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garryconn
January 10th, 2011, 09:59 AM
How do you update BIOS when manufactures such as Dell only provide the update via an .exe file? Obviously I know I can install Windows and perform the update that way. But what if I don't want to do that? What if I am totally against using Microsoft products, then what? Sensibly, it would make sense to update bios prior to installing Linux, but what happens if there is a BIOS update after the fact?

Grey
January 10th, 2011, 10:14 AM
It's been many years since I've bothered updating my BIOS. But the last time I did it, I did it via FreeDOS booted from a USB drive. I would assume that most motherboard manufacturers still have a DOS version of their BIOS updater kicking around?

mikewhatever
January 10th, 2011, 10:14 AM
Actually, Dell has a package in the repositories, firmware-addon-dell, for bios updates, though I can't vouch for it. Another way is to use a freedos live cd to run an .exe.

kansasnoob
January 10th, 2011, 01:28 PM
How do you update BIOS when manufactures such as Dell only provide the update via an .exe file? Obviously I know I can install Windows and perform the update that way. But what if I don't want to do that? What if I am totally against using Microsoft products, then what? Sensibly, it would make sense to update bios prior to installing Linux, but what happens if there is a BIOS update after the fact?

I have managed to do so using FreeDOS installed to a Flashdrive using Unetbootin:

http://www.freedos.org/

http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

It was hardly straightforward though and may have added to my balding :D

cogier
January 10th, 2011, 01:35 PM
Bootdisk.com is another option
http://www.bootdisk.com/bootdisk.htm

pricetech
January 10th, 2011, 03:02 PM
Most of the Dell updates I've installed will work in a DOS environment, and I suspect they all will, but I can't confirm because I haven't tried with updates larger than a floppy will hold.