Dell Vostro 5401 Service Manual - Page 120

Recovering the operating system, Flashing the BIOS, Flashing BIOS (USB key), Backup media

Page 120 highlights

Recovering the operating system When your computer is unable to boot to the operating system even after repeated attempts, it automatically starts Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery. Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery is a standalone tool that is preinstalled in all Dell computers installed with Windows 10 operating system. It consists of tools to diagnose and troubleshoot issues that may occur before your computer boots to the operating system. It enables you to diagnose hardware issues, repair your computer, back up your files, or restore your computer to its factory state. You can also download it from the Dell Support website to troubleshoot and fix your computer when it fails to boot into their primary operating system due to software or hardware failures. For more information about the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery, see Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery User's Guide at www.dell.com/support. Flashing the BIOS About this task It is recommended to flash the BIOS when an update is available or when you replace the system board. To flash the BIOS: Steps 1. Turn on your computer. 2. Go to www.dell.com/support. 3. Click Product support, enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then click Submit. NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the Autodefect feature or manually browse for your computer model. 4. Click Drivers & downloads > Find it myself. 5. Select the operating system installed on your computer. 6. Scroll down the page, and expand BIOS. 7. Click Download to download the latest version of the BIOS for your computer. 8. After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the BIOS update file. 9. Double-click the BIOS update file icon, and follow the instructions on the screen. Flashing BIOS (USB key) Steps 1. Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 7 in "Flashing the BIOS" to download the latest BIOS setup program file. 2. Create a bootable USB drive. For more information, see the knowledge base article SLN143196 at www.dell.com/support. 3. Copy the BIOS setup program file to the bootable USB drive. 4. Connect the bootable USB drive to the computer that needs the BIOS update. 5. Restart the computer and press F12 when the Dell logo is displayed on the screen. 6. Boot to the USB drive from the One Time Boot Menu. 7. Type the BIOS setup program filename and press Enter. 8. The BIOS Update Utility appears. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the BIOS update. Backup media and recovery options It is recommended to create a recovery drive to troubleshoot and fix problems that may occur with Windows. Dell proposes multiple options for recovering Windows operating system on your Dell personal computer. For more information, see Dell Windows Backup Media and Recovery Options. 120 Troubleshooting

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Recovering the operating system
When your computer is unable to boot to the operating system even after repeated attempts, it automatically starts Dell
SupportAssist OS Recovery.
Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery is a standalone tool that is preinstalled in all Dell computers installed with Windows 10 operating
system. It consists of tools to diagnose and troubleshoot issues that may occur before your computer boots to the operating
system. It enables you to diagnose hardware issues, repair your computer, back up your files, or restore your computer to its
factory state.
You can also download it from the Dell Support website to troubleshoot and fix your computer when it fails to boot into their
primary operating system due to software or hardware failures.
For more information about the Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery, see
Dell SupportAssist OS Recovery User's Guide
at
www.dell.com/support
.
Flashing the BIOS
About this task
It is recommended to flash the BIOS when an update is available or when you replace the system board. To flash the BIOS:
Steps
1.
Turn on your computer.
2.
Go to
www.dell.com/support
.
3.
Click
Product support
, enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then click
Submit
.
NOTE:
If you do not have the Service Tag, use the Autodefect feature or manually browse for your computer model.
4.
Click
Drivers & downloads
>
Find it myself
.
5.
Select the operating system installed on your computer.
6.
Scroll down the page, and expand
BIOS
.
7.
Click
Download
to download the latest version of the BIOS for your computer.
8.
After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the BIOS update file.
9.
Double-click the BIOS update file icon, and follow the instructions on the screen.
Flashing BIOS (USB key)
Steps
1.
Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 7 in "
Flashing the BIOS
" to download the latest BIOS setup program file.
2.
Create a bootable USB drive. For more information, see the knowledge base article
SLN143196
at
www.dell.com/support
.
3.
Copy the BIOS setup program file to the bootable USB drive.
4.
Connect the bootable USB drive to the computer that needs the BIOS update.
5.
Restart the computer and press
F12
when the Dell logo is displayed on the screen.
6.
Boot to the USB drive from the
One Time Boot Menu
.
7.
Type the BIOS setup program filename and press
Enter
.
8.
The
BIOS Update Utility
appears. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the BIOS update.
Backup media and recovery options
It is recommended to create a recovery drive to troubleshoot and fix problems that may occur with Windows. Dell proposes
multiple options for recovering Windows operating system on your Dell personal computer. For more information, see
Dell
Windows Backup Media and Recovery Options
.
120
Troubleshooting