AW: i386/84943: "Invalid Partition Table" Intel ICH6 SATA controller (Dell D610 Laptop).

Jerome-Pascale Klodzinski jpk at gmx.org
Tue Sep 6 00:18:27 PDT 2005


I can take a look at the log-file of the BIOS updates! ;) I just noticed
that the version A04 is no longer available on the dell-support side. The
relevant info of the BIOS A05 is following:

1. Fixed enhancement added in the A04 BIOS that added support for INT 13 
DMA transfers (under DOS) when operating in protected mode. Problem
with previous BIOS revision prevented accessing the systems hard-disk
drive in DOS when running in a protected mode environment.

AS an attachment i send the whole log.

Regards

Jerome-P. Klodzinski

> --- Ursprüngliche Nachricht ---
> Von: Dean Patterson <psamuel01 at yahoo.com>
> An: Jerome-Pascale Klodzinski <jpk at gmx.org>
> Kopie: freebsd-i386 at freebsd.org
> Betreff: Re: AW: i386/84943: "Invalid Partition Table" Intel ICH6 SATA
> controller (Dell D610 Laptop).
> Datum: Mon, 5 Sep 2005 15:47:01 -0700 (PDT)
> 
> Ah NO WAY!! Yes we update the BIOS before we image the
> laptops.  WOW that never came to mind.  I will
> certainly give it a whirl tomorrow at work.
> 
> Thank you very much,
> Dean Patterson.
> 
> P.S - Do you know the differences in the BIOS updates?
> 
> --- Jerome-Pascale Klodzinski <jpk at gmx.org> wrote:
> 
> > Hello Dean,
> > 
> > could it be that your D610 is using the BIOS version
> > A04? With this BIOS
> > version i had the same problem, you described. I
> > needed a downgrade to BIOS
> > A03 to get FBSD running. 
> > Today i tested the newest version A05 and it works,
> > so give this BIOS a try,
> > and i hope it will help.
> > 
> > Regards 
> > 
> > Jerome-P. Klodzinski
> > 
> 
> 
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around 
> http://mail.yahoo.com 
> 
-------------- next part --------------
Dell Inc.
Copyright (C) 2005, All Rights reserved.
www.dell.com


BIOS Release Notes


===================================================================
===================================================================

Systems:      Dell Latitude D610 Series
Version:      A05
Build Date:   08/10/2005

Intel 915GM Graphics Video BIOS version 1219
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 Video BIOS version 8.017M.192.062


Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed enhancement added in the A04 BIOS that added support for INT 13 
    DMA transfers (under DOS) when operating in protected mode.  Problem
    with previous BIOS revision prevented accessing the systems hard-disk
    drive in DOS when running in a protected mode environment.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.

===================================================================
===================================================================

Systems:      Dell Latitude D610 Series
Version:      A04
Build Date:   06/29/2005

Intel 915GM Graphics Video BIOS version 1219
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 Video BIOS version 8.017M.192.062


Issues Fixed:
=============
1.  Fixed issue where hotplugged IDE drives would be not be programmed to
    the optimal transfer mode.
2.  Fixed issue in which Windows intermittently reports an "unexpected error"
    when the BIOS flash program is launched, which prevents the BIOS
    update from occurring.
3.  Fixed issue where BIOS Setup reports the RAM size incorrectly on the next 
    boot after corrupting CMOS.
4.  Fixed intermittent problem where, after the user creates a hard disk
    password with an Admin password already installed, the Admin password
    will not unlock the hard disk on subsequent boots. The Admin password
    should unlock the hard disk password in this situation.
5.  Fixed performance problem seen when running Microsoft Virtual PC.
6.  Optimized CD-ROM timing for DOS mode transfers.
7.  Reduced potential headphone noise.

Enhancements:
=============
1.  Added support for warm undocking System Setup option. The undock method 
    can be configured as either "Hot Undock" or "Warm Undock" using the
    new "Undocking Method" field in System Setup. The  system must be 
    rebooted after changing this field. Previously, the system would only 
    allow hot-undocking. When warm-undocking, the system enters Standby 
    mode if the dock eject button is pressed or the user commands the 
    Operating System to undock the computer from the Start Menu.
    The default behavior is Hot Undock. This allows the system
    to stay powered on when undocking.

    PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of how "Undocking Method" is configured,
    the user must notify the system before undocking by either pressing
    the dock eject button or commanding the OS to undock the computer
    from the Start Menu.
2.  Add support for newer versions of the Intel Pentium M processor.
3.  Upgraded ATI VBIOS
4.  Upgraded Intel VBIOS to version 1219, which provides enhanced graphics 
    performance.
5.  Upgraded ATI VBIOS to version 8.17M.192.062 to optimize performance.
6.  Upgraded Broadcom PXE rom version and added an RPL boot option to the 
    BIOS one-time boot menu.
7.  Added support for INT 13 DMA transfers (under DOS) when operating in 
    protected mode. This is specifically meant to address a performance 
    issue seen by some customers who are running Ghost under DOS in 
    protected mode. 


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.

===================================================================
===================================================================

Systems:      Dell Latitude D610 Series
Version:      A03
Build Date:   03/02/2005

Intel 915GM Graphics Video BIOS version 3412
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 Video BIOS version 8.017.192.045

Issues Fixed:
=============

1.  Fixed IRQ routing problem seen only on non-standard operating
    system configurations.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.

===================================================================
===================================================================

Systems:      Dell Latitude D610 Series
Version:      A02
Build Date:   02/01/2005

Intel 915GM Graphics Video BIOS version 3412
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 Video BIOS version 8.017.192.045

Issues Fixed:
=============

1. Fixed an issue where some batteries would not charge after being
   fully depleted.


Enhancements:
=============

1. Changed CMOS Setup so that the TPM field is always visible.


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.

===================================================================
===================================================================


Systems:      Dell Latitude D610 Series
Version:      A01
Build Date:   1/17/2005


Intel 915GM Graphics Video BIOS version 3412
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 Video BIOS version 8.017.192.045

Issues Fixed:
=============

1. Fixed a problem where the system could enter a state where the BIOS thought 
   there was a "false fan failure."

2. Fixed a problem where the CMOS Setup Speedstep Enable/Disable field was 
   visible with a Celeron processor installed.

3. Fixed an issue where quickly opening and closing the lid would 
   intermittently cause the system to hang.

4. Fixed a problem where the power LED would 'hiccup' / spike at the beginning 
   of the 'inhale' portion of the Standby breathe routine.


Enhancements:
=============

1. Improved the appearance of Intel DPST-related events. In particular:

	- Brightness hotkeys should cause brightness changes without any delay.
	- Resume from a panel off condition looks much more smooth.
	- POST brightness is now set early on in POST.


2. Incorporated the changes from the thermal algorithm.



The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.

===================================================================
===================================================================



Systems:      Dell Latitude D610 Series
Version:      A00
Build Date:   11/22/2004


Intel 915GM Graphics Video BIOS version 3412
ATI Mobility Radeon X300 Video BIOS version 8.017.192.044


Initial release of the BIOS


The BIOS release has been validated on the following operating systems:
1.  Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1 and Service Pack 2.
2.  Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 4.


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