Bios upgrade on 4011

Before I bought my new Acer TM 4011,
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=824710
I did notice that there were folks on the Circuit City site (CC has a similar but not-as-good model) complaining about not all keystrokes registering. According to the Acer site, they've fixed this with a bios upgrade. I've downloaded it, but am a little nervous about messing with a bios upgrade--I did it once before on an old Dell but somebody walked me through it.

How does one safely install a bios upgrade?

 

I upgraded the BIOS on my Acer - it is very straightforward.

Before you start, save all your unsaved stuff, and exit out of everything you have open.

Just download + double-click it to start the install after you have downloaded it. It takes about...oh, maybe a few minutes to flash it. It then reboots and you are good to go.

 

I would only do it if you are having issues that you need fixed.

 

Well, you"ll need to download the Winflash Utility and the BIOS from Acer's support site. When you run the winflash utility it will ask you to locate the new BIOS(the one downloaded). If I remember it correctly it will also create a back up of the old. After this it is just a matter of crossing your fingures and hoping the program runs without any hiccups and the laptop restarts normally.

As a precaution before updating the BIOS, close any open programs and back up any important files to a CD. A failed BIOS upgrade will render your laptop unusable. The only way to fx then would be to send it back tp Acer so that they can properly reprogram the BIOS chip.

 

Yes, be VERY careful doing the upgrade. As previously mentioned, only perform the flash if there is a problem that cannot be solved by other means.

I once failed a BIOS update for my HP zv5000....froze in the middle. Laptop was impossible to use, wouldn't even turn on. Sent it into HP, and they took care of it.

 

i just bought an Acer Travelmate 4010 and i had read also on Circuit City about keyboard problems and im having the same difficulty...howeve when i download the bios it says that windows does not recognize that file...it says that its not an actually file or something...also on the reviews it had said to delete something and after they deleted this item off the harddrive the problem was fixed...however the computer is no longer on circuit citys website therefor i dont no what to delete to fix this problem...it is really annoying and i want it fixed!!!

pllleeeaaaseeee help me out!

Thanks

 

Do you want to upgrade bios to v.4S05 to fix the issue of missing keystroke/character while typing, right? If you could not flash bios well under window mode, you can take your laptop to go to Acer customer service centre in your country, They'll help you. What's more, where (the website link) did you download the bios and winflash utility? I might help trying it if possible.

 

ya i want to upgrade to fix the keystroke problem...when i downloaded it off the acer website it said that windows didnt no what program made the program so they couldnt open it to run it...any ideas?

 

Did you download the Winflash Utility along with the BIOS.

You'll need to install Winflash utility and then when you run that program it will ask for the loaction of the BIOS. Follow thw on screen insrtuctions and you should be able to flash your BIOS. The BIOS file itself will not be recognised by Windows.

 

that should help...but now when i download the winflash it comes up just as a folder on my desktop and doesnt pop up as a program like the flash thing like it did b4 when i tried it...it just brings up this folder with all this stuff in it and its not the same program on it...this is confusing...help? it comes up just as a folder that just keeps on opening up and shows all the lil files inside of it...doesnt come up as the flash program like it used to do b4

 

Does the file you downloaded look anything like this...

1.If yes, then double click the file and go to the folder containing all the files.(you may need to
double click on the file more than once). Then again double click on the setup file...

2.Click Run and follow the on screen instructions to install Winplash.
3. I assume you have downloaded this BIOS file (ZL1H4S05.wph)
4.If you have done this then you are ready to flash your BIOS.
Goto Start-->All Programs-->Winphlash-->click on Winphlash.
5.Next specify the folder to which the program will backup your existing bios.
6.Then specify your new bios file to the program by clicking on Browse and selecting the BIOS file you downloaded from Acer.
7.The next step is very important. Before you click 'Flash BIOS'. Make sure you have removed any external devices(like mouse, thumb drive...) Also disable your anti virus/spyware software and double check that you have entered the correct file paths in the BIOS backup as well as the one for the new bios.
8. When you have clicked on Flash BIOS the program should then backup and install the new BIOS and restart the laptop. After you have done this check to see if your problem has been fixed or not. DO NOT do anything else while the program is flashing the BIOS.

DISCLAIMER - Sometimes the BIOS update fails and the laptop wont boot up and you will need to send it in to Acer to fix it. So backup any important files before doing this.

 

yes exactly like that...ill follow that and let u no if it works...thanks

 

5.Next specify the folder to which the program will backup your existing bios.

Where do i find this at???

 

Just specify any folder you want. You can store it on the desktop and let it have the default file name.

 

ok ill try this hope it works

 

it didnt work...my com is like messed up now...im on my home computer now...my laptop wont even start up. i go to turn it on and it just makes the noise like its going to start up but then just turns off...???????????????????????????????

 

Ouch...In that case the BIOS update probably failed. Contact Acer, they should be able to fix it.

 

this sucks

 

i exchanged my acer into circuit city for a toshiba satellite and am now happy with my laptop...its great no problems at all with the keyboard or nething...i highly recomend if u are having problems with acer get this computer its wonderful

 

I've had that happen before on my HP. I started flashing - froze in the middle. Sent it in to HP to be fixed.

I think your only and most logical course of action is to send it in as posted.