Last BIOS update for the I8600...A12?

[somms]

Dell Inc.
Copyright (C) 2004, All Rights reserved.
www.dell.com


BIOS Release Notes

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A12
Build Date:   12/07/04

The following updates were made to the A11 BIOS to create the A12 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
1.  Fixed an issue that been seen on some systems where the system
    shutdown in stand by when plug in and out AC adaptor.

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A11
Build Date:   10/25/04

The following updates were made to the A10 BIOS to create the A11 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
1.  Fixed an issue where the system was unable to resume from stand by
    if a Celeron M processor was installed.

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A10
Build Date:   08/30/04

The following updates were made to the A09 BIOS to create the A10 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
1.  Fixed Quickset messages when docked without AC.

Enhancements:
1.  Added support new Intel processors and new wireless cards.

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A09
Build Date:   07/08/04

The following updates were made to the A08 BIOS to create the A09 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
1.  Fixed issue in which the system may unexpectedly shutdown or
    lockup when booting with certain PCMCIA cards inserted.

Enhancements:
1.  Added support for informed hot-undocking. The undock method can
    be configured as either "Hot Undock" or "Warm Undock" using the
    new "Undocking Method" field on page 5 of System Setup. The
    system must be rebooted after changing this field.
    Previously, the system would only allow warm-undocking. When
    warm-undocking, the system enters Standby mode if the dock eject
    button is pressed or the user commands the Operating System to
    undock the computer from the Start Menu.
    The new default behavior is Hot Undock. This allows the system
    to stay powered on when undocking.

    PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of how "Undocking Method" is configured,
    the user must notify the system before undocking by either pressing
    the dock eject button or commanding the OS to undock the computer
    from the Start Menu.

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A08
Build Date:   04/26/04

The following updates were made to the A07 BIOS to create the A08 BIOS:

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for newer versions of the Intel Pentium M processor.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A07
Build Date:   04/14/04

                     **** PLEASE NOTE ****
      After upgrading to this BIOS the operating system may redetect
      some devices and you may be prompted to restart the computer
      to complete installation. This is expected behavior on certain
      systems. All of the devices will function properly after the
      redetection.
                     **** PLEASE NOTE ****

The following updates were made to the A06 BIOS to create the A07 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed issues where the system fails to boot to certain USB storage
    devices or any USB storage when several such devices are attached
    to the system.
2.  Fixed issue seen after several Standby/Resume cycles in which an
    external USB keyboard can no longer be used to enter a BIOS or
    hard-disk drive password.
3.  Fixed problem where a reboot is required for a System Setup boot
    order change to take effect. Now, if <F2> is pressed during POST to
    enter System Setup, and a boot order change is made, the new boot
    order will take effect upon exiting System Setup.
4.  Fixed issue in which no audio is received from the analog audio
    channel of a DVD-RW drive in the media bay.
5.  Fixed issue in which media bay devices may be reported incorrectly
    in SMBIOS if the device is swapped while in Standby.
6.  Fixed possible system hang during POST when the Parallel Mode in
    System Setup is configured to DISABLE.
7.  Fixed issue in which QuickSet may intermittently fail to detect
    a hotkey press, such as the <Fn + F10> CD Eject hotkey.
8.  Update to Pre-boot System Assessment to build 3012. This version
    addresses problems when executing the hard-disk drive tests
    without AC power attached.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for DVD+/-RW drives to be displayed in System Setup
    and SMBIOS correctly.
2.  Added feature to allow the BIOS Admin password to unlock the
    primary hard-disk drive password. For this feature to work, the
    BIOS Admin password must be installed at the time the drive
    password is created. Also, the BIOS Admin password will only
    unlock the password for a drive that is installed in the specific
    system on which the drive password is originally created.
3.  Added support for newer versions of the Intel Pentium M processor.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A06
Build Date:   03/31/04

                     **** PLEASE NOTE ****
      After upgrading to this BIOS the operating system may redetect
      some devices and you may be prompted to restart the computer
      to complete installation. This is expected behavior on certain
      systems. All of the devices will function properly after the
      redetection.
                     **** PLEASE NOTE ****

The following updates were made to the A05 BIOS to create the A06 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed issue in which the serial port, parallel port and infrared
    port would not be seen by the operating system on some systems.
    Also fixes issue where, after upgrading to A05 BIOS, some systems
    may require an audio driver update.

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A05
Build Date:   02/11/04

The following updates were made to the A04 BIOS to create the A05 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed system hang seen when resuming from Standby after inserting
    an optical drive into the media bay while in Standby.

2.  Fixed system hang seen when resuming from Standby if the user
    notifies the operating system to eject an optical drive before
    entering Standby, but the drive is never removed.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for identifying new DVD+/-RW drives in System
    Setup and in SMBIOS.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A04
Build Date:   01/12/04

The following updates were made to the A03 BIOS to create the A04 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Improved the battery charging algorithm for fully discharged batteries.
2.  Fixed problem where a system running on batteries may resume 
    immediately after entering a suspend state when the system is low on
    battery life.
3.  Fixed issue in DOS where if a USB key is the boot device the System will
    hang for a few minutes before displaying an error message if the USB key 
    is removed.
4.  Improved dual-battery discharge algorithm.  Discharge secondary
    battery first to 3%, then attempt to discharge primary battery to 3%,
    then secondary to 0% followed by primary to 0%.
5.  Fixed an issue where the system may hang at the end of POST if a 
    HUB with a USB device is connected.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for newer Intel MiniPCI wireless card.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A03
Build Date:   11/18/03

The following updates were made to the A02 BIOS to create the A03 BIOS:

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for newer video controllers.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A02
Build Date:   09/30/03

The following updates were made to the A01 BIOS to create the A02 BIOS:

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed hang seen when exiting Dell Diagnostics with a USB keyboard
    connected.
2.  Fixed problem where System Setup may report the wrong CPU speed.
3.  Fixed intermittent "unexpected error" seen when running the System
    BIOS flash update program in Windows.
4.  Fixed intermittent abnormal NumLock LED behavior seen during POST.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Reduced the minimum remaining battery capacity required to run
    the System BIOS flash update program in Windows. The flash update
    program requires that an AC adapter be attached and the battery
    be charged to at least 11%.
2.  Added support for newer battery packs.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A01
Build Date:   08/27/03

Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed hang seen during boot with the HP PSC2200 all-in-one USB
    printer attached.
2.  Improved the dual-battery discharging algorithm.
3.  Fixed problem where the system would shutdown if the battery
    drained to a critically low battery state while the system was
    in Standby.
4.  Fixed problem where the battery LED will flash amber when the
    battery is swapped while in Standby.
5.  Fixed problem where pressing <ALT-P> while in BIOS Setup will
    not function if the "Enable Keypad" option is set to "by NumLock".
6.  Fixed problem where SMBIOS would not report an accurate battery
    capacity for a fully charged Dell supported battery.
7.  Decreased the time required for the system to enter Standby after
    closing the lid.
8.  Fixed a problem where a USB floppy attached to the system would be lost
    during the OS CD installation.

Enhancements:
===============
1.  Added support for new video controllers.
2.  Optimized the thermal control algorithm.

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1 

===================================================================
===================================================================
Systems:      Dell Inspiron 8600
Version:      A00
Build Date:   07/01/03


Initial release of the BIOS

The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP, Service Pack 1

http://support.dell.com/support/down...leaseid=R90277

For those I8600 owners without floppy drives, the above has been repackaged to run from bootable CD. Look in the image link below.

[Tigerotor77W]

Wow, talk about a late fix... seems to me they're going to tweak it a bit in put it in the i6000.

[warlord]

No need to even use booting from CD, you can also download exe. straight to your desktop and flash from there.....I have flashed all BIOS in that manner since purchase over a year ago..never had any problems at all.....

Specs 8600 1.7
128Nvidia 5650FxGo
768Mb 333DDR
A12 BIOS
15.4 WSXGA+
4xDVDR+RW
1300 Wireless

[somms]

Originally Posted by warlord

No need to even use booting from CD, you can also download exe. straight to your desktop and flash from there.....I have flashed all BIOS in that manner since purchase over a year ago..never had any problems at all.....

Thats fine for those who choose to live dangerously and take the chance that the Windows-based flash may fail rendering the system board useless. Since I'm old-school, I'll continue to flash the BIOS outside of windows in DOS when I can as to minimize the chances of flashBIOS failure.

[anettis]

It don't think it will be long before floppy drives are extinct. Many systems not longer come with them unless specifically requested. I always use a Windows based flash and have not damaged any laptops. I think it there was THAT much risk DELL would not make a Windows based flash avaialbe - with all the systems they support think about the nightmare it would cause for their support team if even 1% of the time there was a problem with a Windows BIOS flash.

[jkj]

ehh they are under warranty anyway and 99.99% of the time it works just fine. You minimally reduce the chance.

[somms]

Originally Posted by anettis

It don't think it will be long before floppy drives are extinct. Many systems not longer come with them unless specifically requested. I always use a Windows based flash and have not damaged any laptops. I think it there was THAT much risk DELL would not make a Windows based flash avaialbe - with all the systems they support think about the nightmare it would cause for their support team if even 1% of the time there was a problem with a Windows BIOS flash.

I believe that Dell began creating the dual Windows/DOS executable flashBIOS due to the fact that many systems no longer ship with a floppy. The alternatives being bootable CD or USB Flash drive. Also, Dell realizes that many of their users being noobs have no idea what DOS is.

BTW: It has been well documented in this forum as well at delltalk.us.dell.com that many more notebooks have been rendered useless after attempting the faux Windows-Based flashBIOS than when attempted booted straight into DOS.

[AxiomofIllusion]

[jkj]

AxiomofIllusion: I cant tell you how much I agree.

[robertrock]

Has anyone applied the A12 BIOS on WinXPPro SP2? Does not specifically say that it's validated for SP2, only SP1?


Robert

[Monkey Boy]

I just applied it (with the Windows .exe) with SP2 installed and it is working fine. I still think it's retarded that they verify with a SP1 install.

[ran1]

don't see as it does much except for that one little fix - which I don't seem to have.....

Anyone see any other undocumented effects?

[Picard]

I'm running A12 on my 8600 WinXP SP2. No problems so far.

[skifiend]

Originally Posted by Picard

I'm running A12 on my 8600 WinXP SP2. No problems so far.

Same here.

[Picard]

For those skeptical, I am certain that Dell would not release a "buggy" BIOS update if they think it is indeed buggy. Moreover, if there are issues on installation (windows EXE or DOS), Dell will surely give posted red warnings before you can download and install the software.