ATI 9700 bios

Question

OK I have been having problems with my video card , finally I have found an answer, ATI believe it to be a video bios chip problem and have told me to get Dell to swap the card out ( If only it where that easy !!) However I noticed that there is a video bios for this card in a 9100 inspiron on the download site, Thought I had nothing to lose trying to reflash the card incase it is just a corrupt bios. When I download and try to install it says it is already installed and won't reinstall.   Question is can the bios be forced to reflash. ? As it might still be worth a try.   I have cross posted this on the Bios Forum

Joozt · Answer

I'm trying to reflash the bios myself, but keep getting the error "Resources files missing" ( in that way yes.. doesnt sound like very proper english but still :p )

anyway, any help on this particular subject? might just be the case on why the card isnt working properly.

whymewhynot · Answer

I have just been told that the vid card will be replaced ( hopefully on Thursday ). Dell thanked me for taking the time to call ATI.

Regarding the error you are getting I got that too, but I think it has a lot to do where you download the file to, once I downloaded it to the desktop it seemed alright ?? By the way apparently ,( though I am only going on previous research ) the bios listed is the original not an upgrade so it should not be needed. Doesn't make a lot of sense to post it if it is already fitted to all cards from day one so I am not sure the information is totally kosher !!

Whymewhynot

Joozt · Answer

so how do i get further now? ship back my laptop to dell and let them replace it? if so how long will that take? ( approximately ) sad that its the video card though.. thought this was a good one :)

whymewhynot · Answer

What problems are you having ? My problems where more serious than not being able to flash the bios, I was just wondering if it is possible to force the flash to rewrite the bios.

So I would not assume there is anything wrong with the vid card on that alone, what are your symptoms ?

Joozt · Answer

the problems im having are:

blank screen on boot up;
need to make 3 to 10 hard reboots to make it work ( its just the screen that wont turn on. rest is doing fine, hear windows sounds n all );
It's not the little pin on the LCD lid thats placed incorrectly;
formatted and reinstalled my pc from scrap still no fix.

So basically im stuck with a laptop that doesnt turn on when i want it too and it doesnt seem to be software related since i've tried everything on that point.

whymewhynot · Answer

I would use ATI website , you have to register but that is no big thing, then send them a mail using the tech support link including all the details etc. They where pretty darned fast getting back to me ( you have to check there site fro updates as they do not mail you a response ).

See what they say, if they can identify it as a hardware issue.

My lappy is doing the same as yours with the exception that when it black screens the notebook is frozen as well, also I was experiencing a lot of tears and color banding on booting, this apparently is atrributed the video bios/ chips being corrupt or something.

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ATI 9700 bios

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