Upgrading Dell Latitude XPi BIOS with dead battery

Before starting

This procedure has only been tested on a Dell Latitude XPi P90ST for upgrading the BIOS version from A07 to A10, and then from A10 to A11. It will likely work for all XPi models (not just the P90ST) and all source BIOS versions, but I can't guarantee this, and I can't guarantee it will work for earlier destination BIOS versions or other models' BIOS updates.

This procedure is intended for people who wish to upgrade the BIOS on their vintage laptop but are prevented from doing so by the battery check. If your laptop's battery somehow still works after 25 years (and I can believe it; I have two batteries for other laptops that work after 22 years), you don't need this guide.

Procedure

• Get the updater.
• Run XPI-A11.EXE to extract the updater files.
• Remove @upgrade from A:\AUTOEXEC.BAT.
• Reboot from the floppy disk.
• Run XPI_A11.EXE /FORCEIT. Note this flag is undocumented and does not appear in XPI_A11.EXE /?.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to perform the update.
• Reboot.
• Press Fn+F1.
• Verify the BIOS version is now A11.

Tested on...

• Dell Latitude XPi, A07 -> A10
• Dell Latitude XPi, A10 -> A11
• Dell Latitude XPi CD, A09 -> A12