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    Inspiron 1501--will not boot up or go into BIOS

    Discussion in 'Dell' started by IronHorseDriver, Jan 22, 2011.

  1. IronHorseDriver

    IronHorseDriver Newbie

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    Hello,

    I recently got a Dell Inspiron 1501. It will not boot up or go into BIOS. If I press F2, I will only get a message at the bottom saying "Entering Setup", and the red progress bar will go only halfway. I removed the BIOS battery, waited 30 seconds, then replaced it.

    Any suggestions? I have a replacement motherboard but if there is some way to flash the BIOS in the condition it is in perhaps that will work.

    Thanks in advance for suggestions.
     
  2. Tsunade_Hime

    Tsunade_Hime such bacon. wow

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    Have you;

    - With AC adapter and battery removed, held down the power button for 30 seconds

    - Reseatted the RAM/HDD

    - Test with known good RAM.

    Sometimes a bad stick of RAM will cause BIOS issues. Unfortunately Dell BIOS are executable files that are run in Windows. If you can't get to Windows you can't flash the BIOS.
     
  3. MoInSTL

    MoInSTL Notebook Consultant

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    You can update the BIOS in DOS. Crazy long URL.
    Drivers and Downloads

    I would enter your service tag to make sure it is the correct BIOS.

    Dell Inspiron 1501 System BIOS

    Run the BIOS update utility from DOS environment (Non-Windows users)


    NOTE: You will need to provide a bootable DOS diskette. This executable file does not create the DOS system files.

    Copy the file Win1501170.exe to a bootable floppy.

    Boot from the floppy to the DOS prompt.

    Run the file by typing Y:\Win1501170.exe (where y is the drive letter where the executable is located).

    If you don't have a floppy try CD or flash drive.