BIOS Recovery in case you brick your M17x R3

Creating this thread purely to add to my signature to help anyone who actually does accidentally brick their system. It is actually SUPER easy to fix.

Download the BIOS you wish to restore to

Download the BIOS editor application Download phoenixtool190.zip from Sendspace.com - send big files the easy way

Use winrar to extract the BIOS exe to get the .fd file out of it and load it into the previous application. It will tell you what the recovery file name needs to be.

In my case, the A04 recovery filename was PAR00X64.fd

Copy the file to a usb stick formatted FAT/FAT32
Unplug the battery from your Alienware
Plug USB stick into eSATA port
Hold the "END" key on the internal keyboard and while holding plug in the Power cable. The fans will kick up and it will start reading the file and initiate the reflash.
It will beep about 20-30 times then shut off and reboot about 3 times.

If it still doesn't work remove your GPU and attempt it again.

PRESTO!

Enjoy!


EDIT: Removed the CMOS battery step, not required

 

thanks for the info, as for plugging the usb stick into eSata, do i need to use a usb <-> eSata converter ?

 

Sticky please. May need when I get to trying out modded BIOS

 

eSATA is USB and eSATA

 

Thank you for writing this, this thread gives me hope of getting my M17xR3 up and running again! However, the PhoenixTool creates two BIOS-files for me, BIOS0.BIOS and BIOS4.BIOS. Which one of these should I rename to PAR00X64.fd and put on my USB?

Details about what I have done so far:
1. I unzipped the phoenixtool190.zip and ran the program called PhoenixTool.exe.

2. I chose to open the file PAR00MEC.fd which I had previously extracted from the A04-bios (M17R3A04-W64.exe).

3. The program finishes and prompts me that "Recovery filenames are: PAR00X64.fd". When I click OK it runs for another two seconds and prompts me
"Header (INSYDEHuranRiv SLIC) (x1)
Pubkey (x1)
Marker (2.1)(ALWAREALIENWRE) (x1)"

4. This process creates two BIOS files, BIOS0.BIOS and BIOS4.BIOS. (It also creates a directory called DUMP containing a lot of small ROM-files). Which file should be renamed and put on the USB key? (The same files were generated when I tried with the A07BIOS instead.)


EDIT: I tried both files now without success. I also tried renaming the original PAR00MEC.fd to PAR00X64.fd and put that on the USB stick, but nothing seems to work...

EDIT2: SUCCESS!!! I had to remove my dedicated GPU (Nvidea GTX 460M) since I had fiddled with the bios setup of that unit. After that I could boot of the PAR00MEC.fd which I had renamed to PAR00X64.fd. (Something seems to be wrong with my GPU atm though so I'm trying to reflash with it in and then reinstall Win7, but at least my computer boots again. Thank you!

 

slightly confused here

why not just extract the .fd file from the bios and put it on the usb stick or does the editor do something to the extracted file ?

I assume "previous application" is the bios editor right ?

 

^ I never said to use the tool to create any BIOS files. you DO use the .fd file but you need to open it in the tool because it tells you the recovery name it HAS to be to run.

 

ah right thx

 

+1 Plus I would say 1^ for the vote for this as a sticky. Great info!

 

+1 From me too. It should be sticky. When I had problem with my m17x R2 I had to make a bios recovery disk (or crysis disk) and it was a hassle to make it work + nobody explained how to go about the process. It took me few hours to figure it out on how to fix the bios on the machine.

Thank you for your input. Highly appreciated!

 

Thanks I'm definitely bookmarking and downloading this incase i do brick my system.

 

I get 1 beep and it just keeps rebooting until it stays off

 

Anyone know why my laptop won't boot now after this procedure? After it reboots a couple time after flash, it boots up and just beeps 8 times pauses, and repeats over and over. bascially my laptop is bricked now

anyone have any ideas?

I tried procedure without GPU, and tried A04 and A08. both result in same thing. Tried multiple different kinds of flash drives too.

 

Did you keep your finger on the END button even for the beeps?

 

nope, i removed it as soon as fans spun up

edit: just tried holding END till end off the 33 beeps, let go before it reboot. same result

 

Perhaps hold it for even longer? Maybe wait until it reboots?

 

I tried it but I cant.

I make it with and without the dedicated ati6970, I tried with a04 and a08 bios and the same problem. After some reboots, the computer makes 8 beeps every 2 or 3 seconds.
I try pressing end all the time, only until it starts and after the 33 beeps, but allways the same.

Anyone have idea why?

 

If you are getting 8 beeps then that means you have a problem with either your display or the graphics card.

 

I start, the screen gets on and then 8 beeps. With or without the dedicated gpu. I call the sat but I have to wait until monday, and I cant stay all weekend without it.

Dell is a *****. Next bussiness day and I call yesterday.

 

Not that I like Dell support or anything, I wish Alienware was separate, but you said you called Saturday and have to wait until Monday? That's because Sunday isn't a business day.

 

No, no, I call wednesday, and they say they come on thursday, but on thursday they call me again and because of this I have to wait until monday minimum. This friday is holiday here in spain.

Dell and alienware is the same SAT, the same attention.

 

+1 to sticky. this worked like a dream for my m14x.

 

^^ A link is already available in the Owner's Lounge which is a Sticky thread with lots of info

 

Hi,

I'm stuck on the step about specify a RW Everything report...what should I do?...where is this file .rw I can not find...PLEASE HELP

EDIT: I made it thank you YOU SAVE ME

 

According to Dell website, 8 beeps is LCD failure. Is that correct?!

Alienware Laptops: Beep Codes Table | Dell

 

Juliant, what have you done!?

 

What do you mean GeoCake?

 

when i had 8 beeps it was the graphics card, new card fixed this.

 

I called Dell for the fun of it and they told me is the LCD. I guess they start from there... They will replace your LCD and after that your GPU...

 

this is 100% correct. Essentially Dell doesn't know. They show up at your house with everything...even a motherboard in some cases (depends on the tech you dealt with). BUt the bottom line is that you want them to touch as little as possible...replace as little as possible because there is a high probability that they can make it worse

 

Most of the technicians are very stubborn and they go by the book. They will only follow the steps given by their supervisors*. There are very rare cases where the technicians will take the user advice and go beyond the limits.

 

I have a question on this process, do I just move the fd file back to the usb, or do I move the folder, or just all of the files in the folder, beyond that, what does it mean when I press end and the fans kick on but nothing else after that, holding end for about 5 minutes no beeps

 

I have an M17xR2...downloaded the latest bios version (A10)...opened the winrar file m17xr2a10.zip...and there is no .fd file. Am i doing something wrong?

(btw my computer bios is bricked already...and trying to find solutions on my own instead of dell wanting over 900$ for them to fix it...)

 

The M17x R2's BIOS is Phoenix and not Insyde. See my reply in the Phoenix thread.

 

will do, thank you.

 

Hi,

I have an Alienware M17x R3 with the 1.5GB GDDR5 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M w/ Optimus Technology

I had severe performance problems with this card (even with 3d turned off) so I updated the BIOS to stop the temp slowing it down and speed the fans up

I now have 8 beeps looping on startup with no post.

I obtained the BIOS from Dell, extracted and changed the name to PAR00X64.fd as Pheonixtool instructed put on a clean USB and tried to blind flash the BIOS (Battery out, hold down end with the usb stick in the eSATA drive but it does not beep or post.

I removed the graphics card and tried again, this time I got about 40 beeps with a few resets, all good so far.... after a little while the screen gets power but with no display and it loops on 8 beeps... not so good.

From here I tried:

Putting the graphics card back in and booting normally, 8 beep loop, no post.

Repeating the blind flash attempt with the graphics card in - no beeps, no post - seems to hang because it will not turn off by the button, only with pulling the plug, (left it 8 hours before I resorted to that)

If the BIOS update didn't increase performance I was looking to upgrade my graphics card. Does anyone know what else I can try to fix this, and also if I upgrade to a GTX675 will I just have the same BIOS problem?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, thanks guys.

 

Yes you will still have the bios problems if you switch the card, the 8 beeps is either your gpu or lcd, people have said it can be a problem with both I can't help you on which one, You have the same problem that I have when trying to blind flash with the graphics card in, Ill try in a little bit and see if I get the same 8 beeps, one question though, what files did you put on the clean usb, and what size stick were you using.

 

I got the AO9 BIOS file from dell, opened in Winrar and extracted the files to a seperate folder. I then opened PAR00MEC.FD with Pheonixtool which told me to rename to PAR00X64.FD which I did, I put this on a clean formatted SanDisk ultra backup 16gb usb stick and used this for the blind flash.

I believe it is the graphics card and not the LCD because the BIOS i was updating was to control the slowdown associated with temp readings.

 

ok, on the dell download site why does it have an option for an alienware bios/dell bios, one is a08 and one is a09, i'm assuming they just renamed it to dell bios but I'm just wondering why.

I called Dell about it, and the person ran through a couple of different tests, but they came to the conclussion on mine is that they have to replace the motherboard, this is the second time Ive had to do this, anyone know a certain rep I should talk to about getting maybe a gpu upgrade or something. I tried on mine and she entirely shut me down, first time was because of the s/p dif port.

 

I tried this but its the same as usual: black screen, no beep and didnt read the pendrive

 

I had that problem before, you need to take your GPU out.. and then try a blind flash, then put your GPU back in...

Op didn't mess with the integrated setting in bios so I think his card is playing up. Best bet is to call Dell asap.

 

IT WORKS WITH GPU OUT!!! THANKS A LOT!! I thougt i had to buy a new motherboard!!!!!!! THANKS THANKS A LOT TO ALL

 

Basically this started when I flashed the modded A08 bios and changed the BCLK Cpu setting to 100.0 Mhz. When I restarted the Computer instantly shut off. After some research I found out about blind flashing and I blind flashed the unmodded A08 Bios. Now I get 8 beeps consecutively after restarting computer. This is supposed to mean GPU or LCD screen. Well I found out you also have to try blind flashing with the 6990m GPU out. Did that as well, still 8 beeps. Also tried clearing CMOS, and then got five beeps. Then restarted and 8 beeps again. Then I Plugged in an external monitor, heres the funny part, The computer shows the raid screen on the external, but then 8 beeps again. None of this makes any sense as the computer was perfectly working just moments before the blind flash. The fact the RAID configuration screens shows means the critical parts such as cpu and gpu are working correctly. But still 8 beeps, Please Help.

EDIT. I also tried re-seating the lcd screen cable, and same thing happened, 8 beeps after RAID Screen.

 

Called Dell and got a GTX 540m delivered. Booted the laptop until I was back to the 8 beeps with no post so I knew it wasn't trying to update the BIOS from my attempts with the GPU removed. Changed over the heatsink to the new GPU, booted and it works fine. Problem solved. Basically the problem was the GPU BIOS being faulty after an attempted update and I couldn't manage to blind flash the GPU BIOS to repair it...

 

How can I get a another boot disk cd to restore my laptop to factory standard??

 

Recently I purchased a new motherboard for my alienware m17xr3, and it has done nothing but cause problems, I can't boot up, can't do anything but turn it on and listen to he beep codes. I was hoping flashing an updated bios would work, using this process I have done everything listed above, but when I go to start the flash (using the above mentioned process), the laptop powers up but shows a lack scren and does nothing but sits there, no beeps no nothing. I removed the GPU, but it does the same thing. How long should i let it sit for before giving uo? And any idea why its not working?

 

thank you so much, this worked perfectly for my M17x r3. i love you man. thought she was dead.

 

I read yo post, my m17x bricked, I was runing a BIOS update version A07, from Dell site, the machine hanged for about 10minutes, I tried to power It down, It failed. So, I remove the power pack, and then the battery. I put the battery back on It, I pressed the power button, nothing, put power pack on, tried nothing. I followed the instructions here, nothing, no sign of power flowing Into the m17x. please, what should I do, Cause It costed me $1800USD to purchase, and I have only used It for a month, taking to Dell for repair, wooh, It will cost me about $300+ to ship from Zambia. Please help me

 

I just bricked my modded BIOS by stupidly changing SG to PEG and now when I boot my m17x r3 it just makes a knock noise and tries to start again untill I shut it down.
Should I follow the same steps or do I have to do something differently?

 

remove your cmos battery and then hold power button for 30 secs make sure battery and power cable are out then you should be good to just boot normally. but if not you will need to blind flash