BIOS update gone wrong: System halted

Question

I attempted to update BIOS.  It went wrong and now the Dimension is in system halt--incompatible processor.  It will power on and off, but does not reboot; it remains on the BIOS splash page.  I can not bring it into safemode, nor boot from disk to load BIOS or the recovery disk.  What does one do now?

peterfelgate_ce40d3 · Answer

You can start by telling us which machine you are having problems with, and which was the original and new bios version; and whether the machine has had a processor update....

Nthanasphere · Answer

I have a Dimension 4700c.  There has not been any recent updates or changes beyond the attempted BIOS update.  I do not know whether the splash page displayed version of A07 is the original or the updated.  Otherwise, I do not know anything about versions.  (sorry that I could not be of more help!)

Majestic · Answer

Try doing a 'hard' reset of the NVRAM.  More than likely the newer BIOS version is having a conflict with the current hardware information stored in the NVRAM or the NVRAM became corrupted.  To do a 'hard' reset just do the procedure I have listed below......   With the machine unplugged from the wall remove the battery from the motherboard.  Then with the machine still unplugged press the On button for several seconds to dissipate any remaining electrical charge on the motherboard.  Then re-install the battery, plug the machine back into the wall and see if it will boot normally.   Click here <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> for additional information on how to remove the battery from the motherboard from your model's on-line User Guide. Message Edited by Majestic on 01-07-2006 01:38 PM

Jbirk · Answer

THe fix is easy for most Dell Computers.

You download the correct bios.

Let's say this is A99.exe

Download the bios to a workign computer and go to the command prompt.

Insert a formatted floppy disk.

Now type

a99 -writehrdfile

This will basically have the flash bios program write a complete flash rom to a .hrd file in the current directory.

Now put the .hrd file on the floppy disk.

Insert the disk and boot the computer with a messed up bios. It will take longer than normal and pretty much ask you no questions. Eventually, it will tell you to reboot.

When it tells you to reboot, you should have a complete bios and the system should be fully fuctional again. You should also clear the CMOS via jumpers after installing a new bios especially after such a serrious issue.

Majestic · Answer

Jbirk, 'THe fix is easy for most Dell Computers.' Unfortunately this doesn't work with the 4700's BIOS programs as I just tried it.  In doing so returns an error message indicating that it is an invalid command line.     'Insert the disk and boot the computer with a messed up bios. It will take longer than normal and pretty much ask you no questions. Eventually, it will tell you to reboot.'   The other problem is with systems that are truly suffering from a bad BIOS flash they are dead in the water with the system making no attempt at booting up.  Some models have a configuration jumper on the motherboard that may force the system to try booting, but not all Dells have such a jumper.  Is there a way around this? Message Edited by Majestic on 01-08-2006 08:41 AM

Jbirk · Answer

Systems with a bad BIOS never make an attempt to boot or do a full POST. Instead, the internal ROM of some sort detects a problem with the flash and attempts a partial POST and tries to read from the floppy drive if you have one.

It is looking only for a .hdr, a .hex, or a .rom file with a complete BIOS it can install to recover the system.

If the 4600 does not have any BIOS recovery features, you will need a new motherboard. That is definitly a way to get around this.

I know this is from the wrong system, but it may be worth a try as it is standard:

Just use the proper bios for the 4600 when you try this

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BIOS update gone wrong: System halted

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