Dell USB Drive (FX2) Firmware Release Notes =============================================================================== GENERAL INFORMATION: =============================================================================== 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. =============================================================================== RELEASE INFORMATION =============================================================================== --------------------- Version: A04 Date: Apr 30, 2004 --------------------- Errors corrected: 1. Fixed intermittent system lockup when a hard disk drive was in a D/Bay attached to an Inspiron 9100 or Inspiron XPS. --------------------- Version: A03 Date: Apr 1, 2004 --------------------- Errors corrected: 1. Fix ATA protocol error during initial device detection. Because of this error, some DVD ROM drives intermittently fail to be detected in a D/Bay attached to an Inspiron 300m. NOTE: Version A03 was never oficially released. --------------------- Version: A02 Date: Aug 5, 2003 --------------------- Enhancements: 1. Added support for Seagate hard disk modules. 2. Add support for recognizing some optical devices sooner after power-on. --------------------- Version: A01 Date: Apr 28, 2003 --------------------- 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. --------------------- Version: A00 Date: Jan 16, 2003 --------------------- 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.
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