Completely Hosed Machine....can this be saved?

lister · 02 Jan 2011

A laptop I have will power on, but thats all. The BIOS is kaput, nothing, wont even show the manufacturers name or brand, (which is DELL).

I am thinking that I could "flash the BIOS" but Im not sure how feasible that really is. In fact - has anyone reading this actually done that?

My questions is therefore - aside from using cardioverter-defibrillators, (the two electrical charges that you see doctors using in the movies to resucitate patients) - is there anything I can do?

I recently took out the RAM and placed it back in - if this is dislodged would that have affected this complete denial of starting up?

Thanks.

fireberd · 02 Jan 2011

On a Dell, if the BIOS is corrupted the ONLY option is to replace the motherboard.

theog · 02 Jan 2011

If you have dislodged the RAM, the BIOS will not boot.

lister · 02 Jan 2011

ok thanks for that....

I guesss first thing is to check the RAM but it seems to loose....there are clips but they dont seem to do a great deal. Ill look further into it and let you know - thanks as usual for all the replies and help

Bare Foot Kid · 02 Jan 2011

Hopefully you haven't shorted the RAM, it's VERY susceptible to static electricity from your body also if you reinsert it into a motherboard that still has a residual electric charge, that will short it out also, take my word on that one.

alphanumeric · 02 Jan 2011

Be car full taking the RAM modules out. If you do it incorrectly and or apply to much force to the clips they will break off. Just gently spread them out to the sides away from the module and one end should just pop up. The BIOS has to be working to run the flash routine used to flash the BIOS.

zigzag3143 · 02 Jan 2011

lister said:

A laptop I have will power on, but thats all. The BIOS is kaput, nothing, wont even show the manufacturers name or brand, (which is DELL).

I am thinking that I could "flash the BIOS" but Im not sure how feasible that really is. In fact - has anyone reading this actually done that?

My questions is therefore - aside from using cardioverter-defibrillators, (the two electrical charges that you see doctors using in the movies to resucitate patients) - is there anything I can do?

I recently took out the RAM and placed it back in - if this is dislodged would that have affected this complete denial of starting up?

Thanks.

Dell or Panasonic? Laptop or desktop? Try removing the CMOS battery.

whs · 02 Jan 2011

If you really cannot revive this laptop, take the disk out and put it into an enclosure. The you can at least save your data by attaching it via USB to another system. Make sure you get the right type enclosure - e.g. 2.5" Sata.