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axlns

6 Posts

53946

February 19th, 2008 06:00

Updating BIOS causes dead of my laptop D830

Hello.

A few days ago I bought new laptop. It was Latitude D830. It was good, untill...

Yesterday I install Vista Ultimate 64bit on my laptop (instead of Win XP Pro)
Downloaded from official site a few drivers for Vista, also noticed new BIOS version (A08) with status "Recommended"

I decide to upgrade my old BIOS (a04) with new one.. I wish I didnt do that.

SO.

I run the flash BIOS program (it is Windows based). It tells me that all is fine and I can upgrade my A04 bios to A08.. And when I will click OK it will restar computer and flashes new BIOS. Ok.. I clicked OK - it restarted my laptom and seems to start flashin new BIOS: white screen appears saying in black "Performing BIOS update" (or somethink like). No progress bar, no any percents, about amount of work completed, etc, just this message and dell.com link.. It displays this message a 20-30 secs, than all FANs starts working on BIG speed and after another 5-10 secs, my laptop was automatically turned off..

I thought that flashing is completed, waited another 5-10 secs (it promises me restart automatically) but nothing happens.. SO i tried to turn on it by pressing POWER button, but again nothing happens :(

I did all kind of things, disconnected adapter, disconnect battary, etc.. nothing helps.. it just wont start.. not FAN working, no POWER leds appears.. just green WIFI led appears after 10-15 secs when I plug AC adapter (even if I didnt press POWER button).

Already called to support, they said that it is very strange and that probbaly I would need to replace motherboard.. very disappointed.. I buyed it only yesterday and now I need wait another 20 days until they replaced it :(

So be carefully, when you decide to update your BIOS.. Bad things happens :(
Message Edited by axlns on 02-20-2008 04:22 PM

bacillus

14.4K Posts

February 19th, 2008 15:00

@axlns wrote:
So be carefully, when you decide to update your BIOS.. Bad things happens :(

so true...

axlns

6 Posts

February 20th, 2008 08:00

yes, it is true, but on other side why, I say WHY, I should expect that something will goes wrong, when I downloaded BIOS update program with status "Recommended" from OFFICIAL Dell website? and WHY I should wait another 20 days for repairing of my notebook on which I spent almost $2000?

just rhetorical question :(

PS. I think Dell programmers should test their work more carefully, when they published new BIOSes
Message Edited by axlns on 02-20-2008 04:22 PM

bacillus

14.4K Posts

February 20th, 2008 09:00

unfortunately bios flashing is always a risky business with the resultant dead bios you are now seeing.

it also happens to other manufacturers mainboards so don't blame dell.

axlns

6 Posts

February 20th, 2008 10:00

why it should be risky? it's just software and I believe it was just software error. I had many computers, cause I'm more than 10 years in IT and flash BIOSes many items and all was succeded, cause if you take official BIOS there is shouldnt be any unexpected results..

so yes, I blame Dell, cause I think that my dead laptop is their fault (cause flash BIOS program is not tested enough).

PS. But I wanted to say thanks to the man from their support for his assitance.

Art

1.5K Posts

February 23rd, 2008 04:00

@axlns wrote:
why it should be risky? it's just software and I believe it was just software error. <...>
so yes, I blame Dell, cause I think that my dead laptop is their fault (cause flash BIOS program is not tested enough).

PS. But I wanted to say thanks to the man from their support for his assitance.

Very sorrry to hear of your experience, glad your warranty will cover it and most of all, thank you for sharing this event.

It was not the BIOS software, but the extra risk of relying on 'Windows' to do the work without fail, I would blame Dell for not making this 'extra' risk more clear to their users.

My D830 (WinXP) was delivered a few weeks ago with BIOS A_05 and as you mentioned A_08 is recommended.

Download site did not mention a DOS Flash (which is much safer) and the BIOS file is now too large (1.2MB) to fit on a single boot floppy.

Since one issue I was having was occasional 'hung shutdowns' a Windows Flash was absolutely out of the question.

I booted with a blank boot floppy (boot files are .55 MB) and then inserted another 'floppy' diskette with D830 BIOS A_08 copied on it and it Flashed in DOS without problem.

A_05 to A_08 resulted in a dramatic improvement in performance and stability on this D830, well worth the risk.

For those without access to an a:\Drive (USB versions are fine), your D830 will also boot into DOS on a Boot CD/DVD or USB card.

A Flash in Windows is no doubt the simplest way, but few users are aware of the risk, until it is too late.

Have heard that DOS Programs are tricky to run in VISTA, but they must still be able to 'Boot-to-DOS' at the BIOS level.

BIOS software is, by-far the greatest 'software' risk you can take because it is at the most basic level and is needed to work before Anything Else can happen. This is stored in a chip that is surface mounted (no 'socket' and not easily replaced) on your motherboard.

Art

axlns

6 Posts

February 23rd, 2008 04:00

Thanks Art for your post. When I will receive my fixed notebook back, I expecting it will be not with latest BIOS, so I probably woull need to flash it again, and I probably will do it under DOS how you suggested (I'm really hope that it will not be dead again after that)..

But can you answer, where you downloaded DOS-version of BIOS. or this file which we can download from Dell site (D830_A08.exe) can be runned under DOS too?

Regards, Alex

Art

1.5K Posts

February 23rd, 2008 09:00

Alex,

Yes, I used the same D830_08.EXE as you have, downloaded from the Dell/Driver page.

A lot of your Drivers will be different, from the VISTA side of the D830 Download page, but BIOS should be the same.

Properties show a size of 1.17 MB (1,227,941 bytes) and I have (since reading what happens with Windows Flashes, on this board) Flashed System BIOS from a 'floppy' drive, it would not fit along with the 'boot' files and had to use two diskettes.

Dell used to also provide a 'DOS' version that would create the single 'floppy' from the desktop download, and that would have been the D830_08.exe and 'boot' files. Wish that they would now offer a 'create from desktop' version that could make a 'boot' CD or USB drive and hold it all on one media.

I have no experience with 'creating bootable' CD's or USB cards and that is why I went the 'floppy' route.

One caution on the a:\drive method is that 'floppies' are so seldom seen and we all have a drawer full of ten year old 'Formatted AOL floppy's from the junk-mailbox', be sure to thoroughly scan and test that diskette before use :)

Noticed that Dell offered a choice of Bluetooth for XP or VISTA, don't know if you can 'flash' firmware from XP to VISTA, but that at least is a flash that you can recover from if gone bad, not sure about CD/DVD firmware flashes.

Firmware flashes of your Video Card are much like System BIOS in that with a 'bad' flash, you are 'blind' for any recovery, have not seen advice on 'least risk' method advice for those.

I have been overall very pleased with this D830 and its co-existance with my D800, but it sure is 'touchy' about 'hot-dock' on my D/Port Advanced Port Replicator in comparison with the D800, wonder if a D/Port 'Flash' is due?

Art

Hydralisk00222

2 Intern

 • 

2.4K Posts

February 24th, 2008 22:00

Why didn't you just return it? If you requested the parts be sent to your home directly you would have been up and running in a day...

Art

1.5K Posts

February 25th, 2008 16:00

There is another updated BIOS now for the D830 D830_A09.EXE and instructions have been added back for the DOS Flash method: (link to download page below)

From Dell Download page: 

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>


_______________________

Run the BIOS update utility from DOS environment (Non-Windows users)


NOTE: You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable file does not create the DOS system files.


1. Copy the file D830_A09.EXE to a bootable floppy.


2. Boot from the floppy to the DOS prompt.


3. Run the file by typing Y:\D830_A09.EXE (where y is the drive letter where the executable is located).

No mention of fact that it will not fit :( on a single "bootable" floppy.

From Right-click of [-] My Computer -> [+] 3 1/2 Floppy (A: ), select Format and then :emotion-49: Create an MS-DOS startup disk. Then you can copy the D830 A09.EXE on to a new blank 1.44 diskette and use Tools to check for errors.

Full Battery AND AC Power, not on docking station and I used the main, rear USB Port for the floppy drive.

Boot to DOS (tap A12 on Dell Booting Screen and select drive) with the first diskette and then swap into A:\ DRIVE the second diskette after it has 'booted you into DOS'.

Type A:\D830_A09.EXE and watch it load that BIOS file for Flash, Flash starts when you tap the 'Y'  for "YES" and you can watch the progress bars as it checks/confirms files and loads them into your BIOS chip.

It is a large (1.2 MB) file, so be patient and do nothing until it is done and asks you to remove the diskettte.

(I will *always* be a "Non-Windows user" :) for *BIOS* Flashes.)


Art
Message Edited by Art on 02-25-2008 01:51 PM

LarsDennert

6 Posts

February 28th, 2008 05:00

I think I've read enough on BIOS DELL bricks. It's obvious that they don't have sense enough to make space on the BIOS chip for two versions, the old and the new and not erase and switch to the new until it is verified. That's the right way to do it.

At this point I'm going to strip parts from my DELL brick and toss it...

axlns

6 Posts

March 7th, 2008 03:00

so, after more than 2 weeks of beeing in service my laptop is returned back :)
they changed MB and BIOS on it was even older (A02). So I decided to flash it again, successfully that time, thanks God :)

I did it from DOS, as Art suggested. Thanks to all of you guys, for your responses..

btw, laptop is great! :)
Message Edited by axlns on 03-07-2008 11:45 AM

Art

1.5K Posts

March 7th, 2008 05:00

Very glad to hear of your success, it is strange that Dell Service would install a new motherboard due to a failed BIOS Flash and not go the extra step of Flashing it to the latest version for the user. ???

Just saw this article by ASE Labs on creation of a USB Boot device for Flash.

DOS USB Bootable Drive Intro:

Although I see that the default boot sequence defined by Dell on the D830 is 'floppy' first, the USB Device (which could easily contain all the files needed) would be even safer to use than the A:\Drive for BIOS Flash.

Expert opinions welcome on that idea. :)

_______________________________________________________________________________

NoteBook Forum had {A tutorial on 'BLIND' Flash}   for recovery of your Video Card Flash gone bad.

Art
Message Edited by Art on 03-07-2008 02:37 AM

glnz

2 Intern

 • 

309 Posts

May 24th, 2008 22:00

I successfully upgraded the BIOS on my D830 to A09, and I'd like to continue to A12.  However, I'm also afraid of a failed BIOS upgrade.  My D830 doesn't have a floppy drive for DOS upgrade but does have a CD-RW.  Can I use it for a DOS BIOS upgrade?  How?  Need step-by-step instructions, and please don't assume I know anything at all - I don't know what makes a CD "bootable".  I have WinXPPro SP3.  Thanks.

Art

1.5K Posts

June 26th, 2008 21:00

I have still only used my USB (Sony) 'floppy' drive for BIOS Flashes.

 

I know it could be done from a CD 'boot disk', never made one, but think you may need Nero's CD Program to create a Boot CD.

 

I did post a link above about creating a USB Boot Device and I would prefer that over a Boot CD.

 

I bought a USB Device for a couple bucks at Office MAX and it is a handy way to transfer files between systems without the bother of burning CD's.

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