The SOLUTION for a dead laptop after BIOS update

Question

So I've done it. I am writing this from my recovered inspiron 15-7577 running the latest 1.5.0 BIOS

You might have noticed Several posters who appear to have the same problem -- basically that they have a brick after upgrading to the latest BIOS.

I really do think that it's likely that

1. What I did to fix my brick will in fact work for many (if not all) of the others' bricks; and

2. What I am about to suggest is not written in ANY of the documentation on "Emergency BIOS recovery" or the flash procedures. In fact, I didn't have to reflash anything, or to go back to a previous version of the BIOS.

I'm sure you rememeber my previous two mails..... Well, suddenly I realized that I had not in fact really properly reset the NVRAm. I had taken out the battery and the CMOS battery, but I didn't drain the residual power.

So all I had to do was reset the NVRAM, aka "clear the CMOS paramters."

If you go back and look at all the posters who have this problem, it becomes clear that all of them read very carefully the instructions about BIOS recovery, and reflashing etc etc. BUT NOWHERE in any of those pages does it state the obvious and helpful fact that after a BIOS upgrade, you need to reset the NVRAM.

It's even obvious why that's a good idea: the new BIOS might change the way it processes or uses certain BIOS parameters.

In fact, Dell *DOES* mention in the pages about resetting NVRAM that this can sometimes help with a NO POST/NO Video situation.

May I humbly suggest that Dell add a few lines to the documentation about BIOS recovery -- lines which explain that it can happen that users get stuck in a NO POST / NO VIDEO situation just after a BIOS update. This is nothing to panic about, but the fix is to thoroughly clear out NVRAM by removing the main battery, the CMOS battery, and then release residual ("flea") power by pressing the power button for a minute.
As far as I can tell, there are at least 5 posters who posses bricks of this sort right now, and one who unfortunately tried to resolder his BIOS chip, donig essentially nothing but costing him $1500.

I am exhausted from this effort, i must say, but i hope that it helps people. Please convey the suggested improvement in documetation to the powers that be.

Thanks!

scott

genghism · Answer

I have a similar problem with my 7577.

The laptop starts with a black screen, screen backlight off. But I haven't updated the BIOS, ever. There are a few things that happen when I press the power button:
1) Only keyboard backlight is on without fans starting (silent). This goes on for 1 minute 20 seconds or so (if I don't do anything) and laptop shuts down the moment fans start.

2) Same as the first case but I press the power button again while keyboard backlight is on, fans start like it does on a normal startup and laptop shuts down after 3 seconds.

3) Keyboard backlight is on and fans start normally but laptop shuts down after exactly 30 seconds.

4) I hold "D" button on keyboard and press power button. The screen shows a few colors and laptop shuts down after exactly 30 seconds.

This happened when after I pressed F8/Shift+F8 several times during boot to enter safe mode. (I was going to fix a problem where I installed a program called WindowBlinds that changed windows explorer's appearance but instead was killing explorer. I could use task manager and some stuff but other than that it was a black screen and couldn't start explorer from task manager>new task.) I have removed all usb devices and power source as well but still can't boot. What could be the problem ?

Rednroll · Answer

responded in wrong thread.  Sorry

Saltgrass · Answer

The 7577 does not have the bios option to recover from a dead bios like the 7567 does?  I have never actually done it but it does seem to indicate it will recover a bad bios from a file on a inserted flash drive or one stored on the hard drive if that option is enabled.

fernandodtah · Answer

Hello. I am having the exact same problem as you. How did u solve it?

U2CAMEB4ME · Answer

Welcome to the Dell Community @fernandodtah

When you try to boot you have a black screen???

No Dell logo splash???

You try to go into the BIOS, power-on and start tapping {F2 or F12}

Nothing no response???

But you hold down the " D " key, power-on and it goes through the Display Self test???

Full screen White, Red, Blue and Green???

Best regards,

U2

in53ktin · Answer

Hello, do you know how to solve this issue? I updated my BIOS and then I have problems to boot, I can't see the Dell logo and the fans started to function, after 30 secs everything it turns off.

I'm really desperate about this situation.

@Anonymous

Joss Zero · Answer

HI. I have exactly the same problem with my inspiron 15 7567. How did you solve the problem?

prajdang · Answer

Thank you, finally it worked for me on dell latitude e6540 🤩

Animality · Answer

Hi
I'm not a tech-savvy guy, I have an issue with my laptop is a 10th Gen i7 Dell, the motherboard is FDI55 LA - J0981P.
My problem began according to the technician who checked my laptop it was a Bios Issue, i remember the computer asked me for an update when I was turning it off, so I click on update and then turn off, but because of an emergency in that same moment, I just close the laptop,
The technician said is a Bios Issue, so he reprogrammed it, it worked for 5 days, they have to install everything again, and then one day it did not turn on... call the guy again, and he said ok so is the Bios (chip) itself that is damaged, we need to replace this... I purchase the Bios he welded the chip back in place again and still is not working...

Qasimkhalid · Answer

I have DELL INSPIRON 7386. I'm having the same problem, I was playing around with BIOS settings and restarted the PC. After that my laptop won't start, like it tries to start Keyboard LEDs turns ON and FAN starts but after 3 seconds laptop turns OFF.

No Errors, No warnings juts turn OFF... I can't even reach BIOS setup using F2.

PLEASE HELP

Qasimkhalid · Answer

Did you solve the problem? I'm having same issue with my DELL INSPIRON 7386

IUNGO · Answer

Played in the BIOS to allow booting from USB drive, then turned back to original settings and the laptop begun to power for 3 seconds and shutdown in a continuous loop (no video, no fan, only keyboard backlight).

Removed the rear cover, removed battery, cmos battery and pressed the power button for about 30 seconds (obviously without power cord). Laptop started again.

Yolandi · Answer

@IUNGO​ Hi, thanks to sbpetrack and you I still have some hope that all is not lost! I am having the same symptoms after my XPS 7590 reinstalled the BIOS (it said it was corrupted, so there is some problem anyway that caused the corruption). Now I power on,, keyboard is lit, fans start and in 3 seconds the end. I've already seen videos of disassembly and I see that in order to disconnect the CMOS battery, the motherboard has to be taken out as the CMOS battery sits at the back of it. My question is, is it enough to disconnect it, or it has to be separated from the motherboard? I am guessing just disconnecting it is enough. But more importantly (and this may be a stupid question but I feel stupid after spending the whole day and failing to fix this), do I have to reconnect the motherboard and then drain the remaining power by holding the power button?! I am guessing the remaining energy sits with the motherboard, so in order for the power button pess to have any effect on the motherboard, I have to place it back in, connect it etc, after removing the CMOS battery and then press the power button? Thanks a lot and sorry for the possibly stupid question.

Thoriso · Answer

@U2CAMEB4ME​ Hi I'm having this issue. Dell latitude 5490Laptop did not restart after bios update. Now it turns the keyboard on for 15 seconds then shuts off.  Fan does not turn on. No dell logo on the screen. Just a black screen. Power button + D does do the screen test.Power button + F12 and F2 does nothing.Please assist

Wassimos · Answer

@Thoriso​ did you fix it

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The SOLUTION for a dead laptop after BIOS update

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