Computer Gurus. BIOS Fail?

[gottaluvlasers]

Hey Laserholics-

I have a Dell laptop which i have a lil problem with.

I was updating drivers and BIOS a few months ago and during the BIOS update/installation it failed. I let it sit for hours (overnight actually) and in the morning it was still in the exact same position of the installation process as it was 10 hours previously.

Obviously, i had to force shut it down and at this point the computer is FUBAR. wont turn on.

Is there a way I can fix this? Or is a new MOBO the only way to go?

Any ideas?

Thanks.

-Marc

[dave]

It should have dual bios I would hope.

Can you get into bios setup? If so, there should be a way to reload it..

[masterpj]

Why were you updating the bios in the first place?
Clearly they say if ur not having issues with ur current BIOS you should not upgrade.

There is a way tho, check ur manufacturer site, the same place were u can get the updated bios should be some flasher on it that u can run externally. from like an usb stick or dvd/cd drive

If not > ur screwed and you will have to send back the pc.

[dilbert]

Marc, it can be fixed without new MBD - I often do here in UK.

It's slightly more complicated as it's a laptop. It most likely wont be dual bios thats a reserve of higher end / enthusiast desktop boards.

It wont be socketed either if its a recent unit for size & reliability constrainsts.

Take it apart, if your lucky you may get access from just one of the RAM / CPU covers on the back or keyboard on the front.

Unsolder the flash bios & either program in an external programmer or buy a new pre-programmed bios chip & resolder. Usually costs about $10.

If it hung on flashing make sure you do not have flash lock enabled in bios / have done a clean boot / are using the correct flasher program / using the correct bios file.

No reason why you shouldnt update with care, I probably do 100->200 flashes a year and get maybe 1 problem if that......

Hey Laserholics-

I have a Dell laptop which i have a lil problem with.

I was updating drivers and BIOS a few months ago and during the BIOS update/installation it failed. I let it sit for hours (overnight actually) and in the morning it was still in the exact same position of the installation process as it was 10 hours previously.

Obviously, i had to force shut it down and at this point the computer is FUBAR. wont turn on.

Is there a way I can fix this? Or is a new MOBO the only way to go?

Any ideas?

Thanks.

-Marc

[Phredy1]

I agree 100% with masterpj. The BIOS is something you almost NEVER need to update. If it's working ok, don't fix it.

The USB or CD boot / BIOS flash probably will not work - unless there is enough left of your BIOS to recognize the drive and keyboard and output video to the monitor.

[allthatwhichis]

Damn Marc... You need a dedicated IT Tech.

[dilbert]

I agree 100% with masterpj. The BIOS is something you almost NEVER need to update. If it's working ok, don't fix it.

This is general good advise I'm happy to agree with on the whole if you have a working unit you are not having any problems with or making any changes to.

However in the real world working with equipment thats being upgraded, supported or is newer cutting edge kit BIOS / firmware upgrades are common & need to be done. Only last month I had to upgrade the BIOS & firmware on 25 Crucial M4 SSD equipped laptops to ensure they didnt stop working after 5200 hours & a number of Bulldozer desktop boards to make them play games correctly after a DRM fix......

[masterpj]

please do not desolder any chips on ur motherboard, these things are being made smaller and smaller, just dont. They PCB's have multiple layers nowadays.

Call Dell and tell them ur BIOS flashed wrong, they will likely not get u a new motherboard but replace the bios for u (since they have the tools), against a fair price.
as soon as u start messing with soldering and ur keyboard, ur fucked so to speak, things are getting more intergrated, compact and harder to repair and the bios chip is no exception to this rule..

[VJ AIWAZ]

i disagree i think having the latest working (non beta) bios is essential it may even fix problems that you didnt think were even related to the bios and i dont just mean pc's i update every thing now from smart dvd payers to lcd tv's

hell one time we did this huge install of over 150 tv's and we were having random dropped signals and other weirdness we thought it had to be in the cabling or the matrix switcher a few months later there was a new firmware update for the tv's and after that update they have been working fine since

the messed up thing was that it made us look bad the club was pissed that the $85k matrix and the $15k worth of cabling was done wrong until we figured out it was the tv's firmware

[GoolGaul]

http://www.mediafire.com/?m2jdiby1xjm


step to recovery bios:
step 1:create usb flash(download and run the WINCRIS.exe linked above, and click "start")
step 2:remove the battery and unplug the power cable
step 3: plug in your usb into your laptop
step 4(important):hold down the key "End" for 3 seconds and then plug the power cable at the same time release the key "End".
step 5: if you see the battery light is red, wait a few minutes ...

If your laptop restarts automatically, then you're good to go (to the local UPS depot and send me one of your fine RGB projector in thanks - or maybe an DAC you're not using)