Bios Failure?

Question

In not so great a move, I was running the Vista RC1 but having some trouble with awaking from sleep mode.  A Vista knowledge base fix recommended upgrading the Bios for my Dimension 8400.  I attempted to upgrade from A03 to A09.  The shut down procedure hung up for an hour so I shut it down manually. Upon restarting, the fan revs up loudly but the there is no action on the screen and nothing seems to be read from the CD/DVD drives.  Suggestions (besides stop tinkering!)?

mombodog · Answer

Read this  http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_bios&message.id=45743&query.id=718756#M45743   then go here and find your model and follow the steps to reset NVRAM   http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_bios&message.id=41042

stirlnjo · Answer

I'm up and running again.  Thanks so very much for your help!    Best Regards,   Stirling

mombodog · Answer

Did the A09 upgrade take?

stirlnjo · Answer

I used the windows environment.  Not sure how to use the dos.  Been so long and I'm not that keen at all this.  I'm using the Vista RC1.  Would it matter?

stirlnjo · Answer

Nope, still at A03.  Still have issues with coming out of sleep mode.  Hopefully the problem will be resolved with the release of Vista at the end of the month.

mombodog · Answer

DOS just means you download the floppy version of the bios update, and make the floppy diskette and boot from it.

I think you found the problem, running it in Vista, probably why it failed.

" Run the BIOS update utility from DOS environment (Non-Windows users)

NOTE: You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable file does not create the DOS system files.

Copy the file D8400A09.EXE to a bootable floppy.
Boot from the floppy to the DOS prompt.
Run the file by typing Y:\D8400A09.EXE (where y is the drive letter where the executable is located)."

mombodog · Answer

If you dare, here is a great way to install a bios update from the windows environment, a clean boot will load XP without all the junk that can interfere with the upgrade process. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/en-us read carefully.   By the way which method did you use? Windows environment, or DOS from a floppy?   I prefer the DOS method. no interference. FYI use a UPS on the PC when flashing, if the power fails or has a glitch during flash process it will render the PC useless, and the nvram trick won't help.

Majestic · Answer

Stirlnjo, the biggest cause of the system hanging during a BIOS upgrade with your model is unnecessary applications running in the background and unneeded USB devices plugged into the system.  Try the BIOS update again after closing out unneeded Windows applications and unplugging all unneed USB devices except for the keyboard and mouse.  The update should go without a problem this time around.  Just for reference, the actual updating of the BIOS shouldn't last any longer than 30 seconds.

stirlnjo · Answer

Thanks, I'll give it a try soon!

stirlnjo · Answer

It worked.  Thanks for your help!

Protector · Answer

Found this thread from about a year ago and I have a very similar issue. When I executed the downloaded the A09 BIOS update the computer stalled and so I did the same as the prior Blogger and cold booted the system. And like him I can now no longer boot up. No video, no mouse power, just one beep, followed by three beeps followed by two beeps.

I don't have a floppy just two CD/DVD drives

I tried using the links above but they take me nowhere. Can you repeat the information or steer me to where I can find it.

THanks,

Pete

NoahTall · Answer

i would definetly recommend not doing a bios update from dell..I did, on my dell, and it killed the motherboard..

I called dell, and they said, there is nothing we can do, they they said it again, there is nothing we can do..

I posted to these forums, got what looked like a response from dell, but it was just someone else in the forums..dell did not even bother to respond to me..

dell does not appear to read these forums, so this is my warning to you, do not dowload any bios updates from dell, they will not help you, and even though the update chekced my system first, and said it was ready to upgrade, it still did not work, and dell wont help me, so I had to buy another system, this time I had to get a hp for the price..

I can not even recommend dell to my clients anymore, I feel so stupid for recommending them in the past, reminds me of that other company we used to have, i think it was gateway or something..I wish dell would simply go back to india, we dont need this in our country anymore..might as well start painting the pc cases in lead paint to keep up with china..I promise not to eat my pc case if you do start using lead paint..

Todd

William1940 · Answer

I've got the exact same problem.  Once the bios update was run the computer no longer runs, no boot, no post etc.  The power is on.  Unfortunately, the links above don't seem to work either.  Any help short of junking this computer willbe great appreciated.

yoron · Answer

Look here http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim9200/en/SM_EN/parts.htm#wp1402834

That one is for an Dell desktop 9200..

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If you have another modell try http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ (<---and here you can test like.. dim8600 .. or whatever :)

But generally you will see those switches rather near your cmos battery...

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Take of the plastic 'switch' from number 9 on the motherboard ( password jumper (CLRPSWD) ), with the computer connected but in 'off position'.

Put it on number 8 (clear CMOS jumper (CLRCMOS) ) and leave it there for five seconds.

That will 'null' your cmos and hopefully you will get to it then again. The Cmos is one part ram(flash) and one part rom (read only memory).

So this will leave you with only the 'simplest bios' .

But if you go to 'Bios' directly after you boot it up again (try F2 or whatever F? it might be:) you have the possibility to correct your settings.

The other way to correct it is to take away the cmos chip or/and reinstall a bios through 'infrared'.

At least one could do that earlier if I remember righ, but that might have changed.

Cheers.

Yoron.

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" If you have a mother board manual, (if you dont have one, get one)
The other option is pulling the onboard battery out for about 30 minutes, this will cause the bios to go back to the default settings!

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I can't guarantee that one though...

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But if you have a manual, you will notice on the board diagram that there are three pins.

On some boards its called the CMOS RAM clear sector!
Pins 1 & 2 are normal mode and pins 2 & 3 will Clear the CMOS (BIOS)!
Most boards are shipped with with pins 2 & 3 jumpered. "

So your computer Isn't destroyed in any way, the worst thing that can happen is that you will have to redo it (your new flash) after doing this.

And you could do a half way measure by using F12 and 'safe boot' before trying to reinstall a 'win flash' .

Anyway, don't give up

William1940 · Answer

Yoron,

Thanks, I appreciate your help. I have tried shifting the bios jumper from 1&2 (normal) to 2&3 (maintenance) and back etc.; I've pulled the CMOS battery and waited a couple hours. The computer actually did boot in maintenance mode (2&3) and entered the BIOS setup. I cleared passwords and then shut down, shifted the jumper and tried a reboot. It started Windows briefly and then quit and now won't do anything again. I'll let it cool for a couple days and see if I can get it going again.

This is a Dimension L1000R, Pentium III, 1000 mHz, running XP Pro (some times)

Bill

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Bios Failure?

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