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    AW17R1 BIOS UPGRADE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT BATTERY TO A17

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Baqir, Apr 11, 2020.

  1. Baqir

    Baqir Notebook Evangelist

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    hello every i just wanted to post that i upgraded my bios to A17 without battery using fat32 usb drive
    follow the steps

    1-format usb drive to fat32
    2- download latest bios from dell website open insyderflash.exe without closing it go to temp and copy VASxxx.fd file to usb drive
    3- shutdown laptop
    4- unplug battery and ac adapter
    5- plug ac adapter and press "END" button simultaneously
    6- leave it for about 5 mins and reboot
    7- your bios is updated.

    p.s do everything at your own risks.
     
    Baqir, Apr 11, 2020
    #1
  2. Reciever

    Reciever D! For Dragon!

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    You shouldn't need battery anyways?

    Threw mine out probably a week after I got it.
     
    Reciever, Apr 11, 2020
    #2
  3. Baqir

    Baqir Notebook Evangelist

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    you do need it if you install the bios using insyderflash.exe in OS
     
    Baqir, Apr 11, 2020
    #3
  4. Mastermind5200

    Mastermind5200 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Why would you want to upgrade to A17
     
    Mastermind5200, Apr 11, 2020
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  5. Baqir

    Baqir Notebook Evangelist

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    I was on A13 why is it bad decision
     
    Baqir, Apr 11, 2020
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  6. Mastermind5200

    Mastermind5200 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Perfomance decrease
     
    Mastermind5200, Apr 11, 2020
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  7. Baqir

    Baqir Notebook Evangelist

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    Like what kind of performance?
     
    Baqir, Apr 11, 2020
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  8. Confused Troll

    Confused Troll Notebook Enthusiast

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    This does sound like the hard way to do BIOS upgrade. If upgrading with stock sBIOSes, you might be able to do it in small steps with the official installer from windows and restarting after each update.

    Also, I've read on these here forums that A14 to A16 introduced some security changes and security improvements tend to come with performance decrease.
     
    Confused Troll, Apr 12, 2020
    #8
  9. MrMogwai

    MrMogwai Notebook Evangelist

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    The official flasher will yell at you for no battery. In that case emergency recovery may be the only solution.
     
    MrMogwai, Apr 14, 2020
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  10. mpechura

    mpechura Notebook Enthusiast

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    May appear a bit off-topic but I didn't want to start a new thread. Seeing how this is a battery related thread I've got a question.

    So my Alienware 17 R1 immediately shuts down when battery is inserted even when it's connected to the power cable.
    Problem started ever since I've upgraded to Dell 1070 and to a new panel (N173HHE-G32).

    My question is, is there a firmware update for the battery or the version of the battery that has enough charge to power my rig? I feel the battery isn't giving enough juice for the new GPU.
    I think people will suggest that I need a battery replacement. But I've replaced the original with a new one and the behaviour didn't change.
    Problem lies in an increased power draw on the battery that causes the 17 to shut down.
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2020
    mpechura, Apr 14, 2020
    #10
  11. MrMogwai

    MrMogwai Notebook Evangelist

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    My guess would be that something may be causing a short on your motherboard. I'm running the 17 with Quadro P4000 (basically the same mold) on battery without any issues. All that should happen is that it should run at lowest GPU setting from your 1070, since the iGPU is basically bypassed. Did you install all the Dell drivers, including the battery support?
    Maybe try browsing your power plans in both Windows itself and the Nvidia control panel.
     
    MrMogwai, Apr 14, 2020
    #11