**Dell XPS 17 (L702x) - DO NOT FLASH to BIOS A14 - (Updated 1/5 - see post 1)**

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edit 01/05/12 -

Please see the following posts:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...lash-bios-a14-please-read-10.html#post8178880
and,
http://forum.notebookreview.com/del...lash-bios-a14-please-read-14.html#post8210964

As I understand it from Bill, this has been resolved.

If you are still having issues, definitely post.

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L702x Owners:

Apparently, there is an issue with the A14 BIOS release. This is being worked up by Dell and they are in the process of removing it from the support site.

Dell's Bill-B can go into a bit more detail on this. Please use this thread for BIOS/Driver related install issues. Bill is monitoring and will be posting here in response to your feedback.

Once we have some form of resolution, we'll remove this thread from sticky status.

Thanks to Bill for the quick response to this issue.

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Ok, while waiting for Bill's answer I suggest that everyboy with an issue related to the bios/GPU's driver explain where is their problem and if Bill's answer solve each particular case such that readers in the future will be able to find a similar case than theirs.

If you're not okay with this, don't hesitate I'll edit. I'll start with my case:

Problem solved using the new nVidia drivers available on Dell's website

• Received my XPS 17 L702X with the A14 Bios
• Immediately did a fresh install using Windows Pro x64
• Tried to install drivers from the CD which came with the laptop
• Everything is okay except the Intel HD 3000 and the GT555M driver
• I managed to install these, and for the nVidia driver I did the "trick" of modifying the nvam.inf
• The drivers were installed, yet it was impossible for me to run any application/game with the nVidia GPU. It always used the Intel thing.
• I tried to "whitelist" my applications using the nVidia control panel. Still no result.
• I installed the 290.36 nVidia drivers (in beta). Still does not work, even with the whitelist thing.

 

I don't get it. Something is amiss. Here are my steps and findings:

1. Booted a unit up with BIOS A03.
2. Verified no bangs in Device Manager.
3. Installed A14 from Windows. Boots to desktop fine.
4. Installed touch pad driver, rebooted. Installs fine.
5. Installed latest Nvidia driver for the GT550M. Rebooted and installed fine.
6. Installed A12 from the Windows flash. Got this prompt and clicked Yes.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us
7. Installed fine.
8. Installed audio drivers fine.

So, with this system I have I am unable to reproduce the driver installation issues customers are experiencing with the factory installed version of A14.

My best advice until the quality teams come back with a final answer is to flash back to A12. I would say flash the web posted A14 over your factory installed A14, but it will be gone from the site shortly if it's not already.

 

desty, FWIW, in A12 BIOS when i installed the latest Nvidia drivers from their website Optimus didn't work too. Had to revert back to Dell website Nvidia drivers.

Have update to A14 BIOS and everything works fine. Do i NEED to revert do A12?

 

I think you should be fine if you flash to A12. I am looking for one person to verify they were able to do so. The only possible variable I can think of right now that will prevent you would be if this turns out to be a motherboard issue.

 

@Dell-Bill_B I installed the A14 website bios over my factory A14 bios but i can't roll back to A12 or A11 using windows flash. ???

 

Thanks for the input. I forgot to say that I flashed my Bios with the one which is currently online. I'm going to rollback to A12 if possible.

Just to confirm, when you say you've managed to install the nVidia drivers, did you try a graphical application and actually saw the activity icon in the task tray showing something? Or if you've got a game available, it will probably show which GPU it is using in the configuration menu when you run it(most games do that).

Edit: uh oh I took some time to write this down, this was actually an answer to the first post of Bill in this thread.

 

No. Stick with what you have.

I'm pretty sure the factory version of A14 was missing something that got fixed before it was web posted. I had it removed thinking it was going to cause more problems. My guess is it will go back through testing and renamed A15 to keep from freaking everyone out.

 

This I do not get, which is why I'm a bit concerned. If you are in the US, can I jump on the phone with you for about 15-20 minutes?

 

Yeah that's fine. Do you want me to PM you my number?

 

I only know that MSINFO32 showed me the old GPU driver version before I updated and the new version number after I rebooted.

 

So we know wankel's issue is not caused by A14 or A12. Has to be the motherboard or the dreaded (and no offense) user error.

Let's get on the phone so you can walk me through what you see and what you do.

 

@Dell-Bill_B PM sent.

 

OK just tried to flash back to A12 in windows and the following error stops it dead in its tracks posting the message for you to see if it helps ?

Platform system ID and platform name check error:Running on unsupported system.
System BIOS Upgrade Information: Cannot find any matched product in supporting list!
Current system BIOS Information:
System: L702X (1393), Revision: A14, Vendor: DELL SYSTEM

 

HERE IS A working FIX
http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/632313-a14-3d-l702x-3gb-gt555m-video-card-fix-hardware-id-05701028-can-used-4-future-drivers-nvidia-will-update-time-goes.html#post8160266

AND the REST of you having OPTIMUS PROBLEMS see the 4th POST DOWN in the above link! Which easily Fixes Just about everyones problems that really aren't really even a problem at all, just need to know what or how to change or configure settings! here is direct link http://forum.notebookreview.com/dell-xps-studio-xps/632313-a14-3d-l702x-3gb-gt555m-video-card-fix-hardware-id-05701028-can-used-4-future-drivers-nvidia-will-update-time-goes.html#post8160483

HI5

DyingJedi

 

Ok I just go a windows update which included an intel HD 3000 update... I wanted to let it finish before I try the A12 bios flash. When the update finished, I got very excited because the activity icon in the task tray told me that Firefox was using the GT555M !

I restarted, tried something, did not work. okay. I'm reinstalling the beta driver just in case, then I'll flash my Bios to A12.

Edit: Ok I tried to run the A12 thing. I got the exact same error as 3sport.

 

Desty check out my post to fox your issuse i think you will be fine once you do. im posting screenshots of my system in just a few. ref: to my previous post with the links.

 

I tried the two solutions you suggested in your thread:
1) using your nvam.inf file; since we are not using the same GPU (I don't have a 3D GPU), the setup application from nVidia cannot install the drivers
2) putting applications in "whitelist"; already done that, it doesn't do anything. I'm running my laptop using the "high performance" setting for the battery too.

Thanks for helping anyway

 

So, folks. I just got off the phone with wankel. We flashed the web A14 over his factory A14 successfully. Unable to install Nvidia driver. Tried to flash A12 over A14. No go. Same error as 3sport, et al. Tech support is sending him a motherboard and an onsite tech.

The hardware I checked out from the library was able to install all BIOS versions and Dell posted drivers just fine. So I'm at a loss.

If you have the same situation, unless Quality Engineering comes back with a better solution (ie, BIOS that will install and correct the issues), you will need to have your motherboard replaced. You also have the option of taking advantage of the 21 day return window.

On behalf of Dell, I apologize to everyone for the inconvenience. I am pretty sure a new BIOS revision will correct the issue, and I will get an ETA for the new version ASAP and post it back.

 

I was running the A14 which came with the laptop.
I flashed to the A14 which was available on Dell's website.
I now cannot roll back to A12 because I get an error when running the .exe file, just like 3sport.

 

Can anyone tell me what A14 does? Could not find a description for A14 on Dell's site while it was up there. Description field was blank. Thanks.

 

For the GT 555M there are two different chipsets, the GF106 and GF116. I have a GF116 Chipset(Revision A1) with this A14 bios laptop and I wonder if Dell-Bill_B's Bios A03 might have an older one like the GF106 which was also used in Dell XPS 17 models according to notebookcheck.net, or perhaps a different revision of the GF116.

 

Actually I think I had the details wrong. I went back and checked with wankel to confirm. We actually were not able to flash A12 over A14. Same error as everyone else. I sent the additional details over. Sorry for the confusion. My fault. I edited the post.

 

So How should I proceed if I want to keep my laptop and have the motherboard replaced? If I call customer support, Will they know the situation? Will I have to wait hours over the phone before they realized this is the only option to have this issue resolved? Thanks

 

So, are we to assume here that it is the WEB BIOS that is at fault here, not the FACTORY BIOS?

 

+1,
until we know the answer to this' then new XPS 17 owners with the A14 FACTORY BIOS installed in their machines (who have NOT carried out an OS re-install) are unable to move forward.

Also not willing to touch base with overseas tech support at this stage, to be given some silly answer!

Dell guy, please reply.

Many thanks

 

@Dell-Bill_B

I recently ordered a XPS 17 3D. Its in the production phase. I would like to know if this issue is a hardware problem with the shipping XPS 17 laptops?

I'm currently deployed to Afghanistan and want to avoid having to wait on a faulty product just so I can through the hassle of trying to return it.

By the time the laptop arrives my 21 day return window will have closed.

Thanks in advance!

 

Guys I have been working with XPS Escalated Support guy in India (yeah I know!) but he told me specifically not to roll back the BIOS as they are still researching the root cause of these driver "unsupported" issues. I have an escalated case with with a lot of history.

However, one thing everyone might find interesting as a point of observation. I upgraded my factory A14 to the updated A14 and then noticed that the F GT 550M GPU now gets detected on the Ndivia site which is interesting. Previously with the factory A14 it would not recognize the GPU at all. Unfortiuntely the drivers still fail to install and I still get the "unsupported system" message, does that mean there's a slight improvement in the updated A14?

 

It is still not working as intended: that's not an improvement, not even a slight one. I'm glad to hear however that the issue is being looked up by techies from all over the world and I'm quite confident when I think that they'll soon be releasing a working A15 bios like Bill said earlier. Come on Dell I've only got a week of holidays from now on! Lemme play the games I bought !

 

A question here - did you upgrade to the A14 BIOS then re-install Windows and have this problem, or was it like this out of the box?

 

Cheers for looking at this for us Bill,

Had a couple more problems as it turned out 1 being a "lovely" bright pixel staring at me when ever a dark screen would appear.

So called tech support and they are issuing a replacement laptop, will the factory now have the proper bios etc to install in the newly issued laptop that will let us have the ability to update the gpu etc without any problems?

 

Is this factory installed A14 the reason why we cannot update our nvidia drivers?

I do not want to reinstall my OS- is this an issue for people like me as well, or is it only for those that want a clean install?

Everything works fine with my newly arrived laptop (games work fine and so on) and I was planning to just hold on until Dell figured things out and released A15 or whatever, but the talk of faulty motherboard makes me think I should be downloading and trying things to see if I have a MB problem, instead of waiting to see what happens and enjoying the laptop for now.

 

Not that I say any of the below in any kind of official capacity mind, just as a customer who like to personalise my computers. But
The L702x Works correctly out of the box.
If you are content with the factory install Like many users Im sure will be then you are perfectly OK.

The issues only occur if you are a little more techie and want to go away from the comfort zone of the factory installed image.

Format the drives and load on your own choice of operating system. Its at this point you have will find Audio and Graphics Drivers currently supplied on the resource disk or downloaded from Dells website for your specific laptop generates an "unsupported system" error message and refuse to install.

Again for those of us that have some IT knowledge and had the forethought to back up some of the original system files we have managed to workaround the issues by manually forcing a load of the original factory installed drivers. But these "DIY" fixes of ours are perhaps not 100% certain in restoring all functionality of the relevant hardware and also present an issue apparently still with The laptop being recognised by current or future driver updates direct for the Nvidia GT555 graphics.

I think talk of a "faulty" Motherboard is premature I dont believe that is what we have at all as like we say the Laptop powers up and runs completely normally from its factory state.

If anything Its more likely that we have something ( Motherboard, graphics, audio perhaps ? ) in the laptop which is actually a Newer revision being fitted at manufacture and has either caught Dell's software developers napping or there has been a monumental communications or procedures failure somewhere in the chain at Dell that has allowed something that was still in the testing phase to get into the factory production line before it was officially signed off or agreed to roll out.

I suspect this explanation is more likely, because its the way that Dell have been totally surprised and unaware of any such issue until those that started a clean install straight away after delivery began flagging it up.

Now we have flagged it up then we have Dells kind Liason guys kindly working hard behind the scenes and keeping us informed here as to what Dell are doing to bring a resolve to the issues. I am sure they will find a satisfactory answer to the issues and then release a procedure on how to correct this in due course whether this be through Drivers, BIOS updates or even component replacement perhaps ?
But for me maintaining a computer is also about reinstalling windows from scratch on a regular basis and having full confidence and ability that drivers can be regulary kept up to date without pitfalls is a must so I am preferring to use the return/refund option within 21 days of delivery. Then waiting a few more months and perhaps re order an L702x then

 

There are a couple of new drivers on the Dell site uploaded as of today. Just intalled the new Nvidia drivers with A14 BIOS and had no problem at all.

 

Sorry to keep asking this, but everyone keeps talking about the A14 BIOS, but does anyone actually know what the A14 update improves/patches, etc.? I noticed there was no description on Dell's website of what the A14 BIOS actually updates in the first place. I did not download it so if there is a description file please share the info. I don't like blindly updating my wife's XPS BIOS without first knowing its purpose. Thanks.

 

I only see these two new video drivers on their website:

Code:

Dell-Driver
Video_NV_W74_A04_Setup_0373W_ZPE.exe (6MB)
Recommended
16/12/2011

Dell-Driver
Video_NV_W74_A09_Setup_4GPJW_ZPE.exe (155MB)
Recommended
16/12/2011

Are you talking about them when you wrote you installed the nVidia drivers?

 

All this 6 are from today. Nvidia (2), Synaptics (touchpad), Realtek (Ethernet), Jmicron (cardreader) and Quickset.

But yes i was talking about that A09 Nvidia drivers from Dell website.

 

Ok the new nVidia driver just solved my issue, yay! Thanks a lot!
No more worries for those who are waiting their parcel too

 

My PC came with the factory A14 out of the box, last night I upgraded to the updated version of A14 that Dell posted in the drivers section as instructed to do so by XPS Support. I never had A12 on my machine. To add to the confusion, you would think Dell would not call the updated bios A14, it should have been called A15 or A14a IMHO since its not the same as the factory one.

 

So I am still waiting on a complete update from the engineers. As I understand it they are busy working on correcting the issues and gathering information at this time to break down a detailed response for me. Hopefully I can get a post mortem for anyone still interested after everything is fixed.

So it looks like the new GPU drivers are working? If anyone can't install, please post back. Also, let's keep a running log of sorts as to remaining issues. It would be very helpful if when you post you let us know what we still have to work on related to the BIOS.

This excludes the loose AC adapter connection some have reported in other threads. We have corrected this issue with newly designed parts from the factory, and warranty replacement stock should have the new parts as well. So if your AC adapter's barrel connection at the back of the PC comes out as a result of too little force, contact tech support and request an exchanged part.

 

Just carried out another clean install: Issues still are

Audio: No Sound with the Realtek Audio Driver off the website and Resource CD. Install works OK and the volume controls look normal but even after a reboot you have no sound. Therefore you have to use the .inf file from the original C:\Dell\drivers folder to enable the audio.

Intel HD Graphics: Still unable to install from Website and CD drivers as this reports "Unsupported device" so again having to use the original .inf file (As above)

I now have a curious one in which the Jmicron Multimedia card reader fails to install with either the original A00 driver or today's updated A01 driver from the website ? The only thing I can think of here as that I flashed to the updated A14 BIOS from the web download last night, so is a byproduct of that BIOS ? The install program works correctly but imediately afterwards when windows picks it up in the taskbar to initialise hardware it reports device failed to install.

 

All the new drivers 16/12/11 when clicked lead to a http 404 - I've tried on firefox, chrome and IE 9

 

Just tried in Chrome. Worked fine.

 

@3sport
Can you add what GPU model Device Manager shows to your post so I can screencap it and send it directly over please?
ie, the Windows nomenclature that might look like this "N12P-GE GT520M"

Also, if you want to PM me your service tag, that would be very helpful as well. Thanks.

 

I have the same issue. Bill, do you use Dell downloader or direct download. Mine gives 404 on direct download. (and this is on any browser, plus 404 is a server response, so def sth on server side)

By the way, older drivers download normally

 

I used Chrome from my home office over VPN. Browser option.

 

I could not download it without using IE8 and the download manager.

 

Just did it in Chrome, latest FF and IE8 on my personal desktop off the Dell VPN. All 3 downloaded fine.

*off as in not connected to VPN or the Dell network

 

funny thing. I was able to download it when i connected through a german proxy. When using Netherlands ip address the server gives 404. Definitely something wrong there

 

Thanks for all the effort you are going to with this ongoing problem Bill-B, we do appreciate it.

From Australia, I tried the browser download method to get the new files this morning with IE9, Chrome and Firefox and nothing worked. I eventually got them downloaded using the download manager with IE9 and everything installed sucessfully

I find it strange that previously, there were no files listed as being specific to my service tag except the Dell Diagnostics however the new drivers are now listed as being files for my service tag.

Quickset 11.0.22, A04
CardReader 1.00.64.1, A01
RealTek LAN 7.048.0823.2001, A02
NVidia GT555M 8.17.12.6959, A09

The driver detect utility on geforce.com still detects my card but fails to detect any drivers installed and the latest whql drivers still fail to detect any compatible hardware. Device Manager displays my Nvidia card as "NVIDIA GeForce GT555M with hardware ID PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_124D&SUBSYS_05711028&REV_A1.

There is also a new TouchPad driver in the "All files for XPS 17 MLK" section which i downloaded (again i had to use download manager) and installed successfully.

Synaptics Touchpad 15.3.22.0, A01

I havent tried rolling back to an earlier BIOS version yet but if Bill-B still thinks this is a suggested step im willing to consider it.