Dell Copyright (C) 2003, All Rights reserved. www.dell.com BIOS Release Notes Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A17 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 03/05/03 (Memory location F000:FFF5) ********************************************************************* Notes: 1. For systems using Windows 98 version 4.10.1998, the RUN_ME.REG utility available on this diskette should be installed before upgrading to this BIOS. Installing this utility will prevent Windows 98 version 4.10.1998 from converting to ACPI mode when hardware detection is performed. See README.TXT, included on this diskette, for more details. *** Please Note *** This utility has been updated. All Windows 98 version 4.10.1998 users are encouraged to install this utility, even if they have previously installed an earlier version. ********************************************************************* The following updates were made to the A16 BIOS to create A17: Enhancements: 1. Added support for newer batteries. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A16 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 05/28/02 (Memory location F000:FFF5) The following updates were made to the A15 BIOS to create A16: Issues Fixed: 1. Fixed issue in which some batteries may permanently stop charging. 2. Fixed issue in which Remote BIOS Update may fail to update the BIOS. 3. Fixed issue in which the system intermittently fails to detect when a new battery is inserted. 4. Fixed issue in which System Setup may take 7 seconds to recognize a new battery. 5. Fixed issue in which the system may fail to complete POST if the battery is not responding. 6. Fixed failure to log on to a Boot Server when booting from a PXE- enabled CardBus NIC. 7. Fixed issue seen on systems equipped with SpeedStep-capable processors in which the processor runs at its low speed during boot, regardless of the SpeedStep setting in System Setup. 8. Fixed video corruption seen when entering System Setup with more than 256MB RAM installed. 9. Fixed issue seen when using Safeguard Easy security software in which a "No bootable devices" error is seen after entering the correct password. Enhancements: 1. Optimized the battery charging algorithm. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A15 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 10/17/01 (Memory location F000:FFF5) The following updates were made to the A14 BIOS to create A15: Issues Fixed: 1. Fixed issue in which the system may intermittently display a "no boot device available" message when attempting to boot to any device other than the floppy disk drive. 2. Fixed intermittent issue seen on systems equipped with SpeedStep- capable processors in which the system may stop responding after a SpeedStep transition. 3. Fixed issue in which the system fails to boot to the docking station NIC when it is the only boot device enabled in System Setup. Enhancements: 1. Optimized the battery charging algorithm. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A14 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 07/26/01 (Memory location F000:FFF5) The following updates were made to the A13 BIOS to create A14: Enhancements: 1. Modified procedures and trip points to improve thermal performance. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A13 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 06/29/01 (Memory location F000:FFF5) The following updates were made to the A12 BIOS to create A13: Issues Fixed: 1. Fixed issue in which some batteries may charge slowly. 2. Fixed issue in which extra key presses during POST would lead to excessive beeps if choice.com is run from autoexec.bat. 3. Fixed issue in which USB devices may be sluggish under Windows 98SE. 4. Fixed issue in which systems automatically power on in response to the Auto-On alarm even when AC power is not present. 5. Fixed intermittent blue screen error seen under WinNT 4.0 after resume from suspend. 6. Fixed issue in which systems fail to Wake On LAN from the Off State using the onboard dock NIC after shutting down from Windows 2000. Enhancements: 1. Added System Setup options to enable or disable the NumLock setting depending the on hardware profile in which the system is booted. This only applies to operating systems running in APM mode, such as Windows 98SE and Windows NT 4.0. SETUP SETTING HW PROFILE NUMLOCK Disable N/A Off Enable N/A On Undocked Undocked On Undocked Docked Off Docked Undocked Off Docked Docked On 2. Added support for extended serial port initialization - Int 14h, function 04h. 3. Added new boot device list on page 2 of System Setup. 4. Added a One-Time Boot Menu which allows users to change the boot device order for one boot only, by pressing during POST. 5. Added System Setup exit screen to ask user if they wish to save their changes. Changes to date/time and password settings cannot be undone. 6. New Help Text in System Setup explaining that the Slow IR setting may be overridden by some operating systems. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A12 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 03/25/01 (Memory location F000:FFF5) The following updates were made to the A11 BIOS to create A12: Issues Fixed: 1. Fixed issue in which some newer batteries may stop charging when they are inserted into a system with another battery present while an AC adapter is attached. 2. Fixed issue in which some newer batteries may stop charging when an AC adapter is attached while 2 batteries are in the system. 3. Fixed issue in which some newer batteries may stop charging in a system with 2 batteries when the system switches from charging one battery to the other. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A11 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 02/09/01 (Memory location F000:FFF5) The following updates were made to the A10 BIOS to create A11: Issues Fixed: 1. Fixed issue seen under Win2K in which the "Preparing to standby" message would appear on the screen when resuming from standby. 2. Fixed issue seen under Win2K in which HP USB CD-RW fails to install. 3. Fixed issue seen under Win2K in which the OS may display an "Unsafe device removal" warning when warm-undocking from a dock with a printer attached. 4. Fixed high pitched squeal intermittently heard under Win2K when the system transitions from Standby to Hibernate. 5. Fixed problem in which Num Lock would stay enabled after a warm reboot. 6. Fixed issue in which systems with certain Celeron processors would display "Inspiron 3800 R" during POST and "Inspiron 3800 C" in System Setup. Celeron systems should report "Inspiron 3800 C" in both places. Enhancements: 1. Added new thermal procedures to reduce fan activity. 2. Moved "Diskette Reconfig" to second page of System Setup. 3. Removed "Docking IRQ" from System Setup. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A10 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 11/10/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) ********************************************************************* Notes: 1. When running older versions of Dell Diagnostics with this BIOS, a message will be displayed during the System Management BIOS (SMBIOS) test indicating the test doesn't support the version of SMBIOS in the system BIOS. This message does not indicate a system failure. To run this test, download the most recent diagnostics utility from support.dell.com. ********************************************************************* The following updates were made to the A09 BIOS to create A10: Issues Fixed: 1. Win2K/WinME: Fixed issue in which the system may not resume to the correct display (CRT or LCD) after resume from hibernate. 2. Win2K: Fixed issue in which the OS fails to recognize the dock if the system is docked while in hibernate. 3. Win2K/WinME: Fixed issue in which the system would intermittently fail to fully resume from Standby until a key was pressed. 4. Fixed issue in which a device swapped into the system modular bay may not be detected. 5. Fixed issue in which the system fails to report the correct dock status when docked when the Docking Ethernet is disabled in System Setup. 6. Fixed issue in which the system fails to recognize a modular bay IDE device if the primary hard drive is removed. 7. Fixed problem in which IR and serial port communications fail when used simultaneously. 8. Win98: Improved screen flashes seen after recovering from suspend or toggling in and out of System Setup. 9. Fixed problem in which the system intermittently fails to boot from CD-ROM. 10. Fixed issue in which the system fails to direct the video to some CRTs when the system's lid is closed. 11. Fixed problem seen when charging some batteries. Enhancements: 1. Set USB Legacy to 'Enabled' by default in System Setup. 2. Added support for booting from internal ZIP drives. In order to boot from a ZIP drive: - The drive must be in the system modular bay. - A ZIP disk formatted to be bootable must be inserted into the drive. - No floppy disk drives can be attached to the system. - The "Boot First Device" setting in System Setup must be configured to "Diskette Drive". The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A09 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 07/31/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) ********************************************************************* Notes: 1. Users of Windows 2000 will notice a "System Settings Change" message the first time Windows 2000 is launched with this BIOS. This is due to re-detection of the touchpad/pointing stick and does not indicate a system failure. Press 'Y' when this message appears to restart the system. The message will not appear again. ********************************************************************* Issues fixed: 1. Fixed problem where the display brightness setting is not saved during suspend. 2. Fixed issue where Dell Control Center and Dell OpenManage Client Instrumentation (OMCI) are unable to control the keyboard click volume. 3. Fixed issue seen under Dell OMCI where the processor cache information is not reported correctly. 4. Fixed issue seen under Dell OMCI where the maximum memory supported is not reported correctly. 5. Fixed issue where a 2nd hard drive that is password protected cannot be accessed when hot-swapped into the modular bay from a CD-ROM. 6. Fixed issue seen under Dell OMCI where the system fails to report a critical thermal event. 7. Fixed problem where Dell Control Center is unable to set some boot sequence options. 8. Fixed problem where the touchpad may lock up when docked to a Port Replicator. 9. Fixed issue seen under Windows 2000 where the system detects the Network Adapter in a Port Replicator when the Network Adapter is disabled in System Setup but the Docking IRQ is set to IRQ 11. 10. Fixed problem in which the top of the display has a small amount of corrupt video after resume from suspend in certain VESA modes. 11. Make sure to properly report the 'Lower Critical' temperature to Dell OMCI. 12. Improved ability of the system to restore a hard disk drive to its proper DMA mode after resume from suspend. This only applies to drives that support the ATA 4 standard or higher. 13. Fixed the issue in which the drive capacity for some large hard disk drives would be incorrectly reported by the BIOS. 14. Fixed issue where 720KB floppies cannot be read if the floppy disk drive is hot-inserted and 1.44MB media is read first. 15. Fixed problem under Windows 2000 where the system does not always report the correct battery charge percentage when a second battery is present. 16. Fixed intermittent issue where turning off power during POST would cause the system to report CMOS corruption on the next boot. 17. Fixed problem in which the system would enter suspend when the lid was closed while both the LCD and an external CRT were active (i.e. simul-scan mode). 18. Improved issue seen in Windows 98 where the LCD may flash on and off several times during boot-up and shut-down. 19. Fixed problem where the touchpad locks up if it is touched while the system is scanning information using a scanner attached to the serial port. Enhancements: 1. Added support for Quick Boot and Simple Boot - "Boot POST" in System Setup. 2. Added support for APM Safe-Shutdown utility. 3. Added support for Wake on RTC - "Auto On Mode" in System Setup. 4. Added support for USB keyboards outside of Windows. 5. Allow Contrast keys to work as Brightness keys if the system has a TFT panel. 6. Add a pop-up message when (reverse video) is pressed on TFT systems, which don't support this function. This message will not appear when running Windows 2000 or Windows Millennium. 7. Added Dell SMBIOS ver 1.4 support. 8. Added field on first page of System Setup to display the Current CPU Speed for Geyserville processors. 9. Set "Boot Third Device" to CD/DVD/CD-RW Drive in System Setup by default. 10. Added support for newer Pentium III processor revisions. 11. Modified the System Setup layout and added improvements to the help text. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI 5. Microsoft Windows Millennium ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A08 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 06/16/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Issues fixed: 1. Addressed issue in which the system would fail to power on with the initial button press when on battery power only. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A07 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 06/10/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Enhancements: 1. Added support for new power supply board. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A06 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 06/09/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) ********************************************************************* Note: This BIOS release only supports systems with a specific power supply board installed. Attempting to flash this BIOS on a system with a different type of power supply board will result in an error message and the flash process with be blocked. ********************************************************************* Enhancements: 1. Added support for O2 power supply board. 2. Removed support for LTC power supply board. 3. Removed support for NiMH batteries. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A05 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 03/28/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Issues fixed: 1. Fixed issue in which NiMH batteries would not charge properly when 2 batteries were installed in the system. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A04 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 03/21/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Issue Fixed: 1. Improved communication with battery charger to prevent situations where the system may stop responding. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A03 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 03/07/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Issues Fixed: 1. Prevent system from turning on when the power button is pressed when there is no battery in the system and an AC Adapter is not attached. 2. Fix problem where NiMH batteries may become too warm when charging. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A02 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 03/06/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Issues Fixed: 1. Fixed issue in which the batteries intermittently would not charge and would fail Dell Diags battery tests. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A01 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 02/17/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Issues Fixed: 1. Fixed problem seen in Windows 2000 where a 2nd hard disk drive module may be disabled if the user enters an incorrect password on the first attempt. Enhancements: 1. Added support for NiMH batteries. 2. Include the System Service Tag in the System Information table for Wired-for-Management applications. The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI ====================================================================== ====================================================================== Systems: Inspiron 3800 (Memory location F000:E845) Version: A00 (Memory location F000:E842) Build Date: 01/28/00 (Memory location F000:FFF5) Initial release of the BIOS Video BIOS is ATI 4.243 The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems: 1. Microsoft Windows 98 SE (APM only) 2. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP5 3. Microsoft Windows NT 4.0 SP6 4. Microsoft Windows 2000 ACPI