FoxConn 520A dead after bios flash
Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2010 4:32 am
I flashed a bios update to my foxconn 520a using their automatic bios download and flash tool in windows (which has never given me issues before). Unfortunately I think this time the firmware file it downloaded may have been corrupt or perhaps for another model. After I rebooted following the reportedly successful flash, the PC was dead. There is no beep, no screen activity, no drive access - all that happens is the fans come on and stay at a constant speed (they would normally ramp down to a low level) and the drives power up (but no data access whatsoever). The 4 second power off and reset are still working.
I know that if the boot block is not damaged that you can sometimes force the bios to believe there is a checksum error and reflash from floppy by shorting some pins on the chip directly (I have tried several ways to clear the CMOS and there was no change). I have a floppy prepared with a valid bios file and flasher set to auto-flash it. What I can't seem to work out is which pins to short on the bios. It is a surface mount chip so I can't drop in a new one or swap with another machine or anything like that. Does anyone have any ideas - please see the files below for pin diagrams etc. I tried to short {ground} and {hold} (pins 4 & 7) on the CMOS chip but nothing happened.
I'd really appreciate any help on this as I desperately need my PC back in operation and cannot really afford a new motherboard right now.
Cheers!
Details and PDF datasheet for my BIOS chip (an Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG):
BIOS Label: Phoenix (Award) D686 Bios, Phoenix 1998, 299047413
Chip Markings: ITE, IT8716F-S, 0723-FXS, ZN2R07 L
http://www.mediafire.com/?bxaxui6ia8ipzng
Details and PDF datasheet for my CMOS chip (it is type PDIP 300-MIL as far as I can tell):
Chip Markings: Winbond, 25X40VAIZ
http://www.mediafire.com/?5ndln1dvsz6i9eb
I know that if the boot block is not damaged that you can sometimes force the bios to believe there is a checksum error and reflash from floppy by shorting some pins on the chip directly (I have tried several ways to clear the CMOS and there was no change). I have a floppy prepared with a valid bios file and flasher set to auto-flash it. What I can't seem to work out is which pins to short on the bios. It is a surface mount chip so I can't drop in a new one or swap with another machine or anything like that. Does anyone have any ideas - please see the files below for pin diagrams etc. I tried to short {ground} and {hold} (pins 4 & 7) on the CMOS chip but nothing happened.
I'd really appreciate any help on this as I desperately need my PC back in operation and cannot really afford a new motherboard right now.
Cheers!
Details and PDF datasheet for my BIOS chip (an Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG):
BIOS Label: Phoenix (Award) D686 Bios, Phoenix 1998, 299047413
Chip Markings: ITE, IT8716F-S, 0723-FXS, ZN2R07 L
http://www.mediafire.com/?bxaxui6ia8ipzng
Details and PDF datasheet for my CMOS chip (it is type PDIP 300-MIL as far as I can tell):
Chip Markings: Winbond, 25X40VAIZ
http://www.mediafire.com/?5ndln1dvsz6i9eb