I did it this time...

[StevieC]

I have a Dell Inspiron 8500 laptop that I'm reloading windows on and doing a memory upgrade for a friend.

I got Windows all done and I'm just loading the drivers from Dell when I see that there are firmware updates for the Bios, CD/DVD drive and the Video Bios from NVIDIA as per Dell's site.

I download all this, and all the installs go well except the Bios update for the NVIDIA 4200 GO card.

It ran and then froze up. I waited about an hour not wanting to reboot the computer and risk screwing up the bios but had no choice.

Sure enough I power it down and now the screen is dead but I can see windows loading because the hard drive boots like normal and then I get the windows sound.

So I thought, great I will make a boot CD using the dos based utility and try to force the image back onto the video card bios.

Well that doesn't work because now it won't put the image on there because it can't identify the card. Even if I put it in the "Force" mode.

What really pee's me off is that people at Dell are aware of the problem because they are replacing the video cards in units that are still under warranty (this one isn't) yet they are leaving the stupid bricking firmware on their website to be downloaded.

So now I have to spend $68 from E-Bay to get a working card because it's my fault.

I guess I will research bios updates before doing them in future to make sure there isn't a problem.

ARGH!!!!!!!!

 

[uc50ic4more]

I wonder if there is a way to reset the CMOS: Sometimes by removing a battery from the motherboard, pressing some buttons and chanting some incantations you can reset your BIOS to default values; even in cases of a botched update.

BIOS-related matters that extend beyond tweaking some settings that you understand are usually best left alone... If it ain't broke, etc., etc.

 

[Spartanfool]

First, I don't know if this is appropriate for your situation...but here goes!

I have had several Dell laptops, including the 8500 that have developed "bad" video cards. I never could find a solution, until searching the web I found someone who "baked" their card back into operation. It seems that the poor cooling in some Dell laptops, combined with the thermal contraction/expansion inherit in all components causes small fractures in the solder joints. This can lead to "artifacts" like lines on the screen, or funky patterns. Soon followed by total video failure. This first occurred on my son's laptop that had a clogged cooling fan (darn cats!).


The solution is simple. Disassemble the laptop and remove the video card (instructions on Dell website). Place video card on an insulating material (like a magazine) on a cookie sheet and bake in your oven at 375 degrees for 7 minutes, then flip it and bake another 7 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Clean and lube any cooling fans and their vents. Reinstall and fire it up!

I have successfully tried this on two Dell laptops, one discrete desktop video card, and my son's Xbox. The Xbox failed again some months later, and we re-baked it back to its original glory.

Again, I'm not sure if this will help if the BIOS upgrade was the actual cause of the problem, but it wasn't going to hurt anything either. Good luck!

 

[StevieC]

Spartanfool, thanks for those instructions I will keep those in the back of my mind for future use...

It's definitely the bios is messed up...

 

[brandini]

It has the same issue the xbox 360 had, [censored] materials of the chip makes the chip flex differently than the board.

Nvidia recalled a bunch of card- laptop and desktop for this problem.

Never flash firmware out of warranty unless it fixed a problem you are having or have a way to roll back or load it on if it fails.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: brandini
It has the same issue the xbox 360 had, [censored] materials of the chip makes the chip flex differently than the board.

Nvidia recalled a bunch of card- laptop and desktop for this problem.

Never flash firmware out of warranty unless it fixed a problem you are having or have a way to roll back or load it on if it fails.

Sorta the same why. Heat. On the bad nV chips, its actually the silicon is separating from the underfill. The underfill is not rated for the temp they are running. This is why this issue appeared in notebook chips before desktops.
On the 360, the lead-free solder between the BGA (Ball Grid Array) and the board was too hard and inflexable. The chip heats up and stresses it. Eventually it cracks.

 

[oilboy123]

I cooked my older Gateway motherboard not using the Gateway bios. I used the Intel Motherboard bios and cooked the board. Good luck

I hate it when something goes wrong when trying to help someone out. I hope you get it working right.

 

[StevieC]

I ordered a replacement video card module off E-Bay for this laptop... I messed around with trying to re-flash it but it wants no part of it.

 

[oilboy123]

At least it's not the Motherboard......

 

[StevieC]

Originally Posted By: oilboy123
At least it's not the Motherboard......

We will see when the new video card gets here...

 

[StevieC]

So I got a new video card the other day and it doesn't work so I send it back and get another one and it doesn't start up so I guess the motherboard is shot.

Thoughts?

 

[OVERKILL]

Motherboard time

 

[StevieC]

I FIXED IT!!!! WOOHOO!!!

Because I'm a nut and couldn't give up on the Dell that easily after putting in the replacement video card I decided to pull it apart again (all 50 million screws) and check the connections...

I get it all apart and turn it on and it works!!! Yay I said to myself it's fixed and 1 more laptop was spared from the garbage.

I put it all back together and it won't fire up the monitor again. Scratching my head I take it all apart and try it and it works.

This has me scratching my head... So I put it all back together carefully looking at everything and I notice the stupid "Sleep" button thingy that detects the monitor lid closing is stuck in the "Put the computer to sleep" mode.

I fix this problem and now all is good.

Before you ask, yes the other video card is toast as I checked it to make sure, but this problem crept up somewhere in between me disassembling everything.

Anyways... I called up the guy who owns it and he is thrilled!

Steve