Unable to update bios on ubuntu for vostro 1710

[Matt Domsch]

On Wed, May 20, 2009 at 08:30:38PM -0500, Brett Ussher wrote:
> I don't have a Vostros 1710, but I do have biosdisk.  I just used the 
> latest .exe file from the Dell website (V1710A12.exe) and used the 
> following command:
> 
> sudo biosdisk install --name A12 ./Desktop/V1710A12.exe
> 
> I was in my home folder in the command prompt and the file was stored on 
> my Desktop at the time.  It worked.  I now have a new entry in my grub 
> menu for a "V1710A12.img".  I don't dare run it, of course, since I 
> don't use that machine, but it would seem to work.

Right, biosdisk itself will work fine.  It'll create a DOS-based
ramdisk containing the .exe, and config grub to boot into it.  So far
so good.  But when it comes to actually executing the .exe inside the
DOS environment, you'll get the dreaded:

  This program cannot be run in DOS mode.

message, and no update will happen.

At least I'm pretty sure that's what will happen, based on trying to
run it under Windows on another system type.  Pretty GUI and all, only
a good bit into it does it figure out it's the wrong system type and
prompt you with "are you sure you really want to do this?".


-- 
Matt Domsch
Technology Strategist, Dell Office of the CTO
linux.dell.com & www.dell.com/linux