JUST an FYI....It WAS an issue with having the 64bit O/S installed..... I installed the 32bit system and was able to update the bios!!!! BUT the NEW bios did NOT take care of the battery problem! It's a seperate issue so I will look elsewhere. 
Hello All... I installed a FRESH Install of Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit on an Inspiron 1501 w/ an AMD Turion64 Processor.... I know I will have limited driver support (I THINK I have that problem issued....) but my current bios is 1.4.0 and I am looking to install the newest bios.... When I launch WinPhlash it starts...but then I get the Error: Cannot load driver C:\Users\Inspiron1501\Downloads\drivers downloads\2.6.3 a16 bios\PHLASHNT.SYS Please check your accounts, if you have no administrator privilage, please log in again! Access is denied. Error code:5   I have only ONE user on the laptop.......and have admin priv's!   Also.....I am having a battery issue......Just wondering if I missed a prior on this issue.... When I boot the system...it shows my battery as being at 0% and charging....yet when I eject the battery and reinstall,,,,,,it then shows the battery is @ full charge,,,,,and the battery holds a charge!!!   THANKS ALL! ANY help would be great!!!  
Error Code 5 WinPhlash on Inspiron 1501 Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit Plus 
battery issue