Studio 1555 Bios Update Crashes

Hi all,

This is my first post here. I've done a lot of searching and can't seem to find a solution.

I've got a Studio 1555 (still under warranty) which I want to upgrade the bios on. However, every time I download and run the bios update, the app will crash. I've tried this in both Windows 7 (x64) and Vista (x86) crashes in exactly the same way. I've tried running it normally and as administrator, same thing. I've tried flashing the latest A13 bios, A12 ... all the way back to A07 - I'm currently on A05.
This was an issue, so I called Dell and they used their remote program to try to update my bios with the same results. After a few hours they decided there was no reason to update the bios anyway. After much arguing I got them to come out and replace the motherboard ... exactly the same thing. I've reinstalled Windows and tried it again, same thing.

I've extracted the ROM file and tried to flash it with Phlash16 but that just hangs.

I've read a post on here that if you remove a sodimm that will fix the problem, I've tried that too, and nothing.

Can anyone think of anything else I can try? I'm really stuck as to what to do.

As for why I'm wanting to upgrade, I'm under the impression that the newer bios will allow me to install a Dell OEM windows without a key, which will be handy for me, as due to a logistic error, Dell never sent me my Windows 7 upgrade, so I'm stuck with a key for Vista.

Thanks in advanced.

 

hi, i have the same problem: update bios A06 to A13 on
studio 1555 and crashes after that.
I have write to Dell center support for a solution. they have answer.
I write you if they find a solution.
in any case GOOD LUCK!

 

Thanks for that. I'll wait for your update.
Meanwhile Dell has come and replaced the motherboard, but it still didn't work. So they installed a new Windows and tried it again, still nothing.
Right now they say they don't know why and will get back to me

 

hi, in my case the problem is my ghraphic board ATI radeon mobility HD 4570.
So i have deactivate the device in Control Panel - System - Device - video motherboard - deactivate. (sorry for my english).
After that Vista run correctly but if the drivers of video mother board are reinstalled i have again the crash problem!!!
I have tryed to repair the existing installation of Vista without results. same thing with Ati Catalist programm (downloaded fron the site ATI).

:/

probably in a short time i will try to install a new Vista on my PC.

if i find a solution i will write.

 

Have you tried the Windows version in Safe Mode?

This might not help but still worth a shot.

Also before you try it unplug the AC and remove the main battery open your back up (where the ram and hdd is at) and pull the motherboard battery for a minute and re install.
It may be a setting in the BIOS preventing the flash.I would check that too

 

I've installed every version of Windows and have tried every trick I could find and still nothing worked. A Dell technician came and replaced the motherboard (twice) and neither times helped. I've spent hours at a time with Dell on the phone and in the end they said, look you don't need to upgrade your bios and you don't need to install Quickset. This has been ongoing for over a year now.

I did find a post on Dell's forums that if you've got 2 x sticks of ram, you can take one out and that will work. I've got 2 x 2gb ram, and I took one out and it did not work for me. I've even swapped the ram around and that didn't work either. Until I found I had a spare 1gb stick lying around. Having ran out of options, I took both my 2gb ram out and put in the 1gb ram, and there it was. Bios updates fine, quickset installs fine. I've since put the 2 x 2gb ram back, and everything seems to be working. I've even ran the MS memory diagnostics for a day and it passed all the tests.

I have no idea why I'm having these issues with the ram, but at least I'm glad I've resolved them.