XPS 15 9550 Bios 1.2.0

Dell just released their new 1.2.0 bios for the 9550.

Here are the details to the fixes:
1. Improved the system stability
2. Fixed system may not able to boot with external monitor with lid closed
3. Fixed USB audio/mouse may be lag while connecting to Dell Thunderbolt Dock (TB15) and Dell Dock (WD15)
4. Fixed Fan may be noisy while connecting to Dell Thunderbolt Dock (TB15) and Dell Dock (WD15)
5. Fixed Bitlocker Malfunction or Keeps Prompting Recovery Key every time reboot

I installed it and one good thing is my reboot hang is now fixed (running AHCI mode with the samsung NVME driver). I have no idea if the dock stuff is fixed, but I'm a happy camper that my one issue with my 9550 is now fixed.

GO GET IT

 

The First Fix look promising about the Black Screen issue...

 

Who on earth writes their release notes ... all those grammatical errors don't inspire much confidence. Can't they even afford to pay someone to check such simple things?

 

So i can run the SSD in AHCI mode instead of forced RAID?

Do we have Intel Speed Shift enabled yet?

 

Yes you can run your SSD in AHCI mode. Sadly no intel speed shift

 

We still don't know if this will fix the BSOD though - critical process died when browsing the web

 

I've never had that issue so I cannot comment on that sadly

 

This BIOS version broke my TB15 USB ports and Ethernet port. How do you downgrade to previous version of the BIOS? It did fix the fan noise issue but rather have that then not be able to use my usb keyboard and mouse and Ethernet port.

Not very impressed with Dell's quality on these updates.

 

I think Gonzo replied to your other thread, but you can download an older version and install it like you installed 1.2.0

Oddly dell removed the previous versions link - I don't know if that means downgrading will brick your system

Here is a link to 1.1.15
I cannot find a dell link for 1.1.19 however here is a google drive that has all of them

 

I tried to install 1.1.19 from your google drive but it said it failed and it looked like it reinstalled 1.2.0.

 

Since I tried to downgrade to 1.1.19 and it failed, my USB and Ethernet connections on my TB15 are working for longest duration since upgrading to 1.2.0. Not sure what caused it since I installed 1.2.0 couple times previously resulting in same issues. I just hope it stays this way.

 

Here is a link to the dell one:
http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER03534936M/1/XPS_9550_1.1.19.exe

 

Even though I saw that BIOS update errored it looks like I'm back at 1.1.19 (per msinfo32) hence why my TB15 USB and Ethernet ports are probably working again. Going to try updating to 1.2.0 again to see if I still get the same behavior.

 

Reinstalling 1.2.0 brings back the issue with TB15 USB and Ethernet ports getting disconnected after short use. And the error you get when going back to 1.1.19 is when it tries to downgrade the Intel Management Engine VPro so you are stuck with upgraded version of that.

Dell needs to test these better before releasing it!

 

Mirror here just in case. https://mega.nz/#F!ytVVnB7I!QZwDf78IoZx1BdFxz2FDkg

 

Has anyone had issues with the fans with the new BIOS 1.02.0 ? Cause they never seem to turn off once they start now.

 

Mine seems to run more but stops often enough.

 

Like custom90gt, i can confirm the reboot problem went away on my 950Pro w/ Samsung nvme driver via AHCI.

Hopefully my bsod's like everyone else has resolved. I've gotten most of what everyone else has in the past, critical process died, unknown exceptions, bad pool header, etc...

I got to say, this is the most stable my machine has been since getting it replaced directly from dell.

I did a re-image of Win10 / changed from raid to ahci in bios / Intel RST to now Samsung nvme driver / and intel iGPU beta drivers

If you guys have a 950 Pro, i suggest doing what custom90gt and gonz0 has mentioned with sammy nvme driver + intel beta drivers.

 

I still get the shutdown hang with the samsung drivers. You mean updating the graphics to the 3/11/2016 beta as well?

 

Oddly, I updated to 1.2.0 this morning and for the first time, my system froze then I got a CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED. I was not browsing at the time, but updating the nVidia driver through the Game Experience program.

Because of the "stall" when shutting down with the 950 PRO, I reverted to the MS driver for it, and to be honest, I don't really notice any difference in benchmark speeds between using the MS NVMe driver and the Samsung one. Using, ATTO, I get about 2.5GB/s max on read and about 1.5GB/s on write (on the larger write sizes, of course).

What is the advantage of the Samsung driver? Could you link the discussion you referenced with gonz0 and custom90gt so I can read?

Thanks.

ps. In case you weren't aware, you can switch from RAID to AHCI without reimaging. It requires booting in safe mode and switching SATA modes then booting in normal mode. It works. To be honest, I'm confused what the SATA mode in the BIOS has to do with the NVMe interface. They're two different things. You can disable SATA in the BIOS and your NVMe stick boots and works fine. SATA isn't NVMe. Unless you have a 2.5" HDD or SDD, the SATA setting should be meaningless.

 

Samsung told me to use the windows driver, benchmarks are about the same so I did what they suggested.

 

I had BSOD's with the Microsoft Drivers, since i use the Samsung NVME driver i have no issues.
Also not since i updated to the new BIOS, no issues so far.
Only the reboot takes about 90 seconds, but boot/reboot times with the 9550 are very disappointing...guess the ****ty nvme drivers and ddr4 ram

i7-512-ahci/samsungnvmedrivers-4k

 

Samsung said they can't replicate the reboot bug so more people need to raise a support ticket with them.

 

My reboot bug with the samsung NVME driver is gone with 1.2.0

 

Mine went when Dell upgraded me to the 32gb ram 1tb Toshiba SSD

 

Right, but I'm saying it wasn't a samsung issue if dell fixed it with a bios update.

 

On my XPS 13 (9350) with PM951 I've had similar reboot issues as with the Samsung 950 PRO (very log reboot/shutdown times...very long). Now, whether it is due to NVMe or not I can't say, but the symptom was the same as when I was using the Samsung driver in my 9550 with my 950 PRO.

 

Is anyone with TB15 dock using it with BIOS 1.2.0? Are you using USB & Ethernet ports on the TB15 without any issue? For me it disconnects these ports. In fact they disappear from the device manager so it looks like they get removed or something even though sound and external monitor still works.

 

I'm testing since 5 days the new bios ver 1.2. My XPS works for the moment perfect. XPS 15, 512 ssd, with (Ethernet, USB Dock with mouse+key, HDMI) conected on a DA200 and a externel USB SSD 1 TB on regular USB port.

That means no BSOD since the update. Hip hip hurray.

 

My spacebar now works on the lock screen. Before I had to always click the mouse to get to the password prompt.

Although I did get this little greeting on the first boot. Hasn't happened since though (yes, my charger is original, etc).

 

Guys I think we have to start making some noise for a formal statement from Dell as to why we don't have Intel SST / Speedshift / Speedstep yet.

I am concerned they will just refresh this model during the summer and not put the work in to write a new bios with SST.

 

start a post on Dell forums and link to it, we will soon get it filled up

 

I'm having issues. Been using wifi and waiting for a fix. Man, they fix one thing and then break another. What a horrible rollout.

 

[QUOTE="Is anyone with TB15 dock using it with BIOS 1.2.0? Are you using USB & Ethernet ports on the TB15 without any issue? For me it disconnects these ports. In fact they disappear from the device manager so it looks like they get removed or something even though sound and external monitor still works.[/QUOTE]

I updated to 1.2.0 yesterday and, knock on wood, I have not had any blue screens in over 24 hours. I had been averaging 2-3 a day while running docked to the TB15 (driving hdmi, Ethernet, sound). All drivers/FW have been up to date; the realtek usb GbE driver seems to be causing most of them.

After the update, I lost Ethernet but a second reboot took care of that and it has been solid since.

I hope they get this worked out soon, cause I really want to like this laptop/dock.

 

It seems like various people have had differing issue with this dock but for me dock has worked good after the initial issue with the ASMedia USB driver was resolved. Only issue that I noticed left since the beginning has been the fan noise which the BIOS 1.2.0 did fix but unfortunately it breaks the Ethernet and USB ports. I've tried 1.2.0 twice after going back to 1.1.19 and both times it has been consistent with issues I was seeing.

 

For the german folks: I already did it in the german forum 5 days ago. No answer yet. Does anybody know if there is a tool to observe the speed states of the cpu?

Heres the link to my post at dell forums:

http://de.community.dell.com/support_forums/laptops/f/103/t/10416

 

New here so maybe I've missed something but there's definitely already a speedstep option under performance section in the bios.

 

You have missed something, it's speedshift not speedstep we are waiting for.

 

Ok, he did say "Intel SST / Speedshift / Speedstep yet." though.

 

I was able to get the BIOS 1.2.0 working with my9550 & TB15. This is what I had to do:

1. Download all 7 files including BIOS 1.2.0 for 9550 listed in this thread. http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19677047
2. Disconnect laptop from TB15 and reboot.
3. Install all 7 files in the order listed for 9550 starting with BIOS 1.2.0
4. Reboot after all 7 files have been installed.
5. Shutdown and connect to TB15 and power on.

My Ethernet and USB ports have been working all day without any issues and the fan noise, which was the one issue I had with BIOS 1.1.19 is also fixed.

Hope this helps someone!

 

My USB ports are disappearing too on my TB dock. I have to plug it back in to get it to work. It happens after sleep.

 

May I ask what is the point of changing from RAID to AHCI mode as some of you are doing?
According to my research Intel's Rapid Storage technology is to be faster, even on 1 drive systems.
PS. After installing this bios update and mouse drive update from two posts back I finally can utilize my 3x USB 3.0+ethernet to usb c adapter without mouse lagging.
And fans aren't perm on.

 

I ran some synthetic benchmarks and they were faster on AHCI mode than RAID for me. Mind you this was months ago on older bioses/drivers so things may be more even now, but I'll stick with AHCI.

 

There are neweser ASMedia drivers avaiable.
Maybe they can solve your problem.
You can find v1.16.34.2 WHQL for Win10 here: http://www.win-raid.com/t834f25-USB-Drivers-original-and-modded.html

 

Hmm "the asmedia USB host controller was not found"

 

Well installed it last night... hoping that *maybe* it would bring my Bluetooth to life (it's never worked on my 1830 chip )

End result - Crystaldiskmark is slower by 100+/-Mbps for reads and writes, and no Bluetooth... (PM951 1TB was at 1777, now down to 1660 on repeat tests... what crap is this?

 

I have no change in my AS SSD scores. Are you running the newest dell wifi drivers? Someone had mentioned that it fixed their bluetooth issues

 

Thanks for reply, I think I have the latest drivers for wi-fi, yes... but will double check if a newer one has popped up since last week

 

Installed, no luck... still no device under Device Manager

 

If you go into BIOS setup is it enabled under the wireless section?
Do you have any unknowns in the device manager?
Would you mind posting up some screenshots of the device manager expanded so we can see where and what it may be hiding under?