BIOS Update gone wrong! HELP!!!!!

Sydk · 12 Feb 2006 at 01:04

I thought i'd update the bios on my laptop today, even though it was working fine. The update was supposed to fix quite a few issues so i thought it'd be a good idea.

Anyway, i did the update and afterwards, the thing just wont boot anymore.

Its an ACER TRAVELMATE 4150, and i need to re-flash it to the previous version, but there is no display!!!

To make matters worse, the bios utility, is a Windows based app, or else i would've attempted it blind. I have the old bios file, and a DOS based utility to flash it with, but the laptop has no floppy drive, so i cant flash it blind with that neither.

Only way i can see is, to make a bootable cd with the flash utility and rom file, with an automated batch file to run the update, and see if that works, but i dont have the know how to do that.

There is a version of this app/update on ACERS website, for the new bios, all it needs is modifying, so it will run the old rom file instead of the new one. Does anyone here on the forums be able to help me make such a cd? Its a long shot asking on here i know, but worth a try. Theres a loadsa clever peeps on this forums, so i thought i'd try.

Thx in advance.

Hades · 12 Feb 2006 at 01:22

One question - if it won't boot then how will you book off a bootable CD? I ask because if the machine boots then there may be other ways to fix it.

Sydk · 12 Feb 2006 at 01:25

I forgot to mention that the system maybe booting into the OS, because there is activity on the HDD led, and the power LED, but i cant say for sure, as there is no display

badbob · 12 Feb 2006 at 01:46

Try plugging monitor and/or tv to s-video. Perhaps changed video outputs.

Sydk · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:03

tried the external monitor output, but no display from there either, will give the s-video a try later, but gotta find the cable first.

leezer3 · 12 Feb 2006 at 10:14

Couple of thoughts-
#1. Is there a hotkey within Windows to turn off the screen; One of these had me for a while.
#2. You could try pulling the battery & see if this forces the machine to rethink what it has.

-Leezer-

Sydk · 13 Feb 2006 at 00:34

there is a hotkey for this, but tried that it dont work.

i assume your talking about the little motherboard battery? Tried to get that too, but a rounded off a screw under the keyboard and the little bugger wont turn now, so at the moment i cant get to the battery, though at the moment thats what i intend to attempt next. Might give it to some laptop repair specialists soon, though they have quoted me £70 just to look at it! :eek:

Thats a last resort though.

Sputnik II · 13 Feb 2006 at 01:10

I would try to boot up using a Linux live CD, even if the displays not working you should be able to see if the CD is first boot device. If it is then you can make a bootable CD with the BIOS & Flash util and flash it that way.