Dell E521 BIOS Update Question

[02GTFL]

I was reading various posts and answers on this BIOS update for the E521, as I have a very similar problem. Though, I replaced the hard drive in my E521, with a new 320GB (non Dell Specific) WD unit, and loaded Windows 7 Pro 64 bit (again, non Dell specific version). The old hard drive was bad.

I downloaded the 1.1.11 BIOS update (http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/DriverDetails/Product/dimension-e521?driverId=R164018&fileId=2731117833&osCode=ww1&languageCode=en&categoryId=BI#) to a bootable USB flash drive. When I boot the computer off of the flash drive, it comes up with the C: thing and does nothing else.

Am I supposed to type something in there, to get it to update the BIOS or access the file on the flash drive?

I'm kind of new to this stuff, but learning...

I want to update the BIOS, to be able to install the AMD Athlon 64 X 2 6000+ processor. The current version is 1.1.6.

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Rich

 

[becksy513]

I was reading various posts and answers on this BIOS update for the E521, as I have a very similar problem. Though, I replaced the hard drive in my E521, with a new 320GB (non Dell Specific) WD unit, and loaded Windows 7 Pro 64 bit (again, non Dell specific version). The old hard drive was bad.

I downloaded the 1.1.11 BIOS update (http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/DriverDetails/Product/dimension-e521?driverId=R164018&fileId=2731117833&osCode=ww1&languageCode=en&categoryId=BI#) to a bootable USB flash drive. When I boot the computer off of the flash drive, it comes up with the C: thing and does nothing else.

Am I supposed to type something in there, to get it to update the BIOS or access the file on the flash drive?

I'm kind of new to this stuff, but learning...

I want to update the BIOS, to be able to install the AMD Athlon 64 X 2 6000+ processor. The current version is 1.1.6.

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Rich

you dont need to update. i upgraded to the 89w 6000+ last month with bios 1.1.4 with no problems.

if you still want to update it i would unplug all drives before you start the boot from the flash drive. also did you make it bootable for DOS.

see this

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Frumorscity.com%2F2013%2F12%2F04%2Fhow-to-create-a-dos-bootable-usb-drive%2F&ei=TOB_U_S4JsPIOcGlgeAJ&usg=AFQjCNHb683Zgk5Imd7L-tTQl1qho24Yow&bvm=bv.67720277,d.ZWU&cad=rja

 

[02GTFL]

Wow becksy513, that is great news!

Yes, I did format the USB in that fashion to make it bootable. I suspect that it's really the Dell format of the BIOS update, that will not work. Since you stated that the same upgrade worked with BIOS 1.1.4, then there is no need to do it now. I had read that the BIOS update needed to be done.

I just received the processor today and can't wait to give it a try. I just have to get some new thermal grease now.

 

[becksy513]

Wow becksy513, that is great news!

Yes, I did format the USB in that fashion to make it bootable. I suspect that it's really the Dell format of the BIOS update, that will not work. Since you stated that the same upgrade worked with BIOS 1.1.4, then there is no need to do it now. I had read that the BIOS update needed to be done.

I just received the processor today and can't wait to give it a try. I just have to get some new thermal grease now.

Im glad to deliver some good news. i had the same prediament as you did. i couldn,t update the bios from inside windows as im running win7 and the dell update does not support win7. i was considering installing vista or xp to update the bios from within the OS until i found out the good news.

also just incase you didn,t know your motherboard and chipset can support atleast double the ammount of ram that dell states is the maximum.

here is the same paste i used from the same seller

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370764115060?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

my temps are 35-38 idle and around 58-60 when running prime 95 stress test. GOOD PASTE

 

[Peter_123]

I was reading various posts and answers on this BIOS update for the E521, as I have a very similar problem. Though, I replaced the hard drive in my E521, with a new 320GB (non Dell Specific) WD unit, and loaded Windows 7 Pro 64 bit (again, non Dell specific version). The old hard drive was bad.

I downloaded the 1.1.11 BIOS update (http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/DriverDetails/Product/dimension-e521?driverId=R164018&fileId=2731117833&osCode=ww1&languageCode=en&categoryId=BI#) to a bootable USB flash drive. When I boot the computer off of the flash drive, it comes up with the C: thing and does nothing else.

Am I supposed to type something in there, to get it to update the BIOS or access the file on the flash drive?

I'm kind of new to this stuff, but learning...

I want to update the BIOS, to be able to install the AMD Athlon 64 X 2 6000+ processor. The current version is 1.1.6.

Thanks in advance for any advice...

Rich

you dont need to update. i upgraded to the 89w 6000+ last month with bios 1.1.4 with no problems.

if you still want to update it i would unplug all drives before you start the boot from the flash drive. also did you make it bootable for DOS.

see this

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDsQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Frumorscity.com%2F2013%2F12%2F04%2Fhow-to-create-a-dos-bootable-usb-drive%2F&ei=TOB_U_S4JsPIOcGlgeAJ&usg=AFQjCNHb683Zgk5Imd7L-tTQl1qho24Yow&bvm=bv.67720277,d.ZWU&cad=rja

Hi Becky513 - what is the trick to getting the system to recognize the AMD 6000+ processor? My E521 came with the AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual-Core 4400+ processor and I read on several threads that the AMD Athlot 64 X2 Dual-Core 6000+ should work, as long as I got the 89w version. I purchased the following:

AMD ADA6000IAA6CZ Athlon X2 6000+ AM2 3.0GHZ 2MB 90NM 89W 2000MHZ TRAY

I am running the latest BIOS (1.1.11), running Windows 10. However, my system doesn't recognize the new processor. It boots, but still shows the 4400+ processor when I view the properties under "This PC" and also in device manager. I even try scanning for new hardware in device manager, but the system doesn't see it. Another strange thing is that the 4400+ processor shows up twice in device manager under processors.

What can I do to get it to recognize the new processor?