Cannot Load OS after A01 BIOS Update (M17x)

OK, so I have my new M17x for 2 days and was looking to see if any new drivers were out and noticed a new BIOS update (A01, I believe). I downloaded this last night, and thought I was only unpackaging the file, but it then proceeded to automatically install and restart my computer.

After the restart, I can no longer boot up. I get something like a "No OS Found" error.

I have to work all day, so can't call into tech support just yet. Any info for me to fix this when I get home later?

Some Specs:
Alienware M17x
Old BIOS: A00
New BIOS: A01
HDD is a RAID 0: 500GB x2 [ I think this is the problem, not loading the RAID]
OS: Windows Vista HP 64bit

Thanks!

 

go back into the bios and make sure you have the hdd's set to raid. if there is no raid option set it to achi. also make sure that the hdd (or raid array) is actually listed in the boot sequence... i may have bumped the hdd out of the boot sequence and this no os will be found... let me know if i can help..

remember when updating the bios you will be resetting this back to default settings and thus you have to go back in a reset the settings

 

yer agrred during the update of the bios, most likeily all the changes have been set to deafult, so your drive setting problery now is non raid

this happens when I upgrade the bios on my rampage 2

so I expect the same thing to happen here

 

Yes, RAID resets on update, so you'll have to set the HDD to raid and NVRaid to whatever function you had it set to originally.

 

Yup, is true.

I forget exactly which setting it was, but when poking into the BIOS, there is an option for enabling/disabling RAID.

Thanks!

 

no problem

 

"kevinthegenius"


FAIL

 

That's not nice...although this solution has been posted a half a dozen time now.

 

True, and true again... But not in this same scenario, after a BIOS flash (which is having the same result on the BIOS as the overclocking problem and removing the battery) which indeed is posted several times and is actualy the same problem.

But I guess when searching, this solution does not appear in combination with BIOS flash. I can imagine people are cautious about this and are worried if something is wrong after a BIOS flash.

 

hey mandrake the x9100 processor is compatible with m17x?

 

no he put it in there for looks

 

LOL

10 char

 

Yeah no problems.

 

Can we just make a Sticky "If your OS does not load and you have a RAID setup:"

 

Good idea i have the same problem t9800 2x 320 gb raid 0

with old bios no flashing bios a00

 

I was on vacation for two weeks so i missed the discussion
what is the the the exact setting for raid0 ,especially the
nvraid settings thx in advance

 

um set it to Raid ?

 

Not working i mean the nvraid settings

 

enable the HDs ands raid in BIOS

 

i can only make changes in the advanced tab and not in the Main tab

 

when you enable raid there is another sub menu right under it

 

yep and thats is the question the settings for nv raid
sata port 0:
sata port 3:
i tryed every option

on the phone with dell on this moment
they never heard of a m17x alienware m17x
this gonne be a long call

 

enable them ?

they are your HD's?

 

blank cursor upper screen nothing works sorry
after 2 min missing os

edit

Dell technician is comes to my house tomorrow , cd stuck in machine
I think its booting from cd (alienware resource cd)

 

try enableing only 1 ?


i can't help you much i HATE raid

 

Last night mine crashed 3 times in a row, I then tied to load acronis boot disk and restore, it would not load. So after many attempts, I booted from the vista disk, it took about 30min before it started loading files. Finally I was able to format and reinstall, as soon as I got back in windows I flashed back to A00 and then Acronis worked like it should and I was able to reload my last image. For now I will stick with A00.

 

LOL! I've used that name forever, it's self deprecating in reference to a life-long history of a pathologic lack of common sense

 

hey I have THE SAME PROBLEM! after updating BIOS on my m17x i have the missing os problem and the hard drive in which the os is loaded is NOT being recognized!
please tell me you have solved the problem =( i have lots of data there including university docs =( please help me, dell support SUCKS!

 

There is nothing wrong with Dell support. Please conduct a bit of research before making such statements. Guessing (since you did not post your system specs), you have a RAID Array. Try this:

http://4help.alienware.com/cgi-bin/alienware.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=6067

 

Mine No os problem was alienware cd stuck in drive (duh) , have a new drive and cd now.