Edit/creating new Dimension 8300 BIOS???

Hi,

A few days ago my warranty expired on several Dimension 8300's.
I decided to check all systems if they were using the latest BIOS, most
were.

However, i found out that the last BIOS was A07, dated 27/09/2004.
Of course i updated all systems.
When i contacted eSupport.com/Phoenix, and also using their BIOS Agent i
found there were newer versions of that bios available.
However, they said i had to contact Dell about that. Which i guess they
don't.
At a forum they suggested modifying an original D8300 A07 BIOS to include
the updates or editing a regular Phoenix BIOS to work on the Dell..

I was giving tips on extracting the BIOS from the exe using
Dell.exe -writeromfile and Dell.exe -writehdrfile. This gave me a ROM and
HDR file.
However, none of the tools i tried were able to succesfully edit/open those
files..

So, my question is: does anyone know something that works?
Or maybe some tools Dell uses to create/edit the BIOSES?
Best option would be a tool that opens the original (be it exe, rom or hdr),
lets me edit and then create a new working exe..
But a working tool like Phoenix BIOS Editor would also work.

If anyone could help, that would be great.

Thanks,

Allegro.

P.S: I have multiple systems, and even a few spare boards, so i don't care
if i brick it first time.

Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.61
BIOS Date: 09/27/04
BIOS Type: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A07
BIOS ID: Dell 0W2562 BIOS Version: A07
OEM Sign-On: None
Chipset: Intel 2578 rev 2
Superio: Unknown
OS: WinXP SP2
CPU: Pentium 4 3200 Mhz MAX: 3600 Mhz
BIOS ROM In Socket: No
BIOS ROM Size: 512K
Memory Installed: 2048 MB
Memory Maximum: 4096 MB
Memory Slot 01: 512 MB
Memory Slot 02: 512 MB
Memory Slot 03: 512 MB
Memory Slot 04: 512 MB
ACPI Revision: 1.0

eSupport.com, Inc.
1-800-800-BIOS (2467)
www.esupport.com

On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 13:56:05 +0100, "allegro" <>
wrote:

>Hi,
>
>A few days ago my warranty expired on several Dimension 8300's.
>I decided to check all systems if they were using the latest BIOS, most
>were.

Why???

>
>However, i found out that the last BIOS was A07, dated 27/09/2004.
>Of course i updated all systems.

"Of course"??? Again, why?

>When i contacted eSupport.com/Phoenix, and also using their BIOS Agent i
>found there were newer versions of that bios available.
>However, they said i had to contact Dell about that. Which i guess they
>don't.

So they say you have to contact Dell, since they don't.


One should think: "If it is working, don't play with it." and never
upgrade the BIOS unless there is a problem that you are experiencing
that the new BIOS fixes.

On Thu, 01 Mar 2007 08:14:34 -0500, PeterD <> wrote:

>On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 13:56:05 +0100, "allegro" <>
>wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>A few days ago my warranty expired on several Dimension 8300's.
>>I decided to check all systems if they were using the latest BIOS, most
>>were.
>
>Why???
>
>>


Agree with you PeterD.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it" as the saying goes and it applies to
pc's too.

Here is the story with Dell BIOSes. Dell licenses a "core BIOS" supporting the
basic chipsets on a motherboard. Then Dell customizes the BIOS with its own
look and feel, sometimes removing features which would add to the support it
would have to provide (e.g. overclocking). There may or may not be hardware
features added to or removed from the motherboard, but unsupported by the core
BIOS. The contractual agreement between Dell and the BIOS licensor, Phoenix in
this case, absolves the licensor of ALL responsibility for supporting the BIOS
or the motherboard onto which it is installed.

Let me give you my honest opinion here. It would be foolish for anyone except
a qualified BIOS programmer to attempt to modify a Phoenix BIOS to run with a
Dell motherboard. Whoever suggested that you do so is being VERY
irresponsible. If you modify a Phoenix BIOS and flash it onto the motherboard,
it may or may not work. If it does not work, you will end up with a dead
motherboard. This risk is not worth taking unless you have a lot of time on
your hands and are willing to buy an expensive replacement motherboard.

So... Stick with whatever versions of the Dimension 8300 BIOS available on the
Dell web site. Before updating the BIOS, determine whether the new BIOS either
fixes some problem you have been having or adds a feature you want to use.

.... Ben Myers

On Thu, 1 Mar 2007 13:56:05 +0100, "allegro" <> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>A few days ago my warranty expired on several Dimension 8300's.
>I decided to check all systems if they were using the latest BIOS, most
>were.
>
>However, i found out that the last BIOS was A07, dated 27/09/2004.
>Of course i updated all systems.
>When i contacted eSupport.com/Phoenix, and also using their BIOS Agent i
>found there were newer versions of that bios available.
>However, they said i had to contact Dell about that. Which i guess they
>don't.
>At a forum they suggested modifying an original D8300 A07 BIOS to include
>the updates or editing a regular Phoenix BIOS to work on the Dell..
>
>I was giving tips on extracting the BIOS from the exe using
>Dell.exe -writeromfile and Dell.exe -writehdrfile. This gave me a ROM and
>HDR file.
>However, none of the tools i tried were able to succesfully edit/open those
>files..
>
>So, my question is: does anyone know something that works?
>Or maybe some tools Dell uses to create/edit the BIOSES?
>Best option would be a tool that opens the original (be it exe, rom or hdr),
>lets me edit and then create a new working exe..
>But a working tool like Phoenix BIOS Editor would also work.
>
>If anyone could help, that would be great.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Allegro.
>
>P.S: I have multiple systems, and even a few spare boards, so i don't care
>if i brick it first time.
>
>Program: eSupport.com BIOS Agent Version 3.61
>BIOS Date: 09/27/04
>BIOS Type: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A07
>BIOS ID: Dell 0W2562 BIOS Version: A07
>OEM Sign-On: None
>Chipset: Intel 2578 rev 2
>Superio: Unknown
>OS: WinXP SP2
>CPU: Pentium 4 3200 Mhz MAX: 3600 Mhz
>BIOS ROM In Socket: No
>BIOS ROM Size: 512K
>Memory Installed: 2048 MB
>Memory Maximum: 4096 MB
>Memory Slot 01: 512 MB
>Memory Slot 02: 512 MB
>Memory Slot 03: 512 MB
>Memory Slot 04: 512 MB
>ACPI Revision: 1.0
>
>eSupport.com, Inc.
>1-800-800-BIOS (2467)
>www.esupport.com
>

On Mar 1, 4:56 am, "allegro" <alle...@flevonet.nl> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> A few days ago my warranty expired on several Dimension 8300's.
> I decided to check all systems if they were using the latest BIOS, most
> were.
>

Pheonix does have a bios editor available from their website. But
Don't DO it, for Pete's sake. Updating to the latest dell bios, using
Dell's own tool is pretty safe, but customizing your own is not. If
you have a problem you suspect is firmware related, tell us about it,
and we may be able to help. If you want to play with the bios editing
tool, don't let me stop you, just be prepared for a dead motherboard.

"allegro" <> wrote in message
news:45e6cd65$0$754$. nl...
> Hi,
>
> A few days ago my warranty expired on several Dimension 8300's.
> I decided to check all systems if they were using the latest BIOS, most
> were.
>
> However, i found out that the last BIOS was A07, dated 27/09/2004.
> Of course i updated all systems.
> When i contacted eSupport.com/Phoenix, and also using their BIOS Agent i
> found there were newer versions of that bios available.
> However, they said i had to contact Dell about that. Which i guess they
> don't.
> At a forum they suggested modifying an original D8300 A07 BIOS to include
> the updates or editing a regular Phoenix BIOS to work on the Dell..
>

Potential waste of a nice Vista-capable system.

Unless you just want to break something.

Or unless you just want to prove you're brilliant enough to break something
that works.

Help yourself. Brick it. Those machine still bring $300-$500 on ebay
depending on the configuration.