Up and Downgrading your 1645 BIOS

Based on my original post here, I decided to create a new thread to keep things neat and visible.

After a development version of the BIOS for the Studio XPS 1645 turned up, some people were concerned about reverting back to an older BIOS after flashing the X29 version. To solve this problem I extracted the WinPhlash utility from Dell's BIOS package and modified the settings.

Now you have several options:

- Simply backup your existing BIUOS
- Upgrade to any version you like
- Downgrade to any version you like

I compiled a package that contains the following BIOS versions:

A01, A02, A03, X29 and A05, A07, A08

This is as far as I know the order in which they were released. The X29 version was never officially released.

Just to be clear: I did not change anything to the actual BIOS files, just to the WinPhlash program settings. These are original, untouched Dell BIOS files, and the same program Dell uses to force-flash your laptop. I just changed a few settings (allowing us a choice of options).

Disclaimer:
I cannot and will not assume responibility of somehow your laptop is bricked during the flashing process. This can happen with Dells own updat packages as well. I myself have used the tool in my package, and others have too, with success. This is however no guarantee for succes.

Please also note that I do not have either a 1647 or a 1340, so I cannot test these files. The theory behind updating the BIOS is the same for all these machines, and the 1340 packages appear to use the same WinPlash64 tool.

The packages can be found here:

20100327_Dell_Studio_XPS_Bios_Tools.zip This package contains the flash tools and the crisis recovery bits.

I have put the different BIOSes in their own packages:

20100327_SXPS_1645_BIOS.zip contains the BIOS files for the 1645, including the latest A08.

20100327_SXPS_1647_BIOS.zip contains the BIOS files for the 1647, including the latest A05.

20100327_SXPS_1340_BIOS.zip contains the BIOS files for the 1340, including the latest A11. The BIOS files for the 1340 seem to be smaller (about 2Mb vs 5Mb) than the 1645/1647 files.


UPDATE: I added the A06 version to the package. Also included Andrew's crisis recovery kit (see this thread for details). I have moved the package to my own server.

UPDATE: A07 is now also included

UPDATE: A08 is now included, and added packages for 1647 and 1340.

 

--- reserved for updates ---

 

Thanks for the post! major props for this thread and what you complied. Flawless and awesome.

Thanks

 

I thought the newest 1645 BIOS is A03?

 

No the latest is A05. I've installed it and it works. Just an FYI it isnt uploaded on the dell site yet

 

Just updated the package with A06, Adrew's brick recovery stuff and moved it to another server. See first post for details.

Will Add A07 when that is released.

 

good stuff to have.

 

I added in A07 and created a new file, check first post.

 

Since Dell hasn't been good enough to provide any real description for each of the upgrades, is there someone that could comment in some detail what improvement each bios provides?

Thanks for the thread by the way!

 

Sorry if this slightly off-topic, but does anyone know if a similar modified BIOS Flash utility exists for the Studio XPS 1340? I'm currently running BIOS revision A05. The latest revision is A11. I've read of some people having freezes with Widows 7 running A11, so would like to be able to revert if I had a problem with the A11 version.

Thanks

Geoff

 

I'll have a look. It must be possible!

 

Thanks a lot! Before I was unsuccessful in flashing to A07 twice. I downloaded your package and ran the "Winplash 64" and was successful in flashing to A07.

 

Thanks Mitchell2.24v, I appreciate you taking a look.

Geoff

 

I know this post is a bit old but I just registered to say thanks for this because I need to downgrade to A07 and have received NOTHING from any of the Dell-related forums. It could just be me, but since upgrading to A08 my screen goes black and requires a lid close-open to bring it back from sleep mode any time my drivers kick in at all (log in screen is black with cursor if I change drivers or if I boot the system).

So HUGE thanks! This should fix me up good.

 

No problem. I'm glad it helped. I will update the package to include the A08 BIOS soon.

Also still need to fix Formula400's problem. Have been toooo busy at work though :-(

 

could you add the 1647 bioses? or would it be too much work ?

 

I'll have a look tomorrow. It would probably be possible, but there is now way for me to test it. So someone with a 1647 would need to try. In theory it should be safe and possible, but unless someone tries we'll never know for sure...

The process of extracting the BIOS files would be different though. On my 1645 I couls simply do the BIOS update, and snatch the temp file. For the 1647 I cannot do that. I can probably extract the file from the package somehow.

Will post an update tomorrow.

 

I have split the original package into two new packages, and added two more new ones. Now there is a separate package for the tools:

20100327_Dell_Studio_XPS_Bios_Tools.zip

This package contains the flash tools and the crisis recovery bits.

I have put the different BIOSes in their own packages:

20100327_SXPS_1645_BIOS.zip contains the BIOS files for the 1645, including the latest A08.

20100327_SXPS_1647_BIOS.zip contains the BIOS files for the 1647, including the latest A05.

20100327_SXPS_1340_BIOS.zip contains the BIOS files for the 1340, including the latest A11. The BIOS files for the 1340 seem to be smaller (about 2Mb vs 5Mb) than the 1645/1647 files.

Please note that I do not have either a 1647 or a 1340, so I cannot test these files. The theory behind updating the BIOS is the same for all these machines, and the 1340 packages appear to use the same WinPlash64 tool.

Use this at your own risk!

 

The links dont appear to work.

 

right click the link and click save target as

 

Thanks. I should have tried that.

 

This thread has helped me in the past in downgrading the BIOS. thanx to you and rep++ for that.

I would love if you could add A09 Bios to your package of 1645. Thanx again.

 

So all we need to do is download the BIOS we want and install it? Has anyone tried this yet for the A08 BIOS, since I want to install the A08 first then upgrade to the A09. What do you do after the download...?

 

Also wanted to say thanks for creating this thread.

I was trying to update my copy with A09 or even A10 WPH files but they seem to delete themselves after BIOS install - so like everyone else, need to roll back to A08 first and then to A09.

 

hi all... I have Dell XPS 1645. Currently i have A10 bios running as it is giving GPU throttling issues, i wanna downgrade to A09. So just installing this would do ?

Drivers and Downloads

or do i have to follow other steps ? help appreciated ....

 

You're going to have to follow the directions listed in this thread to go to A08 first (since A09 wasn't bundled in the package yet) and then do a "regular" install of A09. Worked for me, and several others. It's a little tricky but as long as you're careful you can have A09 back in as little as 15-30 minutes (this includes the install time).

Dell won't let you just install an older version over a newer one on the XPS 1645.

 

thanks for your reply. i downloaded both zip files required for my xps, but i didn't find any instructions about how to do it. What to do ??

 

tell me what options i have to select (please answer these) :

1. WinPhlash64 Operation : Backup BIOS & Flash BIOS with new settings. right ?

2. any changes i have to make in Advanced Settings ?

3. Back up location : can i give any folder in C drive ? (i mean drive residing in hdd)

4. New BIOS File : 1645_A08.WPH ?

 

Is there anyway to do the BIOS rollback WITHOUT a flash drive?

 

Hmm, I'd like to revert back to an older BIOS (A09 or A10) after an upgrade to A12 I did (from A06) as now my fan is on 90% of the time and is also very loud. Before it was much quieter. Anybody knows which BIOS was working well and didn't give such noisy fans?
Thanks

 

For the 4670 you want to go back to A09, that's the best BIOS for you.

 

Can you describe the noise you were hearing? I recently upgraded to the A12 myself and all of a sudden at times (not all the time) it sounded like a plane propeller and then it would make this noise like there was something stuck in the plane propeller. Hopefully that's descriptive. That's what mine sounded like at times. The fan spun up a lot at times as well more so than before. I also thought the noise of the hard drive started being a little louder too, but couldn't distinguish the two sounds as they are close together. It was the weirdest sound I've ever heard. I've never even heard a desktop fan sound like that even with a new "pet" living inside. I do IT consulting services and I've seen some bad PCs. Nothing sounded like what I heard with this. Last night I just downgraded (thanks to the original poster) to the A08 then to the A09 as suggested for the 4670 vid. I'm now so paranoid that every little strange noise I hear now I stop and listen. I did also pop the bottom casing off, but it looked pretty clean to me. I still blew it out with a can of air, but it was as clean as a whistle. I will monitor it for a while, but it kind of has me a little paranoid that something worse is about to happen. Even after a Dell diag reported nothing.

 

@seeker_moc: Hmm, I'm not sure as to whether that A09 really is the best one to go for with the 4670 (I believe all 1645's are with the 4670). I'm noticing some jerky behavior in switching windows when I have a lot of programs and browser tabs open. And the A09 whilst seeming a little less noisy than the A12 does seem to be noisier than the A06.

@nheimler: The noise I was hearing doesn't resemble your description, no clicking or propeller sounds, just a very loud fan that went on very easily and would even go on at what seemed like turbo-speed when the computer was idle. Mind you, with you it could be that you had some paper or something else stuck in your fan and with the much increased fan speeds you're now hearing that louder noise?

How is the A09 doing for you? I'm contemplating just switching back to either A10, A11 or A12...or maybe just A06 again...

 

Actually, 1645's are about 50/50 for the 4670 or the 5730. The reason A09 is best for the 4670 is that it has a higher temperature threshold for the GPU, and therefore is much less likely to throttle. This does not apply to the 5730. If noise is your main concern, and A06 is quieter for you, than stick with what you want.

As far as the "jerky behavior in switching windows when I have a lot of programs and browser tabs open" goes, I highly doubt that the BIOS has anything to do with that.

Also, A11 and A12 are bit-for-bit identical except for the new SLIC/SLP tables (they make activating Windows 7 easier). Besides that they are the same, so downgrading from A12 to A11 won't fix any fan problems.

 

Doesn't A06 not support the more than the 90w adapter? And with your RGBLED, you REALLY need the power.

 

That is true, and Dell considers A07 the only 'critical' BIOS update. They don't even show pre-A07 BIOSes on their website anymore. Forgot about that aspect of it.

Synthesia,

Do you have the 90W or 130W adapter? If you only have the 90W, Dell will send you a free 130W, which should significantly improve your performance.

 

Hey seeker_moc, I was here when the Throttle issues first came to light and was one of the first ones investigating on this forum too ;-) And yep, got myself 2 free 130W adapters (a slim one and a brick one). Never really experienced any troubles though.

Btw you'd recommend the A07 BIOS then? (and was this one noisier than the A06?)

Thanks for your help bud Saves me testing/experimenting a lot again too this time.

 

Personally, I'd highly recommend you go with A09. There were alot of updates/fixes in the A09 BIOS, including the higher temp threshold video BIOS. Though if noise is your major concern, and A07 is quieter (though I don't know why it would be), then use A07. I'd recommend against going lower than A09, and highly recommend against going lower than A07. BIOSes after A09 were only minor updates, except for A11 which has a new vBIOS for 5730 users, but it doesn't apply to you.

BTW, here's the change log for the 1645 BIOS:

A07 - critical - Enhance CPU Power Management

A08 - Fix external speaker no sound after run audio test of delldiag under DOS.

A09 - *Features update:
1. Update Processor Power Management(PPM) from 0.60 to 0.63-1 .
2. Support 2nd source SPI ROM EN25F32(BIOS) and EN25F80(EC).
3. Update ME bin file in BIOS for 2nd source SPI ROM EN25F32(BIOS).
4. Modified flash part size to prevent BIOS crash in failsafe part for factory only.
5. Support over 230W adapter to treat as 130W(EC).
6. Update Clarksfield ( note: Clarksfield = quad i7) thermal table to V.03(EC).
7. Enhanced PPM RC code for P-state thread count.
8. (not documented on the Dell website) Increased temperature threshold for 4670 to 100C - later removed in A10

*Issues fix:
1. Fix S4 long run failed on DC mode with BSOD 9F.
2. Paltrow ( note: Paltrow = 4670) freeze issue: Hang up when playing youtube HD film.
3. Fix unable to communicate with battery error under delldiag.
4. Fix ACPI_PSD error in "powercfg -energy" tool under windows.
5. Fix Micron DDR3 memory can not boot up issue.

A10 - *Features update:
1. Prevent potential risk of BIOS crash during WIN-FLASH:
1.1 Disable USB device during WIN-FLASH.
1.2 It will skip to flash un-used ME block during WIN-FLASH.
2. Enhanced SMBIOS structure for processor core count.

*Issues fix:
1. system will BSOD show 9F after running S4 stress about 10-300 cycles.

A11 -
1. Fix burn-in/ATidiag issue in factory.
2. Key in password using Keypad related bug.
3. Fix bug : Unplugged SATA device may temporarily appear to be available.
4. Flash BIOS will hang up when Click Power Smart to"Personal Mode"button with Fast Access
5. (not documented by Dell) Update to 5730 vBIOS

A12 - Support SLP2.1 feature

 

@ mitchel2.24V

I have some problems with my BIOS on a Dell Studio 1747 and want to go back to an older BIOS version. WinPhlash always said that this is not possible because the bios I want to flash is older -- can you help me to set the right setting to avoid that winphlas checks the installed bios version. I have no idea how to change winphlash.
Thanks!
joe the runner

 

Hi Joe,

Which BIOS do you want to go back to? Do you have a download link for the BIOS installer?

I'll see what I can do!

 

Whow, that's great!

http://ftp.us.dell.com/bios/1747A11_W32-64.exe
This should be the right link.

Regards
Joe

 

Hi Mitchell2.24v,

could you check the link and does the download work?

Regards
Joe

 

Download and run the BIOS you want to downgrade to. After installation fails, go and look in your temp folder. Your temp folder is c:\users\'user name'\appdata\local\temp\. The BIOS installer should have created a winphlash64 directory. Go into that directory and run winphlash. This time instead of trying to install the BIOS immediately with default settings, winphlash will allow you to adjust the options first. Select the .wph file in the same directory as winphlash, that is the BIOS you want. Then go into 'advanced' or 'options' and de-select the option to check if the BIOS is a new version. Then hit flash, and it should work.

 

I can't believe it !!!!! Dell was not able to give me an answer after tons of emails force and back and closed the call without giving me a solution.

But your advise worked !! Thank you so much

Great work!

Best regards
Joe

 

Sorry for not getting back yo you before. I did download the file, but got overwhelmed with work, and then days flew by.

As you found out yourself, Seekers advice is totally correct.

@Seeker, thanks for jumping in!

 

Hi,

not usre if Bios downgrade is my solution, the problem is as follows:
My XPS 1340 has been delivered with Vista 32. Early this year I upgraded on Win 7 prof 64bit without problems (Bios A11), all hardware components were recognized and drivers as downloaded from dell could have been installed.
Meanwhile Bios was updated to A14. After some problems the system has to be setup totally new, but now I have a problem installing the WWAN driver Type 5540) - error message is "Authentication failed".
Does anyone know this problem as well and (as everythin else is unchanged exept BIOS) konw if a downgrade might be my solution ???

If Yes - Is there a description of how to create a USB device to flash with Bios for XPS 1340. I read to rename *wph but in XPS package are *.rom files.
Sorry to ask, but I am beginner in flashing BIOS downwards

Your Help would be appreciated.

 

I am having a similar issue with my Studio XPS 13 - I have Win 7 (64 bit) and cannot install my WWAN 5530 card - keep getting error 23000 authentication failed.

It worked fine when I had Win 7 32 bit. I have tried for days and days to get it to work. The dell support guy even gave up after 2 days of trying different drivers. He suggested re-installing Win 7 - said it was a software issue - I did that, twice, with exactly the same result.

I am now contemplating downgrading the BIOS to A07/08/11 and trying again. Can anyone offer any other help and/or suggestions?

Many thanks