A04 BIOS killed my lappy! Help! ... My worst fears have come true. I downloaded the A04 BIOS today and ran it from XP. It told me it would reboot and then flas ...

Hookflash · 10-10-2004, 05:27 PM

My worst fears have come true.

I downloaded the A04 BIOS today and ran it from XP. It told me it would reboot and then flash the BIOS; however, after rebooting, the "Flashing BIOS" screen came up, the fans started going like mad, and my lappy flat-out died. Now, when I press the power button, the LEDs come on for a couple seconds, and then shut off. It doesn't even begin to boot. Any ideas? I'm so distressed about this...

The ArchAngel · 10-10-2004, 05:36 PM

First off, are you using an iXPS or an i9100? If you are using an XPS, this would be the second machine that went through a bad A04 flash so far on these forums. Since I've been posting here, which has been about 6 months, I have yet to see anyone post with any problems through the A01, A02, and A03. That concerns me that there may be issues with the A04 flasher.

My suggestion, call Dell immediately. Also, see if you can boot to a CD. It's doubtful if your machine won't even post, but if you could somehow boot to a CD and flash to A03, you might make it through.

Sounds like you will need a new system board from Dell though. Sorry.

somms · 10-10-2004, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hookflash

My worst fears have come true.

I downloaded the A04 BIOS today and ran it from XP. It told me it would reboot and then flash the BIOS; however, after rebooting, the "Flashing BIOS" screen came up, the fans started going like mad, and my lappy flat-out died. Now, when I press the power button, the LEDs come on for a couple seconds, and then shut off. It doesn't even begin to boot. Any ideas? I'm so distressed about this...

http://notebookforums.com/showthread...857#post477857

Flashing in Windows is like playing Russian roulette. In the future, I would recommend only running the flashBIOS outside of Windows in DOS.

JuicyFruit · 10-10-2004, 07:57 PM

Damn, I should consider myself lucky then. Sorry to hear about your problem, dude.

psyduck228 · 10-10-2004, 07:59 PM

This happened to me too, and I am pretty sure you will need a new motherboard. And having to wait 45 minutes to talk to a tech and then another half an hour trying to get the problem resolved and then them just tell you your motherboard is dead you'll need a new one really sucks. So my advice, just tell them to send you a new board, don't bother with all the other crap the tech tells you to try.

Can somebody tell me how to flash the bios in DOS? Thanks.

pino445 · 10-10-2004, 08:10 PM

i still have A03 bios but experienced a similar problem. once i switched my i9100 on it didn't boot and even did not let me in the bios, just like you describe it flashing led's and then it switches itself off. I tried to power up with inserted battery, without it a couple of times and occasionally the bios was shown and there i noticed that first boot device has changed to Floppy-drive. I switched back to hdd and everything was ok. so it might be that during upgrade also this setting got lost. I wish you luck man!

somms · 10-10-2004, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by psyduck228

This happened to me too, and I am pretty sure you will need a new motherboard. And having to wait 45 minutes to talk to a tech and then another half an hour trying to get the problem resolved and then them just tell you your motherboard is dead you'll need a new one really sucks. So my advice, just tell them to send you a new board, don't bother with all the other crap the tech tells you to try.

Can somebody tell me how to flash the bios in DOS? Thanks.

With the Inspiron 9100/XPS you have the option to boot into DOS either by floppy, bootable CD, or bootable USB Flash Drive like in the link below.

psyduck228 · 10-10-2004, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pino445

i still have A03 bios but experienced a similar problem. once i switched my i9100 on it didn't boot and even did not let me in the bios, just like you describe it flashing led's and then it switches itself off. I tried to power up with inserted battery, without it a couple of times and occasionally the bios was shown and there i noticed that first boot device has changed to Floppy-drive. I switched back to hdd and everything was ok. so it might be that during upgrade also this setting got lost. I wish you luck man!

Thanks for the advice, but when I turn the laptop on, the leds flash but nothing is on the screen, I don't see bios or anything.

yellowperil · 10-10-2004, 08:14 PM

doesnt it flash in dos? you run the application in windows (which i presume loads the bios into a temporary memory, and sets a bios flash flag) then it reboots, and you get a message that it is flashing and not to turn it off. it doenst flash in windows...

somms · 10-10-2004, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowperil

doesnt it flash in dos? you run the application in windows (which i presume loads the bios into a temporary memory, and sets a bios flash flag) then it reboots, and you get a message that it is flashing and not to turn it off. it doenst flash in windows...

Yup, you're correct that executing the flashBIOS in Windows makes it go into this one-time flash boot mode which can cause unexpected results like a failed flash. This is more likely to occur than if the flashBIOS was run booted in DOS.

yellowperil · 10-10-2004, 08:23 PM

why is it less likely?

toy4x4 · 10-10-2004, 08:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yellowperil

why is it less likely?

Cause there is more likelyhood the Dell has no clue what they are doing...

Speedyturtle · 10-10-2004, 09:12 PM

Does anyone have a backup of the A03 BIOS update? i haven't had any problems with A04 so far. One thing I've noticed though is that my battery strength doesn't seem to charge passed 95% now, even with the AC adapter plugged in. strraaaange

V.B. · 10-10-2004, 11:16 PM

Go to the Dell download-page for the A04 bios then click on Previous Versions.

somms · 10-10-2004, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedyturtle

Does anyone have a backup of the A03 BIOS update? i haven't had any problems with A04 so far. One thing I've noticed though is that my battery strength doesn't seem to charge passed 95% now, even with the AC adapter plugged in. strraaaange

Allow your battery to discharge for a few minutes and then recharge to see if the level returns to 100%. Otherwise, allow your battery to discharge completely then recharge to recalibrate the battery meter.

10-10-2004, 05:27 PM	#1
Hookflash Registered User Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 12 Credits: -344	A04 BIOS killed my lappy! Help! My worst fears have come true. I downloaded the A04 BIOS today and ran it from XP. It told me it would reboot and then flash the BIOS; however, after rebooting, the "Flashing BIOS" screen came up, the fans started going like mad, and my lappy flat-out died. Now, when I press the power button, the LEDs come on for a couple seconds, and then shut off. It doesn't even begin to boot. Any ideas? I'm so distressed about this...

10-10-2004, 05:36 PM	#2
The ArchAngel Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 649 Credits: -162	First off, are you using an iXPS or an i9100? If you are using an XPS, this would be the second machine that went through a bad A04 flash so far on these forums. Since I've been posting here, which has been about 6 months, I have yet to see anyone post with any problems through the A01, A02, and A03. That concerns me that there may be issues with the A04 flasher. My suggestion, call Dell immediately. Also, see if you can boot to a CD. It's doubtful if your machine won't even post, but if you could somehow boot to a CD and flash to A03, you might make it through. Sounds like you will need a new system board from Dell though. Sorry. __________________ i700m \| 12.1" WXGA \| P-M 725 1.6Ghz \| 1280MB RAM \| XP Pro \| 60GB HDD \| CD-RW drive \| 4 cell primary \| 8 cell additional battery \| Intel 2200 Wireless \| 20.1" Dell 2005FPW Widescreen LCD i9100 \| Sold 12/2005 \| 15.4" WSXGA+ \| 2.8Ghz P4 w/ HT \| 1GB Corsair XMS PC-3200 RAM \| ATI MR9700 w/ 64MB VRAM \| XP Pro \| 40 GB HDD \| 4x DVD+R burner \| Dell 1350 Truemobile

10-10-2004, 07:57 PM	#4
JuicyFruit Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 339 Credits: 53	Damn, I should consider myself lucky then. Sorry to hear about your problem, dude. __________________ HP HDX 18t Inspiron 9100 \| 3.0 Prescott \| 512 DDR400 \| 128 ATI 9700 \| WSXGA+ \| 60/7200 \| Combo Drive \| TM1300 Successfully traded to heffe2001 Inspiron 8600 \| 1.7 Ghz Pentium-M \| 1GB Ram, 2 sticks (NewEgg)\| 128 MB nVidia GeForce 5650 \| 15.4 WUXGA \| 60 gig 7200 HD \| Combo Drive \| TM1300

10-10-2004, 08:10 PM	#6
pino445 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 20 Credits: -342	i still have A03 bios but experienced a similar problem. once i switched my i9100 on it didn't boot and even did not let me in the bios, just like you describe it flashing led's and then it switches itself off. I tried to power up with inserted battery, without it a couple of times and occasionally the bios was shown and there i noticed that first boot device has changed to Floppy-drive. I switched back to hdd and everything was ok. so it might be that during upgrade also this setting got lost. I wish you luck man! __________________ Dell Inspiron 9100, P4 3.00GHz HT,RAM 512 MB, HDD 60GB 7200 RPM, HL-DT-ST RW/DVD GCC-4241N, WXGA, ATI MOBILITY RADEON 9600/9700 Series 128Mb (Omega 2.5.67), WinXP Home

10-10-2004, 08:14 PM	#9
yellowperil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 286 Credits: -273	doesnt it flash in dos? you run the application in windows (which i presume loads the bios into a temporary memory, and sets a bios flash flag) then it reboots, and you get a message that it is flashing and not to turn it off. it doenst flash in windows... __________________ Dell i9300\|Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz\|1GB PC2-4200\|256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800\|17" WUXGA TrueLife\|60GB 7200rpm\|TM1350\|24x CDRW/DVD

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10-10-2004, 07:59 PM	#5
psyduck228 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 24 Credits: -341	This happened to me too, and I am pretty sure you will need a new motherboard. And having to wait 45 minutes to talk to a tech and then another half an hour trying to get the problem resolved and then them just tell you your motherboard is dead you'll need a new one really sucks. So my advice, just tell them to send you a new board, don't bother with all the other crap the tech tells you to try. Can somebody tell me how to flash the bios in DOS? Thanks.

10-10-2004, 08:23 PM	#11
yellowperil Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 286 Credits: -273	why is it less likely? __________________ Dell i9300\|Pentium M 750 1.86 GHz\|1GB PC2-4200\|256MB NVIDIA GeForce Go 6800\|17" WUXGA TrueLife\|60GB 7200rpm\|TM1350\|24x CDRW/DVD

10-10-2004, 09:12 PM	#13
Speedyturtle Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 135 Credits: -280	Does anyone have a backup of the A03 BIOS update? i haven't had any problems with A04 so far. One thing I've noticed though is that my battery strength doesn't seem to charge passed 95% now, even with the AC adapter plugged in. strraaaange __________________ i9100 - P4 3.2 Ghz w/ 1Mb Cache - Mobility Radeon 9800 w/ 256 Mb - External Soundblaster Audigy 2 NX - 1 Gb DDR RAM - 1350 Wireless - Bluetooth - 8X DL DVD+R - 60 Gb 7200RPM

10-10-2004, 11:16 PM	#14
V.B. why did I take Geography? Join Date: May 2004 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 876 Credits: 293	Go to the Dell download-page for the A04 bios then click on Previous Versions. __________________ Inspiron XPS 3.4 EE, lotsa ram, really big screen, wicked fast hard drive, wireless everything, hotter than the of he11 and heavier than the world on Atlas' shoulders It's not World War III until France surrenders.

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