Failed Bios Update on Dimensions 4700c

Question

I updated the BIOS on a Dell Dimensions 4700C.  I installed version A07.  The process seemed to go welll at first.  However I get now the following alert at boot time:   ALERT! Incompatible Processor Detected.  System Halted!.   This happens before memory checking, hard drive checking and even BIOS posting.  So technically I can't boot at all to either CD, Floppy or Hard Drive.  even If I press the  'Del' key i can't get past the 'System Halted message'.  Is there anything I can do to revert back? I bought the PC about 14 months ago and have no extended warranty... or is there any hot key I can pres to bypass the alert and boot from floppy or CD to revert BIOS?.  The system is a P4 3.4 ghz, 2gb of ram.   Any help would be greatly appreciated.   Jorge

Majestic · Answer

Click here for another message thread concerning the same problem.  Review the postings to see what options you have in resolving the problem.

jsanint · Answer

Thank you for your response.  It's a shame that Dell still has BIOS update A07 available for download.  Given the fact that this is a bug in their BIOS they should take responsibilty for the multiple motherboards that have been damaged by this update.  My PC is a new PC with barely a little over a year of usage.  It's unfair that they did not test this update thoroughly and just released it.  My warranty expired two months ago which means I have to buy another processor or a motherboard, since I have no access to other processors to 'play with' to attempt a downngrade.

Majestic · Answer

I would suggest checking with a local computer repair shop.  Possibly they will have a processor laying around that they can use to flash the BIOS back to an earlier version.    As far as the A07 BIOS update still being available for download, I tried to have it pulled and it is still there. :smileymad:

thedges · Answer

Well...this just bit me. My processor is

PROCESSOR, 80547, PENTIUM 4 PRESCOTT DT, Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.2GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB, SKT-T, D0

What are my options to fix this? I chatted with Dell Support and they basically demanded that I get a floppy drive for my 4700C to proceed. I don't have a floppy on this box. I tried the NVRAM reset but no improvement. Even if I get a floppy, will that help to try to reburn the BIOS back to preview rev (originally I had A04)? It appears to me the BIOS halts before even checking for possible floppy. I tried a bootable CD but no luck there either.

Any suggestions on next step? It really aggravates me that Dell still has A07 BIOS up there with no warning. I also have extended warranty which I would assume covers this but the Dell support person gave me hassle about actually doing the BIOS update in the first place.

Majestic · Answer

Thedges, if the system isn't making far enough progress in the boot to recognize a bootable CD then it won't see the floppy drive either so there is no sense in wasting anymore time time and money on it.  Since you have an extended warranty, I would call Dell for replacement of the board.  Bad BIOS flashes and problems resulting from a faulty BIOS update are covered by the warranty.   As for the download of version A07 still being offered.  I tried before to have this file removed..... I'll try again.

i3johnc · Answer

I ran the Vista upgrade advisor from Dell which said I needed to update hardware and my BIOS on my 4700C.  I purchased over $400 of new hardware to get ready for Vista, and flashed to A07.  Now my PC is junk as it errors with 'incompatible processor detected.'  To say I am ticked would be an understatement.  And yes, I ran out of warranty a few months ago.  I guess what makes me the most angry is that this has been a known issue for some time, and they will not warn nor pull the BIOS.  There is no known way to revert back to the original BIOS now?

i3johnc · Answer

BTW -- I am 3.2 GHz: PENTIUM 4 PRESCOTT DT, Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.2GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB   From what I am reading, this impacts both 3.2, 3.4 GHz processors.  I guess if I am going to go the route of finding a processor that is recognized, it would need to be a 520, 530, 560, or 570 as we seem to know that the 540 and 550 are known bad combinations?

i3johnc · Answer

EUREKA: SUCCESS!!
SOLUTION: I was able to use a Pentium 4 - 3.0 GHz Prescott processor (530) to boot the 4700C with BIOS A07 and downgrade to A04!! Please note that BIOS A06 also gave me the same unrecognized processor error as A07, so I had to go back one more to A04.

4700C A04 BIOS:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_4700C&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=308&libid=1&typecnt=1&vercnt=5&releaseid=R98786

Majestic · Answer

i3Johnc, thanks for posting back with an update to resolving your problem.  The information should help others that suffer the same dilemma.   As for trying that get that buggy BIOS A07 update removed,  I've tried on several occasions and it is still there.

i3johnc · Answer

Well, you may want to try and get A06 pulled as well as it has the same defect as A07 for me.  Better yet, it would be nice if they supported the products they sell and make an A08 that works... LOL

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Failed Bios Update on Dimensions 4700c

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