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8594
December 19th, 2020 22:00
17 R2, BIOS update failed, bricked
I've found numerous threads on this, but have not found a solution yet. After downloading a BIOS update that I found on the dell drivers site, it ran for about 10 seconds then completely froze my computer and the fans ran at max speed. I gave it the benefit of the doubt and let it run for about 2 hours, but it was still frozen on the same screen. I powered off my computer and restart it, now it won't boot. The lights will turn on and the fans will too at low speed, but the screen doesn't(not even for the one time boot menu).
I tried to reset the BIOS settings by taking out the CMOS battery for half an hour, but no luck. My warranty already expired and I'm kind of upset this happened. Any help is appreciated.
crimsom
7 Technologist
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6.1K Posts
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December 19th, 2020 22:00
Hi @FlyingSaucer10 welcome to this user to user forum.
A common problem, go to System does not startup after a BIOS update.
These Dell Community solutions may also help Here and Here.
FlyingSaucer10
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3 Posts
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December 19th, 2020 23:00
I had seen this post which apparently fixed it for 2 guys, however the solution he had posted was a image that I suppose contained instructions on what to do and unfortunately that image is no longer available.
EDIT:
I just tried the solution for "System does not start after a BIOS update" and it didn't work
crimsom
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6.1K Posts
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December 20th, 2020 04:00
Hi @Buddy1969 your solution Here potentially offers @FlyingSaucer10 a fix for their 17 R2. Please consider reposting your solution on this thread. Thank you.
Hi @FlyingSaucer10 if your 17 R2 has the current SupportAssist, the F12 option should be available to invoke ePSA diagnostics. Press and hold down F12 and switch the laptop on. A table will appear, use the up and down keys to find diagnostics, press enter, wait for ePSA diagnostics to finish and fix the BIOS.
(ePSA = Enhanced Pre-Boot System Assessment)
jackieugo
2 Posts
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February 9th, 2021 12:00
The original post with the fix is missing the picture to explain how to fix it. Anyone have any idea what the fix is?
crimsom
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6.1K Posts
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February 9th, 2021 13:00
@jackieugo
Some users do not post images from their public Dell account, but use a web utility and then choose to withdraw the image from public view. It is the user's decision to share, or not to share an image. You could send user a private message to request a copy of the 'missing' image on their post, but they may refuse.
V8200T5
11 Posts
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February 24th, 2021 11:00
Hi,
I have exactly the same issue as many many others before me: The Alienware Update Application recommend a BIOS update and half way through the flash the system locked up with fans on full speed. The power button, keyboard, touchpad, etc. all didn't work and there was no way to power the system down other than opening the back panel and disconnecting the battery. After doing this, the system would not POST (presumably due to a bad/incomplete flash).
I followed the instructions posted in the linked thread by LordZog:
2. If you have access to another machine, format a USB stick to FAT32.
3. Run AW15A05.EXE /writehdrfile. (Or whatever version you used BEFORE you bricked, as usually the bootblock isn't updated, but with some BIOS updates, it can be, so your more safe to use the same version you had on the machine BEFORE it bricked from improper flash.)
4. Now take this HDR file and rename it to AAP10.hdr. Put it on the root of the USB.
5. Now make a copy of this file and rename it AMIBOOT.ROM (all caps) so now there's 2 files on the USB key, AMIBOOT.ROM and AAP10.hdr. (Unconfirmed if uses old AMIBOOT.ROM or the new filename I found.. New aptio platform we haven't really played with yet, so lets use both..)
6. Now here's the fun part, you need the technical guide from dell and disconnect your MAIN battery, not the CMOS battery.. And unplug the PSU..
7. Now, insert your USB stick, hold down END key, plug PSU back in with battery removed.
8. It should turn on and after 5-10 mins, you should see USB activity.. Wait the FULL 10 mins. (Or until it shuts off on its own). Some have reported it took 2 mins when we were testing.
9. After this, try to shut it down using POWER if it didn't on its own, but it should. Then turn it back on.. You should be back on your system.
You don't need to flash again after, as this recovery will flash the complete ROM.. And don't' forget to reconnect your battery..
Unfortunately it didn't really work in my case because I didn't know what BIOS version was installed before the update and it didn't show on the screen in the Alienware Update Application.
After following the steps the fans are back to normal speed but the system doesn't boot and beeps 7 times after cycling through the startup several times. Does anyone has a recommendation what else I could try to revive my Alienware 17 rs2?
The only reason I ran the update in the first place was that after the latest Win 10 update the wireless mouse suddenly stopped working. I was a little too impatient to find the solution so I just left all updates checked which the Alienware Update Application recommended. The first was a touchpad update and the second on the BIOS update...
crimsom
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6.1K Posts
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February 24th, 2021 23:00
Hi @V8200T5 does the following Dell process work?
How to Recover the BIOS on a Dell Computer or Tablet
V8200T5
11 Posts
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February 25th, 2021 00:00
Hi @crimsom,
Thank you for your reply. Since this issue was brought up by quite a few people before I already tried almost all of the described solutions such as:
- CMOS Reset via CLRP-1 - didn't work
- CTRL+ESC key with BIOS recovery - didn't work
- Fn key to start pre-boot testing and launch ePSA - didn't work
https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-General-Read-Only/Alienware-17-R3-BIOS-Update-Failed/td-p/5625065
https://www.dell.com/community/Laptops-General-Read-Only/Alienware-17-R2-Freeze-on-BIOS-Update/m-p/5187021
I thought about doing a doing a CMOS Reset by removing the battery but I'm hesitant because the battery is "hidden" so far below all other components so I will follow the steps described in the knowledge base article you have mentioned to create an external USB key to perform BIOS Recovery:
Plug the USB key into the computer.
Press the Windows key + E to open File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer).
Right-click on the USB drive and click Format.
Change the File system to FAT32.
Check the box next to Quick Format.
Click Start to being formatting the USB key.
Copy the BIOS file to the USB key.
Open Command prompt in administrator mode.
In Windows 10, Windows 8.1 or Windows 8 - Press the Windows key + X on the keyboard to open a power user menu and select Command Prompt (Admin)
In Windows 7 or Windows Vista - Click the Start button and type command prompt in the search box. Right-click cmd in the search results and select Run as administrator.
In the command prompt window, type cd x: and press the Enter key, where 'x' is the drive letter of the USB key.
You can find the drive letter of the USB key in File Explorer (also known as Windows Explorer)
Type dir and press the Enter key on the keyboard. You should see the name of the downloaded BIOS file.
Type ren xxxxx.exe BIOS_IMG.rcv and press the Enter key.
(Replace the xxxxx with the name of the downloaded BIOS file.)
crimsom
7 Technologist
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6.1K Posts
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February 25th, 2021 01:00
Hi @V8200T5 agree that getting to the 17 R2 coin battery is problematic, and its not a clip-in coin battery holder, but purchase a new coin battery cable assembly. Shorting out the CLRP1 pins is part of the BIOS reset process, and you have tried that.
You can also put an electrical voltmeter across the CLRP1 pins to check if coin battery is dead, and then decide if further disassembly is required. Remember to disconnect ac adapter, main battery connection, remove flea (residual) power, when this is undertaken. A dead coin battery is usually, but not always, accompanied with incorrect date and time at boot, without online refresh.
crimsom
7 Technologist
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6.1K Posts
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February 25th, 2021 01:00
Hi @V8200T5 the 17 R5 has explanation of POST Diagnostic codes and 7 beeps = recovery image found, but invalid.
During 17 R2 POST, does holding down F12 open its window, and what is in your Other Options list?
V8200T5
11 Posts
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February 25th, 2021 01:00
Ok, so I just tried using the BIOS_IMG.rcv on a USB stick to perform BIOS Recovery by press and hold the CTRL and ESC keys together while connecting the AC Adapter cable, and pressing the computer's power button.
My problem is that nothing happens next except that the laptop is cycling through several start cycles and then it goes back to beeping 7 times.
When press and hold the END key though while connecting the AC Adapter cable the fans start spinning on max again, so right now I just have these two options:
At this point I'm beginning to doubt if the USB stick is actually being read because before the BIOS flash the USB didn't work!?
Does anyone have more information what causes the USB issue?
crimsom
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6.1K Posts
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February 25th, 2021 02:00
Hi @V8200T5 many users are having Dell BIOS update problems because they do not follow the Dell installation instructions, to download the BIOS update and then install. Allowing the Dell SupportAssist application to install BIOS updates over the internet is just asking for trouble.
Back to your seven diagnostic beeps problem:
(1) Have you upgraded the OS(C:) drive, and can you find the original OS(C:) drive that came 17 R2?
(2) Do you have access to another 17 R2, and can get a cloned drive?
(3) Do you have access to any Dell laptop, and can get a cloned drive?
(4) Are you willing to purchase a new M.2 drive, with the operating system preinstalled?
V8200T5
11 Posts
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February 25th, 2021 02:00
Yes, that is what I mean, why is there even the option to use the Alienware Update Application to do a direct BIOS update?
Anyway, back to the solution, as you said:
(1) No, the 17 R2 is as delivered by Dell and has never even been opened before.
(2) No, I don't have access to another 17 R2 at the moment.
(3) I have access to several Dell Vostro laptops, would a cloned drive of those be of use?
(4) Yes, I'm willing to purchase a new M.2 drive, with the operating system preinstalled. Where can I buy one?
V8200T5
11 Posts
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February 25th, 2021 02:00
No, unfortunately not, the display remains completely black. I tried Fn + F12, only F12, Ctrl + Esc, but nothing happens...
Really disappointing that using the Alienware Update Application can brick your laptop... There really should be a warning instead of recommending the update from Windows. If this only happens rarely then I would understand it but it seems like there are a lot of people who bricked their Alienware 15 and 17 this way.
crimsom
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6.1K Posts
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February 25th, 2021 03:00
Hi @V8200T5 yes, the Dell Vostro clone should work.
Check that clone drive has the modern GPT format (not MBR) so that the 17 R2 BIOS boot list option of UEFI is enabled to give fast boot and shutdown, plus extra security features.
Clone of this drive will have a fully functioning recovery image and this will default to generic. Then you should start to install your 17 R2 BIOS updates incrementally (one-at-a time) so that all of the BIOS improvements get installed. Having completed all the BIOS updates ensure you have the most recent version of SupportAssist, then hold down F2 key at splash screen, to see if you now have option to protect BIOS, etc, there should be Other Options listed in the F12 window.
New (or old) M.2 drives, with preinstalled operating system, can be purchased on eBay, Amazon, etc. I purchased my spare disaster recovery drive on eBay, and updated for my Alienware 17 R5 laptop. So proving that this process works in the real world.