?
>
> Hello Zman,
>
> It's not an update for Vista, but for all Dell machines of a type. In
> the instructions, Dell neglected to mention that before running the
> update, Vista users must set the "run as administrator" option on the
> file. Logging in is as admin is NOT sufficient.
>
> So right-click on the update .exe file in Explorer and choose that
> option from the compatibility tab before running the file.
>
> I just did this on my Dell Dimension 9200 and it worked. On my first
> attempt, I got the same error message that you did.
>
> FYI, the Dell forums are a better place for questions like this.
>
> Doug M. in NJ
>

I have a new Bios ROM update for my motherboard/CMOS as well to address
specific issues with my Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 and VISTA compatibility fixes.
I have tried both the DOS boot floppy Flash utilities as well as the Vista
"compatible" version and followed all instructions from both American
Megatrends, Inc. and EliteGroup, Inc. for my hardware, and Vista Ultimate OS.
I made sure all CMOS BIOS Protection features were off as well as any
jumpers on my motherboard that prevents any modifications of the BIOS. I
recieved the same error regardless of my permission levels (file or logon).
I am the only administrator and still cannot get the bios to flash properly.
I have yet to try your suggestion to disable UAC but before I do, I want to
know if flashing my BIOS (if successful) will cause Vista Activation
Verfication issues or if I am not using BitLocker or UAC? Has anyone run
into problems that can give me some suggestions before I continue?
--
"Man, I have to get more sleep!"

Windows Vista Ultimate (32 Bit)
EliteGroup P4M800PRO-M(v2.0)
Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 CPU 1.8Mhz
American Megatrends, Inc. BIOS/CMOS 12/14/06
1024M DDR1 RAM

"retroman" wrote:

> On Thu, 24 May 2007 16:10:00 -0700, Zman
> <Zman@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> >I received a BIOS update for my VISTA operation system. I downloaded the
> >file, however I get FLASH ACCESS DENIED. Log on administrator and retry. I
> >am logged in as the administrator. My sign in is the only person on the
> >login and I am designated the admin. Anyone have a answer as to what I need
> >to do to apply this update?
>
> Hello Zman,
>
> It's not an update for Vista, but for all Dell machines of a type. In
> the instructions, Dell neglected to mention that before running the
> update, Vista users must set the "run as administrator" option on the
> file. Logging in is as admin is NOT sufficient.
>
> So right-click on the update .exe file in Explorer and choose that
> option from the compatibility tab before running the file.
>
> I just did this on my Dell Dimension 9200 and it worked. On my first
> attempt, I got the same error message that you did.
>
> FYI, the Dell forums are a better place for questions like this.
>
> Doug M. in NJ
>