Advantages to install Linux Bios instead of Windows Bios on Dell?

[KIMW]

I'm using a Dell laptop which has a dual boot Windows 10 / Mint 20.2.

My keyboard and trackpad are sometimes unresponsive and I read that it could be because of the Bios.

Since there is a newer Bios version I'm going to update it BUT I was thinking, instead of updating the Windows Bios could I install the Linux Bios version?

99% of the time I use Mint.
Would there be any advantages to install Linux Bios instead of Windows Bios?

For example, there are a few gadgets on my laptop I can't use because I don't have the proper drivers installed like:
Fingerprint Reader, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Battery/Diagnostics Status Led, etc.

Perhaps that is because my Bios is Windows instead of being a Linux Bios.

What do you think?
Thanks in advance for your help.

[SMG]

Since there is a newer Bios version I'm going to update it BUT I was thinking, instead of updating the Windows Bios could I install the Linux Bios version?

BIOS is firmware and is independent of the operating system. You can boot into BIOS without there being any operating system installed.

There are no drivers in the BIOS. Drivers are only available in an operating system.

If there is a newer BIOS available, then update it. It may help with any operating system you have installed.

[KIMW]

Thanks for your response.
Then is there any solution to use features that works in Windows like:
Fingerprint Reader, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Battery/Diagnostics Status Led in Mint?

[SMG]

Then is there any solution to use features that works in Windows like:
Fingerprint Reader, Proximity Sensor, Ambient Light Sensor, Battery/Diagnostics Status Led in Mint?

Please give us information about your install by entering this command in a terminal: inxi -Fxxxrz
Click </> from the mini toolbar above the textbox where you type your reply and then place your cursor between the code markers and paste the results of the command between the code markers [code]Results[/code]. This will let us know how Mint sees your hardware.

[KIMW]

Code: Select all

System:    Kernel: 5.4.0-96-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 9.3.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 5.0.7 wm: muffin 5.0.2 
           dm: LightDM 1.30.0 Distro: Linux Mint 20.2 Uma base: Ubuntu 20.04 focal 
Machine:   Type: Convertible System: Dell product: Latitude 9410 v: N/A serial: <filter> Chassis: type: 31 serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: Dell model: 0W70P7 v: A00 serial: <filter> UEFI: Dell v: 1.9.1 date: 10/07/2021 
Battery:   ID-1: BAT0 charge: 75.1 Wh condition: 75.1/78.0 Wh (96%) volts: 13.1/11.4 model: LGC-LGC6.5 DELL 8RTVG0C 
           type: Li-ion serial: <filter> status: Full 
CPU:       Topology: 6-Core model: Intel Core i7-10810U bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: N/A L2 cache: 12.0 MiB 
           flags: avx avx2 lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 38399 
           Speed: 978 MHz min/max: 400/4900 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 701 2: 700 3: 700 4: 700 5: 700 6: 700 7: 700 8: 700 
           9: 700 10: 700 11: 700 12: 700 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 chip ID: 8086:9bca 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.13 driver: modesetting unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics (CML GT2) v: 4.6 Mesa 21.0.3 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel vendor: Dell driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 chip ID: 8086:02c8 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.4.0-96-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9462 driver: iwlwifi v: kernel port: 3000 bus ID: 00:14.3 chip ID: 8086:02f0 
           IF: wlo1 state: up mac: <filter> 
           IF-ID-1: tun0 state: unknown speed: 10 Mbps duplex: full mac: N/A 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 953.87 GiB used: 227.75 GiB (23.9%) 
           ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 vendor: SK Hynix model: PC611 NVMe 1TB size: 953.87 GiB speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 
           serial: <filter> rev: 11002111 scheme: GPT 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 888.99 GiB used: 227.66 GiB (25.6%) fs: ext4 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p6 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 28.0 C mobo: N/A 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): cpu: 0 
Repos:     No active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list 
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mozillateam-ppa-focal.list 
           1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/ppa/ubuntu focal main
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/official-package-repositories.list 
           1: deb https://ftp.fau.de/mint/packages uma main upstream import backport
           2: deb http://ubuntu.univ-reims.fr/ubuntu focal main restricted universe multiverse
           3: deb http://ubuntu.univ-reims.fr/ubuntu focal-updates main restricted universe multiverse
           4: deb http://ubuntu.univ-reims.fr/ubuntu focal-backports main restricted universe multiverse
           5: deb http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ focal-security main restricted universe multiverse
           6: deb http://archive.canonical.com/ubuntu/ focal partner
           Active apt repos in: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ubuntu-mozilla-security-ppa-focal.list 
           1: deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-mozilla-security/ppa/ubuntu focal main
Info:      Processes: 323 Uptime: 4h 57m Memory: 15.29 GiB used: 3.27 GiB (21.4%) Init: systemd v: 245 runlevel: 5 Compilers: 
           gcc: 9.3.0 alt: 9 Shell: bash v: 5.0.17 running in: guake inxi: 3.0.38 

[SMG]

Your computer has a 10th-gen Intel CPU which is newer hardware. I suggest you upgrade to a newer kernel which may have the drivers you are currently "missing" from your install.

Instructions for upgrading to the 5.13 kernel:

• Open Update Manager.
• Select View > Linux Kernels and click Continue.
• Make sure 5.13 is selected on the left panel and then click the top-most option on the right panel. An "Install" button will appear.
• Install the kernel and then reboot for it to become active.

If the latest 5.13 kernel does not have all the drivers, then there is also a 5.14-oem kernel available.
You can install the 5.14-oem kernel through the terminal by running:

Code: Select all

sudo apt install linux-oem-20.04d

and then rebooting the computer.

[KIMW]

I did install 5.13 kernel, it did not change anything. Then I installed 5.14-oem kernel reboot my system and checked the Driver Manager but it did not find any drivers to use the features I have on my laptop.

[SMG]

I did install 5.13 kernel, it did not change anything. Then I installed 5.14-oem kernel reboot my system and checked the Driver Manager but it did not find any drivers to use the features I have on my laptop.

Driver Manager only provided third-party proprietary drivers. It does not provide drivers for all your hardware.

Did you check the features to see if they were working? Ideally, you want the kernel to provide the drivers your system needs and not have to use third-party drivers.