A10 bios operating system gone

Decided to do the a10 bios update for my m17x r2. Unzipped the file and all and let the install do the work. But after it restarted it says that the operating system is not detected or whatever. I go into boot and bios setup it shows that the new bios is a10. But it just won't boot.

What went wrong? I'm running the Samsung ssd for primary and a 500gb secondary.

Please help. I'm kinda noob to this update thing. Any help would be appreciated. I need my laptop for work.

 

Alot of times when you flash the BIOS it puts it back at default settings? Perhaps it changed it to RAID when your OS was installed in AHCI mode.

 

Check your boot list order under the Boot Tab in the BIOS. Make sure the hard drive your OS is installed on is top of the list.

 

As someone else said it's changed from AHCI to RAID.

Just switch it back.

 

That was not it. I just checked this morning. It is under AHCI and my boot order has hard drive first as well. Darn it.

However. It does say, while trying to boot into os

"Initializing and establishing link"
(Hangs*)

PXE-E61: media test failure, check cable.
PXE-M0F: exiting intel boot agent
Operating system not found

Does this help in finding the problem?

 

Check your HDD shows in the bios.

It looks like its trying to do a pxe boot so either the HDD is dead/not being detected or not in the boot list.

 

PXE boot means it is trying to boot from the LAN port. Like the others have stated, check the HDD even shows up and is first boot order just to be safe.

 

The HDD does show in bios. -.- looks like I screwed up big time huh?
Any help still greatly appreciated.

Damn Dell.com, never should have downloaded the A10 bios update from them, my Alienware was running perfectly, now it looks like I have to call dell customer service. I do need a new adaptor because the old one has wires coming out of the rubber protection thingy. maybe I should upgrade to a new graphics card and bigger ram since I'm under the 3 year full coverage warranty still? but i need to be able to keep my things on the hard drive though. i'm an architectural student and my files are my life. thanks in advance.

 

Try using windows disk, see if that see's the drive and doing a windows repair on it.

 

and if i can't find my original windows disk? is there a usb executable way to boot it?

 

Download the iso.

MSDN Subscriber Downloads

The "burn" to usb using Microsoft Store Online (link about third of way down page).

Let me know if you have any luck.

 

Yup. You're gonna need to try and reload Windows. PXE boot is the network boot function. If the systems is trying to boot from network, then it's because there's issue with your storage drives, whereas they're not showing up as boot drives when the BIOS checks them. One thing you can try as a last resort is to reset the BIOS to default configuration. That option is under the exit tab in the BIOS. It may revert whatever setting is conflicting with your Windows drive...but it's a long shot.

PS: remove the second photo you posted (you don't want to post sensitive or personal information about your system)

 

so i called dell, went through the defaulting the bios and all that jazz.
got to the point where i got to boot from a windows install cd.
dell service rep told me hold shift-f12 to bring up command box, then to type in

bootrec.exe /fixMBR - this one worked, says operation successful.
then type bootrec.exe /fixboot - this one says,element not found.

The dell rep tells me thats where the problem is, and that my os is corrupted, or things of that sort and that I have to re-install my OS.

i'm sure the problem is with my intel boot agent, as thats where the problem starts when i boot, and i believe thats what /fixboot was suppose to do.

Any other helpful comments?

So whats the next step? If i reinstall windows dont i lose all my files on my ssd? I need all of my files, how can i do this without losing my files?

I also tried to repair my os in with the windows install disc. But got nothing. No restore points detected. Is there're somewhere on the hard drive where I can manually find the restore point image or things of this sort to restore it to a prior time? The point restore is empty. I guess since the OS is none existent as of now.

Please, any help is appreciated!

Might want to take this time to just do raid 0 2x750gb? Any thoughts and ideas? How much would that be? And maybe upgrade the graphics card? I'm a newly graduated architectural student and have a budget of $300-$500. What do you guys think? How much does that complicate my life?
Life

 

So basicly you are saying that everything works fine except for the fact that your HDD won't boot?
What if you put Linux on a usb stick? will that boot?

For the PXE issue, just disable that option in the BIOS.
This only serves a purpose if you are on a business network where you can boot from.

Keep us updated

 

No. Nothin works fine. The OS is either missing or corrupted according to the dell rep after trying to do the A10 bios update. Now the intel boot agent can't boot up. The trouble shoot they told me to so with the windows boot disc and into the command console with /bootrec.exe /fixboot is saying the element is not valid. So right now I only have 2 options, at least told by dell.

Get t transferred by buying an sata to USB adapter. And then do a fresh install of os on my ssd.

Now. New question. Is this all of my options? Plus I lost my windows cd. Is there anywhere else I can find my windows serial/key? I still have my Alienware manual is it on the back of the laptop? I really don't want to spend another $100 to buy another windows disc/key.

Doesn't Dell/Alienware know my windows serial number?

 

even if you could get into DOS mode, you system is fine.
Problem:
A: Raid controller is dead
B: Sector 0 is dead or corrupt on one (or "both" if raid 0) HDD's
C: Sata connection problem
D: Bios problem (not likely because you CAN get into Bios settings)

Forget Intel boot agent, that is your boot option from the network and does not apply to your situation.

You serial key is on the back.
I suggest downloading a copy of you OS that you have the serial key for.
If the OS key says:" Windows 7 Home premium" you google that one for a newsgroup or torrent or perhaps someone else has a copy but you insert you serial key thats on the Shell of the Alienware on the bottom/back.

If you are not so tech savvy i might suggest that you use a (at least) 4GB usb stick and install Ubuntu on it so to see if you can boot from something else then the SATA controller(s)

Check This Link on how to make a bootable usb drive for Ubuntu.
This will just verify that there is no HardWare fault.

Dell does NOT keep track on your OS key, that's why it's supplied on the back of your Notebook.

If you don't understand the Ubuntu thing and you don't have a working DVD drive then i suggest you (offcourse) still get your copy of Windows and install it from USB.
For that option look HERE

 

Follow what unphoto said. You can make a bootable USB drive for Ubuntu and start up the Linux OS without having to install it on your hard drive. If your system still doesn't want to boot, then it's definitely a motherboard issue. The only other recommendation I would have at that point is to try and flash the unlocked A10 BIOS but I am not sure how one would do that from startup. The flash utility has to be initiated thru Windows. I will research that option and let you know. Your Windows product Key sticker should be attached to the bottom of your notebook. Sometimes they stick it under the battery or on the inside of the compartment door. Alienware should be able to send you a replacement Windows disc if you call and ask nicely.

 

thanks, i found the key under my m17x, installed new os in the ssd, but windows retained all my information! so i didnt lose anything as the os put all the old windows info under a separate folder, windows.old. so all is well!

I'm looking to upgrade my 128gb ssd as the drive only has about 16gbs left.
will this fit in the primary?

Newegg.com - Crucial M4 CT256M4SSD1 2.5" 256GB SATA III MLC 7mm Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

and how about this for an upgrade over my current 500gb seconday?
Newegg.com - Seagate Momentus XT STBD750100 750GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache 2.5" SATA 6.0Gb/s Solid State Hybrid Drive

Do you guys know where I can get ram upgrades for my M17xR2? and how easy is it to DIY the ram swap myself?

 

Any SSD should fit our notebooks. They're all 2.5" form factor. It's the thicker hard drives (12.5mm, 15mm tall) that you need to watch out for. But if I was you, I'd seriously consider a Samsung: Newegg.com - SAMSUNG 840 Series MZ-7TD250BW 2.5" 250GB SATA III Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
They're supposed to be tied with Intel or someone for being the best SSDs on the market. I have no idea if this is true (I have a Kingston HyperX SSD) but many users have been recommending the Samsungs lately.

 

This does not apply to the R2's, It's still SATA 2 design so getting the more expensive drives that support speeds for SATA 3 will still bottleneck at SATA 2 speeds.

Any random SSD will do, but keep in mind that it will not work the advertised (SATA3) speeds

 

Actually, right now that Samsung SSD is only $9 more than the Crucial M4 she had previously posted. And getting a mid-sized Samsung 840 series for that price is pretty good, that SSD will last well until she upgrades to a newer m17x, and she will be able to use the SSD in SATA III whenever she does update her notebook to a newer model. Pretty much all 2.5" SSDs are SATA III now so it's not like she can get a SATA II model SSD for 2/3rds the cost.