Hello guys, I have updated the bios to the latest 1.8.0 but noticed that the fans were running kinda slow leaving the cpu to go close to 100 degrees C when gaming so I decided to revert it back. Did the ctrl+esc thing, somehow selected recovery, it did some stuff then...dead. Hitting the power button it tries to start, the fans run for 1 second then power cuts off, it does this 3 times then afterwards it lights up the power button 2 times red and 1 time blue, meaning cpu failure. To me it seems impossible that the mobo got actually damaged and the cpu fried, it's not like I poured water on it or overclock it. I have researched the issue, unplugged the c-mos battery for 5 min, tried all the suggested found flashing techniques but with no luck. Also the information I'm finding, some say unplug the battery, plug the usb with the bios, press END, some say press Ctrl+Esc hold it for...20 seconds some say 10 minutes, some say on differenf forums regarding their issues that the file should be .rev some .exe some .rom some say the name should be this or that and capital letters but no luck, my laptop doesn't do anything except lighting the power on button. Dell won't help, they want to exchange the mobo but I have to pay although still in warranty cause assumably I broke it not them. This forum seems very professional fiilled with actually knowledgeable people, I worked a lot to buy this laptop and after 6 months it's dead and I can't afford another one as I'm a student, please help me and guide me through the right steps, there has to be a way to fix it, I'd order a bios chip and solder it myself if that might help, I really feel bad...losing it all of a sudden, it was the only thing I had. Much thanks!

@BrickedAlien - You need CH341A + SOIC8 test clip with cable, then dump the BIOS (read, verify, save) and send to me and wait (DO NOTHING ELSE!), I will fix it for you with all unlocked BIOS too
These tools are cheap, less than $7 total for both if you order from China and wait slow delivery (3-5 weeks).
You can get from other sellers on ebay that may be closer to you, or ship faster but either will be for more $$
You can also get them at other places that sell computer stuff, like Newegg or Amazon etc.

This is what you need
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332735579991
https://www.ebay.com/itm/382486015977

Here is guide on how to use
[GUIDE] Flash BIOS with CH341A programmer

And here is software package - http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...695330485827902

Thanks for your reply, I've found some place in my country relatively close to me and knowledgeable of this sort of issue that are willing to (try) to fix it for a small decent fee and I think they have the tools you mentioned. They've told me as well that the bios is the issue and there are small chances for the cpu or motherboard to be fried. I'll post the update here regarding with what's going on with my laptop

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Sorry for the double post, doing it so in order to receive a status update.
Are these the items I need in case I decide to do it with your help?

https://www.okazii.ro/clem-259-de-testar...15&ibid=listing[191070950]

https://www.okazii.ro/programator-de-mem...25xx-a177078233

You seem very knowledgeable and i think I have higher chances in also optimizing the laptop this way not only just fix it hopefully

@BrickedAlien - Be VERY careful with places like that! Often they overcharge, and can sometimes make things worse and then tell you they can't fix it. It's really best for you in many ways to do yourself. Usually they program in stock BIOS from web-download and if that fails to boot they are lost as to how to fix it.
This looses all your motherboard specific info (serial, UUID, LAN MAC ID etc), and is not always a boot-able solution, but for this reason you need to be 100% sure they make a backup first and give it to you. Additionally, this is not how you properly fix a BIOS

BIOS update can in no way kill the motherboard or CPU, so already they are talking non-sense and you should be concerned (in case they kill motherboard or CPU and then blame you)
CPU is not required for them to fix, but you should leave in place so they don't bend CPU socket pins.

No matter what you do, if you take it to anyone to fix it, ask them kindly to PLEASE make a BIOS dump with programmer from your board before they do anything, and to send this file to your email or give to you on USB Stick etc (give them a USB stick to put file on, so there is no reason for them to not give you this file)

You can edit posts here anytime, edit button is over on the right side

Yes, I help people do this all day long, for many many years I generally unlock BIOS menus for people or update parts of their BIOS, but often have to help people recover from bricked BIOS too, so yes I know a lot about this area and help people do it all the time
Yes, once we get you back up and running, if you want I can unlock your BIOS menus so you can see all the hidden settings, and I can update stuff in there for you too if you want (like RAID modules, CPU microcodes, ME FW etc)

Yes, those two items you linked is all you need. But, before you order, please show me images of your motherboard so we can be 100% sure that is all you need.
I will show you which chips are BIOS and then you take new image of them (or read me the ID off them, so we can be sure you don't also need a 1.8v adapter too)
Just remove the back/bottom casing, and usually from there you can see the BIOS chips.

Ok, i will do it with your help then, indeed I realized that there are 90% chances for the bios to be the issue becouse 1. The laptop got bricked imediately after the botched recovery 2 In order for the bios to recover it must have either a bootable stick with the desired files on it inserted, either the files should have been on the ssd and suposing they were on the ssd I remember I couldn't install so easily the windows last time on it cause it wouldn't detect only if I removed the hdd so I think the process literally deleted the bios and tried to replace it...well with nothing.

This is how the mobo looks like https://beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/20...R3-Thermals.jpg the cpu is soldered on it

Yes, we can do it And it will cost you MUCH less

Show me actual image you take, with the back of the casing removed. That image is too low of a resolution to see what I need to see
Here though, I circled the possible BIOS, so you can look at these chips in person and read the ID off with magnifying glass and flashlight, and or take good images of these specifically too

I'm trying today to buy the programmer, I have order it and tried to call the seller with no response though. I'm currently not home but I will take a picture as soon as I have the programmer ready to go

No rushing around, you have another computer to use while you wait right? If yes, slow down now, before you get stuff in your hand and try to go too fast then too
Yes, whenever you have time and are home, take some images for me

I am going now to pick up the programmer and the clamp reader adaptor as they arrived in the store, in about 3 hours I will take the pictures required, I am not a church goer but I'm praying it will work. I will wait for your response and after getting home and taking the pictures I won't proceed all by myself

The whole motherboard
https://scontent.fotp7-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v...ea7&oe=5EA1ED7D

The chip closer to the bottom (battery)
https://scontent.fotp7-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v...71e&oe=5E9D687F
The chip closer to the upper side/radiator
https://scontent.fotp7-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v...71e&oe=5E9D687F

The one closer to the battery is called: Winbond 25q128fvsq (with 1634 under)
The one closer to the vents is called : Winbond 25q80dvs1g (with 1633 under)

Just realised that I put the same photo, either way for others that reach this forum, the bios chip is the one closer to the battery

@BrickedAlien - W25Q128FV would be the BIOS, the other is probably EC FW

For W25Q128FV you need to use 1.18 version CH341A software, or use ASProgrammer 1.41
Here is CH341A software package that has 1.18 - http://s000.tinyupload.com/index.php?fil...695330485827902
And here is ASProgrammer 1.41 - https://github.com/nofeletru/UsbAsp-flash/releases/

Do not use any "Auto" functions in the software, only use Read, verify and then save if chip/buffer match etc

I'm ready.
It said chip and buffer same.
Can you send me please an e-mail address on which I can send? Can't seem to find an upload file button.

I have opened the file in Hex Editor and it's not all FF's.

The file is 16 mb and the upload limit here is 6mb
The file is here, the password is Alienware : https://easyupload.io/4i57qh

If you put file in 7zip, zip, or rar either with max compression then it may have fit here, if not I would have just had you upload to some free file host like you did
Sorry, but I have to leave right now, so can't get into this until later today or tonight

While you wait, please link me to the latest BIOS you tried to flash (at Dell's site) and also tell me the previous version you were on if you know
Also, you can delete that file upload, and link above if you want, I have the file now. Dump looks OK, so we should be good with write once ready

The bios that it was installed from within the OS https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/...nware-15-laptop

I didn't tried to install 1.8.0 and it didn't work, it worked but then I tried to revert it by selecting recovery in the bios menu accesable via ctrl+esc and after it didn't start anymore. I think the issue was by the fact it tried to mingle with these:

- Firmware updates to address security advisory INTEL-SA-00213 (CVE-2019-0086, CVE-2019-0091 and CVE-2019-0093)
- Firmware updates to address security advisories INTEL-SA-00233(CVE-2018-12126,CVE-2018-12127,CVE-2018-12130 and CVE-2019-11091)

...and it locked the cpu, that's why I get the cpu failure error code from the flashing power button (head) 2 reds, 1 blue

The previous version that was installed and I assumed it's gonna revert to it is 1.7.0 : https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/...nware-15-laptop

What is your CPU model? That stuff you mentioned simply is microcode updates, any of those should be fine for your CPU or they wouldn't put out for your model.
What may have happened though is BIOS 1.08 bugged during flash on you, or flashed in the wrong BIOS (there is two roms in each EXE), so failed, and when you did the recovery it may have recovered to some super old BIOS that may not support your current CPU.
That, or it just bricked on recovery too

Do you have ANY backup of the BIOS made any time before this happened? Can be made with software, years old etc. I just need to see some old BIOS from your exact specific system, so I can be sure which rom you should be using from inside the exe
If not, maybe we can tell from the included microcodes in each rom, since they differ

R00 - BAP10022 >> 406E3, 506E3, 506E8, 906E9
R01 - BAP10033 >> 406E2, 406E3, 506E2, 506E3

The cpu model is intel i7 6700hq, I don't have any backup of the Bios before this happened as everything was done before via Os :( I never done anything via usb's or custom made, everything was stock and it was 1.6.0 when bought succesfully updated to 1.7.0 by just running the exe then updated to 1.8.0 then via the bios menu corrupted by selecting recovery, I honestly and unfortunately don't have this sort of tech knowledge no know which is the best line from the mentioned by you. My tech knowledge is up to knowing that Rom means read only memory