E521 Bios Flash -- DON'T

The only thing you can do is remove the cmos battery (#14) for 15 minutes, then reinsert it and try to boot.

 

 

If it is a truly failed flash, then you will have to replace the motherboard..

 

 

Yes, after working with the next level of support, it was determined that nothing was working.  No diagnostic LEDs or anything and the only way to shut it off was by pulling the plug.  I should have a new motherboard next week.  But I still don't understand why Dell has a strong recommendation to flash the E521 Bios right there on the first page of tech support under FAQ! I was told to ignore web page support notices until I contact a tech first.

They don't recommend it but is best to flash the bios in safe mode, that way there is less chance of 3rd party software and drivers interfering in the process of flashing..

 

Anti virus and firewalls can do this for sure..

 

Or you can use this method of clean booting first before flashing

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310353/en-us

That may be true and I've flashed a few computers in my time (including the 8 year old Compac I'm using now)...but, take a look at the first page of the Tech Support and look at the 4th item in the FAQ.

 

http://support.Dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/product_support/en/product_support_central?

 

There is no mention of danger or problems.  Yes, I should have listened to my gut and experience, but here is the company not only telling you to do it, but telling you how.

 

Once I pointed this out, there was no problem getting a new mother board.

 

Frankly I was shocked that even after it was apparent that the Bios was fried, the 1st line tech insisted that I had to re-install the operating system! She even argued with me when I step by step demonatrated that the system would not boot to the point of re-installing anything. I was assured that the Bios was part of the OS.

I'm sorry about the link. Put in Dimension  and Model E521 to get to the FAQ

Hi, I'm sincerely glad it worked for you.  It should have worked for me too.  But then again I should have been able to burn DVDs with the installed software.  Maybe Dell and I just don't get along.  Never had these kind of problems with my Compaq, E-Machines or C=64.

Yeah, I still have my old E machines T1100, runs like a champ, put in a ata100 controller card and a ata100 7200 rpm drive, and it runs very well. When everything else is broke, it will still be running.

 

Hardware is getting very complex these days, causing many problems..for everyone.

ddysel

For what its worth, and that's not much, you have my sympathy.

 

I am in exactly the same position with my E521 ... it wouldn't burn video DVDs with the installed software, and following the instructions very carefully to flash the BIOS produced the 'FAILURE'x3 message. Tech support the tried to suggest that since I had followed the instructions on the web rather than over the telephone that I had invalidated my warranty ... they are coming to take the box away Monday.

 

I'm sure many people are happy with their E521s ... but equally there seems to be a disturbing number of us who aren't ... maybe they just had a bad batch!

 

[And I bet when it eventually comes back, I still won't be able to burn video DVDs.]

Philip42h, just for your reference, bad BIOS flashes are covered under warranty regardless of where you received your instructions from.

ForumIdentity, did you ever make a decision ?

I had the exact same problem last night...

Had unplugged everything and at 100% it told me FAILURE! FAILURE FAILURE!...

Dell told me after a few hours of tests on the phone that they would send me a technician to change my motherboard...

DO NOT INSTALL UPGRADE 1.1.04 to the bios on Dimension E521

 

Chubab

Dell sent a tech to reinstall a new mother board after a week of waiting. The install was not easy in that the setting in "set up" were a bit weird and the tech had to call Dell for help. The machine is up and running and with a total of 3gigs of ram...it flies!

 

However, I have received TWO pop-up messages in the past two days from Dell support urging me to upgrade my BIOS by flashing it!  I couldn't believe it....particularly after the level two folks went nuts when I told them about the website suggestion.  Will I flash it again.....not a chance!