Solved Corrupted BIOS?

[Teekz]

Right, I have a huge technical problem, and desperately need some help. I sincerely hope that you guys are able to help me in some way.

Basically, I have an Acer T180-UB7Z here, and it was working fine, par the bad ram. All was fine, until I tried to update the BIOS. I downloaded the most recent bios update for that specific model, from Acer's website, so I know it wasn't a bad copy. I ran the updating tool within Windows, and tried to update. The update failed with an error saying something along the lines of 'could not erase - the hardware may be write protected'.

Thinking the bios was write protected, I assumed that the updater never changed it in some way, and so didn't think to revert to the backup I made. However, when I restarted the machine, it now fails to boot. The BIOS claims to be a 2007 version, which I downloaded, even though it supposedly never installed (it used to say it was 2006). It hangs at "Verifying DMI pool data". I googled the situation, and discovered that it is a fault with the motherboard, that the onboard bios flasher is faulty, and that everyone who has ever tried to update it has received the same problem, and there is virtually nothing that can be done within the machine to repair it.

The machine can not boot from CD, hard drive, removable devices etc, since Verifying pool data happens before this, and cannot be skipped. The bios settings can be accessed and changed, but I've read that no combination of settings will work in this situation. Basically I need some method of flashing the bios externally, without using the machine in question. I have tried clearing the CMOS, but that did nothing. Acer cannot repair it since it is out of warranty, and I have no idea what to do.

I was hoping that there is a method of flashing the bios without any special hardware, but without booting the machine in question. My dad suspects that the local computer shop would be capable of doing this, but that they would charge me a lot.

I'm really stuck here. The machine is inoperable. I need it up and running again ASAP, for as little money as possible.

Literally any help is appreciated.

 

[pricetech]

Check the manufacturer's website. Some BIOSes have a failsafe feature that allows you to return the BIOS to factory code in the event of a failed update. What it's called will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but look for words like "failsafe" "bootblock" and such.

I do hope your board / BIOS supports that. Otherwise it's pretty much a paperweight.

 

[pebbly]

Hi Teekz, All may not be lost , have you tried the "backdoor password" in your case i think it is ASUS you may have to use a key combination to apply it , I will do a search for you BRB

try this method here http://superuser.com/questions/29221/how-to-recover-from-failed-bios-update your bios should be the "crash free 2" bios

 

[sygnus21]

Otherwise it's pretty much a paperweight.

More like an expensive paperweight to repair. If you can't recover the bios yourself as suggested by pricetech, you may have to send it in for repair.

As to whether your warranty covers it, that's another story.

Good luck.

 

[Teekz]

@Pricetech - there is a bootblock setting, enable or disable, but I'm not sure what it is, how to use it, or if it was even enabled or disabled at the time of the failed update. Any ideas?

@Pebbly - thanks a lot for the research. It's appreciated. Also, you mentioned ASUS, was that correct, or were you confusing it with Acer? :S

@Sygnus21 - I'm pretty sure the machine is out of warranty, as the Acer support person I talked to said that my serial number on the sticker was invalid.

Is there any hardware that could flash it without using the onboard flasher? (which caused the problem. :/)

 

[pebbly]

Sorry about that Teekz, senior moment have a look here Problems after failed Bios update on Acer Aspire T180

 

[Teekz]

Thanks Pebbly. I'm having a look now.

Is there any known way to bypass Verifying DMI pool data? Can't boot from USB, CD, or hard drive, and I have no floppy drive available. Tried clearing CMOS, but I'm under the impression that there are 2 halves of different bios versions in there at the second. Some of the original 2006, and some of the 2007 update.

Edit - Never mind. I realise now that I asked a rather silly question there. It's been a long day.

If I purchased an internal floppy disk drive, could I boot from that before the machine starts to verify the DMI pool data?

 

[sygnus21]

If I purchased an internal floppy disk drive, could I boot from that before the machine starts to verify the DMI pool data?

You're not going to get around that. Without the DMI (BIOS) info the machine is toast. Sorry

 

[pebbly]

If I purchased an internal floppy disk drive, could I boot from that before the machine starts to verify the DMI pool data?

You're not going to get around that. Without the DMI (BIOS) info the machine is toast. Sorry

Or the op could buy a replacement bios chip sygnus21 Acer Aspire BIOS Chip 5720, 5720G, 5720Z, 5720ZG on eBay (end time 09-Jan-11 09:45:31 GMT) Its worth asking the vendor for your model #

 

[sygnus21]

If I purchased an internal floppy disk drive, could I boot from that before the machine starts to verify the DMI pool data?

You're not going to get around that. Without the DMI (BIOS) info the machine is toast. Sorry

Or the op could buy a replacement bios chip sygnus21 Acer Aspire BIOS Chip 5720, 5720G, 5720Z, 5720ZG on eBay (end time 09-Jan-11 09:45:31 GMT) Its worth asking the vendor for your model #

That works too, which is also why I mentioned this.....

.... If you can't recover the bios yourself as suggested by pricetech, you may have to send it in for repair.

Send it in for repair, buying one...

 

[alphanumeric]

Read this, The Boot Block ,then check your manual for that motherboard to see if you have it and how it works.
Also look though your BIOS options for a BIOS flash option. My ASUS board has it, I can flash the BIOS without having to boot from a floppy etc. I just browse to the BIOS file. My board doesn't have a floppy controller anyway.

 

[Teekz]

Well, I bought a new BIOS chip. Thank you for the assistance, you've all been very helpful.

 

[sygnus21]

Well, I bought a new BIOS chip. Thank you for the assistance, you've all been very helpful.

Care to share the details? The cliff hanger is killing us....

Thanks

 

[Teekz]

Well, I found the actual BIOS chip on the motherboard, and found that it was socketed, not soldered. I bought this replacement chip, pre-programmed with the latest BIOS version, and it should arrive between the 16th-17th December, according to eBay. I'll report back when it's installed, to verify that it works.

 

[pebbly]

Well, I found the actual BIOS chip on the motherboard, and found that it was socketed, not soldered. I bought this replacement chip, pre-programmed with the latest BIOS version, and it should arrive between the 16th-17th December, according to eBay. I'll report back when it's installed, to verify that it works.

Good for you Teekz , That was your cheapest way out , When the new bios arrives it will be programmed with the latest available version , don't go trying to update it [ tongue in cheek smiley needed]

 

[mjf]

Well, I found the actual BIOS chip on the motherboard, and found that it was socketed, not soldered. I bought this replacement chip, pre-programmed with the latest BIOS version, and it should arrive between the 16th-17th December, according to eBay. I'll report back when it's installed, to verify that it works.

Lucky you
My Acer has a large soldered surface mount BIOS.

 

[martin123]

So after all of that i take it when you visit the acer site and download drivers and bios updates i take it your going to read the red writing ?

Updating an incorrect BIOS may cause harm to your system. We recomend that you only do this after being instructed by one of our Customer Care representatives. By using these updates you agree to accept the possibility of product failure.

 

[Teekz]

So after all of that i take it when you visit the acer site and download drivers and bios updates i take it your going to read the red writing ?

I suppose I should take it into account more, but I've read that the onboard bios flasher on this particular model of motherboard is defective, so I might point out that this is more Acer's fault than mine.

Still, next time I'll put the extra effort in and not update from within the OS, even though that wasn't the problem this time.

 

[martin123]

Just glad you got it sorted out any way and for the price of that chip your lucky

i have a dell mini 10 here that the bios was updated and it killed a new net book

 

[Teekz]

SUCCESS! I replaced the BIOS chip, and we're once again able to boot.

Thank you all for your assistance. Happy Holidays.