Reply 40 of 49, by dionb
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darry wrote on 2020-06-12, 00:00:[...]
By the way, I'm pretty sure it's not a self-extractor, but the actual flashing utility with embedded BIOS that needs to be run from pure DOS, not under Windows .
I know it's not a self-extractor. The file on the Dell site is BXPST_11.exe. That's a floppy-disk creator that creates a minimal boot floppy with the XPSST_A11.exe flash utility on it. That utility contains a BIOS image somewhere in it, but not in a way I'm currently able to get out.
The utilty doesn't run, assumedly because it checks current BIOS string and that doesn't match (as it's for an Intel-branded SE440BX-2)
There are ways to force newer Dell flash utilities to ignore model check, but they don't seem to work for this one.
PC Hoarder Patrol wrote on 2020-06-12, 00:23:BXPST_11.exe, which I zipped, is the packaged version designed to create a bootable floppy which you'd need for recovery […]
BXPST_11.exe, which I zipped, is the packaged version designed to create a bootable floppy which you'd need for recovery
https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/drive … driverId=R22940
The same floppy can either work for a normal bootable update, or in recovery mode (without video) when the protected bios boot-block loader attempts a blind recovery.
How do I load the BIOS using the BIOS recovery method?
Create the BIOS disk according to the directions in the BIOS download file. Create two disks (one as a backup) in case something goes wrong and the disk gets messed up.
If you have the manual for your motherboard, use the procedure for recovering the BIOS :
1. Turn off the computer
2. Remove the configuration jumper to set recovery mode
3. Insert the bootable BIOS disk in A:
4. Turn on the computer and let it boot
5. Listen to the speaker:
two beeps and the end of activity in A: indicate successful recovery
a series of continuous beeps indicates failure. Return to step one and try again.
6. If recovery is successful, turn off the computer.
7. Put the configuration jumper on pins 1 and 2 to set normal mode for setup
8. Leave the BIOS upgrade disk in A: and turn on the computer.
9. Perform the BIOS upgrade as normal.
I'm not confident that this will work as I assume the same BIOS string check will be present in this mode. But it's easy enough to try. I'll also look and see if Uniflash supports that odd SMD Intel EEPROM well enough to get a dump of current BIOS.