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Using DUP BIOS Updates With Administrator Options

Summary: How to update your Dell BIOS using the Dell Update Package (DUP) format. Includes detailed instructions for OptiPlex, Latitude, Precision Workstations, Inspiron, Vostro, and XPS models. ...

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Instructions

Affected Platforms:

  • OptiPlex
  • Latitude
  • Precision Workstations
  • Inspiron
  • Vostro
  • XPS

Newer Dell models distribute BIOS update packages using the Dell Update Package (DUP) format. The /e option does not appear to be commonly supported on many DUP BIOS packages.

How to Update the System BIOS

Duration: 01:15
Closed captions: English only

Options

The options can be invoked with the / character.

Option Name Description Syntax
/? or /h Help Displays command-line options and help information

Determines if the update can be applied to the target computer
package.exe /? or package.exe /h
/c Check The /s option is required with this option.
Options /f, /e, and /r are not valid with this option.

When you click Install in the user interface (UI) mode, the same checking process is performed.
package.exe /s /c /l=c:\pkg.log
/e=<path> Extract Extracts all files contained in the DUP to the path that you specify. If the directory specified in the path does not exist, it is created.
If the path contains spaces, use quotation marks around the <path> value.

The /s option is required with this option.
Options /f, /c, and /r are not valid with this option.

 
package.exe /s /e=c:\update
package.exe /s /e="c:\update files"
/f</td> Force Allows downgrade of the software to a previous (older) version

The /s option is required with this option.
Options /e and /c are not valid with this option.
Note: Before downgrading the software to a previous version, see the documentation for the previous version.
package.exe /s /f /l=c:\pkg.log
/l=<filename> Log Appends logged messages to a specified ASCII file; creates a new file if one does not exist, if the file name contains spaces, use quotation marks around the <filename> value.

The /s option is required with this option.
package.exe /s /l=c:\pkg.log
package.exe /s /l="c:\Update Log\pkg.log"
/r Reboot Reboots the computer, if required, after performing the update (the reboot does not occur):
  • If the DUP fails or is not applicable to the target computer
  • If the DUP does not require a reboot
The /s option is required with this option.
Options /e and /c are not valid with this option.
package.exe /s /r /l=c:\pkg.log
/s Silent Performs the update silently without user intervention, when /s is not specified, the DUP is launched in UI (interactive) mode.
The /s option is required when using the /e, /f, /c, /l, and /u options.
Note: Using the /s option causes all output to be written to log files.
package.exe /s /l=c:\pkg.log
/u=<filename> Unicode Log Appends logged messages to a specified Unicode file; creates a new file if one does not exist, if the file name contains spaces, use quotation marks around the <filename> value.
The /s option is required with this option.
package.exe /s /u=c:\pkg.log
package.exe /s /u="c:\Update Log\pkg.log"

Table 1: DUP format

Examples:

To silently update a computer and prevent an automatic reboot:

  • package.exe /s

To silently update a computer and allow an automatic reboot:

  • package.exe /s /r

Passwords

If a BIOS password is set, then the update executable prompts the user for a password. If running the update executable from the command line, then use the /p parameter to specify the password. Example:

  • package.exe /s /p=password

Exit Codes

The most common exit code values when performing BIOS updates are 2 (REBOOT_REQUIRED) and 6 (REBOOTING_SYSTEM). Other values are below.

Value Message Name Display Name Description
-1 Dell Command Update code Unsuccessful DCU terminating the BIOS execution due to timeout
0 SUCCESSFUL Success The update was successful.
1 UNSUCCESSFUL (FAILURE) Unsuccessful An error occurred during the update process; the update was not successful.
2 REBOOT_REQUIRED Reboot required You must restart the computer to apply the updates.
3 DEP_SOFT_ERROR Soft dependency error Some possible explanations are:
  • You attempted to update to the same version of the software.
  • You tried to downgrade to a previous version of the software.
To avoid receiving this error, provide the /f option.
4 DEP_HARD_ERROR Hard dependency error The required prerequisite software was not found on your computer. The update was unsuccessful because the computer did not meet BIOS, driver, or firmware prerequisites for the update to be applied, or because no supported device was found on the target computer. The DUP enforces this check and blocks an update from being applied if the prerequisite is not met, preventing the computer from reaching an invalid configuration state. The prerequisite can be met by applying for another DUP, if available. In this case, the other package should be applied before the current one so that both updates can succeed. A DEP_HARD_ERROR cannot be suppressed by using the /f switch.

The DUP is not applicable to the computer. Some possible explanations are:
  • The DUP does not support the operating system.
  • The computer does not support the DUP.
5 QUAL_HARD_ERROR Qualification error A QUAL_HARD_ERROR cannot be suppressed by using the /f switch.
6 REBOOTING_SYSTEM Rebooting computer The computer is being rebooted.
7 Password validation error Unsuccessful Password not provided or incorrect password provided for BIOS execution
8 DOWNGRADE_BAN Requested Downgrade is not allowed. Downgrading the BIOS to the version run is not allowed.
9 RPM_VERIFY_FAILED RPM verification has failed The Linux DUP framework uses RPM verification to ensure the security of all DUP-dependent Linux utilities. If security is compromised, the framework displays a message and an RPM Verify Legend, and then exits with exit code 9.
10 EC_UNSPECIFIED_ERROR Some other error This exit code is for all errors that have not been specified in BIOS exit codes 0-9. That is, battery error, EC error, HW failure, so forth.

Table 2: BIOS updates

Affected Products

Inspiron, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, Inspiron, Latitude, Vostro, XPS, Fixed Workstations, Mobile Workstations
Article Properties
Article Number: 000148745
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 06 Aug 2024
Version:  12
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