BOOT FAILURE after bios upgrade....cannot even start cpu...

Question

I have a Dimension E521 from Dell. Today, I ran Dell's program to make sure everything was Vista ready on my cpu and it told me that I needed to update my bios. I went to Dell's website and ran the program to update my cpu's bios. YES I unplugged all usb devices and closed all programs before (I am a programmer myself and I know what I'm doing...I just don't know much about bios and all the hardware stuff....). The program ran from 0 to 100% and then I got that message box that said: 'Failure! Failure! Failure!' I thought this was pretty explicit and decided to reboot my computer and try again because, apparently, something didn't work properly... My computer never got to reboot. I cannot even get anything on my screen, my keyboard doesn't even light up...The cpu starts, does a few beep sounds, and does not go any further.... PLEASE HELP ME!!, Chubab

RoHe · Answer

If I remember correctly, someone else posted this same problem with this model and a BIOS update recently. They said it may actually be an issue with the BIOS update being defective. Contact Dell to discuss the problem. The other forum member said Dell was replacing his motherboard. Search this forum for that post.

In meanwhile, unplug all external devices, disconnect PC from the wall and press/hold power button on tower for ~15 sec. Open the case and remove the battery from the motherboard. Press/hold the power button again. Replace battery (right side up) and connect only monitor, keyboard, mouse. See if it'll boot now. If not, see my suggestion, above.

Ron

Edit: Read these:

http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_bios&message.id=50430&query.id=104118#M50430 http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_bios&message.id=50470&query.id=104118#M50470 http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_bios&thread.id=50940

Message Edited by RoHe on 02-01-2007 06:42 PM

Chubab · Answer

Thanks Rohe, I called Dell and I'll get a new motherboard I still think that its stupid that their own update breaks their own system...   Chubab

RoHe · Answer

Look at it this way, the update could have killed your motherboard and Dell might have just said 'tough luck'. So at least they're being responsible. And if it really is a problem with a bum BIOS update, I wonder why they haven't pulled it off the site... Ron

sceepe · Answer

Chubab, I had exactly the same problem. See my post in this same discussion board. Here is what is supposed to happen next. They send you a mother board that your supposed to get in 2-3 days and technician to install it. The technician will call you to set up a time. Heres what has happened to me: After 3 days with no mother board or phone call, I call tech suport again. I will wait on the phone for 45 minutes and then a guy from the middle east tells me the motherboard will arrive tomorrow and the technican will call me tomorrow. The next day, at 5 pm I still have not got the motherboard or a phone call. So, I get to spend 45 more minutes with tech suport who conference calls me with the service tech dispatch company. The dispatcher can't get a hold of the service tech and they don't know if he technician works on Saturday (yeah right). But I am assured that the technician will call me back. (it now 6 pm Fri). Amazingly got a call at 7 pm from service tech. Sets up appointment for 1pm Saturday. We shall see if they show up and if they can install the new motherboard. On one hand, I believe they are trying to fix my system. Also I am sure that after they pay the service tech to install the motherboard, they will have lost money on me as a customer. However, the fact that the bios upgrade that they recommended trashed my motherboard still ticks me off. Apparently, the problem continues as evidenced by your post 4 days after mine. How many motherboards will they have to replace before they fix the problem with the bios upgrade message. Thank god this was just a spare home computer. If this had been a machine I needed for work I would have been out of work for 4 days.

louie088 · Answer

I Also have an E521. And did the vista readines advisor, It told me that I would need to upgrade the videocard. And BIOS update. I have since upgraded my video card, and after reading about your guys Bios nightmare I was pretty scared. But no problems here, I updated the bios through the dell site too.

Dimension E521
AMD 64 Athlon X2 4200 2.2Ghz
1Gb DDR2 SDRAM
256Mb Geforce 6800 (PCI-E)
160Gb Hard Drive
20in E207WFP

dravin · Answer

As of Saturday night 2/05/07, I too experienced the exact same problem.  I have 3 Dimension E521 systems, the first two flashed without incident.  The third developed the failure notice as you described and then it too stopped operating and now I cannot even get the startup self check.  I have a service report out but the techs at the other end do not understand what I am telling them.  I too am very computer literate and knowledgeable, so I have a good understanding of what is going on, if only I can get dell tech to come onboard maybe I can get this resolved.  I will watch for any other postings or suggestions and respond with any I come across.

dravin · Answer

One of the two that passed the bios flashing was identical to the one that failed.  The only difference between the two is the amount of memory installed.  The one that failed had less than the one that completed the flashing.

Majestic · Answer

Dravin, just curious, were all three PCs similiarly equipped or did the one that suffered a bad flash have a different processor or hardware attached?

Majestic · Answer

Dravin, Ok, thanks for the update.   I was wondering because the Dimension 4700C has a problem with the latest BIOS release as well.  With that model folks have experienced an error message right after the BIOS update of the processor not being supported to which the machine refuses to boot up.  The problem doesn't effect everyone, just those with a certain processor installed.       Thanks again !

RoHe · Answer

To follow up on Majestic's question, have any of you with flash failures on the E521 (or the 4700) previously flashed the BIOS to another version, before this latest one failed?

I'm wondering if Dell got a batch of defective NVRAM chips which would have failed regardless of what version BIOS they were flashed with...

Ron

misstia · Answer

The SAME thing happened to me Friday, 2-2-07! i have a dimension E521 and a box popped up saying there was a recommended d/l for my BIOS system.  I go to d/l it and i got the FAILURE FAILURE FAILURE pop up....i didn't worry about it...i figured 'oh well'...i continued on my merry internet way with no problems the rest of the night...the next morning i go to turn the computer on and no dice...the fan ran, and i got a series of beeps.  i have a space computer and i get online with dell chat as i abhor trying to translate to a non-english speaking technician on the phone....i was on chat for TWO AND A HALF HOURS...i kept saying that i thought this d/l dell sent me caused the problem but oh no, i had to check the memory modules, the pci card, the battery etc etc...and FINALLY he said that it was the d/l (duh) and that my system board had to be replaced.  2 and a half hours....   now i am waiting for Bantec to call me to schedule an appt. to come to my house and replace the system board...they should have received the part today and i am going to call them tomorrow morning.  i am NOT pleased with dell over this.  i am pleased that they will honor their warranty; but the fact that they send a d/l that'll wipe out your system board is very bad.    i wish i had bought a hewlett packard instead of this dell.  dell is from as far as i am concerned.

dravin · Answer

RoHe,  This was the first flash I did on this system.  This is one of three E521's I have and I just received this one about 2 weeks ago.  I haven't had it long enough to flash the bios but once.

sceepe · Answer

Misstia, Welcome to the 'Dell killed my mother board club' (DKMMC).  I got my motherboard replaced on Saturday.  HEY DELL, YOU THINK THAT MAYBE YOU HAVE A FREAKING PROBLEM HERE!!!!!!   Wonder why I got the same bios upgrade message today?  How about stopping the upgrade message that is trashing everyones motherboards..........   Perhaps, Dell likes paying Bantec to install new motherboards.  Given that a new PC is about 1000 bucks all tricked out, their profit can't be more than a few hundred.  After they fed ex a motherboard to bantech and paying them to go to my house to fix the computer, they have got to be loosing $$$.  Someone at Dell would like to know about this.  (Someone else would probably rather it not get out).   Lets see how many members of the DKMMC we can get.

misstia · Answer

you got the SAME message again? when i get the mother board replaced i am going to disable dell pop ups...you can do that can't you? i don't ever want to see another pop up again by them! i will NEVER d/l anything they say too again either!   so you had someone come to your house and install the motherboard.  were they compentent? nice? i am curious as to their 'in house' tech support.    i am calling bantec tomorrow, as they should have gotten my motherboard today....i am going to bother them until my computer is back to working!   you'd think (think is the operative word) that dell would stop that d/l as it's costing them a lot of money....it makes no sense....   well hey, i am now a member of the DKMMC! is there a badge or banner for that??

Majestic · Answer

With businesses being cost conscious now a days maybe Dell should rethink their motherboard design strategy and go back to having a BIOS recovery option.  That would eliminate the costs related to the replacement of motherboards due to flash related problems.

Locked Topics – Desktops General

BOOT FAILURE after bios upgrade....cannot even start cpu...

Was this post helpful?