BIOS Updates

trevo · Apr 27, 2022

Try3 said:
You can go to Dell Drivers & downloads instead of using their application.
Dell Drivers n downloads - Dell
Your then put in your Dell Service tag [or agree to let them detect it] so it will only show you drivers & Bios for the specific hardware that they recorded in your hardware manifest when they sent you the computer. [This avoids your seeing & having to wade through drivers for other variants in the same computer model series]

All the best,
Denis

Thanks

Try3 · Apr 27, 2022

Gary,

It is an alternative to this particular function of that app.

- I have no idea if that app also does other things; I ditched my Dell apps years ago.

Whether it is better or not is a matter of opinion.

All the best,
Denis

TraderGary · Apr 27, 2022

Try3 said:
Gary,

It is an alternative to this particular function of that app.

- I have no idea if that app also does other things; I ditched my Dell apps years ago.
Whether it is better or not is a matter of opinion.

All the best,
Denis

Fair enough, Denis, your Dell is several years older than mine.

CornishRattler · Apr 27, 2022

Dell Support Assist is what Dell try to peddle to automatically scan for updates, my main gripes are that it shows the updates that have already been installed and the graphic drivers seem to be many months out of date

TraderGary · Apr 27, 2022

CornishRattler said:
Dell Support Assist is what Dell try to peddle to automatically scan for updates, my main gripes are that it shows the updates that have already been installed and the graphic drivers seem to be many months out of date

The target of "Dell Support Assist" is obviously the novice user. What is your opinion of "Dell Command | Update" version 4.5.0?

Try3 · Apr 27, 2022

TraderGary said:
your Dell is several years older than mine

I have no idea what age has to do with it.
Dell provide an app to do the job and they provide a website to do the job.
Users are free to do it either way.

I've been ditching Dell bundled utilities for twenty years - in my newest [2016] & my oldest [2005] Dell computers.

Denis

TraderGary · Apr 27, 2022

Try3 said:
I have no idea what age has to do with it.
Dell provide an app to do the job and they provide a website to do the job.
Users are free to do it either way.

I've been ditching Dell bundled utilities for twenty years - in my newest [2016] & my oldest [2005] Dell computers.

Denis

Fair enough, Denis, I respect your opinion.

FrancoDT · Apr 27, 2022

The-Hive said:
I have just done the BIOS update on the Alienware Area51 and all is good. I do not like doing BIOS updates but I have never had any problems flashing the BIOS with an Alienware or Dell on Windows 11 but I understand some people have.

Alienware seems to do a lot of BIOS updates, many for security updates. Here's a list of mine:

1.16.120 Apr 2022
1.15.015 Mar 2022
1.14.017 Feb 2022
1.13.008 Feb 2022
1.12.014 Dec 2021
1.11.005 Oct 2021
1.10.006 Sep 2021
1.9.230 Jul 2021
1.8.016 Mar 2021
1.7.206 Jan 2021
1.6.025 Nov 2020
1.5.021 Aug 2020
1.3.022 Jun 2020
1.2.104 Jun 2020
1.1.022 May 2020
1.0.321 May 2020

Bree · Apr 27, 2022

Try3 said:
I've been ditching Dell bundled utilities for twenty years - in my newest [2016] & my oldest [2005] Dell computers.

I'm with you on this. My newest Dell laptop is a 2021 model, my oldest is from 2010. They all have clean installs, there's just the one Dell utility I ever install, the Dell Power Manager. This gives access to settings that are otherwise only available through the BIOS.

Dru2 · Apr 27, 2022

trevo said:
I didn't remove much, which app did you have in mind?

I see your question has been answered. I have no PCs, but for Lenovo it would be their Lenovo "Vantage" app.

Anyway, you got your answer so good luck :)

trevo · Apr 27, 2022

Dru2 said:
I see your question has been answered. I have no PCs, but for Lenovo it would be their Lenovo "Vantage" app.

Anyway, you got your answer so good luck :)

Dru2 · Apr 27, 2022

trevo said:

BTW that should have said "I have no Dell PCs"

Anyway Peace

CornishRattler · Apr 28, 2022

TraderGary said:
The target of "Dell Support Assist" is obviously the novice user. What is your opinion of "Dell Command | Update" version 4.5.0?

I don't use either so can offer no opinion

The-Hive · Apr 28, 2022

@FrancoDT They sure do have a lot of updates, and I never have problems except with the last AWCC and that resolved itself

pparks1 · Apr 28, 2022

The-Hive said:
I have just done the BIOS update on the Alienware Area51 and all is good. I do not like doing BIOS updates but I have never had any problems flashing the BIOS with an Alienware or Dell on Windows 11 but I understand some people have.

Yeah, I've always had pretty good luck with BIOS updates. However, I generally am a bit reserved on doing them just for the sake of doing them. I've only had 1 device ever get bricked during a BIOS update and it got replaced under warranty.

I will always do a BIOS update when I buy new parts and build a new computer. However once I have the machine up and running and it's stable and working great, I generally don't pay attention anymore as to whether new BIOS updates come out. Many changes are implemented to support a newer set of processors, etc....but if I'm not going to be upgrading from my current CPU, I don't really care.

I have had numerous situations where i had something working perfectly, and then opted to just go ahead and update it and then had numerous problems along the way. Sometimes haven't to flash back to an older bios, or have stability problems after the update and I always end up thinking, "why oh why did I think it was worth doing this change, everything was perfect and now i've gone backwards).

FrancoDT · Apr 28, 2022

The-Hive said:
@FrancoDT They sure do have a lot of updates, and I never have problems except with the last AWCC and that resolved itself

I've done all those BIOS updates without ever having a problem. Now the AWCC and OC control updates on the other hand are a crap shoot for me. Seems every time I get a properly working version the next one breaks something. I reverted back but now AWCC is installing the broke OC controls version automatically so I'm stuck with it.

The-Hive · Apr 28, 2022

FrancoDT said:
I've done all those BIOS updates without ever having a problem. Now the AWCC and OC control updates on the other hand are a crap shoot for me. Seems every time I get a properly working version the next one breaks something. I reverted back but now AWCC is installing the broke OC controls version automatically so I'm stuck with it.

So right there @FrancoDT I don't normally bother to update them but this time it was automatically done.