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m17 R5, issues with BIOS 1.12.0
Alienware m17 R5 AMD
Hi all,
I recently received a critical update notification from SupportAssist instructing me to update my system BIOS to version 1.12.0. However, despite multiple attempts, I couldn't find this version on the official Dell website for my laptop model; the latest available is 1.10.0? Upon further investigation using HWinfo, I discovered that my PC currently has version 1.11.1 installed. Given that I acquired the laptop second hand, I'm puzzled as to why a version not listed on Dell's official website is installed? Additionally, I'm questioning why SupportAssist is prompting me to update to a version that isn't available on the official website? I've searched extensively for updates 1.12.0 and 1.11.1 on the Dell website but couldn't locate any information. Any insights or guidance on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
donovanrodrigues
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March 12th, 2024 20:54
I received the update from the people at DELL today, for those who have the problem with the BIOS of the m17 R5 or m15 R7, this is now working normally again. My m17 R5 had the problem with 1.13.0, now with this one they have given me they sent it today 1.15.0 is back working.
(edited)
ejn63
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December 29th, 2023 14:43
1.21.1 is here
(edited)
BTK135
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December 29th, 2023 14:52
This looks to be available for M15 R7, can I install it on M17 R5 ?
BTK135
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December 29th, 2023 15:15
I've tried it anyway, just gets stuck like this.
ejn63
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December 29th, 2023 15:24
1.10.1 is the latest for that model.
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/alienware-m17-r5-amd-gaming-laptop/drivers
BTK135
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December 29th, 2023 15:28
Then how could I possibly have version 1.11.1 installed ?
And why would Support Assist prompt me to install 1.12.0 ?
Thanks.
ejn63
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December 29th, 2023 15:31
It may be the system shipped with firmware not supplied later as an update, or that you updated to a version that was later removed for whatever reason.
Unless the system isn't working and you're sure a firmware update (in this case, a downgrade) is needed, leave the system as is. Firmware updates can just as easily cause problems as solve them.
BTK135
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December 29th, 2023 15:56
Understood, thanks for the quick response.
jrwillems
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December 29th, 2023 21:16
I received the same critical update notification from Alienware Update for the past several days. When the update wasn't found using the supplied full details link, I never attempted the update. Alienware Update no longer lists this BIOS update as of today (12/29/2023). I did find the following three links on Dell website mentioning that the 112.0 BIOS update was designed to fix several AMD BIOS vulnerabilities:
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000218423/dsa-2023-386
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-in/000217573/dsa-2023-332-security-update-for-multiple-amd-bios-vulnerabilities
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000216422/dsa-2023-289
There will probably be a BIOS released soon to fix these vulnerabilities as it appears the earlier 112.0 BIOS was pulled due to issues that they are likely working to fix now.
jenvander
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January 9th, 2024 01:13
@ejn63 I have 1.11.1 as well, and it was the Alienware auto-update that installed it. I've asked support why it shows that 1.10.1 is the latest available, and they never answered. I didn't update that BIOS myself, it happened automatically from Dell's automation. Something is very off here. And since that 1.11.1 was installed, my m17 r5 hangs/freezes several times every day.
jenvander
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January 9th, 2024 01:16
@ejn63 I thought it was impossible to downgrade? Dell auto-installed 1.11.1 on my m17 r5, and since then it's been freezing/hanging multiple times per day. I've spent hours on support with them, but they never asked about the BIOS version. Now I wonder if that's what's gone wrong, if Dell messed up my laptop by forcing 1.11.1 on me, realized they'd messed something up, pulled it, and now they aren't doing anything to fix it for those of us affected.
BTK135
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January 9th, 2024 22:09
@jenvander I've downgraded from 1.11.1 to 1.10.1 last week with no changes as per DELL support request, now I've seen that they released 1.13.1 (https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=rpycx&oscode=w2021&productcode=alienware-m17-r5-amd-gaming-laptop)
Try updating to this version see if it works, just updated myself now.
Seems like someone at DELL is doing an absolute poor job with version management. Releasing and then recalling versions of BIOS....
It's a bit concerning to encounter these kinds of problems, especially when considering long-term reliability, especially for such a premium, high-priced machine...
I've had a 17 R4 for the past years, that thing was built like an absolute TANK compared to this m17 R5.....granted that software problems were present in that model also...
@jenvander hope that update works for you, let us know....
DELL-Chris M
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January 11th, 2024 20:24
Have you installed BIOS 1.31.1 and retested?
Aliibini
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January 17th, 2024 16:02
Had/have the same problem. Due to the auto update to 1.11. my m17r5 kept getting the "video_dxgkrnl_fatal_error" especially when I opened the GeForce experience application for a bit or had league of legends open.
i did everything I could afterwards:
-update the bios to 1.13.1
-clean uninstall and reinstall graphic drivers several times
-clean reset of windows 4 times at this point because it kept getting worse with other fixes
-scanned for and repaired system files(made the BSoD worse/glitch when shown)
-Dell support also looked through it via remote control and looking at the minidumps, only to leave with the suggestion that I need the 1.13.1 bios
I feel like the newest bios is still very faulty and I really hope that the next bios update will come soon and actually fix the issues. I am exhausted to have paid a good amount of money for the laptop and not being able to use it for anything but watching videos and even then it is crashing every couple hours when it was my workstation before that. Very disappointed with dell
donovanrodrigues
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March 9th, 2024 13:55
A versão 1.13 foi removida também, porque não está funcionando, e o pior, não tem mais volta depois que coloca a 1.13, só tem como fazer o downgrade se for da 1.11 para 1.10 (essa funciona) o meu também não presta mais, só fica reiniciando, é só acessar a RTX que reinicia, eu tenho que manter usando o vídeo integrado para que funcione.
Isso, acabou com nosso notebook, caríssimo por sinal.