Need Urgent Help!

Hello, i got an Alienware in christmas present, and when i tryed to install the BIOS it froze on 1 / 70. I let it be for about 20 minutes, but then i gave up and tryed to restart the pc.
But it did not respond when i held down the Boot Button, so i took out the Battery.
Now my PC wont even start anymore!!!

Please help me with this!

 

I think you had a bad BIOS flash, Juggernawt. Somewhere in this forum I saw some posts about recovering from such, but I'm not sure where. Search this forum for things like "bad BIOS flash" or recovering from one. I'll do the same as much as I can. If that's truly what happened and it failed during the process, you (or an on-site tech) may need to open the machine.

 

F*ck me sideways up a hill!
My parents paid 5k euro for this pc! If they find out, they will kill me!

 

Here, try this:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/alienware/404987-how-recover-bad-bios-flash.html

 

I have not had such a problem myself, so I cannot attest to the quality of these instructions, but this would be at least a starting point. Don't freak out too much, because it can be fixed.

 

i cant even boot my PC? when i press the button, nothing happends

 

Please Help Me!

 

Yes, I understand that it does nothing, but the instructions initially describe getting the needed files loaded onto a USB, which you must do from your rescue machine. Then, proceed with the power-off procedures listed that require that USB memory to be in your Alien.

 

Also, sure that it's BIOS thats messed up? and not hardware? since it responds like theres no electricity

 

Again, I have not done this myself, so I cannot vouch for it, but I'll copy Axman's procedure here and perhaps try to make it a little more understandable. Here's what he wrote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ok, this just happened to me so here it goes

1. A usb thumb Drive is needed. It will work.

2. Bios From dells website. (It will be A09 you used.)

3. Extract all the files from the Dell bioes autoexe, make sure to close down winphlash when it tries to run. Dell autoruns this after you extract the files. (He is talking about what would be happening on your operating machine, not your Alien.)

4. look for a zip file called CRISDISK.RAR and extract all the files to your desktop or a folder.

Double click on the WINCRIS file that looks like a floppy diisk

It will autoinstall the ALL the files need to the USB Drive

(Now we move to the Alien...)

5. Remove the battery and disconnect the Power supply.

6. Place the USB drive into the Esata port (other ports may work)

7 Press and hold FN+B key at the same time and plug in the power. Turn on power and continue to HOLD DOWN the FN+B key until the HDD lights on the alien head illuminate and stay on. At this time the USB drive lights should start to Flash.

8. In about 5-10 mins your computer should restart. Make sure to go back into BIOS and setup raid and any other settings as they were lost with the BIOS crash.

-Thanks o Z's other writing on Phoniex bios flash that i was able to figure this out.

---------------------------------------------- End of his post

 

The BIOS is about the lowest-level software in the system and when it is messed up the machine can behave as if it has no power. So yes, if it acts like it's dead, and you have connected power and it's a brand-new machine that has only had a BIOS flash attempted (that did not complete) then it would have to be that.

 

where do i find CRISDISK.rar?

 

?????????????

 

I'm looking into it right now, but Dell's site is very slow....

 

I got about 3h to fix this, then my parents will see that i've already manage to wreak the PC and they will most likley sell it....
Thank you sooo mutch for helping me btw!

 

Also, if you want to, you could add my MSN so we can chat easier?
[email protected]

 

I have it unzipped and I'll look at what's here... And relax, because they won't sell it if it doesn't work.

 

They will just send it to Dell, they will repair it, then they'll sell it

 

I'm seeing if the A08 BIOS is available there, which may have the structure Axman describes. The .RAR file is not present in the A09, that's true, but an equivalent approach may work here. Hang on... And, no, your parents won't sell it, even after it's fixed. They will give it to YOU! They would only lose money selling it. I'm sure they aren't stupid.

 

ok, found that file yet? and is it really needed?

 

Hang on, I'm reading about the Phoenix BIOS utilities and perhaps recovering from a bad flash on other sites. I don't want to give you bad information...

 

Can't we continue this via MSN? It's mutch easier to chat over there

 

I don't have their chat client and cannot install it quickly. They load Silverlight and all kinds of other junk when you take it.

You might need to try Axman's procedure using the Fn keys to get powered up and maybe there is a boot option from the Windows CD. This might be sketchy but you will need power to get the disk to uptake in the load slot. You could try it (it can't hurt the system.)

 

Jugg do yourself a big favor right now and delete your post with your email. You can use PM instead of letting all the world know where to send spam.

 

i dont care really, that email has 5361 unreaded messages (All spam), can't get worse?

 

Will try, sec....

 

FN+B=Nothing

 

I have looked for the A08 BIOS and it seems they don't post it, unfortunately. I doubt you can use Axman's procedure as he describes it. I can tell you that the .ROM file you are probably seeing with everything unzipped is the actual BIOS file. Hang on a moment, I have an idea...

 

waitwaitwait...i cant even boot using FN+B? How the hell am i supposed to do anything?

 

There is an HTML file called WinPhlash64.chm that has a lot of information in it about the BIOS, and I have scanned it somewhat. The .ROM file is not a zipped archive in the sense that a .RAR file is, and standard archive zipping utilities don't work with it like they will a .RAR file. I'm beginning to doubt I can help to pull you out of this situation, Jugg. I suspect the box will need to be opened and a jumper installed on the BIOS chip before anything further can be done. I think you will need to call their tech support, or at least start thinking in that direction.

 

Is it free? or will i get an bill on 5000 Swedish Kronor?

 

The file CRISDISK is in the BIOS version A05 and not in the newer ones.
You can try the steps if you like.
This is what I would do: calm down. Call DELL and tell them what happened. They will have you do a bunch of tests and finally will assign you a case number to have the motherboard replaced. Your BIOS is bricked (not dead). You can do all you want but what will ultimately end up is having the motherboard replaced. There is no backup nor safe procedure to restore it at an average user's home.
Like I said: calm down. Enjoy the holiday. I know this is harder to do than say but there's nothing else you can do. Take the time and call DELL to get the case going. Tell your parents this happens more often than not and I am the living proof (twice actually). You can search the forums and there are more incidents like this but not one (with the M17XR2) is fixed without replacing the motherboard. I have talked to a few Alienware specialists and they all gave me the same answer: replace the motherboard.

Again, call DELL to have the motherboard replaced, tell your parents this is not normal but happens more often than thought and try to enjoy the holidays.

 

I'm thinking that without the loader that applies the image file (the .ROM file) to the BIOS chip, you won't be able to get flashed and probably you can't boot either. If you can't use any procedure to get power to any part of the system, then you would not be able to boot from any device, even if it had the correct image on it for booting. I think we can get you the correct image file, but I suspect the bad BIOS flash has essentially "bricked" the box for the moment, Jugg. I think I would call AW tech support and see what they say. The time required to get a fix may not be as bad as you might think.

 

The problem is: I bought it from a guy, not dell, so i dont think i have guarantee...

 

just relax dude, noone died it will be fixed, call Dell, if they wont take it cuz its holiday just let be, call after the holiday, enjoy the holiday right now.

seriously dude, dont get so upset about something like this. there are many more important things in life than this.

EDIT:
check your warranty status here
http://support.dell.com/support/top...stems_info/details?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=anavml

just enter the service tag and check it

 

nopp, not for me.
I'm a 15 year old WoW Geek, 's more important then a broken Alienware to me -.-

 

i'll pay someone here 30 euro to fix it

 

If this machine is worth 5K in either USD, GBP, or EUROs, then it certainly has some kind of next-business-day support.

Are you worried about your parents getting angry or not being able to game for a few days? Because if it's the former, simply declare that it isn't your fault.

Bios flashing can go wrong without user intervention, and in this case, it should be covered under your warranty with Dell. If you have a running Home User warranty for Next Business Day support, then call up their help line on Monday and tell them that the system bricked after you tried to flash the latest bios. It's their problem from that point forward.

 

check your warranty status here
http://support.dell.com/support/top...stems_info/details?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~ck=anavml

just enter the service tag and check it

 

Jugg, it's just another machine, your life will see MANY, and this one will get fixed just like all the others. I have never played WOW in my life (I couldn't even tell you what it looks like), and I guarantee you will survive without it.

Could you maybe just go outside and do like I used to and maybe light something on fire or blow something up? Just kidding, but I truly did used to do a lot of that stuff before all these video games came on the scene.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help though, Jugg. You'll get it sorted out, but you will need some human help.

 

Ahhh, the good old days.....

Just dont blow up or set fire to your lappy, its not dead, just dormant ....do as the others say and get on the phone....Dell have the power, they WILL rebuild it for you....

 

Thank's for the advice.
This upset my parents so they started to fight, and now my dad just left the house...

 

Was it the dormant computer or the burning down of the neighbor's house that set them off?

 

Ah, good times. I remember burning so many things. . . certain holy books. . . hence the fatwa. Even managed to set myself on fire.

You guys are an okay bunch. If you ever wanna' hang out for a beer or a bottle of scotch, followed by the typical old-man's ritual of burning stuff, then you know where I can be found.

Seriously? It wasn't your fault. Bios flashes can go bad. You should have warranty to cover this matter. It is trivial and Dell support would happily deal with the matter in a matter of a few days.

 

Yeah Kade, I once had a bunch of black powder on a burning sheet of paper go off when the wind blew the flame the wrong direction, and I got second-degree burns on one side of my face and eyebrows and eyelashes singed off. Great stuff! It didn't teach me any lesson other than how NOT to ignite it, and I was back at it within two weeks, though with less hair than I had previously. And the gasoline I would pour on my shoes and ignite while I would run around the backyard was really cool too! I looked like a real version of the God Mercury, except I think he had wings on his feet, whereas I had big orange flames. You should have seen my pipe bombs! Talk about the good old times! Ah, what I wouldn't give to throw all my responsibilities out the window and go back to the days of blowing 4 feet of bark off the side of a big pine tree with a 5-pound galvanized steel pipe bomb detonated at the stump base!

And Jugg, your BIOS flash could have gone bad due to a power spike, or bumping the table because the power plug on these machines is really way too weak and loose. They really should upgrade the plug to a tighter and stronger one. It isn't your fault because you certainly had it going correctly to get to your "1/70" indicator. Your parents will get over it, and I think you'll be operating again soon.

 

Count me in.....booze and arson go together like Ginger and Fred....

Ahhhh...reminds me of the time when i had some spare weapons grade plutonium lying around in the garage......cleared the whole forest in no time....