Unable to update bios on ubuntu for vostro 1710

[Brett Ussher]

You know, I managed to extract the BIOS.ROM file used to update the CMOS 
from the installer.  Can that file be used in some way to update the 
BIOS?  What I mean is if there is another program that will apply it 
this update in place of winphlash.  Could we maybe use one of the other 
bios updates from another machine (such as the Inspiron 1720 since I 
know that updater works in DOS) and replace the ROM file in that 
updater?  I know that we can't recompile it into a new .exe, but we can 
create a bootable DOS partition that the extracted files could be run 
from manually.

Brett D. Ussher



Brett Ussher wrote:
> Ah, I thought biosdisk reached into the .exe and extracted the update.  
> My bad.
>
> Brett D. Ussher
>
>
>
> Matt Domsch wrote:
>   
>> 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?".
>>
>>
>>   
>>     
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