BIOS settings changed, PC won't restart

Are you talking about the SmartCPU settings? It may also be listed as CPU Throttling? Which exact setting did you change, and to what value?

Yes,

That is the one - CPU Throttling.
I changed it away from the default to 'enabled' or some such, hit SAVE & EXIT, and the PC is dead.

Is there a way of getting it back?
It tries the boot sequence, but won't get past the mouse & HDD detect - it just freezes.
F2 won't get me into setup again, it just freezes dead.

Stephen,

Oh boy, sounds weird. Normally any changes to BIOS settings can be "undone" by going back into BIOS and selecting "Restore Defaults", but since you can't even get back into the BIOS (perhaps it's your Save-To-Disk values conflicting with BIOS checking for it from the MBR of your HDD), I reckon the only solution is to get Dell to re-flash your BIOS.

Hope Christian or Brian from DT can help.

Ron.

Go ahead and remove the hard drive and all peripherals, including PC Cards and items attached to the ports, from the system. Then, go ahead and try booting it up, hitting F2 nearly the moment it comes on, and see if you can catch an early window to enter the BIOS.

You might also try the reset button on the system, which is located just below the modem port on the machine.

I did try booting-

Without HD attached (I removed it)
All PCMCIA cards removed
Hitting F2 at several points on start up

I didn't know there was a reset button othr than the power one on the LHS which needs a sharp object - that didn't help either
Do you mean at the back of the system? there is a blanked-off port there

I have sent the PC back for service, but would like a response just in case it happens again ...

Regards

Stephen

Stephen,

The reset button is a pin-hole button, just big enough for a paperclip end to be used to depress it. On the Inspiron 3500, this is located on the left side of the system, just in front of the USB connector. On the 7000/7500 systems, it is just under the modem port.

If any of the LEDs flash on the system when powering it up, check to see which ones are coming on and for how long. If the leftmost LED flashes continuously but you see nothing on the LCD, you can press and hold the power button for about 5 seconds to force the system to power off completely, then press it once more to see if the system will boot normally.

I have also changed the CPU throttling setting in the BIOS and am experiencing the same problem. Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of time to send my unit in for repair. Please tell me what the fix is so that I may have the situation fixed as soon as possible. - Thanks

Hi Stephen -

All in all Dell is a good manufacturer. I say this even as this BIOS problem is about to cost me a few thousand bucks. Every notebook has its problems. Eventually, those responsible for those problem will find themselves pursuing other opportunities. Especially when they make statements like "this is normal".

I just hope to have this problem resolved this weekend. We'll see what kind of dedicatiion to its customers Dell support can muster up. That is what truly makes an organization excellent!

Hi,

I didn't manage to fix the problem, despite various suggestions from DELL involving pressing reset and F2.
It seems there is no work-around and my conclusion is that the DELL BIOS is not compatible with their hardware... Quite a shame.

Also at fault with my Inspiron 3500 ....

- The 1024x768 LCD screen has 2 dead pixels. Dell tech support in the UK tells me that this is normal. I think this is poor - any comments?
- The keyboard is warped and touches the screen when shut, causing permanent marks on the LCD. This is also poor - comments?
- The flap at the rear covering RS232 and Parallel just flops open and won't stay shut. Very poor construction.

What is wrong? I thought DELL had an excellent reputation! In fact, I was just about to authorise purchase of several more for my company, but without good answers to the above, I can't justify this.

Can someone from DELL please explain what is wron g with the Inspiron 3500 and whether the problems will be solved?

Regards

Stephen

Stephen:

If you contact Dell UK and explain the things you are unhappy about just as you did here, I am sure they will work with you to get them resolved. The U.K. numbers for support are:

UNITED KINGDOM
Dell Computer Corporation Ltd.
Milbanke House, Western Rd.
Bracknell, Berkshire
U.K. RG12 1RW

Tel: 01344 860456
Fax: 01344 860187
BBS: 01344 344-723-858
TechFax:01344 344-723-178
TechSupport:01344 344-723-723

W:

The only way to get a problem like this resolved is to send the unit in for service, since the BIOS cannot be accessed at boot time by the user. You can arrange service by contacting our Mobile Computing Hotline at 800-822-8965 for Corporate/Government Accounts or at 800-247-9252 for Direct accounts. You will be connected to a Portables Technical Specialist who will help you resolve the issue.

I encounter the same problem. There should be a possibility to set BIOS to default settings. Normally, you can short-circuit the CLOCK Battery anyhow, but I could not actually find the EPROM with the BIOS on it. Where is it located?

Hi Stephen, I have a Dell Studio 1747 and was notified to 'upgrade/update' my BIOS, like a fool I clicked ok. Some third party, Phoenix, started doing something. I never heard of Phoenix. So to be 'safe' I clicked to stop. Now the computer is dead, don't even get a blue screen, just beeping and beeping. Needless to mention your statement of getting 'that's normal' from the support is better than what I got. I got a 'take it and get it fixed, Dell doesn't support Studio 1747 anymore. I hope you get better results from Dell than I did, but I seriously doubt you will. I think they just don't care anymore. After 5 laptop purchases from Dell, I feel the company has hit the skids as far as quality and support, I don't find either from them. I can assure you, in the future, if it says DELL, I will just walk past it without notice. There are too many choices these days that leave Dell in the dust.