Problem with XPS 1640 and A11 BIOS, computer doesn't boot anymore!

Hello, I'm new here and sadly my first post is a very deppresing one.

I've attempted updating my XPS 1640 BIOS to A11 in my notebook.

It hanged up at the half of it (it said "Erasing block 16 of 32") and after waiting for 1 hour, I restarted the computer...

Now it doesn't start up, when I press the power button, the 3 volume keys start to blink for some seconds, then the keyboard light turns on, and the computer turns off after a couple of seconds.

Does anyone know if there's something to do here?

Thanks a lot!

 

Call dell get a new Mobo... soemone else did had this issue here is the link to that http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=429281

 

I figured I would have to do something like that. Dammit, I'm pretty sure I'll have to wait for at least a month to get it fixed... I'm in Argentina, so they'll take a long time to send it to the US, repair it and send it back here. Damn .

Thanks for the tip though .

 

Problem solved. Contacted Dell through Chat support, got my mother switched to a new one in 2 days. Amazing tech support!!!

 

Lol they swapped your mother away ?!

 

Ya I'm the other 1 with this problem. Stupid Dell ... My laptop is still not functional because my old heatsink doesn't fit the new mobo, and Dell is taking its sweet time with Purolator to send me my heatsink.

I had the exact same symptoms as OP lol, and lesson learned, I'm NEVER updating my BIOS again until at least a few people have installed it successfully.

 

My recomendation: Fresh start your computer, stop EVERY service that is running in your computer, stop antivirus software, disable WiFi, disconnect your ethernet, close MSN, Skype and other software that auto-starts when Windows start. After doing that, go ahead, start flashing and praying.

After the technician swapped the motherboards (it took about 75 minutes, it's a long work), we restarted the computer and installed it the way I just mentioned, and it worked (the new mother came with A07 BIOS, very old!).

BTW, the technician accidentally scratched my screen So my new screen is already ordered and should come home in about 5 working days.

 

How do you stop every service? You mean boot into Safe Mode? services.msc has like 200 services listed lol, I'd spend an entire day disabling it all and then re-enabling.

But you are right. Last Friday (when it happened), my laptop was on for like a week, I had a ton of stuff running, and I went to cook while it was flashing. Stupid me. Stuck on block 16 of 32, I was so pissed.

 

Booting into safe mode sounds as a possibility, I haven't tested if you can flash the Bios in Safe Mode.

I did the same thing, I flashed it without a fresh start (silly me, as if it was my first flash... I've been flashing many different components for at least 10 years, and it's ALWAYS recommended to do this). The thing is I was about to install all the new Win7 drivers, and I said "well, I also have the BIOS, let's flash it first". Then... 16/32

About the services, I stop MY services, I don't stop Windows services, but I stop IIS, SQL Server, Biztalk, etc. (I'm a developer, so I have about 20 services that support my daily work).

 

Oh OK that's what you meant. Ya I'll remember to, and I'll try flashing when the tech is here. What site did you download the BIOS from? I don't think the Canadian site is very reliable.

 

Your mother got swapped out and your new mother is very old? Sorry I just had to. It's a motherboard... not mother.

 

You don't have to stop 1 by 1. Just type msconfig in the search taskbar, then in the services tab, tick Hide Microsoft services. And then you disable all services. There you go.

 

Did you have to disable services? Just because I've never had to before when upgrading BIOSes.

 

I didn't stop any services, didn't stop my virus protection, didn't do anything.
It just flashed fine and started up. Go figure.

 

OH MY GOD!!! I am having the same freaking problem. The installation (bios) hangs and then the whole thing hangs. So, I unplugged the battery and BAM! nothing shows up anymore. The computer doesnt even show up the BIOS welcome screen when I boot it up. I then removed the BIOS battery to reset it back to factory mode, but no luck. So I talked to tech support and I am getting my motherboard replaced in 2-3 more days......keepin' my fingaz crossed!!

 

You'd think that Dell would design the board with a removable BIOS chip... It would make these things so much easier. You shouldn't need to replace the entire board, it's such a waste in materials it isn't even funny.

 

My life truly sucks. Just tried updating BIOS again and it failed AGAIN. Dell is sending a new system now, should be here in "7 business days".

 

No kidding, I didn't know it was motherboard!! I always thought it was my mom ...

It's a shorter form to call it...

 

I'm so sad for you Fred


Ask them to send the mother already updated to A11.

 

Ya, the rep promised that much. If not, I'll just wait for A12 and update it then. Thanks!

 

How does your life suck when you're receiving a new system? I wonder....

 

Because

1) I will have gone 3 weeks with no computer, something I didn't pay $2700 for
2) The system is exactly the same as what I have now, and if Dell learned to make a BIOS that worked, this problem would not exist

Basically 3 weeks and a LOT of headache-filled phone calls to Dell and Purolator that could've been avoided if Dell just made a working BIOS.

 

This is just flat out stupid. Why don't they make the BIOS accessible and reset-able. You know, usually you can just take the BIOS battery out and it is reset to factory setting.....In this case, we have to replace the whole motherboard...what a waste of time. Anyways, I do feel sorry for you.

p/s: nice configs

 

Thanks.

I tried taking CMOS battery out with my 1st failure, no success. Some mobos have the BIOS chip removable, so you just replace the chip, not the entire frigging mobo. If I were out of warranty and I tried this I would be screwed.

 

how long is your warranty coverage? Mine is 2 years(+complete care) and it started from feb 22nd, 2009 LOL

 

No you can not just reset the BIOS if your flash goes wrong. If the flash fails or is stopped for any reason your hosed. Period.

 

Mine's the default 1-year manufacturer's warranty. Didn't know it included free replacement on 2nd time, so that's a +

 

Looks like I have something to look forward to: Dell is giving me a laptop with Core i7 on it!

 

Aw damn, i spit coffee out my nose on that one!

I'd say that's damned fine customer service and I am happy for you that you could get the resolution. You made out better than I as I made a fatal mistae yesterday and downloaded a "trusted" program for cleaning the registry...oh yeah, it cleaned it alright, I rebooted and my registry went byebyes. The good thing was that after reinstalling 7, my machine ran faster without all the Dell bloatware.

 

That's good and bad Fred.
They aren't shipping them yet as I'm sure you know, and no one knows why.
You might be adding a few more weeks on...

 

If those of you who have been around since personal computing became the norm, BIOS chips have always either been replaceable and/or flasheable. Flashing the BIOS means that you are writing over data but the BIOS chips are not equipped to erase their own data like flash drives/cards. Unfortunately it IS a one-way process and i would tend to agree that if they can make flash drives and cards with the capability of reading writing and erasing of data, that the BIOS should follow suit. Replaceability of the BIOS chip would also be a plus, but all in all we are stuck with what we have and when it comes to DIY BIOS updates, there are plenty of warnings so if this sort of thing makes you queezy, then investigate other options of having it done. Even though my BIOS update worked without fail, I still got nervous as my fan sped up to it's highest setting as if the damned thing was going to explode! lol

 

My fan went full blast during the entire bios install as well, but it was uneventful.