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bios update, black screen cant do anything...
I am not having a good day. I reinstalled windows and was downloading everything that I needed, updated my Nvida then installed the Bios update for my computer from dell.com (Inspiron 8500) The it said must restart computer.. so it restarted and it was just a black screen.. so start up window.. nothing just a black screen.. I dont know what to do...I tried inserting the windows disc but nothing happens. I really need some help.. Thanks guys...
Leo_s84
496 Posts
0
March 13th, 2005 23:00
If this is the case there is nothing to do but change the entire motherboard, give Dell a call.
leduke30
4K Posts
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March 14th, 2005 00:00
timmyleve
37 Posts
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March 14th, 2005 01:00
leduke30
4K Posts
0
March 14th, 2005 01:00
timmyleve
37 Posts
0
March 14th, 2005 02:00
leduke30
4K Posts
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March 14th, 2005 03:00
johnallg
7.3K Posts
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March 15th, 2005 20:00
ewv
5 Posts
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March 17th, 2005 03:00
Tests with power-on light patterns suggested by the Dell chat site and another technical support person both led them to conclude the motherboard is now bad. Two Dell representatives acknowledged that the $700 Dell wants to replace the motherboard is ridiculous and one suggested I try to get it repaired locally. One of them said he would call back at a specific time over a week ago to see what else I needed, but never called.
Neither I nor a local independent technician could get the laptop to reboot after trying a re-install of the bios from floppy or, in his case, a hardware reset. We used the original version (A02) to minimize variations. The technician said he could repair it if I can get the parts, but I can not find out from Dell what I need.
After the Dell tech support rep failed to call last week they consistently failed to respond to the half dozen emails I have sent to the address he originally sent me with the case #. Someone else called today, a week later, but had no access to the records; she said she was calling because the first one was "sick" (and could not explain why it took them a week to notice he was missing and not responding to problems).
After explaining the whole problem to her all over again she had no idea what to do. She said the bios controls all the hardware a couple of time, apparently reading it from something, then said I should have been using A06 because "files have changed" since I bought the laptop (A02 had been working and this is a post problem, not the hard drive), then said to give her a couple of minutes to look something up. The line went dead, she did not return the call, they are still not responding to email, etc.
What do I have to do to get this fixed? Dell has been no help at all and is shunning the problem -- even seeming embarrassed by their $700 motherboard replacement cost. Is it possible for a non-Dell professional technician to replace a portion of the hardware in order to physically replace the bios? If so, what do I have to do to get the part from Dell and how do I specify it?
Daddyjaxx
1.1K Posts
0
March 17th, 2005 21:00
Look on Ebay for the motherboard:
http://search.ebay.com/8500-motherboard_W0QQcatrefZC6QQfromZR3QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQkeywordZonQQsacatZQ2d1QQstrkwZboard
Cheaper than Dell.
ewv
5 Posts
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March 17th, 2005 21:00
timmyleve
37 Posts
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March 19th, 2005 13:00
Prophit5
6 Posts
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March 22nd, 2005 13:00
timmyleve
37 Posts
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March 22nd, 2005 15:00
ewv
5 Posts
0
March 22nd, 2005 20:00
I could find nothing on the internet indicating it is practical to replace the bios chip or get one out of Dell. Dell doesn't use standard parts in laptops and is exploiting the post sale monopoly in both price and convenience of repair. This is very discouraging to those of us who had expected better.
But refurbished and new 8500 motherboards can easily be found on ebay. One source has been routinely selling refurbished mb's for $269 plus shipping, without enough demand to always get bids. Add installation at a local shop, or try it yourself -- the service manual can be found at unofficial sites on the internet for disassembly and reassembly (it doesn't talk about replacing bios chips, only the standard flash update).
Prophit5
6 Posts
0
March 23rd, 2005 18:00