Have Inspiron 1000? Help me?

Question

If you have an Inspiron 1000, I am in desperate need of your help. Would you be able to go to www.wimsbios.com to download a utility and dump a BIN image of your working bios? Without the BIN file, I can't get my laptop's bios desoldered and reflashed. Thanks a bunch!

L2TechInArizona · Answer

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/format.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&SystemID=INS_CEL_1000&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=7255&typecnt=1&libid=1&releaseid=R95593&vercnt=2

Try that link.......I know its not a BIN but you can load the BIOS off of a Floppy disk and then flash it from there =D

Hope that helps ya

wjaneczek · Answer

This is DELL's executable updating only small portion of BIOS chip - it is UPDATE and doesn't contain whole BIOS chip content. Obtaining this file could be easily done by reading BIOS from working Inspiron1000 into .BIN file with standard uniflash software. I have identical problem with my inspiron 1000 bios and Dell won't help - their 'technical advice' is to scrap the motherboard instead. Only Dell does that. Can any inspiron 1000 owner help us here?

2004inspiron700 · Answer

Wait a minute, you said that DELL's executable updating only a small portion of BIOS chip, right?  Does it mean that the updater never touched the other part of the bios?  Does this mean that you can somehow 'reset' the BIOS based on the utouched part?   Why can't DELL behave like an ipod? -> when ipod doesn't turn on -> press Menu + button in middle = reset. Message Edited by 2004inspiron700m on 10-12-2006 08:06 PM

wjaneczek · Answer

Yes, this is exactly what I had said: 1. BIOS update updates only a small portion of BIOS 2. The BIOS chip could be read using UNIFLASH software and saved to a .BIN file I believe for Inspiron1000 it is 128k in size. Dell doesn't provide us with this file, so either we back up our BIOSes or when the disaster strikes we are at merci of others who have their BIOS working correctly and let us read their BIOS or not. Just like me today!!! 3. All BIOS chips are almost identical for Inspiron 1000, Service Tag and Owner Tag unique code are written into it and therefore master password unlocking BIOS could be unique to a Service Tag and Owner Tag - excellent theft prevention tool. Now if you have an Inspiron 1000 and want to back up your BIOS and also help me restore full functionality of mine laptop, send me your e-mail in private message, please. Thank You Very Much

wjaneczek · Answer

Firstly my BIOS was corrupted in the area not touched by the update - so updating again won't help. Second : you can't reset BIOS based on part of it - it is simply corrupted, doesn't work properly (part of it I mean) and need to be re-flashed, it is a piece of cake if you have the right .BIN file to flash it with. Thank You for reading. If you own Inspiron1000 - please help.

2004inspiron700 · Answer

Hey, er would you mind giving me the link to the software to dump the BIOS image?  I know where to ask people who want to help.   So assuming that you get the BIN file, how will you reflash the bios?  Will you have to desolder and reflash?

wjaneczek · Answer

The standard software (latest rev 1.40) that you can use to read and backup the BIOS chip in DOS you can find at   http://www.uniflash.org/download.htm My corrupted BIOS chip have basic function intact, so I can boot the computer with IDE hard drive (USB boot BIOS routine is corrupted, so I can't boot from USB). Flashing BIOS requires booting the computer first, so I have no problem re-flashing BIOS in my machine. I already backed up my corrupted chip to see if it works - no problem. I didn't check if BIOS is soldered on the motherboard or is mounted in a socket. If it is soldered and you can't boot your machine, you can unsolder and re-flash. I think it might be another possible secret way to do it, but I don't know for sure. If you can get me the .BIN file for Inspiron1000 I am looking for, please help.

2004inspiron700 · Answer

I am going to a site called ComputerForum to ask people to get said BIN file with the utility you provided.  I also need this BIN file as my Inspiron1000 BIOS is wiped.  Write back when I get the file.  ;-)

wjaneczek · Answer

I think that the most effective way to find Inspiron 1000 owner willing to help us is to find one who needs our help, otherwise most aren't interested. Is any Inspiron1000 owner/user need my help? You would be surprised to know how much I could do to help you fix your problem. Try me!!!!!!

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