Help: Blind flash on Acer

tyro12 · Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: TRavelmate 540

Hello,

I have a TRavelmate 540 with a dead bios, a bad bios flash was the cause.

Npw I've tried to flash it with the Crsis recovery Floppy, I folowed al instructions. only come to where I pushed the fn+b, power on the FDD starts to beep ones and that is all.

Tried at several diffreent interfalls for a second time FN+b without any succes.

Please inform me if this works on a 540

BigAl · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 9:54 am Post subject: Bios Upgrade Problem

Hi

I too upgraded my bios and then had huge problems. No display. Mine is an Acer 1693WLMi. I initially downloaded the new bios from the Australian Acer website for my model, which I believe is the incorrect one. After doing numerous web searches and trying countless ways, I came across this post. Thanks to all.

What did I do.

Used a USB memory stick, put Phlash 16 exe file, minidos and downloaded from Acer Europe the correct Bios file for my computer. Thankfully I could do all this using my desktop computer. I also copied a blank autoexec bat file onto the stick and using notebook, modified it to read

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

From there, I disconnected power, battery and removed the harddrive. Plugged in the USB memory stick, hit the power button, laptop started reading USB, quite a few beeps, then it shutdown and rebooted. I pulled the USB out once it had rebooted and yes, had display. Powered down, installed harddrive, restarted and all works fine. I didn't hit FN Esc at all and it worked fine.

Acer helpdesk quite useless and no warnings on the Australian website about problems.

blackhawk007 · Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 3:44 pm Post subject:

Anybody success with an Acer Aspire 3003LMi or similar?

I would like to know if I really need external usb floppy for this model, or whether a cd-rom or usbstick might also work. So far i tried with various usbsticks, bootable cd-rom and every key combination mentioned, without success.

I did note that the mail LED next to the power button sometimes is on, and sometimes off. Not sure if it's an indicator of some kind though.

tyro12 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 7:10 am Post subject:

Hi,

USB stick method is not working for me.

Everything with the FDD Method (on board) goes ok, fn+b, power, the 540 starts in recovery mode, opens the floppy but doens't read it!

I also read about Boot block, can this be the problem? How to solve this?

blackhawk007 · Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject:

managed to get my hands on a usb floppy drive, but unfortunately also no success with my Acer Aspire 3003LMi. I'm beginning to think I'm doing something wrong.

Tried so far:
- key combinations fn-esc, win-esc, fn-b, win-b
- usb stick (doesn't start reading)
- bootable cd with floppy emulation and crisis disk contents (starts reading, then nothing)
- usb floppy drive (no sign of the laptop reading it)

What about this boot block? How does this work?

Skiddypants · Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 7:42 am Post subject: Thank you

Guys, I just wanted to say thank you all for contributing your advice on here. My trusty old Acer 1692 died after I tried to update the bios but after reading these pages I found everything I need to get it working again. Thank you all.

Justian · Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 2:21 pm Post subject:

I also have a corrupted bios (Acer Aspire 1523) - screen is blank, 1 long and 2 short beeps. It has a boot block jumper on the mainboard and after turning it on, the notebook tries to read from an external usb-floppy.

1. The Crisis Disk is being read but afterwards the notebook is beeping for a while, quits beeping and isn't rebooting (waited for 30min). I followed the advices given in this thread (renaming the bios image to bios.wph and pressing FN-Esc etc.).
Turning off the machine, setting the bootblock jumper back to normal operation shows, that the bios wasn't flashed at all, at least I think so, because the acer doesn't boot and shows the same errors before loading the crisis-disk.

2. Using a normal dos boot disk results only in consecutive read attempts and it isn't loading something at all, I also used the command line parameters "/mode=3 /x" for phlash 16 in autoexec.bat and copied all necessary files on the disk (phlash16, bios.wph).

The used disks were ok, no crc-errors, tried it with different new ones.

If somebody knows how to solve this problem, it would be really great, thanks!

Juanjo · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:23 am Post subject:

Hi friends. I have the same problem with my Acer Aspire 5715z, but the bios file is not in "xxx.wph" format, it is in "xxx.fd" format, and my question is if i must rename it to "bios.wph" and copy - paste it to the "crisis recovery disk" too, or what can I do? Thaks for all!!!

feelsgoodman · Posted: Wed Aug 13, 2008 7:36 pm Post subject:

finally i DID IT! this is my story and the possible guide to fix your laptop

i myself have been using computers over 17years but this "flash your bios BLIND" has been the most stupid thing i have ever seen -.- ok lets start the story anyway one happy day i was using pc then later that day there was thunderstorm gathering around near my home it started to strike lightnings and i got really scared so i CLOSED pc from power button (holding power button down 5secs) i RARELY close pc this way i usually close it by windows shutdown way but right after pc did shutdown all power in the house went dead and came back instantly (voltage spike to laptop?) well i waited 1hour storm to pass but when i started laptop i did get 1 long beep and 2 short beeps + annoying black screen all the time well then i rebooted it one 2 3 4 5 times got worried a lot then i hooked my old pc monitor on laptop and tried to transfer image into it (thought that screen has been broken) but nothing then i checked internet on other pc and found that beeping noise was coz of faulty bios then i did spend 20hours YES i'm not kidding 20frigging hours burning cds 80-100 cd/harddisk on and off/usbstick different ways browsing web for solutions doing things on this thread cd finally i gave up i couldn't get it to work so i had to take it to closest pc fixing shop it was there over 1½weeks in line they checked my pc 10MINUTES!! and came to conclusion that i have broken motherboard estimated cost for new one 300-400€ (my pc did cost 700€) and i was like wtf those guys didnt even bother to check on internet what those beepings did mean so i went shopping and bought usb floppy drive wasted 5hours doing different methods crysis disk/autoexec and such no luck finally i gave up AGAIN and got mad and bought NEW pc for 600€... and today 4days later of buying new laptop pc i came to 1 thread and decide to give 1 last try for fun and i managed to fix my lame acer ASSpire bios back to alive... and this is my method

ACER ASPIRE 5102 wlmi (step by step solution that worked for me)

1. download this -> http://rapidshare.com/files/119994408/acer_5050...sis_disk.zip.html

2. run exe choose where you want files to go i made folder and moved em there at first

3. get empty floppy disk

4. pop it in floppy drive

5. move all 3 files to floppy

6. download your own acer xxxx laptop version bios from acer site (my was 3.10)

7. unzip downloaded bios zip go dos folder rename .wph file to bios.wph and move it to floppy replace older one

8. go to laptop pc throw floppy drive to usb

9. (ok now i mess you all up Very Happy

) FORGET your ac power cable i didn't need it i DIDN'T REMOVE BATTERY i left it there

10 fold FN and ESC key all the time

11. press power button hold button until it starts to read on floppy remove fingers wait 3 sec press FN and ESC once now it should read floppy close 1minute then it stops and is quiet for a while and reboots itself and tadaaaaaa you got your pc back Very Happy

the most funny thing was that all you ppl say "yeah take that battery off and plug in cable hold button bla bla bla" i made opposite keeping battery on and not power cable and i got it working yeah baby yeah! it might worked other way but yea i don't care anymore i'm keeping this disk just in case now Wink

original thread that helped me most -> http://www.wimsbios.com/phpBB2/topic10069.html

i dont see why you ppl use phlash16 thing i wasted all those hours with different methods while there was far more simple solution

good luck to all of you ppl i learned valuable lesson i wont mock blind ppl EVER and if i see one i'll sure as hell help him much as i can...

Valdas · Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject:

Download from ftp://ftp.acer.ru/Drivers/Notebooks/As1640z/crisis/ crisis_3a19_for_UMA.rar

1. Double click "CRISDISK.BAT" to create crisis disk to a blank/non-bootable floppy diskette.

2. Connect a USB floppy drive with the diskette created in step #1 to Crane II.

3. Press & hold FN+ESC, then press power button.
Do not release FN+ESC when NB boots up until you hear the beep sound.
You'd see a black screen during flash, after it's done, NB will reboot itself.
It works for Intel Video card(bios file UMA). If you have ATI rename ZL9A3A19.WPH to bios.WPH and put it incide "crisis_3a19_for_UMA" and folow instructions above.
It workt for me.
1L+2S signals = Wrong BIOS.(Award)

dzoniks · Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: I did it if somone needs help!

If you need help write email! To dzoniks@yahoo.com

Gaba · Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject:

Acer aspire 1705sm
the problem is that i flashed my bios from windows... creating a backup file , after that rebot and it was working... but the cpu fan was always at 100% speed so i flashed again the .bak file created early , reboot and... nothing , seems that the bios is chcking the devices(start cd rom and hdd), then after 5 sec (no display or enything else ) reboot
tried keys combo but i dont get beeps... can anyoane help me pls ?

dazzer9535 · Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 12:42 pm Post subject: Acer Travelmate 6413 lmi

Hi

Help needed please,

I updated the bios today to the latest verson and the laptop froze andnow it wont do anything, how can recover the PC as described in this thread, what Im really after is an older version of the bios and the crisis recovery tool, im still reading the thread.

thanks for any help

sinbad39 · Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2008 12:31 am Post subject:

Hi! Folks.
I am having problems with an Acer Aspire 9301AWSMi. I have managed to make a usb key with all the info from this thread and know that it works as I have access to another Acer 9301AWSMi. Booting from USB key on working laptop bios flashes and laptop works as normal after reboot. Very Happy

Trying same method on faulty laptop (failed bios update) usb key reads but continues accessing the key for ages without rebooting.
No beeps, no display. Mad

Using Phlash16 and original bios from Acer site.
Anybody got any ideas? If I connect another monitor will I be able to see what is happening when the key is accessed? Thanks and best regards to all, Sinbad39

mogorri · Posted: Mon Nov 17, 2008 9:28 pm Post subject:

Sinbad39 use bios update ver1.19. is OK.
ver 1.20 NOOOOOOOO
spanish: Usa la ver 1.19 con la ver 1.20 NO FUNCIONA. Yo he tenía el mismo problema que tu con un acer Aspire 9301AWSMi