Alienware M17x R4 Flashing Unlocked A11 BIOS to Replace Stock A13 BIOS

Hi Guys,

I have an Alienware M17x R4 with A13 BIOS. How can I flash the A11 Unlocked BIOS? Can someone give me a few steps? Also is it very risky downgrading the BIOS? The thing is when my mobo was replaced, it already had A13...

Any opions solutions @Robbo99999 @j95 @Mr. Fox?

Thanks,
Tom

 

I have heard that it can increase the likelihood of bricking if you downgrade to a previous BIOS, I've downgraded on my system without any issues, but I do have a different model, the R3. I'm not sure what steps you can take to minimise the chance of it happening or indeed what to do if it does brick, hopefully one of the others will chime in with some advice. (Maybe I have some vague memories that it's important to revert to default BIOS settings if downgrading from a modded later version - very hazy memories though!!)

 

Hmm I don't think that this should be a problem. Just before downgrading hit default settings buton and all should be fine. You can also prepare blind flash pendrive if something goes wrong so you will be 100% covered.

 

Can you be more clear? Also how do you downgrade the BIOS? Just download the older A11 version exe from Alienware and run that?

 

Bump!!!!!!!

 

Did a quick google search on "blind flashing M17xR4", and it does seem that downgrading the BIOS is not recommended, a few cases of bricked machines which most people seem to have solved by claiming on warranty! One case where a blind flash also caused a non-resolvable brick. Looks like the R4 BIOS went through some major changes from revision to revision as Windows 8 was starting to be adopted. If I was you I wouldn't downgrade the BIOS unless you absolutely have no option.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/downgrading-bios-on-alienware-m17x-r4.759869/

And there's posts in the following thread that describe a blind flashing process from a pendrive, and also another link within those posts from j95 too:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/help-m17x-r4-bricked-after-a09-bios.693202/

 

Yup, no unlocked BIOS for me .. I can't take a risk bricking anything and doing a blind flash is just not something I would be able to do..

Personally, I'm a bit gutted but not worried.. My rig is good enough.. having the unlocked BIOS was really for number chasing.. Well I'm getting a new rig once some new Clevo are out with Skylake desktop processors and the new 17.3" screens so Q4 2015 couldn't come fast enough

 

Your Intel Core i7 3940XM @ 4.0GHz is still a much better product than the BGA crap from Intel that throttles immediately the processor smell a "high" load at 47W

 

Umgh the BGA Crap doesn't even come close when I run at 3.8GHz lol...

 

Close to 3.8 ghz... Are you crazy? A disgusting "highend" Intel BGA running throttled speed Approximately 2.5 to 2.8 ghz during high load(How much Throttling is determined by whether the laptop is thick or thin). Sometimes also down to 0.8ghz... This is 1.2 - 3.2GHz lower than your Ivy extreme

 

What if you get 2 pendrives with downgraded and stock BIOS prepared to blind-flash? If something goes wrong you can always put your stock bios and blind-flash it?

 

Blind flashing has resulted in permanent M17xR4 bricks for some people, seems like a risky thing to do if you don't really need to downgrade to a previous BIOS version.

 

Seems like you didn't understand what I meant.. what I was saying is that the BGA CPU doesn't even come close to my FS Physics score when I run at 3.8GHz... Which I can actually hold unlike it ... Probabbly would be beat it at 3.6 too..

 

I get a sustained 3.9GHz with 4GHz peak from my 3740QM on A13, depending on the type of load it can mostly keep that indefinitely. Some 100% loads are more power hungry than others and in heavy cases it does pull back to 3.6GHz. I was originally going to get the X model as an upgrade but now I'm not sure how much more mileage I would get out of it.

Does the unlocked bios do anything extra for the QM? Doubtful I imagine. In most cases I'm already sitting around 3.9-4.0GHz and although the cooling isn't being pushed I can reach 85C when I do my worst to load the CPU (Prime95). I've owned an X processor before and I know it's more than just the clocks (better cache too) but I'm on the fence about buying one - anyone made a similar step? I'm not sure that £250 is a bit much for a 10% cpu increase (with horrible temps to boot)..

 

Nahh not really, I could do 4.0GHz and 4.1GHz in BF4 without tripping the limit... 4.2 definetly does that and is too hot...

 

Great thanks, that's good to know. I'll still probably upgrade at some stage, but probably will go for a better GPU first now that I know this. My friend is interested to buy your barebones, I spoke with him today. Let's see if we can sort that out. Thanks again for the feedback on the CPU

 

I was in the same boat as you, M17x R4 with A13 BIOS.

I attempted a blind flash to A05 and it seemed to work, laptop booted up. I went to flash A11 stock immediately thereafter and was surprised to see Insyde Flash say that my current BIOS was still A13! It was too late by then, the flasher had already started... but it worked! Flashed from A13 to A11 stock with the dell utility. Then used the FPT method to flash to A11 modded in DOS and that went smooth as well.

I think another user on TechInferno had the same experience as well. No need to go A13 -> A05 -> A11 -> A11 (mod). Just go straight to A13 -> A11 -> A11 (mod). (Note: attempt at own risk )

 

Each time when i make it downgrade i just download bios and install him from Windows and all time work well.

 

its seems like TOM sold d m17x r4 :S

 

Yes screen was bricked by Windows 10 NVIDIA bug... totally disgusted with Dell/Alienware, not buying them for the forseeable future!

 

hi manage to downgrade my bios a13 to a10 , a11 locked and a11 unlock manny times without problem if you want to downgrade your bios i can help you just let me know i have the files im not active here you can also mail me at [email protected] if i ddint reply you here

 

How do i see if my bios is unlocked?

 

Been tryin to unlock with pendrive but no luck
I got A11 on my m17x r4
Need the unlocked bios to make my 765m to work