Anyone know where bios chip is in M17x R3?

As title says. I'm looking for location of the bios chip on a M17x R3. My bios got corrupted during flash, and recovery isn't working (8 beeps upon trying to boot).

I have a SPI programmer, so I want to try to manually program it before resorting to dell for service.

 

Hmm, I would urge you to do the opposite. Just tell Dell that the computer refuses to boot up after you performed a bios update. You will void the warranty if you do any soldering to or any kind of physical mod.

 

If the circuit allows it and with the proper equipment it can work without desoldering the chip.
You have to look for a wide SOIC 8 pin, probably a Winbond 25Q64BVSIG. Should be easy to locate once you've disassembled the machine. Just make sure you get the right chip. The BIOS is a bit bigger than 4 megabyte, so its probably a 64 gigabit chip, but there might be smaller flash chips as well (for alien-fx or whatever).

 

yeah, i didn't plan on desoldering anything. I have the tools (SOIC clip) do be able to flashing it while connected to the pcb. I just haven't been able to find it yet. it's no visable from back panel, and not under the keyboard. Could be under the palm rest area, but I don't feel like taking it all apart without knowing there it is first.

 

On the M14x and on the M15x you have to disassemble the whole machine to get to the chip, most of the mobo is covered with a black plastic foil, and the chip might as well be on the back of the mobo.

 

Thanks, that's what I figured since I didn't see it from the back, or under the keyboard.

I called dell. They are sending someone to repair it. He's supposed to bring a new motherboard, screen, and GPU. I really don't see how a bad flash can mess the screen or GPU. But the other person who had same exact 8 beep error, needed to replace the motherboard and screen. So I asked them to bring that too.