Help: Blind flash on Acer

BLAZE · Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 10:17 am Post subject:

Hey. I have a Travelmate 6592 with xp and the same problem...
Why can't I burn a cd and boot? Do I really need a floppy? Cuz I don't have.
I can't find the wph-files when I'm downloading the bios from acer.

Is there any other solutions for me?

PS: I'm not going to open my laptop and try to reset the battery. To risky Crying or Very sad

BLAZE · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:36 pm Post subject:

Okay I tried your tips, with an usb device. But nothing happens.
Does anyone have any solutions?

nickj633 · Posted: Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:25 pm Post subject:

I have an Acer 1360, i have also had a blank screen, and have tried all the various methods described. i have tried using the crisis boot, as well as a dos boot with the bios & flash utility on the disk, any help would be greatfully recieved

Fwosth · Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2008 1:29 am Post subject: Help..

I could really use some help here...

I have an Acer Aspire 7520(G), with just a black screen when I power it up. I have downloade the Bios recovery disk program, and made a Recovery Disk with version 1.07 of the Vista Bios. (I have no autoexec.bat, no fix.bat, and i didn't replace the plash16 file.) Anyway, this gives the "best result", the USB-floppy reads the floppy for like 1-2min, otherwise just about 10-20s. But when it's done, nothing more happens, still black. Someone have any idea what I do wrong, or what to do else? (And yes, I press the fn+esc and stuff at start) I've had some thoughts about the .ROM file, maybe it needs to be included also? Cuz it wont fit on the floppy... :/

Seriously, I refuse to pay like 60$ for Acer to just find out whats wrong with my computer, and then I need to pay them even more if I want it fixed. Nice...

Well, all help is appreciated! You would really make my day if you can help me! Smile

//Fwosth

kb · Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 6:02 am Post subject: Bios upgrade problem

I tried to upgrade my acer 1642z laptop with new acer web site bios file but after doing it, my screen became blank. It was not booting and beep sound was comming.
I downloaded B1800_crisis_recovery_disk from website. I downloaded ZLA9A3A19.WPH bios file from acer web site.
Then I copied this bios file in B1800_crisis_recovery_disk directory and generated mini dos floppy recovery disk by running above software.
After that i put this floppy in usb floppy drive and connected to my laptop.
I removed battery of my laptop and connected only ac/dc power adptor.
I pressed keys fn+esc key together and switched on power button,then i got led indication on floppy drive and i release both copy. Usb floppy drive copied new file to my bios in approx. 2 minutes and systen booted itself.
Now My laptop bios is ok.
Thanks for providing steps to resolve the problem.

Technical

Hello. This is my first time here. I have a friends' Acer 1640 series which I first flashed with the correct version (although the help files aren't that helpful) then I thought there was loss of functionality like the sound which is another issue. I then tried to flash with the ATI version which killed the laptop. I tried to follow Tolks ways as I have the exact model and IT WORKED WITH A LITTLE TWEAKING.

Here goes... What caught me off guard was making a USB boot Key (even though I've just ordered a USB floppy drive as backup which is now a waste of money!)

STEP 1: make a USB FLOPPY DRIVE using this link: http://www.bay-wolf.com/usbmemstick.htm

Make sure you can view all system files from My computer>tools>folder options>view tab>'show hidden files and folders' is checked and 'hide protected operating system' files is unchecked

This will help you find the autoexec.bat file used from the Win98 files from the top link.

ALL YOU NEED ON THE BOOT USB DRIVE IS THE BASIC FILES + AUTOEXEC.BAT which seemed to work for me and BIOS.WPH (which is the renamed version of the correct bios file you WANT to use)

STEP 2: My autoexec.bat read as follows (right mouse click and choose 'edit' and 'save' once changes have been made):

@echo off
mscdex /d:Micron /m:10 /l:R
set cddrive=R:
PHLASH16 /mode=3 /x BIOS.WPH
call mouse.bat

STEP 3:
a. I unplugged the battery,
b. Remove the HDD from the laptop
c. Unplug the AC adapter from the laptop
d. Plug in the USB stick
e. Hold down [FN] AND [ESC]
f. With those keys held down, plug in the AC adapter.
g. Press the power button on the Laptop and release the keys [FN] AND [ESC]

I saw the windows 98 loading up screen so I knew the USB key was working. I had tred other USB key booting methods also but this way WORKED.

Thought I'd share and I didn't sweat once! Remained calm.

cirrusmattix · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:35 am Post subject: HDD neccessary?

Hello!

I have an Acer Aspire 7250G and after a flash from 1.09 to 1.32 i got a black screen.

I tried the crisis method, but my notebook does not reboot, after it reads from the floppy. Have i to remove the HDD like the battery?

Fwosth · Posted: Fri Apr 18, 2008 11:33 pm Post subject:

One fast question... You say that you have an Autoexec.BAT file on the disk also. Where do you find it? Cuz on the "other working" computer im using(with vista), i can only find a empty one. Is it enough with just that string "PHLASH16 /mode=3 /x BIOS.WPH" and nothing more? If not, please help me and type whats strings thats needed =) And, my BIOS-file has both a WPH-, and a ROM-file. Do I need them both? Cuz they wont fit on a disk both at the same time. If you have any suggestions, feel free to tell! And maybe I will manage to get my piece of crap working someday... =/

Thx.

emanuel · Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

hello all!

i've just registered to say that today it happened to me the same thing: i've wrongfully flashed my acer 1692 (the new bios readme is lacking important information, such as the meaning of those 3 ROM's) and i've spending all the afternoon trying to fix it (since it's my main laptop).

anyway, i've tryed all those technics that this site is showing, without sucess (i've even tryed with 2 diferent USB floppy drives, from different brands, without luck), until i've tryed one solution: a blind flash, using a boot cd.

how?
1 - i've copyed a working BIOS (in this case, a BIOS i knew it worked since it was the bios that it was working before all this mess), the 3A30 and Plash16.exe into a folder.
2 - i renamed the bios file into bios.wph (so it could be more easy to type it - see the next steps why).
3 - with Nero, i've created a boot cd and copyed this 2 files.
4 - after burning the boot cd, i boot my acer with the boot cd and when the cd start spinning i pressed Enter (so it could boot from it).
5 - waited a few seconds until the cd stopped spinning (meaning that it all ready had booted from it)...
6 - i've changed from A: to D: (my DVD-ROM drive letter, in my case)
7 - then i typed

Dizzyg · Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

Hi - I have tried this. I have created the USB boot disk. Did the minidos thing. I have a mates Acer 1690. Can't get Acer to tell me which of the 4 Bios files in 3A30 I should use for this model.
First one I tried blanked the screen. I have been ' round all 4 - still trying.
It will still boot to login screen with a blank screen!
Might start again. (getting tired - should have gone back to him ages ago)

How do you get the "working BIOS"?

emanuel · Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 2:08 pm Post subject:

hi,

the bios file you should use is the one compatible with your graphics card. in my case i have a acer 1692 with a ati x700 - bios is for a M26, so from all the rom's you have to chose the right one.

in the 3a30 readme:
m22 - ati x300
m24 - ati x600
m26 - ati x700 or ATI UMA

chose wisely, as for the new bios (3a45, for exemple) there isn't a single mention of this in the readme, which is fantastic...

Dizzyg · Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject:

Hi

I am still struggling. I have no idea what the Graphics Card is. This is an Aspire 1692 WLMi according to the serial number. (Curry's - I believe).

Anyone able to tell which graphics - or which Bios? Ihave been 'round and 'round. Remaking Crisis recovery for each Bios file.

On startup - briefly looks at the floopy drive - then nothing until the fan kicks in when it starts to heat up. No beeps (it used to) no flashing lights.

How much of this can the poor BIOS stand?

Thanks

WAIT!!!! It has finally given in! Pictures. USB Drive with Autoexec.bat method. External Floppy didn't want to know. (Go figure!).

Many thanks to all who bared their soul here. Beer on the way.

mannubhai · Posted: Sat May 17, 2008 7:01 pm Post subject: Acer TM 4601

yeah i had the same problem..no display..no Keyboard nothing..only the HDD light blinked and then stopped..acers site is so bloody informative that I used the wrong BIOS update..my system hung like forever and I had to manually shut it down. Tried the fn + Esc and got one long and two short beeps.Atleast it was a response and not totally dead.

I tried a boot up Cd didn't work even tho' the laptop was accessing the DD drive. Formatted the USb drive as a floppy used the correct autoexec.bat etc.. but still didn't work.

Got rid of the Battery, the DVD drive and HDD and tried Fn+ Esc and the USb drive...no luck just the infernal beeping. Finally brainwave...I tried booting without the Fn+ Esc and heard several short beeps a few seconds after the bootup and voila..we have a visual...saw the BIOS updating..laptop shutdown and BIOS updated again..the second time I yanked out the pen drive before the 3rd startup otherwise I think the BIOS would have kept flashing...finally Windows 98 screen and then C prompt.

Connected my HDD etc.. and ..back in business. Thanks all you guys..of course my machine is still very slow which is why i updated the BIOS in the first place..but i guess thats a story for another forum...lesson learned ..don't give up try all permutations and combinations ...something will work and you've got nothing to lose.

In my case it worked when i DIDN'T keep Fn + Esc pressed. So thanks again all you guys .

matttkd · Posted: Wed May 21, 2008 10:23 pm Post subject:

Right, so I appear to be having the same problem as many other people here. Turn on laptop, get green power light, whirring fans, CD drive seems to want to try and work as well.

Nehoo, I've tried the phoenix recovery etc but so far to n avail. I have tried the Fn + Esc trick with and without the recovery disk... no change, no long beep followed by 2 beeps.

I also have tried several other combinations such as Cntrl + esc, Fn + B, Windows + B and get nothing, nada, zip, zilch, the big goose egg.

So I guess that seeing as I do not get the beeps that everyone else seems to be able to get that means that I have a seemingly similar, yet different problem. Meaning more time must be spent, browsing forums, becoming more and more frustrated....

Unless of course someone has a flash of genius inspiration and are willing to share in which case I will be exceedingly grateful.

Any help will therefore be appreciated muchly

Toodle Pip.

mannubhai · Posted: Thu May 22, 2008 10:53 am Post subject: no beeps

Hi matttkd, have you tried removing the battery and Harddrive and then doin the Fn+Esc thing ? Important point is to keep them pressed after your laptop is powered down and before you remove your power plug , keep the keys pressed ..put in the power plug back into the laptop , press the power button wait a few seconds and then release...see what happens.

In my case I found that my BIOS updated when I didn't press the Fn+ Esc buttons...I just removed my Battery, HDD and DVD Drive and the laptop automatically searched for the next device to boot from : which was my USB Pen Drive.

Point to be noted is that just because your laptop doesn't beep using the Fn+ Esc trick doesn't mean it won't reflash the BIOS.