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.
Duration: 01:15
Closed captions: English only
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:\updatepackage.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.logpackage.exe /s /l="c:\Update Log\pkg.log" |
/r |
Reboot | Reboots the computer, if required, after performing the update (the reboot does not occur):
/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.logpackage.exe /s /u="c:\Update Log\pkg.log" |
Table 1: DUP format
To silently update a computer and prevent an automatic reboot:
package.exe /sTo silently update a computer and allow an automatic reboot:
package.exe /s /rIf 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=passwordThe 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:
/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:
|
| 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