How To: Recover the M11x from a BAD BIOS Flash

NO NEED... Why? Cause I fixed it!!!

If you brick your M11xR1 with a BIOS update, you will need a couple things and do a few easy[ish] steps to recover the BIOS. Also note that this will work on other computers with a modern Phoenix BIOS, but you need your specific BIOS image and the key combonation to enter crisis recovery may be different (I've read of FN+B, WIN+B, FN+ESC, FN+F on bootup).

To know if your M11x is bricked, it will turn on and all the cool guy LEDs will breifly flash and the keyboard will remain lit and doing whatever you had it set to last... However, there will not be any video or HDD activity. The fans will operate if you leave it on for a long time, and the power button LEDs know if the computer is on AC, Battery, or charging. No boot, no POST, no beeps, nothing.

If your M11x does anything other than that (i.e. you see stuff on the screen), the BIOS is most likely NOT bricked, and you will need to follow another guide.

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Big Daddy Kane's Guide To BIOS Crisis Recovery:
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What you need:

• Another laptop running 32 bit Windows with Internet Access
• 2GB or smaller USB Drive
• #1 Phillips (cross head) screwdriver

Why you need them:

• Obviously since your laptop is bricked, you need another! The deal with the 32 bit is twofold... first is that unless you can get into the BIOS package to extract the image, you will need to RUN the BIOS package, and there's a chance that it might screw up a 64 bit system. On a 32 bit system, the program fails to run, but still extracts the files. The second reason is that a 64 bit system could screw with the program that formats the USB drive.
• You need a 2GB or less USB drive because the WINCRIS program will not work on anything over that because it formats the USB drive as FAT16... and NO, you can't just format it as FAT yourself, I tried on a 4GB, and it didn't work.
• You need the screwdriver to open the case to disconnect the battery... YES you need to do it!

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STEP ONE:
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Download all the files you need on the working computer (save them all to an easy to get to location):

Get an M11x BIOS update package (You can get it from Dell.com or search Google in case these links become dead):

• A01: ftp://ftp.us.dell.com/bios/M11R1A01 for 64 bit Windows 7.exe
• A03: ftp://ftp.dell.com/bios/M11xR1A03.exe
• A05: ftp://ftp.dell.com/bios/M11xR1A05.exe

Get the following files, which are available from another laptop's crisis recovery package Like This One, or search Google to find them:

• WINCRIS.EXE
• MINIDOS.SYS
• PHLASH16.EXE

Why you need them:

• Duh... you need the BIOS image, and this is the easiest/safest way to get it! I used A01, and it worked on the first try after I got the proper flash drive! If you're following this hoping to recover another laptop, you need to search Google for your own computer's BIOS package. Of course, you can just find the BIOS.ROM file somewhere, but I would play it safe and get it straight from Dell (or your manufacturer).
• WINCRIS.exe is the program that formats and copies the files onto the USB drive in a format that the crisis recovery part of the BIOS can read.
• MINIDOS.sys is actually a very small version of DOS, which the BIOS needs to run the phlash16.exe program.
• PHLASH16.exe is the program that will overwrite the BIOS when you boot into the recovery mode.
• NOTE: I have heard on certain laptops, they need a SPECIFIC version of Phlash16.exe... I don't see why, but just noted since I came across that. The M11xR1 will work with the version in the Studio XPS 16 package I linked above.

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STEP TWO:
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You need to get the BIOS image out of the update package.

• Run the M11x BIOS update package just like you did when you bricked your laptop
• WinPhlash64 will "fail to load the driver", which is exactly what you want it to do.
• Navigate to the location the WinPhlash program extracted the files (my location: C:\windows\temp\WINPHLASH\)
• Copy the "BIOS.ROM" file and paste it where you downloaded all the other files.
• Rename the file to "BIOS.WPH"

What is going on?

• Unless you can figure out a way to extract the files out of the update package, you're gonna need to run it. If you're on a 32 bit version of Windows, it will fail to run. Be aware that if you're using this for another laptop, the M11x ONLY comes with 64 bit Windows 7, so if your system comes with a 32 bit version of Windows, you will need to be careful since the stupid update package automatically runs the program, which if it doesn't properly check versions first, could brick your other computer. I did hear that 7zip is able to extract the files, but Winrar/Winzip WILL NOT extract them.
• You need to rename the file, because the PHLASH16 program needs it to be .wph for some reason.

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STEP THREE:
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You need to extract the WINCRIS/MINIDOS/PHLASH16 files out of the recovery package:

• Go to where you downloaded the Studio XPS 16 recovery package (or whatever you used).
• Extract it to a folder that IS NOT the same as where your BIOS.WPH file is at.
• Copy the following files out of there:
  • WINCRIS.exe
  • MINIDOS.sys
  • PHLASH16.exe
• Paste those into the folder that contains YOUR BIOS.WPH file.

What is going on?

• You need those files to create the recovery drive... It doesn't matter how you get them, individually or bundled in an update package.
• The reason you should extract those files to a different folder than where your BIOS.WPH file resides is because it contains another one for a different laptop, and will overwrite yours, which means you'll have to go back and do Step Two again.
• You need to copy those three files to the same folder where your BIOS.WPH file is because the WINCRIS.exe program will use them to create the recovery drive.

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STEP FOUR:
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Prepare the USB BIOS Recovery Drive:

• Plug in your 2GB or less USB drive and backup your files on it
• Run the WINCRIS.EXE program from the location that contains the other three files (MINIDOS.sys/PHLASH16.exe/BIOS.wph)
• It will automatically find your USB drive in the drop down list... Run the program and your USB BIOS Recovery Drive is ready!

What's happening:

• You don't have to backup your files... It's your stuff, if you want it, you'll back it up. If not, you're gonna lose it!
• The WINCRIS program is what formats the USB drive and the three files into a format the recovery section of the BIOS can read.
• If your USB drive isn't automatically found, then it's either too big, or it's a weird one that isn't supported. Try another one that is less than 2GB. I used a 256KB USB stick.

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STEP FIVE:
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Prepare the laptop:

• NOTE: Use some sort of anti-static device so you don't fry something in your laptop. If you do fry something, there's a chance Dell won't warranty it.
• Remove the bottom of the laptop
• Unplug the battery from the motherboard

Huh?

• If you fry it, don't blame me! I warned you! if you don't know a CPU from a GPU or Northbridge from a Southbridge, then I'd get a buddy to do it just to be sure you don't screw something up!
• The M11x's battery is the non-removable type, so you have to take the bottom of the case off and unplug the connector. If you're using this guide for a different laptop, simply remove your battery.
• YES, this is REQUIRED... the computer needs ALL power removed...

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STEP SIX:
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RECOVER YOUR BIOS!!!!!!!!!!!!

• With all power removed (battery AND A/C), plug in your USB drive to the M11x
• HOLD the "END" button (above the right arrow key) WHILE you plug in the A/C cord
• The M11x will turn on without you even hitting the power button. This is the recovery mode. Release the END key.
• There will be ONE beep, and the power button LEDs will cycle like it's charging the battery.
• You will notice the USB Drive light start flashing, and the M11x will beep like crazy for a couple minutes.
• The M11x will AUTOMATICALLY reboot when it's done...
• When it boots, you will see the Alien logo and bam! You're back in business!

What is going on:

• The key combo to activate the Phoenix Crisis Recovery on the M11x is simply pressing the "END" key while plugging in the A/C cord. Other laptops may use the FN+B, WIN+B, FN+ESC, FN+F, and so on... Search Google for your specific model.
• I couldn't figure out any pattern to the beeps, so I'm thinking it's letting you know it's writing to the BIOS. I've read on other computers, a sequence of flashing LEDs happens when it's doing it's thing.
• You're done, yo!

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TROUBLESHOOTING:
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1. Nothing happens when I run the WINCRIS program!

• Your USB drive is either too large (only 2GB or less is supported) or not supported in some other way. Try another. This should also work off a USB Hard Drive, but I can't confirm that.

2. Nothing happens when I boot into the recovery mode!

• If you booted and there are NO beeps after the initial single beep, it has something to do with your flash drive. Every time I tried something with my 4GB drive, I never got any beeps, which made me think it was working, but it didn't do anything. Try another flash drive that is LESS than 2GB. I used a 256KB, and it worked great.
• If you booted and it just keeps repeating the 1 long 2 short beeps (BEEEEEEEP BEEP BEEP, etc.), then something is wrong with either the flash drive being read (watch it when you boot the laptop, if it flashes once, then the BIOS can access it... if not, then get another drive or check your connections), or the files on the drive. Maybe start from Step One again and make sure you're using the correct BIOS image and the files are all correct.
• If all else fails, include ALL of the files from the BIOS recovery package just to be safe.

3. Anything else happens!

• I have no idea because my problems were related into getting into the recovery mode, too large of a USB drive, and trial and error from following steps for other laptops, some which want a USB drive that would boot into DOS if you put it in a working computer. Our M11x DOES NOT and wants the special boot drive made with the WINCRIS program.

................This should work on any modern Phoenix BIOS. It's apparently easier with an AMI or whatever weird BIOS the Asus netbooks use, just put the BIOS image on the flash drive and turn it on... it will apparently load it automatically. However, search Google for recovery of another laptop with the same BIOS manufacturer as yours if you can't find specific information (like what happend to me). It's all trial and error, and hey, you can't make it any worse than it currently is if you really did brick your BIOS!!!

Sorry I don't have pictures, I didn't even think of doing screenshots while going through the process, and I'm not going to do it again!

I really only made this post to follow up on my own problem with the M11x specific info, and figured I would turn it into a guide to help anyone else having this problem. If I was in the US, I probably would have just sent it back to Dell, but I've still got a month left in Afghanistan, so it's not quite an easy option, and I didn't want to give up my entertainment device. Without it, I would probably go stir crazy since it's groundhog's day every day for my mission

Sources:

• Umm... Google.
• Practically every website that contains info about Phoenix BIOS recovery!
• This is a good, simple guide
• Another short, but good guide
• For a Fujitsu, but shows a pic of the WINCRIS program correctly detecting the USB drive

...Still doesn't fix my hinge problem, but that's superficial compared to being bricked

 

yay! good post.

 

BDK - Well written guide! +rep

 

Big Daddy Kane, glad to hear you got it fixed and your guide is well written. +Rep for that.

I just returned from Iraq and am going to get my screen replaced soon. I was in the same boat as you. Couldn't send back for a warranty replacement for the screen since I only had a few months left in theater. My hinge totally blew out a few months ago. Screen lays flat, and the hinge isn't even attached to the screen. Hope your screen lasts long enough. And stay safe out there and get home safe.

Also, Welcome to the forum, hope to see you around more.