steve - 12:56 pm on Apr 29, 2005 (gmt 0)

This is a warning for anyone thinking about updating their BIOS.

Always update from DOS!

Today I decided to update the new BIOS in my laptop, because it had 'issues' with WinXP and the manufacturer recommended I do so.

It doesn't have a floppy disk drive, so I updated it using the manufacturers Windows based utility, which crashed!

My laptop now won't boot!

The manufacturer doesn't want to know, pointing out I agreed to their disclaimer before I ran the s/w.

There was no mention of this, but I later found out, with a bit of searching, that if you use a Windows utility always:

Disconnect ALL external hardware
Turn you computer off then on again, to shut down all processes
Shut down ALL programs especially anti-virus
Make sure you are on a.c. (laptops)
Remember if can take upto 45 minutes, don't be tempted to reboot your computer even if it appears to lock up.

And wherever possible use a floppy disk and do it in dos

I hope this warning, stops others suffering my fate!

A call for help

I have an image of the BIOS on floppy, and being an electronics engineer have no problem removing the 39SF040 flash IC.

Can anyone here recommend a programming service (in the UK if possible), or point me in the direction of a quick build diy programmer?

Steve