Milhouse Van Houten

You probably already know, but this has been a major problem on Dell's
forums. People are "bricking" their systems left and right, and Dell has yet
to offer any kind of improved flash mechanism to improve the situation.

Per another post, backing up the BIOS doesn't help, nor retrying the flash.
It's simply gone to the great beyond, and there's nothing for it but to
replace the board.

Unfortunately with many Dells, there are quite valid reasons to flash, like
a problem on the Dimension C521/E521 line in which the system frequently
will not boot (from its own hard drive) if a USB hub is plugged in (I've
seen it happen with a USB drive as well).

Given that you can spare the computer for a day or two, I recommend everyone
flash their Dells about a week or two before your warranty is up. Worst case
you'll have the latest firmware at the last opportunity to do it with
nothing to lose; best case you'll get a new motherboard, maybe even a later
hardware revision/model.

It's kind of funny, but throughout the late 90's into the early 00's, I
flashed countless Asus and Abit systems with nary a problem. In later years,
I also flashed my Intel board many times without a hitch. Dell is the #1 PC
maker in the country, but in 2007 they can't seem to get it right.

"CB" <CB@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:0B27129C-B0F9-4162-9A29-6CDA20BAC94F@microsoft.com...
>I have read on many websites and in many discussion groups that one should
> not update the bios unless there are problems with the existing bios. In
> other words, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". However, shortly after
> receiving my new computer (Vista Premium preinstalled) I received an email
> from Dell telling me to update my bios. I updated the bios and everything
> was
> OK.
>
> I recently received another email from Dell telling me that the bios
> needed
> updated again so I went to support.dell.com and downloaded the bios
> update. I
> tried to install the bios update but the application would not work. I
> called
> Dell technical support. The Dell support rep took control of my computer
> via
> "remote assistance" and attempted to flash the bios. During the process
> the
> current bios was erased but the updated bios would not install. At that
> time
> the Dell rep decided to restart my computer. I told him that the current
> bios
> had already been erased and I didn't think it would be a good idea to shut
> down the computer. He informed me that everything was OK and proceeded to
> shut down my computer.
>
> Of course, as I suspected, with no bios the computer would not operate. He
> then told me to boot again and keep pressing the F12 key, which I knew
> would
> not work since I had no bios. He then instructed me to insert the
> installation DVD and boot the computer but I knew this would not work
> either.
>
> My motherboard was fried during the bios update flash. Wasted, kaput,
> trashed. However, Dell is sending a technician to my home to replace the
> motherboard. The third-party technician told me two things: (01) Never
> update
> the bios unless there is a problem and (02) the Dell technical rep was
> very
> ignorant of the consequences of his actions.
>
> The majority of readers of this newsgroup undoutably know that one should
> not update the bios if it is working properly. I also was aware of this.
> However, Dell instructed me to update it anyway and I was stupid enough to
> listen. This post is for the uninformed who don't know the consequences of
> updating the bios. I am still kicking myself in the ass for taking Dell's
> advice.
>
> I am more fortunate than others regarding this matter because I have three
> other computers to use while my new computer is being repaired. I think
> the
> motherboard was fried during the flashing of the bios, not due to the
> shutdown. The Dell computer's motherboard was destroyed by A Dell update.
> I
> don't understand why Dell would want anyone to update their bios when they
> know fully well what the consequences can be.
>
> I have two suggestions: If your computer is under warranty and the
> computer
> vendor wants you to update the bios you should update the bios. Once
> enough
> motherboards are fried and the vendor has lost a substantial amount of
> money
> they will reconsider the value of needlessly updating the bios. Secondly,
> if
> your computer is NOT under warranty you should not update the bios
> regardless
> of what the vendor tells you.
>
> Have a nice day.
>
> C.B.
>
>