Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
10 Posts
0
29582
August 11th, 2015 23:00
Inspiron 7720 BIOS problem, need to flash BIOS without Windows.
Hello everybody.
I have my Dell Inspiron 7720, when I bought the laptop I also got a 40 GB SSD, I installed system on that drive and on my 1 TB HDD I have a Ubuntu (which is how I can talk with you). Everything was fine like this for three years (laptop from Sep 2012), until I decided to update to W10. I gave the installer 12 GB it wanted, but there were still issues during update from 7 SP1 to 10. I also did not have any vacant DVD around, so I decided to perform a clean install of W7 and then update it.
During installation of W7 on formatted SSD drive some error came up (0xc000025), tried installing again, but there was a problem with the partition, so I cleaned the partition and tried once again, but to no avail. I have read that there might be a problem in a BIOS setting, so I went to setup, but I couldn't change anything. Hence I believe I have an issue with BIOS and it needs flashing, but I don't have any Windows to run the .exe file. I also remembered that few days ago Dell Update Agent suggested BIOS update and I wanted to start it, but I didn't have my battery in, so I postponed the action. Everything else about the laptop is probably fine, I have run diagnostics from the bootmenu and all tests were passed, right now I am using Ubuntu 14.04 and here everything is fine, too.
All I need is a way to flash my BIOS with file 7720A17.exe, but without a Windows. Are there any Windows life CDs? Is it possible to create a USB flash drive and flash the BIOS with the USB drive through the boot menu on my laptop? Please, help me, as I quite need the Windows for various tools.
Looking forward to any helpful replies,
Yours,
Kajetan
Kejtax
10 Posts
0
August 12th, 2015 05:00
But I can't change anything in the BIOS, so in my humble opinion it is not so fine. Moreover, I can't install the Windows that needs to be reinstalled...
And 40 GB SSD was enough for Windows 7, despite having some additional programs on C drive, I still had usually around 5 GB of free space. Barely, but enough, when I resigned from hibernation and moved virtual memory to the other drive, as I have 8 GB RAM, so I am not afraid of running out of memory.
Moreover, WIndows 10 is supposed to be more space-friendly, taking only about 10 GB of hard drive space after installation. I believe that 38 GB partition will be enough.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 12th, 2015 05:00
If the system boots to Ubuntu without issue, the BIOS is completely fine. Updating it will do nothing.
It sounds like Windows simply need to be reinstalled. A 32G SSD won't be large enough in the long term for running Windows though. Consider upgrading to a larger mSATA drive.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 12th, 2015 06:00
You can try a BIOS reset -- remove the battery, unplug the system and hold the power button for 30 sec. Or use the F9 key to set the BIOS to its defaults.
Are you booting in UEFI or Legacy mode?
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 12th, 2015 06:00
What are you looking to change in the BIOS setup? There actually is very little in the way of settings you can change -- that's completely normal.
Is there an administrative password set on the system?
If you want to create a bootable flash drive or ISO for Windows, Rufus is an easy way to do it -- the free version of Macrium Reflect can also do it.
Kejtax
10 Posts
0
August 12th, 2015 06:00
There is no password on either drives, bios or anything.
I cannot change even boot order, date or anything I previously could. Some people suggested that troubles with installing Win7 can be caused by setting of APIC, so I wanted to check it, but, as I've said, I can't even check if I have the possibility. Today I have bought some blank DVDs and right now I am trying to install Win10, I will let you know once I get some progress.
Kejtax
10 Posts
0
August 12th, 2015 06:00
Right now installation of W10 from DVD looks promising, so I will not check your suggestion. And how do I put a motherboard battery out of a laptop? Anyway, I was thinking about something similar.
I believe it is the Legacy boot.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
August 12th, 2015 07:00
You do not need to remove the reserve battery - just the main battery - to reset the system.