Ubuntu Unleashed

You should always upgrade your bios like you do software because it provides underlying support for your hardware, this is a quick & easy howto to guide you through the process...

The Dell firmware-tools project provides easy method of BIOS and firmware update.

Packages for firmware-tools and firmware-addon-dell for Debian and Ubuntu are under construction. Here is the main firmware-tools page: BIOS and Firmware Updates

BIOS Update Process for Debian/Ubuntu:


Install libsmbios

# apt-get update (not always necessary)
# apt-get install libsmbios-bin

Get the System ID

# getSystemId
Libsmbios: 0.12.1
System ID: 0x019D
Service Tag: J5TJV71
Express Service Code: 41710831021
Product Name: Dimension 3000
BIOS Version: A03
Vendor: Dell Computer Corporation
Is Dell: 1

Download the latest BIOS ".HDR" file for this system.
Go here: http://linux.dell.com/repo/software/bios-hdrs/
The directory will be named: system_bios_ven_0x1028_dev_SYSTEM_ID_version_BIOS_VERSION. Go into this directory and download the file, "bios.hdr".
ctrl-f and search for your system id, mine is 0x019D; and grab the latest version
load the dell_rbu driver

# modprobe dell_rbu

Update the bios

# dellBiosUpdate -u -f ./bios.hdr-2.3.2
Supported RBU type for this system: (MONOLITHIC)
Using RBU v2 driver. Initializing Driver.
Setting RBU type in v2 driver to: MONOLITHIC
Prep driver for data load.
Writing RBU data (4096bytes/dot): ............................
..............................................................
.......................
Notify driver data is finished.
Activate CMOS bit to notify BIOS that update is ready on next boot.
Update staged sucessfully. BIOS update will occur on next reboot.

Reboot the system

save your work and type:
sudo reboot
Once you boot up, your system will auto-clear your bios and update the bios