Legacy 1764 BIOS problem

Question

I just purchased an old Inspiron 1764 17' screen laptop to put Linux on. First thing, I'll update the BIOS from windows, so I downloaded FLASHME_v103_Win_1194_4M_1764A13.exe from the DELL site. Second thing, it failed and bricked my laptop. This model seems to have no recovery options. So now, I have 3 options. 1 - Bin it and curse Dell for ever. 2 - Buy a new BIOS chip and try to solder it in (not keen). 3 - Find some way to get the BIOS image out of the exe so I can reprogram the BIOS with a CH341A BIOS USB Programmer. Option 3 is by far the best, but I have spent days trying to find how to extract the BIOS image, I found python extractors  that don't work, command line options for the exe that don't work etc etc. I tried hex editors looking for the image start. but without success. I don't understand why it is so hard to just get a BIOS image.. Many Thanks for any help Steve

nyc10036 · Answer

The whole point of creating an executable is so source code can't be stolen. LOL. Are you sure the executable does not create a directory somewhere?

brimley · Answer

I'd like to think the point of creating an executable is, at least, not to brick the computer it runs on.

When it does, and the hardware has no recovery options, it doesn't seem unreasonable to ask for the image file to at least have some hope of recovery.

The flash exe starts up with a choice of flash or cancel, I can no longer do this on the target pc (it's dead) and so I don't want to click flash on the wrong pc in the hope that it creates an extract dir somewhere and doesn't trash a second pc.

nyc10036 · Answer

https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=r301041&oscode=biosa&productcode=inspiron-1764 DOS Flash file available

brimley · Answer

re:DOS Flash file available

Thanks for the reply but I can't run that or anything else, the laptop is dead, killed by the bios update.

I need the BIOS image to flash the chip myself using clips and wires.

Currently, I'm planning to purchase a pre programmed replacement BIOS chip from the Netherlands, read the BIOS code from it and reflash my onboard chip using a CH341A BIOS USB Programmer.

I'm not sure if this the process recommended by DELL for their customers....

Inspiron

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