Resetting Dell Latitude Bios

I am trying to fix a dell latitude prototype that my brother got as a hand me down. However when i try to boot up windows xp, i get this message. "WARNING: The battery cannot be identified. This system will be unable to charge this battery. So the only assumption that I can make is that the bios are wrong on this laptop. is there a way to either reset them or do a rollback? I have already disconnected the motherboard battery for 5 minutes and still nothing. Someone HELP!!!

 

Can’t you get in to the BIOS by pressing F2 at the _DELL splash screen ? You can reset it inside the BIOS itself.

I don’t think the problem is with the BIOS. Maybe the battery is damaged or there is something wrong with notebook’s power circuit. Try booting it without the battery and plug it in while the notebook is ON.

 

For one, if it really is a prototype that means it was probably stolen from Dell. Might want to check into that.

For two, if it is a prototype or not and you are getting that message...chances are you either have a non-Dell battery or a bad battery or the wrong battery entirely. The BIOS is functioning properly...it is protecting the laptop.

 

As greg said, it doesn't sound like anything is wrong with the laptop, but that there is something wrong with the battery.

Can you clarify what you mean by prototype? And what kind of laptop is it?

 

Have you replaced the coin battery or checked the power on the board?

The other suggestion would be what PhoenixFx suggested and try booting while it is plugged in without the battery.

If the Bios is wrong, you still would have to be able to boot the laptop to flash the Bios.

 

Perhaps the OP's brother works for Dell or it's an old prototype since it's a hand me down.

 

Ok once I am in the Bios where am i able to flash the bios or reset them I cannot find the command for this? The laptop works fine is the battery is not plugged in and its just hooked up to the adapter. also after talking to my brother he has informed that the battery did work fine until the bios were updated with a newer version.

 

Download the Bios, whichever version that you need, and then flash it from using the executable file that you downloaded by either clicking the file or command line execution.

You do not do it in the Bios.

 

Ok I have downloaded the bios and when I go to install them i get the message I need to have my battery above 10% power, because as I have said before the battery will not charge with the current bios. Is there any other way to bypass this?

 

Here is the fix.

Install the laptop battery, then unplug the Motherboard battery, press the power button and hold it for several second, close the machine and put back the motherboard battery. It should solve the issue. I remember that when I got my motherboard changed, i got this issue, and the technician called Dell to see how to fix it and see he did that.. or something like that. But he definitely remove and put back the same motherboard (CMOS) battery.

 

I tried putting in the laptop battery and unplugging the motherboard battery and still didn't work. So I am back to square one.

 

ill buy it from you for cheap :_)

 

Ok goodbyes I tried exactly what you said and it still didn't work. So yeah i am back at square one.

 

I am wondering if this will also work for a dell inspiron. I had an issue with the motherboard, had it resoldered but the tech ruined my ac adaptor. I purchased a new adaptor but the battery is not recognized.

I have to put the battery in to turn it on then after it is on I have to remove the battery to keep it running. this is truly insane...the bios that dell put on my cpu and the tech only open a little black window. nothing happens and I have a ton of desktop icons from it.

I have purchased a new battery. the cost of repair has surpassed the price of the laptop but I don't want to lose what's on here. I'm going to try what was posted by goodbytes. if anyone else has a suggestion please let me know!!!! thanks so much!

 

Contact Dell to know how to do this. I know I had this issue when I got my motherboard and the tech guy called Dell for assistance and that is what I remembered what he did.

 

Sorry for sounding mean, but it's for your own good. You can find many book on computers. I suggest you get started on reading, because you sound like a fool. :/
Basically what you said made just as much sense as: Elephants are blue because my toaster is broken, the tech guy open a window and now my car doesn't startup. I am not kidding or exaggerating here

 

Why don't you help him understand all this, rather than just bash him. Okay?

 

I thought I had... I mean I put it on the post as edit, and posted and then teh site failed to load, I refreshed and loaded the page. I however, did not check my post. I guess it was lost.

Anyway, here I go again.

The AC adapter (also called PSU (Power Supply Unit) is the block with 2 wires on each side that allows to convert power and send the needed power to the laptop to make it function.
Changing the motherboard does not cause a A/C adapter to brake down. What probably happen is that the PSU was attached directly to the wall without any surged protected power adapter, so a high power level and blew the fuse the fuse of the PSU. You are lucky that the the hole laptop did not brake down.

Dell covers all damaged done by Dell technician (If you decide to go with someone else because you are out of warranty, then yea it is normal, well he IS Supposed to cover the damage done. I would have prosecute him under the maximum extend of the law if he did not pay up). The battery not being recognized is due to the motherboard switch. If it was done with Dell technician then the problem would not be there, as they would fix the problem. Anyway, contact Dell technical support and ask them on fixing the problem. It's fixable!

BIOS is a system that detects the boot section and execute the boot system, which then execute Windows. One component of the BIOS, (the CMOS) is the part that stores and loads settings set by the manufacture, and some setting that you can change. This however, is also commonly called BIOS. You used the term correctly, but i just wanted to be sure you understand.

CPU mean Central Processing Unit. It is the main processor of your system. In reality almost each computer component has a processor. However, these processor makes the device function, and give NOTHING to the end-user (you). We refer the main processor as CPU, as this is one that preforms all the major calculation to make what you, the Operating System (ie:Windows) and your software ask what they want, and basically makes the all the magic for you to have a computer that works.

You mean panel, as the area inside is small.

That is normal... if you say he JUST open a panel... that yea.. nothing happens. He didn't do anything to the hardware, based on what you are saying. My guess, is that he wanted to access the CMOS battery to remove it and reattach it which will lead to the reset of BIOS level settings, in the hope that the system detects the system battery.

Note:
The CMOS battery is a watch size battery, that is being in used when the system is turn off to keep the CMOS settings in memory, and keeps the system clock "ticking". Some knowledge just for you: this battery is VERY VERY rare that it needs to be replaced on a system, even after 5 years.

Desktop icons are from you. It's your computer, your system desktop. It's all your stuff. The BIOS, CMOS, CMOS battery, and system battery has NOTHING... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with your files stored on your computer. If you don't remember them, then either it's an accumulation of all your icons that your deleted on the desktop over the years, were you never emptied the recycle bin, and then suddenly said to Windows to restore all my deleted things since ever (as you never emptied the recycle bin of Windows). Or you should see a specialist because you have a memory problem.

If you used Dell tech support it would have be done in minutes.

Also, I did not provide a direct solution.. I just followed what happen to me several weeks ago.. well now months, and now I completely forgot). CONTACT DELL!
If your laptop is under warranty form Dell, all this would have ended free, and you would not have the big mess.

If you got this laptop form a store and paid an Extended warranty, than I have teh sad news that:
1- You probably paid more then what Dell has to offer.
2- It's not done with a Dell technician, where they know their stuff, if not will find out.
3- Every damage, even scratches done by the Dell technician is covered by Dell.

If you ARE under Dell warranty and decided to NOT use Dell technicians, then you voided the warranty completely.