BIOS Updates forum

How does the BIOS update come? Is it an .exe file or a BIOS image? If it's an image, we'll flash it for you for the price of postage. We're in NY.

Joe

You can try "Generic" USB CDrom drivers that you'll find on the internet. Search with google or yahoo. You also have the option to purchase an adaptor that will adapt the laptop's 2.5" hard drive to a desktop 40pin cable. This allows you to connect the Laptops hard drive to the desktop. Once connect...

"have no CD from which to boot. This is because I bought the laptop used and did not get a copy of the OS from the seller. I do wonder if the CDRW drive works though because it is an IOMEGA USB device. Hmm... I will check that out. " Only if the BIOS supports USB legacy devices, and I don't think th...

One more thing,

Before re-installing any OS on this i would recommend deleting the current partition table and recreating a new one.

Joe

Seems to me like the system is ready for an OS to be installed. If the Fdisk /mbr resulted in a C: prompt then it worked. You're simply missing the system files for the BIOS to hand off to. You can do that by typing: sys c: at the A: prompt or the C:\windows\command As for entering the BIOS setup ar...

Seems like you're out of luck with this. I don't know of any way to recover the BIOS in this model.

Sony don't supply the BIOS file as a single file.. they compile it into a .exe for a fully automated installation.

I just priced a replacement systemboard and it's $550.00


Joe

See if you can get to a c: prompt and switch to the C:\windows\command folder then run "FDISK.EXE" if you can then you can at least see if the BIOS sees the hard drive. (chances are it don't) . If it is, get out of fdisk, and at the C:\windows\command: prompt type: fdisk /mbr This will rebuild the m...

Rainbow, what is the chip markings of the SMD inverter on those boards?

Joe

Take yur 2.5" new drive and get an 2.5" to 3.5" adaptor (found on the net)and install the laptop 2.5" to a desktop PC. From there, copy the OS disk to the 2.5" laptop drive after you partition and format the drive. Re-install the 2.5" drive back into the laptop and start the setup. and you're done. ...

In this situation you might need to install an IDE controller card.

The setup utility that is located on the first partition of the old drive is not really needed to run the system and install an OS.

Joe

What kind of computer is this? What is the processor type? Software modems don't work with older non MMX pentium (and like) systems. As "th" said, virtual ports aren't actually there so running any type of diagnostics is useless. Uninstall the modem from windows and move it to another PCI slot and h...

Possibly bad CMOS memory?

I don't know of a free utility that will test CMOS memory, but Micro2000's Microscope does.

Joe

Beware, on some of the newer IBM drives the 32g limit jumper setting is called "2G Clip"

Set the jumper to this if you have this option and see if it helps?

Joe

Usually DELL uses TSOP packaged EEPROM chips.

Can be removed and re-programmed with the right equiptment, but it's usually not worth it if you can find a suitable subsatute to replace the board with.

Contact me if you're dead set on getting this thing to work again.

aqs12@broadviewnet.net

Joe

Obviously there is a problem with BIOS recognizing both hard drives on the same channel. Why not leave the 40G drive as Primary master and have the 20G as Secondary Master and the CD Rom and secondary slave and be done with it? -or- As already stated, use a Controller card and have it control all ID...