Dell USB Drive (FX2) Firmware Release Notes
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GENERAL INFORMATION:
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The Dell D-Bay and the module bay in the Dell D-Dock contain a
controller named the FX2. This controller has an embedded computer
program, also known as firmware, that determines its behavior. The
files here are used to update that firmware.
If you are familiar with updating the FX2 firmware, you may skip
forward to the "RELEASE INFORMATION" section of this file.
Otherwise, you should contine reading to familiarize yourself with
the way the FX2 fits into the D-Family of notebook computers and
docking stations and the way the firmware update process works.
D-Family Bays and Modules
=========================
There are three types of bays in the Dell D-Family: D-Bay, D-Dock
module bay, and notebook module bay. These bays can hold D-Family
modules which are available as a floppy disk drive, a hard-disk
drive, a secondary battery, and various CD and DVD devices
(including a DVD+RW drive). The various types of CD and DVD
devices are usually referred to as optical devices.
The Dell D-Bay is a small bay that can hold all of the D-Family
modules except a secondary battery. The D-Bay has a powered-USB
cable that plugs into a special port which exists on the D-Port,
the D-Dock, and some (but not all) of the D-Family notebook
computers. If your notebook does not have the special powered-USB
port, then you can only use a D-Bay if you are docked to a D-Port
or a D-Dock.
The D-Dock module bay is an internal bay located on the side of
the D-Dock docking station. It can hold all of the D-Family
modules, and has the ability to charge a secondary battery even
when the D-Dock is not docked to a notebook.
Some (but not all) D-Family notebook computers contain an internal
bay that can hold all of the D-Family modules. When a hard-disk or
optical device is in a D-Family notebook module bay, it operates
as an IDE device. This is the way the earlier C-Family modules
operated. There is no FX2 controller associated with the notebook
module bay.
When a hard-disk or optical device is in a D-Bay or the D-Dock
module bay, it operates as a USB device. These bays contain an FX2
controller whose primary function is to handle the USB signaling.
These are the controllers whose firmware is updated using these
files.
The Firmware Update Program
===========================
The firmware update program is named DELLDBUP.EXE, and it executes
only in Windows 2000 or Windows XP. When it starts, DELLDBUP reads
the name of the firmware update file (usually FX2_A??.IIC) from
DELLDBUP.INI. Then it searches the USB topology to locate any FX2
controllers that are in a D-Bay or D-Dock module bay.
Finding FX2 controllers
-----------------------
In order for the update program to install the latest version of
FX2 firmware, it must be able to locate all of the FX2 controllers
that are connected to your computer. It can only find the
connected FX2s if you have a hard-disk or optical device installed
in the dock media bay or any attached D-Bay(s). Also, the drive(s)
in the bay(s) *must* be visible to the OS--you must be able to see
the device(s) in "My Computer".
If you have nothing at all, a battery, or a floppy disk drive in a
D-Bay or the D-Dock media bay, then DELLDBUP will *not* see or
update that FX2. This occurs because the FX2 is only active when a
hard-disk or optical device is present in the bay.
At one extreme, the firmware update program could find as many as
three FX2 controllers--one in a D-Bay attached to the notebook,
one in the D-Dock module bay, and one in a D-Bay attached to the
D-Dock. At the other extreme, it might find no FX2s. This should
*not* happen if you are docked to a D-Dock or have a D-Bay
attached. If it does, make sure you have a D-Family hard-disk or
optical device in the bay and that the device appears in "My
Computer".
Selecting FX2 controllers to update
-----------------------------------
If the program finds FX2s containing firmware that is older than
that in the firmware update file, it will automatically select
(mark the checkbox for) those devices for update. Devices that
have up-to-date or newer firmware will not be checked
automatically. Unless you are instructed to manually check an
empty checkbox, you should not do so. Only those devices whose
checkbox is marked will be updated.
If the program finds and marks the checkbox for some FX2(s), click
on the "Update" button to begin the update process. If multiple
checkboxes are marked, then multiple FX2s will be updated at one
time.
If the program finds some FX2(s), but no checkboxes are marked,
then the firmware in the FX2(s) is the same as or newer than that
in the update file. In this case, you can simply close the program
by clicking on the small "X" icon in the upper-right-hand corner
of the window.
Making the Update Take Effect
=============================
After an FX2 has been reflashed, it must be reset or lose all
power for several seconds before the update can take effect.
For a Dell D-Bay, you only have to use the OS's Safe Eject icon to
remove the D-Bay device. Then, simply unplug the D-Bay's
powered-USB cable from the docking station or notebook and leave
it unplugged for 10-15 seconds. When you reattach the D-Bay, the
new firmware will be used.
If you updated the FX2 controlling the D-Dock media bay, you have
to safely shut down the notebook. When you power the notebook back
on, the FX2 in the D-Dock will begin using the new firmware.
Checking That the Update Worked
===============================
The easiest way to ensure the update worked is to run the update
program a second time. If none of the checkboxes are marked, then
all of the FX2s are up-to-date.
If a checkbox *is* marked, first make sure you followed the
procedure in the "Making the Update Take Effect" section above.
If you followed those instructions, then consult the "Known
Problems" section below.
Known Problems
==============
If the firmware you are trying to update is X09 or A00, the update
will not work if you have media in an optical device when you run
the update program. The update program may indicate that the
update was successful, even though it was not.
To ensure the update works, remove any media from an optical
device *before* you insert the drive into the D-Bay.
Alternatively, you can insert a hard-disk module into the bay if
you have one--the hard-disk modules do not have this issue.
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RELEASE INFORMATION
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Version: A02
Date: Aug 5, 2003
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Enhancements:
1. Added support for Seagate hard disk modules.
2. Add support for recognizing some optical devices sooner after power-on.
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Version: A01
Date: Apr 28, 2003
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Fixes:
1. On D-Bays attached to notebooks, the BIOS would sometimes fail to recognize
the devices, but they would work properly in the OS. Now the BIOS will
detect the devices properly.
2. Fix reflash failure issue on D-Bays holding an optical device containing
media.
Enhancements:
1. Hard drives in D-Bays and the D-Dock media bay will spin down after about
3 minutes of inactivity to conserve power.
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Version: A00
Date: Jan 16, 2003
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Initial release for the D-Dock media bay.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.