I am victorious, after a WEEK of struggling. So that anyone with this issue can be helped, here's what worked: RESTORE ALL BIOS SETTINGS TO DEFAULT:   From BIOS recovery (from system off and power unplugged, control+esc and plug in power)  select restore settings and WAIT FOR IT.   It took an hour and a half to complete.  Let it re-boot fully into windows. UPDATE FIRMWARE WITH *NEXT* VERSION:   Download not the newest firmware .exe file, but the version immediately following the one you have that's **bleep** up.   Put that on a FAT-formatted USB stick.  Reboot, hit F12, and choose UPDATE FIRMWARE.   Select this file, and add the option '/forceit'.  The computer will reboot and indicate it is updating the firmware in red text. Tthere will be a green message when it is successful. UPDATE FIRMWARE WITH LATEST VERSION.  Download the latest BIOS version .exe installer.   Right click, 'run as administrator', and let it work and reboot.  It will repeat the BIOS update steps, maybe with some new packages. Post-condition:  you will be fully updated.  Verify BIOS version in windows with 'system information' applet. I don't know if /forceit had any effect.   I don't know if I didn't wait long enough for the bios reset to complete previously, because I remember on several attempts of this forcing a power off.  I don't know if doing the next version of BIOS rather than the latest helped.    But this worked, finally, through the art of trying random things.I've never had a firmware update give me this much trouble on *anything*.  I'd recommend to Dell that they convey problem / result information to the user in their software, giving them some basis for understanding what's gone wrong and what needs to be fixed. Answer from Doug9999 on dell.com
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/dell › can't update my dell xps 9370 bios to 1.10.0 - "unable to prepare the bios update payload"
r/Dell on Reddit: Can't update my Dell XPS 9370 BIOS to 1.10.0 - "unable to prepare the BIOS update payload"
May 24, 2019 -

Hi all,

apologies if there's already a topic on this but my search didn't bring any results.

I've been having the following issue, I have a 9370 4k/i7/16GB/512GB and I noticed via the Dell Update app that there's a new bios for my precious XPS (ver. 1.10.0). However, the Dell Update app was showing it as unsuccessful install.

I went to Dell.com and with my service tag I downloaded the BIOS. While trying to install it , I receive the following error:

"Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload. The BIOS update procedure has aborted".

I can't seem to be able to find why this is happening. Anyone else that came across the same issue and can help?

Thank you all!

🌐
Dell
dell.com › home › support home › knowledge base article
Latitude 5400 and 5410 BIOS Update Fails Using System Center Configuration Manager | Dell New Zealand
April 24, 2025 - The BIOS update log shows an error log similar to the one below: "…Failed to copy num[0] payload to memory - 3f1 Failed to copy num[1] payload to memory - 3f1 Error: Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload.
Discussions

Inspiron 3470, BIOS 2.13.0, unable to prepare BIOS update payload
Dell Update is signalling my Inspiron 3470 needs a BIOS update. Current BIOS is 1.5.11 and there are two updates available: 1.5.21 and 2.13.0. Either update fails with "Unable to prepare BIOS update payload" error. More on dell.com
🌐 dell.com
2
0
June 12, 2019
Upgrading BIOS - "Error unable to locate a BIOS Update Payload"
Dear all, I'm trying to upgrade the bios from this blogpost https://garytown.com/dell-bios-upgrade-in-osd-winpe-x64 but I'm ending up with an error when I'm running the script from WinPE.. It looks from the blogpost it's written for SCCM, but I'm… More on learn.microsoft.com
🌐 learn.microsoft.com
5
0
Can't update the BIOS any longer

And installation of other drivers and BIOS upgrades fails:

http://imgur.com/a/TsTLa

More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Dell
1
2
August 7, 2017
Dell XPS 15 9570 System BIOS ver. 1.9.1 update failed to install
I see the same issue updating to BIOS version 1.10.1. The firmware update utility fails with "Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload." More on dell.com
🌐 dell.com
29
0
April 30, 2019
Top answer
1 of 13
1
I am victorious, after a WEEK of struggling. So that anyone with this issue can be helped, here's what worked: RESTORE ALL BIOS SETTINGS TO DEFAULT:   From BIOS recovery (from system off and power unplugged, control+esc and plug in power)  select restore settings and WAIT FOR IT.   It took an hour and a half to complete.  Let it re-boot fully into windows. UPDATE FIRMWARE WITH *NEXT* VERSION:   Download not the newest firmware .exe file, but the version immediately following the one you have that's **bleep** up.   Put that on a FAT-formatted USB stick.  Reboot, hit F12, and choose UPDATE FIRMWARE.   Select this file, and add the option '/forceit'.  The computer will reboot and indicate it is updating the firmware in red text. Tthere will be a green message when it is successful. UPDATE FIRMWARE WITH LATEST VERSION.  Download the latest BIOS version .exe installer.   Right click, 'run as administrator', and let it work and reboot.  It will repeat the BIOS update steps, maybe with some new packages. Post-condition:  you will be fully updated.  Verify BIOS version in windows with 'system information' applet. I don't know if /forceit had any effect.   I don't know if I didn't wait long enough for the bios reset to complete previously, because I remember on several attempts of this forcing a power off.  I don't know if doing the next version of BIOS rather than the latest helped.    But this worked, finally, through the art of trying random things.I've never had a firmware update give me this much trouble on *anything*.  I'd recommend to Dell that they convey problem / result information to the user in their software, giving them some basis for understanding what's gone wrong and what needs to be fixed.
2 of 13
0
The BIOS is stuck on 1.18.6.  It won't flash any other firmware.   In the release notes for 1.18.6, there's this fix: - Updated SPI ROM part flash command configuration settings to protect and secure the flash process. Is this the problem - a new feature to prevent flashing the BIOS?   How do I get around this?
🌐
Dell
dell.com › dell community › laptops › latitude
Latitude 7480 - unable to prepare the bios update payload (DOS) | DELL Technologies
January 16, 2018 - To resolve this issue the payload file (.hdr) must be extracted manually from the package. To do this, go to a command prompt. Change directories to the location where the BIOS files downloaded from Dell are located.
Top answer
1 of 4
1

I made a few changes to the script I previously uploaded. I added one more line to the data written to the log and changed the way the path was specified in the Get-ChildItem cmdlets. Coy the new script and run that. This time, copy all of the transcript data from the failed attempt. What you copied last time didn't include the current directory name

Is the name of the EXE file that contains the new BIOS "Latitude E7440.exe"?

2 of 4
0

This is one way to record what's happening. The transcript and variable values will be written to a file in the $LogPath directory:

<#Added TS Variables for if using during OSD.  Creates Variable SMSTS_BiosUpdate, and sets to TRUE. (For Future Use)
        http://powershelldistrict.com/how-to-read-and-write-sccm-task-sequence-variables-with-powershell/

       #>
$tsenv = New-Object -COMObject Microsoft.SMS.TSEnvironment -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
$tsenv.Value("SMSTS_BiosUpdate") = "True"

#Create Log Path
$LogPath = $tsenv.Value("_SMSTSLogPath")

#Get Bios Password from File
#$BiosPassword = Get-Content .\Bios.txt

#Create Model Variable
$ComputerModel = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_computersystem | Select-Object -ExpandProperty Model

#Get TRANSCRIPT File Name (No Extension, used to create Log File)
$TRANSLogFileName = $LogPath + "\" + $ComputerModel + ".log"

Start-Transcript -Path $TRANSLogFileName
Write-Host "Current Directory: $((Get-Location).Path)"    # Note where relative paths refer to
Write-Host "ComputerModel: $ComputerModel"
Write-Host "PSScriptRoot: $PSScriptRoot"
Write-Host "Direct child directories found in current directory:"
Get-ChildItem . -Dir |
    ForEach-Object{
        Write-Host "    " $_.Name
    }

# the FILE name of the exe to be copied
$ComputerModelExe = "{0}\{1}\*.exe" -f $PSScriptRoot, $ComputerModel
Write-Host "SOURCE exe file path to be used: $ComputerModelExe"

if (Test-Path -Path "$PSScriptRoot\*.exe"){
    Write-Host "FATAL: there are one or more EXE files in the directory $PSScriptRoot"
    Get-ChildItem "$PSScriptRoot\*.exe" |
        ForEach-Object{
            Write-Host "    " $_.Name
        }
    Throw "FATAL: there are one or more EXE files in the directory $PSScriptRoot"
}

#Copy Bios Installer to the root of the package - the Flash64W didn't like when I left it in the Computer Model folder, because it has spaces. (Yes, I tried qoutes and stuff)
Copy-Item $ComputerModelExe -Destination $PSScriptRoot  # copy exe file from its child directory
[array]$x = Get-ChildItem $PSScriptRoot\*.exe           # verify that only ONE file
if ($x.count -gt 1){
    Write-Host "FATAL: multiple EXE files found in $PSSCriptRoot after Copy-Item"
    $x |
        ForEach-Object{
            Write-Host "   " $_.Name
        }
    Throw "FATAL: multiple EXE files found in $PSSCriptRoot after Copy-Item"
}

$CopiedComputerModelExe = $x[0].FullName
Write-Host "The copied exe file is here: $CopiedComputerModelExe"

#Get Bios File Name (Uses the Bios EXE file in the same folder)
$BiosFilePath = $CopiedComputerModelExe
Write-Host "BiosFilePath: $BiosFilePath"

#Get Bios File Name (No Extension, used to create Log File)
$BiosLogFileName = $x[0].BaseName

#Set Command Arguments for Bios Update
$cmds = "/b=$BiosFileName /s /l=$LogPath\$BiosLogFileName"
Write-Host "cmds: $cmds"

#Update Bios
$Process = Start-Process $PSScriptRoot\Flash64W.exe  -ArgumentList $cmds -PassThru -wait

#Creates and Set TS Variable to be used to run additional steps if reboot requried.
if ($process.ExitCode -eq 2)
{ $tsenv.Value("SMSTS_BiosUpdateRebootRequired") = "True" }
else
{ $tsenv.Value("SMSTS_BiosUpdateRebootRequired") = "False" }
if ($process.ExitCode -eq 10)
{ $tsenv.Value("SMSTS_BiosUpdateBatteryCharge") = "True" }
else
{ $tsenv.Value("SMSTS_BiosUpdateBatteryCharge") = "False" }
Stop-Transcript
🌐
GARYTOWN
garytown.com › dell-bios-update-winpe-model-independent-from-internet
Dell BIOS update–WinPE–Model Independent–From Internet – GARYTOWN ConfigMgr Blog
March 22, 2017 - If you don't have a Bios Password, SHAME ON YOU, add one! .DESCRIPTION Take the downloaded BIOS File and Install in WinPE64 - Gary Blok .LINK https://garytown.com #> <#Added TS Variables for if using during OSD. Creates Variable SMSTS_BiosUpdate, and sets to TRUE.
🌐
Reddit
reddit.com › r/dell › can't update the bios any longer
r/Dell on Reddit: Can't update the BIOS any longer
August 7, 2017 -

We're getting the usual "Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload!" error. Anyone have any advice on workarounds?

Screenshot:

http://imgur.com/a/o2Beo

Find elsewhere
🌐
Dell
dell.com › dell community › laptops › inspiron
Vostro 3590 BIOS update 10 Oct 2022 fails to install | DELL Technologies
November 7, 2022 - The BIOS update procedure has aborted. Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload. The BIOS update procedure has aborted. Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload. The BIOS update procedure has aborted. Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload. The BIOS update procedure has aborted.
🌐
Dell
dell.com › dell community › software › supportassist for pcs › supportassist for pcs
Dell XPS 15 9570 System BIOS ver. 1.9.1 update failed to install | DELL Technologies
April 30, 2019 - I see the same issue updating to BIOS version 1.10.1. The firmware update utility fails with "Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload."
🌐
Dell
dell.com › dell community › desktops › precision fixed workstations
T7920 BIOS Update to 2.41.0 Failed | DELL Technologies
July 12, 2024 - I'm trying to update my T7920 to the latest update 2.41.0 but keeps saying "Unable to prepare the BIOS update payload" Any suggestions?
🌐
GARYTOWN
garytown.com › dell-bios-upgrade-in-osd-winpe-x64
Dell Bios Upgrade in OSD WinPE x64 – GARYTOWN ConfigMgr Blog
February 21, 2017 - If your task sequence deployment ... show an error ‘Unable to locate a BIOS Update Payload’. The problem is with the step to copy the BIOS installer to the root of the package (line 19)....
🌐
Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › answers › questions › 4004554 › tpm-enabled-in-bios-but-not-showing-in-windows
TPM enabled in BIOS but not showing in Windows - Microsoft Q&A
July 3, 2024 - Regarding TPM, the situation is still the same... if I run tpm.msc from command prompt, it still tells me "compatible TPM cannot be found" even though in the BIOS it's all there and enabled. Going via the Dell support page, the information is ambiguous. For just the Dell T5810, there are 2 TPM firmware upgrade utilities (v1.2 and v2.0), which thus indicates the machine has TPM and can (does?) support v2.0. But then using the service tag of this machine, then both firmware upgrade utilities disappear from the list (the total number of available updates goes down from 85 to 9) - could be because that expired years ago (although I don't understand why it would make such a difference).
🌐
Ten Forums
tenforums.com › drivers-hardware › 191195-trouble-updating-bios-dell-computer.html
Trouble updating BIOS on Dell computer Solved - Windows 10 Forums
February 11, 2022 - I got the two warning dialogues and clicked okay on both, then I got a progress indicator with words to the effect "preparing to update". The progress indicator got to about the 2/3 point then vanished. Once again, absolutely nothing seems to be happening but if I try to launch the BIOS update again, it says that the program is already running.
🌐
MiniTool Partition Wizard
partitionwizard.com › home › partition manager › what should i do if dell bios update failed?
3 Popular Solutions to Dell BIOS Update Failed Issue
December 3, 2024 - Because the BIOS file is an executable file, it must run under an OS. To create a bootable USB drive, you can use Dell Diagnostic Deployment Package (DDDP) or other tools like Rufus and so on.
🌐
BleepingComputer
bleepingcomputer.com › bleepingcomputer forums › hardware › internal hardware
Unable Update BIOS on Dell E6410 - Internal Hardware
3 weeks ago - I would look in BIOS to see if there is any setting that keeps it from being written to. I found this on Dells site for your computer. 1. Please note that if the A01 BIOS is currently installed on your system you must first apply the P02 patch ...