BIOS UPDATE Dell inspiron N5110

I need to perform a BIOS update on a Dell Inspiron N5110 with a battery issue.
I tried to update the BIOS by executing N5110A11.exe /forceit in the command line, where N5110A11.exe is Dell's BIOS update utility, but it failed with a unknown command error.
The /forceit switch is needed because the battery issue prevents a normal update.

How can I install the BIOS update with the /forceit switch?

3 Answers

if N5110A11.exe -forceit does not work, you can simply follow this article: Dell N5110 BIOS Update and how to install latest Bios version ( Version: A11 ,A11)

If you’re tenacious and determined you can install Linux Mint (single system, not dual boot and it’s free). Up date BIOS in Linux using same /forceit command, then revert back to Windows 10 or whatever you wanted to run. I did this because gave up on Windows for same reason (battery). Learned this by accident, but it’s actually the dll files in Windows OS keeping /forceit from working. Linux doesn’t use these files and therefore the command is not halted. Just in case- - I made bootable usb w/Rufus (3.6 I think) - downloaded A11 to usb after. I have 2 systems so you may want to create update usb before installing Linux 😉. No risk here, other than time. Took me little over an hour to come full circle. Got greedy and want efi now, so far doesn’t look like that’s happening (but haven’t tried Linux trick for this one yet: A14 if anyone knows a trick).

I encountered the same symptoms you described: Running N5110A11.exe /FORCEIT in Windows on a Dell Inspiron N5110 failed with "unknown command". The solution which worked for me was from :

1. Create a bootable USB stick by choosing "FreeDOS" from the "boot selection" options in Rufus.
2. Copy N5110A11.exe to the USB stick.
3. Reboot and repeatedly press F12 to enter the BIOS boot menu.
4. Boot from the USB stick.
5. Run N5110A11.exe /FORCEIT.

The command worked for me when run from DOS mode.