Helping people with computers... one answer at a time.
When flashing your BIOS fails, there typically is only one remedy: replace the chip where the BIOS is stored.
After I flashed my BIOS and restarted my computer, I got a beep message, and the screen went blank. Every time my computer starts now, it gives that beep message and isn't doing anything at all. Is there a remedy?
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The BIOS, or Basic Input Output System, is also sometimes called "Flash BIOS" because even though it's stored in hardware, it can be replaced or updated via a processes often called "flashing".
When flashing your BIOS fails ... you're in trouble.
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The BIOS is software stored in hardware, and it is often referred to as firmware. It's the software that performs the power-on self test, the very first steps of the boot process, and provides the basic interface to much of the hardware.
Occasionally it needs to be updated. In fact updating your BIOS is frequently a solution for certain types of hardware compatibility issues.
Unfortunately you need a working BIOS to even get to the point of flashing it. Or do anything else, for that matter.
As a result, when a BIOS flash fails, the only typical remedy is to physically replace the chip on the motherboard in which the BIOS is stored with one containing a working BIOS for that motherboard. That probably means going back to the manufacturer of your computer or its motherboard.
Article C2236 - November 30, 2004 « »
Leo A. Notenboom has been playing with computers since he
was required to take a programming class in 1976. An 18 year career as a programmer at Microsoft soon followed.
After "retiring" in 2001, Leo started Ask Leo! in 2003 as a place for answers
to common computer and technical questions. More about Leo.
September 11, 2011 3:29 PM
motherboard:asus commando
755 socket
955 extreme quad core
I updated my bios now I got a black screen
I can only get it booted up by taking the motherboard battery out or by resetting the jumpers, then it say the cmos needs resetting.Can anyone give me some info
how to sort it out.
thanks for reading this anyway
September 12, 2011 11:35 PM
I have a Dell Dimension 2400, the bios is A05 and will load almost all the way to the end of the white bar, then loads XP, sometimes it takes 3 or 4 times of restarting to get the computer to run with out hanging up. How do I fix then bios?
September 16, 2011 9:54 AM
Having bombed out bios updates on 2 HP DV9000 machines, I got some clean replacement serial eeproms (A29L008) and wired across the connections (from working machine) to a piece of pcb with suitable pads (8) to match. Pin 2(DO) is left disconnected. The machine's bios is then updated while holding the clone chip down carefully. Uses the flash utility on HP's site for your particular machine. Also it helps to hold one's breath until the machine has completely shut down. Although not needed, you will probably need to reprogram other details such as serial number using hpbq189.exe, a dos utility which can be found on the net. The newly programmed chip should run fine in compatible target machine. I also noticed that a wireless card that was barred at boot before now works.
December 17, 2011 6:02 PM
I have the same problem with a pc that was given to me(Presario won't enter bios or show splash screen. Odd thing is, is that it will run a Fedora live cd, go online and everything, but will not read the hdd. Any ideas here? I didn't flash it as I never thought it was worth the risk, but that doesn't mean the previous owner didn't. Strange.
February 17, 2012 4:28 AM
whenever i switch on my compaq laptop it shows press
ctrl + alt + Del and when I press this it automatically restarts and shows the same message. Pls help me.