TLDR; I spent more than an hour repairing this laptop only to discover it had a corrupted BIOS. I am seeing more and more of this type of issue because Microsoft is now pushing out BIOS firmware updates with its driver updates. The only way that I have found to stop this issue is to disable optional updates or, better yet, check and update your BIOS firmware yourself every couple of months to prevent one from being pushed to your laptop when you are not ready for it. We have specialized exclusively in Dell and Alienware laptops for over 22 years. So, if you need Dell OEM parts or Dell expert repair, including board-level repair, and you want to support the channel, www.partspeople.com.
They did it to my PC. Not only killed Win10 install (would no longer boot into Windows), but after spending a couple of days trying to repair, an iso created by Rufus finished it off. Had to do a CMOS reset to even get the machine to boot at all. BIOS and boot manager were inaccessible the way MS left it. It is now a Linux boxen. All my computers are, now. Good bye Microsoft.
@@joefratianni8693 Ya.. I don't understand this either. I'd only source BIOS updates from the manufacturer, and not microsoft. If this is happening, hopefully this gets out to the big tech bloggers so it gets microsofts attention.
MS has been pushing BIOS/UEFI updates through Windows Update for a long time now, I remember this in 2014 with my Acer AXC 605. LUCKILY it was on Windows 7 and I had a habit of checking the updates offered from time to time, and sure enough it wasn't in the optional category, but scheduled to in installed automatically! I caught it before it got installed and blocked it permanently. Weeks later you saw tons of Acer users on the forums that had bricked PCs because of the BIOS update forced by Windows. BIOS/UEFI updates should NEVER be automatically applied, and in fact MS should make them installed by skilled users only through a registry change that only skilled users would even bother to attempt.
Right? I don't want to touch this. W10 was supposed to be the end of it, remember? There's no reason to scupper it, very Apple of MS tbh. The big W10 update that broke many systems practically destroyed mine, I mean bricked it - I just gave up on it, and when I tried again some time later it took me days of tweaking this and that, BIOS changes, drive formats, the lot. As for pushing BIOS updates, that's nuts. It's like they want to push W11 so bad that they seem maybe to be trying to force old hw to be somehow compatible re TPM etc. Wouldn't it just be a lot easier to extend W10?
i have 30 years IT and same here. most laptops / desktops these days have safebios now. if a bios is corrupt it will recover. but for those that don't have safebios, then the method he used will need to be done or you will need to replace the bios chip or remove it from the board then reflash with a chip programmer and solder it back on. i bet you more than anything the person that owns the laptop got tired of waiting for the bios flash and power cycled it. that is typically what ends up happening.
@marlomontanaro3233 - Microsoft is pushing everything without asking ... under Windows 7 you could choose what you wanted ... Windows 7 was the last good Windows
The BIOS can be corrupted during normal operation, through environmental conditions (such as a power surge or outage), from a failed BIOS upgrade, or damage from a virus. If the BIOS is corrupted, the system automatically attempts to restore the BIOS from a hidden partition when the computer is restarted.
Disable UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates in BIOS Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (commonly by pressing F2, Delete, or Esc during boot). Locate the option for UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates and disable it. This prevents BIOS updates from Windows Update.
Thank you for sharing this ... I just did a quick reboot & disabled this for my Latitude 5521. I was able to find it easily, with Advanced Settings visible. I wanted to check it out before commenting =)
@@arnorobinwerkman Windows has supported BIOS updates through its update system for over a decade. This feature, often enabled by UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates, allows manufacturers like Dell, HP, and others to deliver BIOS updates via Windows Update, particularly for critical security patches. Manufacturers' proprietary tools (e.g., Dell Command | Update) also manage BIOS updates, but Windows Update has increasingly been used for this purpose since at least the early 2010s.
I had a Windows update two weeks ago to my Laptop that was in Perfect working condition and now its no longer working and only goes to Black Screen. Is there any way i can sue Microsoft for this or ask them to pay for my laptop to be repaired or even pay for a New Laptop ?
Unfortunately no you can not sue MS because you don't own the operating system and you signed the compulsory waver away when you booted it up from new.
@@ronnierush9379 Thank you for answering. I might still talk to some Consumer groups just to see if any thing can be done as i'm sure this effects hundreds of thousands of people each years based on all the YT videos trying to fix these Windows Update problems.
What I think?? If the computer works "don't fix it". Bios updates shall not be listed in Windows Updates. Bios updates shall only be updated from the official manufactor sites.
I can't say you're not right, but it is what it is. Bios updates get listed in Windows, and it's better to have a clear recovery procedure in hand, before attempting any risky update.
critical bios updates should be offered by windows update else the owner will blame microsoft for not updating when they get there accounts emptied and identity stolen
@@dave-bennett I agree EXCEPT it should be left up to the PC owner whether or not they want to actually use the BIOS /UEFI update, and the potential consequences of applying it or not.
I had a brand new laptop from work, next day there was this BIOS forced update which trashed my laptop. Works IT dept had to provide another new laptop. At least 10 other employees had the same issue.
It really seems like MS (and an increasing number of other tech companies) are allowed to get away with a lot of stuff when it comes to updates by making an appeal to security. And sure, generally, you ought to install updates for security reasons. But it being a net benefit assumes that the company has some semblance of responsibility and won't just go full CrowdStrike and force you to figure out how to pick up the pieces yourself.
This is crazy! For years I have known about how to re-flash a bios even with no display, the fact that old motherboards would allow the physical disabling or write protection of a bios chip. It is something you do with care and has to be done exactly or things will bork. I have literally just learnt from this video that Microsoft are now pushing bios updates. For a while now I have been learning Linux, sick of this constant barrage of updates and other issues with windows.
I have been using Linux Mint, and Ubuntu for many years, as I didn't like Microsofts business practices. These versions of Linux also have a vast array of programs that can be downloaded for free. Linux lets you know when updates are available, and allows the user to select what updates to download, and when.
I had a laptop on my bench that Microsoft pushed a BIOS update, glad it happened on my bench not after the client got it back cause it bricked it. Microsoft, the gift that keeps on giving :D
To be honest im amazed by how really repairable dell laptops are. Im using precision 5530 for almost 6 years and still getting proper security updates almost weekly. And the internals also very repairable. Easy to access and service.
I can say the same about my Lenovo Legion Slim. One day, needed a new battery (it was under warranty). The service rep wanted to do a mail-in repair, and quoted a near-month turnaround. Not wanting to be without my workhorse over something I can do in 10 minutes, I ordered a new battery directly from Lenovo. Came in quick, and 10 minutes later, it’s already buttoned back up. Having done battery replacements on phones and tablets, it’s quite refreshing to see a battery secured by screws instead of tape, or (looks at Samsung) goddamn glue.
Yes. I am just a regular user, not a tech. I have two machines that went down back to back, within a day of each other. I don't have the BIOS writing device, so currently they're just sitting here, dead. Now I have to scrape together extra $$ that I don't have for repairs. Thanks, Microsoft!
Many laptops and tablets seem to; Dell seems to like power on with Ctrl+Esc+Power and that .rcv file on a plugged in USB drive (but check what Dell have written for specific models). "Dell BIOS recovery" into your usual search engine should find the dell-written article about it.
I've had about five Precision 3560's go bad about 30 days after the warranty expired. The techs say that the mother boards are bad and we have to buy new laptops. Some are throwing BSODs and that seems to be the NVIDIA video driver fighting with the Intel driver. Removing the NVIDIA driver seems to fix it. I don't actually work on them myself since my company is contracted with NTT to do desktop support, but I think they're just doing a cursory diagnostic and not really trying to get to the bottom of the issue.
Nice work ! I wonder why a standard user would do a bios update through a windows update process ... Bios update is critical process, wich requires some precautions.
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. Never thought they would mess this much with our lives!!! Recently I lost two perfectly perfect machines to this nonsense. One day it's working one restart later bricked. After the video having a brand new perpective; THANKS TO YOU and ALL THE PEOPLE COMMENTING on the issue... I will share details, maybe other people will take advantage of the information... This one is the i7 3rd Gen 3770... Asus Z77 motherboard. Was alive for I guess 11+ years... Upon replacing it with an AMD last year, I've been using this as my daily low power secondary device... Anyways, last week I think or maybe the week before, it, one day, did not boot. It was kinda painful, like loosing a child or an old friend... Didn't spend much time on the issue since I was busy with work and always tired in the evenings. This was also kind of traumatic cause only 1 or 2 months ago I lost the other 3rd gen, this one an i5 after a bios reset trying to resolve some weird behaviour. After several tests with spare memory modules and cpus, I had decided it was the bios chip and planned to buy a new bios chip and program and try one day... That was an old server of mine and recently my testing PC so, it was not so urgent and I had some other machines lying around and all... That was an MSI mother board by the way. All RAMs G.SKILL... Anyways, after the more recent incident with my old pal (i7-3770), actually after watching this video in the morning today, I decided I give it another try. What I tried before was to check the RAM modules, had tried all possible combinations and it only worked with a particular 8 GB module on A2 and a particular 4 GB module on A2 or B2. No other combination other than this 3 resulted with boot, always the code 55 (memory error) and MeMOK! button never resolved anything... Until today... After watching this video... I realized, since I could still boot using only one memory on one slot and I could try a bios reflash. Then I remembered that this motherboard had a bios recovery button on the back plate. So I decided to perform that, instead of using the bios... I prepared the USB. And performed the bios "flashback" in Asus's terms... Well, this comment is being edited on that PC now :"))) Thanks a lot for helping resolve the issue and reminding me to not give into emotions after consecutive failures.
I went through this exact situation with an hp laptop last year. Windows update failed on a bios update. I'm surprised people like you still exist. Most would have just replaced the motherboard.
I vaguely recall MBs (many years ago) that could save a backup of the firmware. If the primary got corrupted you could move a jumper to force it to use the backup. Once you were back into a working BIOS you could make the backup the primary and its copy the new backup, shut down and move the jumper to its default position. I don't know if this ever caught on with many manufacturers.
Normally, I don’t find myself interested in such videos but you got my attention. However, it would help me a lot If I knew more of the vocabulary. For example, it seems like you mentioned “voltage rails” and “posting” quite a bit. I’ll look at your video description to see if you give links to prerequisites, but if not, it might help other viewers as well as me if you’d pin a comment, or add a link to the description that helps us find prerequisites material for the terminology you’re using. Thanks for uploading this video! It’s leading me to want to subscribe, and probably that will help me find some of the prerequisites I’m needing.
POST = Power On Self-Test. When the computer boots, it runs BIOS, (Basic Input/Output System) and performs tests and hardware checks. When the POST is completed, the system then passes control to the Operating System. 'Voltage Rail' simply refers to lines that supply the power to the various circuits that comprise the computer. These lines are basically connected the the outputs of the various voltage regulators making up the PSU, Power Supply Unit. Hope that helps. :)
I own a repair shop. Microsoft should stop pushing out BIOS updates to computers since it can corrupt the BIOS on the machines. Dell does support assist which can locate the exact drivers, BIOS, and etc.
Yep! MS pushed BIOS updates to my NUC 9* systems after upgrading to Windows 11. Bricked several times before I figured it out, told (then) Intel and they replaced the board. Had to wait a while before Intel provided a BIOS update that wouldn't do that.
This only happens on machines that are sold as business machines for the big brands. The brands themselves have to tell Microsoft that they want these models updated and the partner provides the bios updates to Microsoft. So if they push a broken bios it is the fault of the vendor not Microsoft. Also the companies that buy these maachines can choose if they let Microsoft update the bios or if they want to be in control of bios updates and settings from their own infrastructure. If so they can disable "UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates" in the bios. This will block updates from Microsoft. So in this case it is either the fault of the vendor and not Microsoft and if the end user does not want Microsoft to push then thats the fault of the user for not knowing how to disable it.
I have a repair shop, I've come across something similar with the same laptop but the issue is it would freeze after about 20 minutes. The issue was bad BIOS. I fixed it by rolling back to a previous version and disabling OS BIOS updates in the BIOS.
These very symptoms happened about 3 weeks ago to my wifes laptop. I opened it up did the basic look for burnt, unplugged the main n cmos batts. Nothing. It was about 1 week until end of her college semester so i ran n got her a referb replacement. Thankfully id kept her on win 10 and could pull the unencrypted m2 from her dead computer to get her files n get her running. Never though or even knew Microsoft was forcing bios updates down. Given her computer was working fine the rebooted to dead, this may likey be the issue. Thanks Microshaft. Really didn't need this expense. Guess there gonna help pc makers sell more. Wonder if they get kickbacks?
Greetings from London. I've noticed that my Inspiron 5593 has done a couple of BIOS updates as part of the usual Windows Updates. I was a bit suspicious of this but they went through without issues. I might block them after watching this video and use the Dell website as recommended. So how would I detect that a BIOS update was on the way? Is it marked as a separate update on the Update page? I usually look before updating but I must admit I didn't spot the two that went through. If I look at the updates history, it has 4 firmware upgrades listed since new!
Great video! My solution is to just disable Capsule Updates from BIOS. That's the first thing I do. There was a big issue with Precision 7770/7670 BIOS and most people got it with Windows Updates. Nice job showing diagnostics process. Please, make a video with an Intel based system as well.
Very educational video. I used to repair PC's more than 20 years ago. Flashing a BIOS was a common first step unless the issue was completely unrelated. Interesting to see that this approach is still applicable to this day. Pushing BIOS updates should be done cautiously so I would show some restraint in updating BIOS by Microsoft Update
The problem is bios updates are necessary for security, so you can't hide from them. The manufacturers need to up their game, and make sure their bios updates work. Microsoft is forcing their hand now, pushing the updates.
I remember back in 2014 when MS sent a BIOS update to my Acer AXC 605 (which I still use today) luckily I always checked my Windows update list and there it was, and it was listed to be automatically installed! Luckily at the time my machine was on Windows 7 and I could block it from ever installing that update. It probably saved this PC I'm typing to you on right now! LOL
Thanks for the great info, I still have 2 Toshiba laptops with (I think this issue) because they died at same time several years ago. The supposed authorised centre shared $70 each for report and did nothing except saying one is video driver and other some else “BS” 😡😡🇦🇺from Melbourne AUSTRALIA🇦🇺
What think is that the BIOS should NOT be upgradable. It should be a very basic root system that does a post and then boots the OS. There is no reason to complicate thi,s therfore, there is no reason to require updating
Never mind that there are people out there constantly trying to take control of any computer they detect, and maybe mess you up, too. They would never do that to us! 👌👌
I had to deal with that for laptops and ive always believed that they should in theory survive as they have a "uninterrupted power supply" aka the battery but wow this brings a whole nother world of risk!
I have a near new Lenovo Legion AMD gaming laptop, Lenovo updated the BIOS online a few days ago no issues. I haven't had an issue with BIOS updates since the old days of having to do it manually outside of Windows using DOS.
@@ats-3693 I do work on a lot of machines, and do see some BIOS corrupted machines. Almost all of them HP which shouldn't be a surprise. My CH341a (cheaper version of what partspeople uses) has been able to fix them. I had one desktop which seemed to have a failing bios chip, because despite writing the BIOS file several times to the BIOS chip, it never actually wrote it. After trying for 45 minutes, it did eventually successfully write the BIOS and the system came back to life. Ideally you would replace the BIOS chip but to be fair it only seems to have issues when writing to it - an attempted BIOS update is what bricked it in the first place.
@@billyhatcher643fun fact when booting windows it schanges mien boot order. And i got dual boot sio i dont see selector menu. Only reason i still use windows is becouse some games dont work on linux.
Y’all need to stop thinking it’s useless. If I got ahold of your pc, nothing would stop me from accessing your files just by plugging your main drive as second drive on my computer, no password would stop it. Bitlocker prevents that and encrypts the drive until the recovery key is entered.
I rebooted an old Dell 5480 yesterday for a Windows update and was alarmed to see a string of Dell firmware updates being applied. The laptop survived, at least for now.
Most modern laptops have bios recovery options. Dells can update a bad bios from the web... Try just holding the power for like 15 seconds from off to on back off and then on once more and ctrl+esc at boot. From there nv reset / reinstall bios over the internet. I work for an MSP and we sell MOSTLY Dell. I usually do all that I can not to have Dell come in for a warranty claim.
I was dealing with some Dell laptops with the defective 13 and 14th generation chips, YES laptops are ALL affected. I couldn't get the bios update to work in windows with the customer over the phone, and I did every single way OUTside windows because it didn't work when I came out in person, and those ways didn't work. However, I booted back into windows and the CPU wasn't in fail limp mode, and I ran it in windows again and it WORKED! That laptop was almost toast, it was crash city, then we couldn't do the update, resolved. phew! Kind of funny that the downloaded BIOS exe being run in windows was the only way that I could get it to work, even though it didn't work initially, the CPU had to be in happy non crash fail mode.
Usually the bios get corrupted because the customers powered down their laptop while the bios was updating because they don't understand what's happening since the update was launched by windows update and windows update doesn't explain what happens if they power down the laptop while the bios is updating. When you update the bios manually, there are clear warnings displayed before you can start the update. So it's mainly the customers fault for not knowing the basics of maintaining their equipment or just not taking seriously the warning message that appears while the bios update is installing. Microsoft is also at fault for not displaying the appropriate warnings when windows update is updating the bios.
Dells have UEFI capsule updates enabled by default, which I suppose is good if everything works properly but if something interrupts the flash then you might get weirdness like this. I think they are also set to recover the UEFI from a backup on repeated boot failure as a safeguard against this. However there's a lot of ways for updates to go bad on Dells and they are a PITA to fix in stock configuration because the also come with RAID enabled (for an intel storage driver most don't need) which also likely means that you can't just boot from USB as you should. Then there's the default encryption which is another thing to go wrong. Start adding these things together and it's as if Dell is making their computers as hard to recover as a possible.
@@remixedcat Yes you can boot from USB but the drive won't be visible to things like live Linux distros or even PE without proper drivers installed, thus making you not able to work on the HD from USB unless you have a specific Windows PE boot disk configured specifically for Dell recovery. It's an unnecessary PITA is all I'm saying. Any sane person who gets a new Dell laptop and is not using an Intel disk should do a partial sysprep and swap into AHCI mode as the very first thing they do. In fact this is necessary if you want to get good performance out of things like Samsung drives. (My first experience with this was installing a secondary drive which the primary drive could not see or use due to this default RAID mode. Yes it's dumb and Dell needs to knock it off)
This only happens on machines that are sold as business machines for the big brands. The brands themselves have to tell Microsoft that they want these models updated and the partner provides the bios updates to Microsoft. So if they push a broken bios it is the fault of the vendor not Microsoft.
What vintage is it? Year/Model? Give us some details and more info. I have an ASUS vintage 2012 I have installed PC MANAGER recently and it performs like new. PC MANAGER made a huge difference right away. I have noticed it was getting slower with the updates to 10. That trend has stopped.
When I was a software developer, Windows updates would wreak havoc regularly. Since 2008, I have had a number of Macs, laptops and Minis, and they have all updated through their supported lifetime without issue. Obviously keeping hardware in house makes it a lot easier for Apple. Plus, I have never had a virus on a Mac without using any aftermarket anti software, with at least three running 24/7.
Started Fooling with Computers in 1980 TRS-80 Mod I Commodore Apple II bunck of PC Compatiables to my ASUS GL702VSK Laptop I use for editing w/ Davinci. Just purcgaced a M4 Mac Mini Basic. Should be Fun.
I had the same thing happen to me several months ago with my Lenovo Legion 5. I was running all the “Windows” updates and one of them was a BIOS update. After about an hour of it just sitting there, it finally reported that it was 100% complete but the laptop wouldn’t boot up. Just a black screen. Ended up sending it back to Lenovo under a warranty ticket and they wiped both of my 2 TB SSDs. Ugh! I’ll take the advice written in these comments and always go to the manufacturer’s site to get BIOS updates from now on.
It is not that MS is modifying the BIOS per se; it is a genuine Dell BIOS they are installing. I think Microsoft is feeling the pressure to make sure laptops/computers are updated to date, which means pushing updates, including drivers and firmware. I do not have an issue with this because it can prevent a lot of hacking/ransom attacks. But what I have an issue with is that the firmware is being installed without a warning of any kind. Most people are unaware that the laptop will be in a volatile state for 5 or 10 minutes. They just shut the lid and throw the laptop into their bag.
I just wish MS would show a warning message before installing CMOS firmware updates. It is not the BIOS itself that is the issue; it is being installed without a warning of any kind. Most people are unaware that the laptop will be in a volatile state for 5 or 10 minutes. They just shut the lid and throw the laptop into their bag.
Didn't trash my BIOS (I keep optional updates off, hard learned lesson) but Micro$oft decided recently that my Win10 Pro laptop needed the latest Win11 Pro updates, then when it didn't see the TPM chip, canceled it and left a lot of my Win10 files corrupted. It then put me in a update loop, trying to push the Win11 updates every time I started the laptop. I had planned to update to win11 anyway as my laptop is old, but more than capable of handling Win11, so I just used the workaround and did a manual install. But, at least 90% of the time over the years, I have found the cause of various problems has been Microsoft fighting me for control of my computer, they seem to think they know better than I do how I should be set up and what options I want. Grrrrr!
Same here, I agree M$ should not be upgrading the BIOS, these updates are rarely needed, most machines go thru their entire working life without an update. Please halt this procedure. (I'm sure they'll listen to me !!!) 😆😆😆
Being a person that often repairs and referbs used Dell ex business machines, I have seen this for sometime now, and it's not limited to Laptops, their Optiplex also receive automatic firmware updates via Windows 10 and 11, it totally pisses me off, and is way to overreaching by Microsoft in my opinion, some of the systems I have seen this on, there is nothing you can do to stop it as they come down with standard updates, not optional, and there is no option in the Bios to disable this as well, for machines that I use myself, I have every Microsoft server blocked on a network level via mac address to totally restrict updates to my machines until I'm ready, automatic updates are already a bad idea, but auto bios updates is total BS, not only are they trying to control your software experience, but they are also saying they can do what ever they like to the actual hardware that you own, and you will accept it, and you will like it, this would be so easy for a bad actor to brick your device, or even worse, MS wants you to buy a new machine, so lets push out a dodgy firmware update......
I got an ASUS Vivobook OLED for 15€ cuz it wouldn't turn on. Repair shop told the previous owner that "it died a heat death, unfixable". When I probed the motherboard, it would VERY RARELY turn on. So I put an SSD in, MyAsus asked for a bios update, did it, and now it works *perfectly*. It's got a high end ryzen and a RTX 3050 TI as well! Have you ever encountered that? My guess was an "unstable bit" in the eeprom or something, but I don't know how realistic that is. BIOS repairs, for some reason, are some of my favourites lol
Recent windows 11 update went into restart and returned with a permanent light blue blank screen. I shut it down and it came up with "installing updates - dont turn off". Another restart and it was done. Why the blank blue screen?
@@petergibson2318 the bios is part of the software that runs on your computer, and all computer software is subject to vulnerabilities. As it's grown in complexity the potential for vulnerability has grown with it.
What happened to the BIOS write protect soft switch? Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter anyways, the Microsoft EULA allows for destructive upgrades as well as beneficial at your expense. What a wonderful business model! 😮
I always do bios updates and never have had problems. Some inspiron computers are as much junk as HP computers are. Vbios updates are tricky at best and you can brick it easier.
Yep ... been there experienced that on my Gigabit Aero 17. Painful ... Thanks Microsoft. P.S. It really is a PIA if you have bit locker enabled... be sure to document the recovery key - or else!
That reminds me of the Samsung Chronos laptop debacle. They made a motherboard with a BIOS that got stuffed/bricked by UEFI code. And they were not willing to admit it. Was there a class action suit in the US? Not in my country anyway. I had to shell out for a new mobo. I believe we used to be told back in the day: "No software can destroy hardware". Hah!
I have taken all my older laptops and installed Lynux Mint, They never ran so well. Also I set my desktop to a metered connection and stopped updates over a metered connection so they don't automatically update.
As much as I like to blame microsoft, how do we know the customer didn't "abandon ship" in the middle of the BIOS updates/restarts and cause the BIOS to corrupt? I agree, Windows Updates shouldnt be handing out BIOS updates to basic users.
I just had a similar situation occur with my Dell 7920, where the computer immediateky started rebooting endlessly with "missing memory" errors. Fixed by replacing the MS-supplied BIOS with the most-recently-released official Dell BIOS. It was worrisome.
@@remixedcat In this case then, I wonder why he needed to reprogram the chip with special lab equipment VS the Vulcan nerve pinch. I remember having a problem with a Dell workstation, I had to use a 30 year old ps/2 keyboard for the nerve pinch cause USB interfaces came on line too late in the boot process to be of any use with a usb keyboard, the pc has a ps/2 connector.
@@xprcloud that's what I was thinking, but since it uses insydeH2O vs dell's custom bios it might be a little harder to do the recovery. I know Dell puts different BIOS on some systems. They use their custom graphical one, InsydeH2O, and aptio.
Off subject but win 11 updating from win 10 on a personally built pc of which pushes secure boot of which then breaks my Linux installs. So secure boot and Linux installs is fun. Google various Linux’s that support secure boot but non of ones I was using did. Pain in the backside. I’m wondering maybe the M$ bios/uefi update is maybe updating secure boot keys since w11 really wants secure boot active ? W11 crashes if secure boot off, as if win11 tries to update tpm or somesuch and secure boot of it’ll blue screen on ya… not sure though.
Win11 requires secure boot, but you can modify the registry to make it work without it but you may need to reinstall win11. Not sure I have not tried that myself.
I remember back in the '90s I got the Chernobyl virus that wrote itself to the bios chip, it took me months to find out what had happened, I figured out what was going on when I put a known good drive into the computer with a fresh OS and that became infected despite the ethernet not being connected, I had to dump the drives and replace the bios chip in order to get the machine working again.
I remember around 14 years ago my computer stopped booting. I paid a specialist to fix it and all they had to do was boot it with a disk to the beginning. I received the laptop back and it started downloading updates again, once it downloaded the latest update it wouldn't boot again. I said I'm not paying twice to have this fixed when it has to be a Microsoft problem so I called them and after being on the phone nearly 4 hours they just told me how to download the update before and turn off updates so it would continue to boot. After that incident I started buying MacBook Pros and Mac mini and I've never gone back. Smdh.
That's why, exactly why! It's not wise to allow Microsoft to do more than just updates for the operating system. You can see once again what can happen. But what am I saying? 10 years ago, we were laughed at because we criticized this in Windows 10. Oh well. Who's laughing now? But it's good for good workshops, it secures their existence (I personally don't begrudge them!) but it shows how much power Microsoft has and what can happen! Microsoft simply can't do it anymore and should stop its activities forever. No, I'm not going to harp on about the Linux issue. A lot of things are messed up there too, but (so far...) there aren't any such fatal, catastrophic interventions.
There is no way to do this without any mark or asking. The manufatuer have to lock down the winbond chip by the write protect pin and olso need to add a ENABLE push button to gets the bios updating feature ON by the user. may save some down time and money for the constumer.
Windows should not be doing BIOS updates. Only the user should do an update and only using the manufacturer BIOS update Most manufacturers tell you not to updated the BIOS unless it is absolutely necessary to correct a problem. The BIOS that came with the machine should not need to be touched. If you replaced the CPU it may need the BIOS flashed with a new version. But, you should NEVER update the OS that came with the machine. I have NEVER seen it end well The resources the new OS needs are more than the laptop can provide. Laptops are designed to be 3 years and replaced by a new laptop. The only laptops I have seen that have the power to handle a new OS are the high end thousand dollars and up models. In the old days the BIOS chips had a ROM portion and the portion that can be rewritten and they had a scratch pad area, so when you were updating it the update was written to an area and verified before the update software would switch the BIOS chip to use that new version. And if something went horribly wrong, you could pull the power and use a method to clear the BIOS and have it write the ROM BIOS into the working BIOS and allow you to retry updating the BIOS. And you used to be able to hot flash The chips used to be socketed and big enough to pull out I booted machines that were working, pulled the chip while it was on, put the bad chip or a new blank chip into the socket and flashed the BIOS I needed to it in the working machine and pulled it and plugged it into the machine that was not working and it booted up fine. Nowadays the laptops are not designed to be fixed or updated. The 800 dollar HP desktop I just bought, I was sick over the fact it has a laptop board and 180 watt proprietary power supply and no DVD But, I got a model that had a SATA port and a power cable that, with 2 power adapter cables, I was able to buy a used HP DVDRW slim laptop drive and put that in the front of the case and connect it to the power and SATA and I have a DVD , which is critical for booting my Acronis DVD. I can't believe that desktop computers don't have ANY 5 1/4 or 3 1/2 slots or SATA and the power supply is just enough to run the board and nothing else. I talked with the guy in Best Buy, explaining the case with 5 1/4 slots and he was like a deer in headlights and I pulled up a picture of my machine and he was like " I have never seen anything like that before " I'm like, WOW I AM OLD But the fact that they have stopped putting a DVD in laptops, what are they thinking ? And Windows with their Secure Boot and the C-State that crashes any machine you try and put Windows 10 or 11 or 12 on, I really hate what Microsoft has become. I had to buy Office 365 that I have to pay 150 dollars every year. I have Office 2007 and I really miss being able to just pay once for the software. Now Microsoft wants you to pay every year for the OS, Office and every other MS product, so you pay 600 dollars every year for your computer software Just EVIL GREED
you're not old you were talking to an dummy who is a salesman for computers. 5 1/4 slots are less common but some cases still have them. have to go oit of the brandd prebuilt areas for that though
I always disable UEFI because using a M$ downloaded install ISO applied to a USB via "Windows 7 Download Tool" the bootable USB does not appear in the BBS screen to perform a clean install. Also, if future repairs are needed, Hirens Boot PE legacy bootable also won't show up in the BBS.
Dang I wish I could reprogram the BIOS on a Optiplex 7060 that I have. I replaced the motherboard with a used one on ebay and the service tag doesn't match now. I would love it to reflash it so I can enter the correct service tag to match.
![Как работают Видеокарты? Исследуем архитектуру GPU [Branch Education на русском]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/8bhpDYELmQc/mqdefault.jpg)
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TLDR; I spent more than an hour repairing this laptop only to discover it had a corrupted BIOS. I am seeing more and more of this type of issue because Microsoft is now pushing out BIOS firmware updates with its driver updates. The only way that I have found to stop this issue is to disable optional updates or, better yet, check and update your BIOS firmware yourself every couple of months to prevent one from being pushed to your laptop when you are not ready for it.
We have specialized exclusively in Dell and Alienware laptops for over 22 years. So, if you need Dell OEM parts or Dell expert repair, including board-level repair, and you want to support the channel, www.partspeople.com.
They did it to my PC. Not only killed Win10 install (would no longer boot into Windows), but after spending a couple of days trying to repair, an iso created by Rufus finished it off. Had to do a CMOS reset to even get the machine to boot at all. BIOS and boot manager were inaccessible the way MS left it. It is now a Linux boxen. All my computers are, now. Good bye Microsoft.
Why would MS push out bios updates? That makes no sense.
@@joefratianni8693Very likely rolling out Microsoft's equivalent of Computrace
@@joefratianni8693 Ya.. I don't understand this either. I'd only source BIOS updates from the manufacturer, and not microsoft. If this is happening, hopefully this gets out to the big tech bloggers so it gets microsofts attention.
MS has been pushing BIOS/UEFI updates through Windows Update for a long time now, I remember this in 2014 with my Acer AXC 605.
LUCKILY it was on Windows 7 and I had a habit of checking the updates offered from time to time, and sure enough it wasn't in the optional category, but scheduled to in installed automatically! I caught it before it got installed and blocked it permanently. Weeks later you saw tons of Acer users on the forums that had bricked PCs because of the BIOS update forced by Windows. BIOS/UEFI updates should NEVER be automatically applied, and in fact MS should make them installed by skilled users only through a registry change that only skilled users would even bother to attempt.
As a retired IT pro.... almost EVERY computer issue is caused by updates. Can't tell you how many times an update took out our systems.
This is absolutely true! What a magnificant idea to update the bios through windows update . . .
Right? I don't want to touch this. W10 was supposed to be the end of it, remember? There's no reason to scupper it, very Apple of MS tbh. The big W10 update that broke many systems practically destroyed mine, I mean bricked it - I just gave up on it, and when I tried again some time later it took me days of tweaking this and that, BIOS changes, drive formats, the lot. As for pushing BIOS updates, that's nuts. It's like they want to push W11 so bad that they seem maybe to be trying to force old hw to be somehow compatible re TPM etc. Wouldn't it just be a lot easier to extend W10?
Almost 40 years I did IT... never once did a BIOS get corrupted until Microsoft started pushing out BIOS updates.
i have 30 years IT and same here. most laptops / desktops these days have safebios now. if a bios is corrupt it will recover. but for those that don't have safebios, then the method he used will need to be done or you will need to replace the bios chip or remove it from the board then reflash with a chip programmer and solder it back on. i bet you more than anything the person that owns the laptop got tired of waiting for the bios flash and power cycled it. that is typically what ends up happening.
@@burn0u71 Yep that is what I was thinking. Impatience is never a good thing in this instance.
@marlomontanaro3233 -
Microsoft is pushing everything without asking ... under Windows 7 you could choose what you wanted ... Windows 7 was the last good Windows
@@Killerspieler0815 I agree. WIN 7 was THE last useful version of windows. I started switching to LINUX.
The BIOS can be corrupted during normal operation, through environmental conditions (such as a power surge or outage), from a failed BIOS upgrade, or damage from a virus. If the BIOS is corrupted, the system automatically attempts to restore the BIOS from a hidden partition when the computer is restarted.
Disable UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates in BIOS
Restart your PC and enter the BIOS/UEFI setup (commonly by pressing F2, Delete, or Esc during boot).
Locate the option for UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates and disable it. This prevents BIOS updates from Windows Update.
Thank you for sharing this ... I just did a quick reboot & disabled this for my Latitude 5521. I was able to find it easily, with Advanced Settings visible. I wanted to check it out before commenting =)
yeah not all BIOS's have that setting
Since when does windows update bios itself?
Since bios is no part of the os, and is model/manufacturer specific.
@@arnorobinwerkman Windows has supported BIOS updates through its update system for over a decade. This feature, often enabled by UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates, allows manufacturers like Dell, HP, and others to deliver BIOS updates via Windows Update, particularly for critical security patches. Manufacturers' proprietary tools (e.g., Dell Command | Update) also manage BIOS updates, but Windows Update has increasingly been used for this purpose since at least the early 2010s.
UEFI Capsule is supposed to check digital signatures, which would make the bad updates the responsibility of the laptop manufacturer.
I'm just a simple-minded consumer, and all of this went over my head, but I am GRATEFUL for professionals like you!
I had a Windows update two weeks ago to my Laptop that was in Perfect working condition and now its no longer working and only goes to Black Screen. Is there any way i can sue Microsoft for this or ask them to pay for my laptop to be repaired or even pay for a New Laptop ?
Unfortunately no you can not sue MS because you don't own the operating system and you signed the compulsory waver away when you booted it up from new.
@@ronnierush9379 Thank you for answering. I might still talk to some Consumer groups just to see if any thing can be done as i'm sure this effects hundreds of thousands of people each years based on all the YT videos trying to fix these Windows Update problems.
What I think??
If the computer works "don't fix it".
Bios updates shall not be listed in Windows Updates. Bios updates shall only be updated from the official manufactor sites.
I can't say you're not right, but it is what it is. Bios updates get listed in Windows, and it's better to have a clear recovery procedure in hand, before attempting any risky update.
critical bios updates should be offered by windows update else the owner will blame microsoft for not updating when they get there accounts emptied and identity stolen
@@dave-bennett I agree EXCEPT it should be left up to the PC owner whether or not they want to actually use the BIOS /UEFI update, and the potential consequences of applying it or not.
@@horseathalt7308 Agree. It shall not be installed automatically from Windows Update.
Yeah the average person is not going to know how to locate a bios chip let alone manually flash it with a serial adapter
I had a brand new laptop from work, next day there was this BIOS forced update which trashed my laptop. Works IT dept had to provide another new laptop. At least 10 other employees had the same issue.
It really seems like MS (and an increasing number of other tech companies) are allowed to get away with a lot of stuff when it comes to updates by making an appeal to security. And sure, generally, you ought to install updates for security reasons. But it being a net benefit assumes that the company has some semblance of responsibility and won't just go full CrowdStrike and force you to figure out how to pick up the pieces yourself.
This is crazy! For years I have known about how to re-flash a bios even with no display, the fact that old motherboards would allow the physical disabling or write protection of a bios chip. It is something you do with care and has to be done exactly or things will bork. I have literally just learnt from this video that Microsoft are now pushing bios updates. For a while now I have been learning Linux, sick of this constant barrage of updates and other issues with windows.
I have been using Linux Mint, and Ubuntu for many years, as I didn't like Microsofts business practices. These versions of Linux also have a vast array of programs that can be downloaded for free. Linux lets you know when updates are available, and allows the user to select what updates to download, and when.
Actually, the Linux community cares about security, and it's constantly checking for issues, and creating updates, for the OS. 👍
Really interesting diagnostic. What is the power meter unit you are using to measure voltages, amps, etc?
I had a laptop on my bench that Microsoft pushed a BIOS update, glad it happened on my bench not after the client got it back cause it bricked it.
Microsoft, the gift that keeps on giving :D
To be honest im amazed by how really repairable dell laptops are.
Im using precision 5530 for almost 6 years and still getting proper security updates almost weekly.
And the internals also very repairable. Easy to access and service.
@@SuperDinomagic my precision 3550 was very easy to work on too
maybe that's why they feel overpriced. Jesus Dell be more clear about that, I can use it as a selling point.
I can say the same about my Lenovo Legion Slim. One day, needed a new battery (it was under warranty). The service rep wanted to do a mail-in repair, and quoted a near-month turnaround. Not wanting to be without my workhorse over something I can do in 10 minutes, I ordered a new battery directly from Lenovo. Came in quick, and 10 minutes later, it’s already buttoned back up.
Having done battery replacements on phones and tablets, it’s quite refreshing to see a battery secured by screws instead of tape, or (looks at Samsung) goddamn glue.
Yea, dell makes good stuff. I am currently watching this on a 18 year old Dell LCD. Insane quality back in the day.
Yes. I am just a regular user, not a tech. I have two machines that went down back to back, within a day of each other. I don't have the BIOS writing device, so currently they're just sitting here, dead. Now I have to scrape together extra $$ that I don't have for repairs. Thanks, Microsoft!
This seems like a major failure point. I thought there was some way to reset or rewrite a bios without digging into the board like this.
Many laptops and tablets seem to; Dell seems to like power on with Ctrl+Esc+Power and that .rcv file on a plugged in USB drive (but check what Dell have written for specific models). "Dell BIOS recovery" into your usual search engine should find the dell-written article about it.
I've had about five Precision 3560's go bad about 30 days after the warranty expired. The techs say that the mother boards are bad and we have to buy new laptops. Some are throwing BSODs and that seems to be the NVIDIA video driver fighting with the Intel driver. Removing the NVIDIA driver seems to fix it. I don't actually work on them myself since my company is contracted with NTT to do desktop support, but I think they're just doing a cursory diagnostic and not really trying to get to the bottom of the issue.
I want them. Should try reinstalling Windows or waiting for driver update.
There is a chance that nvidia graphic chip is out of order.
@@pila211 absolutely correct
@@DaNobody Reinstall windblowz? Use Linux, or BSD instead. Or do a hackintosh. Done.
Nice work! Of all things to happen, it would be a corrupted BIOS!
Nice work ! I wonder why a standard user would do a bios update through a windows update process ... Bios update is critical process, wich requires some precautions.
Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. Never thought they would mess this much with our lives!!!
Recently I lost two perfectly perfect machines to this nonsense. One day it's working one restart later bricked.
After the video having a brand new perpective; THANKS TO YOU and ALL THE PEOPLE COMMENTING on the issue...
I will share details, maybe other people will take advantage of the information...
This one is the i7 3rd Gen 3770... Asus Z77 motherboard. Was alive for I guess 11+ years... Upon replacing it with an AMD last year, I've been using this as my daily low power secondary device...
Anyways, last week I think or maybe the week before, it, one day, did not boot. It was kinda painful, like loosing a child or an old friend...
Didn't spend much time on the issue since I was busy with work and always tired in the evenings.
This was also kind of traumatic cause only 1 or 2 months ago I lost the other 3rd gen, this one an i5 after a bios reset trying to resolve some weird behaviour. After several tests with spare memory modules and cpus, I had decided it was the bios chip and planned to buy a new bios chip and program and try one day... That was an old server of mine and recently my testing PC so, it was not so urgent and I had some other machines lying around and all... That was an MSI mother board by the way. All RAMs G.SKILL...
Anyways, after the more recent incident with my old pal (i7-3770), actually after watching this video in the morning today, I decided I give it another try.
What I tried before was to check the RAM modules, had tried all possible combinations and it only worked with a particular 8 GB module on A2 and a particular 4 GB module on A2 or B2. No other combination other than this 3 resulted with boot, always the code 55 (memory error) and MeMOK! button never resolved anything...
Until today...
After watching this video...
I realized, since I could still boot using only one memory on one slot and I could try a bios reflash.
Then I remembered that this motherboard had a bios recovery button on the back plate.
So I decided to perform that, instead of using the bios...
I prepared the USB. And performed the bios "flashback" in Asus's terms...
Well, this comment is being edited on that PC now :")))
Thanks a lot for helping resolve the issue and reminding me to not give into emotions after consecutive failures.
I went through this exact situation with an hp laptop last year. Windows update failed on a bios update. I'm surprised people like you still exist. Most would have just replaced the motherboard.
I vaguely recall MBs (many years ago) that could save a backup of the firmware. If the primary got corrupted you could move a jumper to force it to use the backup. Once you were back into a working BIOS you could make the backup the primary and its copy the new backup, shut down and move the jumper to its default position. I don't know if this ever caught on with many manufacturers.
Compaq had a form of this it was an Incorruptible boot block that would allow booting regardless of how badly the update went, even so I bricked one !
Normally, I don’t find myself interested in such videos but you got my attention.
However, it would help me a lot If I knew more of the vocabulary. For example, it seems like you mentioned “voltage rails” and “posting” quite a bit.
I’ll look at your video description to see if you give links to prerequisites, but if not, it might help other viewers as well as me if you’d pin a comment, or add a link to the description that helps us find prerequisites material for the terminology you’re using.
Thanks for uploading this video! It’s leading me to want to subscribe, and probably that will help me find some of the prerequisites I’m needing.
POST = Power On Self-Test. When the computer boots, it runs BIOS, (Basic Input/Output System) and performs tests and hardware checks. When the POST is completed, the system then passes control to the Operating System.
'Voltage Rail' simply refers to lines that supply the power to the various circuits that comprise the computer. These lines are basically connected the the outputs of the various voltage regulators making up the PSU, Power Supply Unit.
Hope that helps. :)
I own a repair shop. Microsoft should stop pushing out BIOS updates to computers since it can corrupt the BIOS on the machines. Dell does support assist which can locate the exact drivers, BIOS, and etc.
Yep! MS pushed BIOS updates to my NUC 9* systems after upgrading to Windows 11. Bricked several times before I figured it out, told (then) Intel and they replaced the board. Had to wait a while before Intel provided a BIOS update that wouldn't do that.
Oh, and lock the Customer out of their C: Drive because the decided to encrypt the C: Drive with BitLocker without telling anyone 🤦♂
Highly skilled and talented.
You should stop using windows, problem solved
This only happens on machines that are sold as business machines for the big brands. The brands themselves have to tell Microsoft that they want these models updated and the partner provides the bios updates to Microsoft. So if they push a broken bios it is the fault of the vendor not Microsoft. Also the companies that buy these maachines can choose if they let Microsoft update the bios or if they want to be in control of bios updates and settings from their own infrastructure. If so they can disable "UEFI Capsule Firmware Updates" in the bios. This will block updates from Microsoft. So in this case it is either the fault of the vendor and not Microsoft and if the end user does not want Microsoft to push then thats the fault of the user for not knowing how to disable it.
Bro, IceMan have some skills repairing electronic mainboards, great balls of fire!
@PartsPeoplecomInc
Great detective work on this..
Only one thing, the music loop is annoying. I hope you drop the music in future videos.
+1 no music please
I have a repair shop, I've come across something similar with the same laptop but the issue is it would freeze after about 20 minutes. The issue was bad BIOS. I fixed it by rolling back to a previous version and disabling OS BIOS updates in the BIOS.
These very symptoms happened about 3 weeks ago to my wifes laptop. I opened it up did the basic look for burnt, unplugged the main n cmos batts. Nothing. It was about 1 week until end of her college semester so i ran n got her a referb replacement. Thankfully id kept her on win 10 and could pull the unencrypted m2 from her dead computer to get her files n get her running. Never though or even knew Microsoft was forcing bios updates down. Given her computer was working fine the rebooted to dead, this may likey be the issue. Thanks Microshaft. Really didn't need this expense. Guess there gonna help pc makers sell more. Wonder if they get kickbacks?
Right video at the right time. Looking at the same laptop with the same issue. Saved me time. Thanks.
Great repair. Would love to see a similar repair with modern Intel CPU.
Microsoft is keeping this guy in business. Can't complain about that.
Greetings from London. I've noticed that my Inspiron 5593 has done a couple of BIOS updates as part of the usual Windows Updates. I was a bit suspicious of this but they went through without issues. I might block them after watching this video and use the Dell website as recommended. So how would I detect that a BIOS update was on the way? Is it marked as a separate update on the Update page? I usually look before updating but I must admit I didn't spot the two that went through. If I look at the updates history, it has 4 firmware upgrades listed since new!
Great video!
My solution is to just disable Capsule Updates from BIOS. That's the first thing I do. There was a big issue with Precision 7770/7670 BIOS and most people got it with Windows Updates.
Nice job showing diagnostics process. Please, make a video with an Intel based system as well.
Very educational video. I used to repair PC's more than 20 years ago. Flashing a BIOS was a common first step unless the issue was completely unrelated. Interesting to see that this approach is still applicable to this day.
Pushing BIOS updates should be done cautiously so I would show some restraint in updating BIOS by Microsoft Update
In those days you could pop the BIOS chip out of its little square 16 pin holder.
Not any more.
The problem is bios updates are necessary for security, so you can't hide from them. The manufacturers need to up their game, and make sure their bios updates work. Microsoft is forcing their hand now, pushing the updates.
BIOS updates should only come from the manufacturer. Not sure about Microsoft sending out these to certain models
I remember back in 2014 when MS sent a BIOS update to my Acer AXC 605 (which I still use today)
luckily I always checked my Windows update list and there it was, and it was listed to be automatically installed! Luckily at the time my machine was on Windows 7 and I could block it from ever installing that update. It probably saved this PC I'm typing to you on right now! LOL
I understood about 5% of this but found it fascinating to watch all the same 👍
As a Linux user since 2010 I found it fascinating.
Thanks for the great info, I still have 2 Toshiba laptops with (I think this issue) because they died at same time several years ago.
The supposed authorised centre shared $70 each for report and did nothing except saying one is video driver and other some else “BS” 😡😡🇦🇺from Melbourne AUSTRALIA🇦🇺
What think is that the BIOS should NOT be upgradable. It should be a very basic root system that does a post and then boots the OS. There is no reason to complicate thi,s therfore, there is no reason to require updating
Too many shoulds
fella
What if there's a security vulnerability in the bios?
I don't agree
Never mind that there are people out there constantly trying to take control of any computer they detect, and maybe mess you up, too. They would never do that to us! 👌👌
I hate automated BIOS updates... To be fair they don't seem to fail as often as they used to.
I had to deal with that for laptops and ive always believed that they should in theory survive as they have a "uninterrupted power supply" aka the battery but wow this brings a whole nother world of risk!
I have a near new Lenovo Legion AMD gaming laptop, Lenovo updated the BIOS online a few days ago no issues. I haven't had an issue with BIOS updates since the old days of having to do it manually outside of Windows using DOS.
@@ats-3693 I do work on a lot of machines, and do see some BIOS corrupted machines. Almost all of them HP which shouldn't be a surprise. My CH341a (cheaper version of what partspeople uses) has been able to fix them. I had one desktop which seemed to have a failing bios chip, because despite writing the BIOS file several times to the BIOS chip, it never actually wrote it. After trying for 45 minutes, it did eventually successfully write the BIOS and the system came back to life. Ideally you would replace the BIOS chip but to be fair it only seems to have issues when writing to it - an attempted BIOS update is what bricked it in the first place.
Hopefully the customer did his due diligence and saved his bitlocker code to get back into Windows.
thats why i turn off this crap bitlocker i see so many ppl f UP of this bitlocker crap
You can access the code in your Microsoft account that you have linked to your Windows installation.
im so glad i dont use bitlocker im never using bitlocker i dont trust it since its made by microshaft
@@billyhatcher643fun fact when booting windows it schanges mien boot order. And i got dual boot sio i dont see selector menu. Only reason i still use windows is becouse some games dont work on linux.
Y’all need to stop thinking it’s useless. If I got ahold of your pc, nothing would stop me from accessing your files just by plugging your main drive as second drive on my computer, no password would stop it. Bitlocker prevents that and encrypts the drive until the recovery key is entered.
I rebooted an old Dell 5480 yesterday for a Windows update and was alarmed to see a string of Dell firmware updates being applied. The laptop survived, at least for now.
10:10
Got a Question.
If there is a bios PW. Without a reset jumper, can we just flash a new clean bios too bypass it?
Yes, since dell laptops do not have reset jumpers, the only way to clear a password would be to manually flash a new bios to it
Most modern laptops have bios recovery options. Dells can update a bad bios from the web... Try just holding the power for like 15 seconds from off to on back off and then on once more and ctrl+esc at boot. From there nv reset / reinstall bios over the internet. I work for an MSP and we sell MOSTLY Dell. I usually do all that I can not to have Dell come in for a warranty claim.
For a normal user, who just wants their laptop to work, you pretty much lost them in your first sentence =)
@@MichaelMossmanNZand that is why I'm still employed 😉
I always liked Gigabyte boards with dual BIOS chips. Never needed to use the second, but it's nice knowing your not bricked.
I was dealing with some Dell laptops with the defective 13 and 14th generation chips, YES laptops are ALL affected. I couldn't get the bios update to work in windows with the customer over the phone, and I did every single way OUTside windows because it didn't work when I came out in person, and those ways didn't work. However, I booted back into windows and the CPU wasn't in fail limp mode, and I ran it in windows again and it WORKED! That laptop was almost toast, it was crash city, then we couldn't do the update, resolved. phew! Kind of funny that the downloaded BIOS exe being run in windows was the only way that I could get it to work, even though it didn't work initially, the CPU had to be in happy non crash fail mode.
Motherbords really need a Write Protect switch for the BIOS, as it was mid 1990s ... "thanks" MicroSoft ...
and a great video about this problem
Usually the bios get corrupted because the customers powered down their laptop while the bios was updating because they don't understand what's happening since the update was launched by windows update and windows update doesn't explain what happens if they power down the laptop while the bios is updating. When you update the bios manually, there are clear warnings displayed before you can start the update. So it's mainly the customers fault for not knowing the basics of maintaining their equipment or just not taking seriously the warning message that appears while the bios update is installing. Microsoft is also at fault for not displaying the appropriate warnings when windows update is updating the bios.
Dells have UEFI capsule updates enabled by default, which I suppose is good if everything works properly but if something interrupts the flash then you might get weirdness like this. I think they are also set to recover the UEFI from a backup on repeated boot failure as a safeguard against this. However there's a lot of ways for updates to go bad on Dells and they are a PITA to fix in stock configuration because the also come with RAID enabled (for an intel storage driver most don't need) which also likely means that you can't just boot from USB as you should. Then there's the default encryption which is another thing to go wrong. Start adding these things together and it's as if Dell is making their computers as hard to recover as a possible.
Not true. You can still boot from USB regardless of raid config.
@@remixedcat Yes you can boot from USB but the drive won't be visible to things like live Linux distros or even PE without proper drivers installed, thus making you not able to work on the HD from USB unless you have a specific Windows PE boot disk configured specifically for Dell recovery. It's an unnecessary PITA is all I'm saying.
Any sane person who gets a new Dell laptop and is not using an Intel disk should do a partial sysprep and swap into AHCI mode as the very first thing they do. In fact this is necessary if you want to get good performance out of things like Samsung drives.
(My first experience with this was installing a secondary drive which the primary drive could not see or use due to this default RAID mode. Yes it's dumb and Dell needs to knock it off)
Microsoft should pay for damages
Thanks for great video shame you not in the UK😢
This only happens on machines that are sold as business machines for the big brands. The brands themselves have to tell Microsoft that they want these models updated and the partner provides the bios updates to Microsoft. So if they push a broken bios it is the fault of the vendor not Microsoft.
Ms does bios updates?! Never seen this.
Imagine keeping bios source codes for every model and manufacturer... Manufacturer is updating bios.
@@kaunomedis7926 But Windows is sending that mfr update anyway.
What vintage is it? Year/Model? Give us some details and more info. I have an ASUS vintage 2012 I have installed PC MANAGER recently and it performs like new. PC MANAGER made a huge difference right away. I have noticed it was getting slower with the updates to 10. That trend has stopped.
Do lost corporate laptops have remote disablement? The security software they have is quite low level.
When I was a software developer, Windows updates would wreak havoc regularly. Since 2008, I have had a number of Macs, laptops and Minis, and they have all updated through their supported lifetime without issue. Obviously keeping hardware in house makes it a lot easier for Apple. Plus, I have never had a virus on a Mac without using any aftermarket anti software, with at least three running 24/7.
Started Fooling with Computers in 1980 TRS-80 Mod I Commodore Apple II bunck of PC Compatiables to my ASUS GL702VSK Laptop I use for editing w/ Davinci. Just purcgaced a M4 Mac Mini Basic. Should be Fun.
Apple eats themselves up. I've seen it, and had one as well. I despise Apple anything, after 25 years of their crap in the graphics industry.
I had the same thing happen to me several months ago with my Lenovo Legion 5. I was running all the “Windows” updates and one of them was a BIOS update. After about an hour of it just sitting there, it finally reported that it was 100% complete but the laptop wouldn’t boot up. Just a black screen. Ended up sending it back to Lenovo under a warranty ticket and they wiped both of my 2 TB SSDs. Ugh! I’ll take the advice written in these comments and always go to the manufacturer’s site to get BIOS updates from now on.
Does MS have the rights to alter someone's BIOS?
It is not that MS is modifying the BIOS per se; it is a genuine Dell BIOS they are installing. I think Microsoft is feeling the pressure to make sure laptops/computers are updated to date, which means pushing updates, including drivers and firmware. I do not have an issue with this because it can prevent a lot of hacking/ransom attacks. But what I have an issue with is that the firmware is being installed without a warning of any kind. Most people are unaware that the laptop will be in a volatile state for 5 or 10 minutes. They just shut the lid and throw the laptop into their bag.
Linux makes all my old computers faster and it never murders them.
Wow! Your expertise is admirable. Thanks for posting this video and shame on Microsoft.
I just wish MS would show a warning message before installing CMOS firmware updates. It is not the BIOS itself that is the issue; it is being installed without a warning of any kind. Most people are unaware that the laptop will be in a volatile state for 5 or 10 minutes. They just shut the lid and throw the laptop into their bag.
Didn't trash my BIOS (I keep optional updates off, hard learned lesson) but Micro$oft decided recently that my Win10 Pro laptop needed the latest Win11 Pro updates, then when it didn't see the TPM chip, canceled it and left a lot of my Win10 files corrupted. It then put me in a update loop, trying to push the Win11 updates every time I started the laptop. I had planned to update to win11 anyway as my laptop is old, but more than capable of handling Win11, so I just used the workaround and did a manual install. But, at least 90% of the time over the years, I have found the cause of various problems has been Microsoft fighting me for control of my computer, they seem to think they know better than I do how I should be set up and what options I want. Grrrrr!
Same here, I agree M$ should not be upgrading the BIOS, these updates are rarely needed, most machines go thru their entire working life without an update. Please halt this procedure. (I'm sure they'll listen to me !!!) 😆😆😆
Where did you learn these skills ?
Why is Microsoft pushing out BIOS updates? Microsoft should only push out Microsoft product updates.
Given the startup here - seems like the service tag lives in the BIOS flash memory, and this means that it could be changed.
Being a person that often repairs and referbs used Dell ex business machines, I have seen this for sometime now, and it's not limited to Laptops, their Optiplex also receive automatic firmware updates via Windows 10 and 11, it totally pisses me off, and is way to overreaching by Microsoft in my opinion, some of the systems I have seen this on, there is nothing you can do to stop it as they come down with standard updates, not optional, and there is no option in the Bios to disable this as well, for machines that I use myself, I have every Microsoft server blocked on a network level via mac address to totally restrict updates to my machines until I'm ready, automatic updates are already a bad idea, but auto bios updates is total BS, not only are they trying to control your software experience, but they are also saying they can do what ever they like to the actual hardware that you own, and you will accept it, and you will like it, this would be so easy for a bad actor to brick your device, or even worse, MS wants you to buy a new machine, so lets push out a dodgy firmware update......
I got an ASUS Vivobook OLED for 15€ cuz it wouldn't turn on. Repair shop told the previous owner that "it died a heat death, unfixable".
When I probed the motherboard, it would VERY RARELY turn on. So I put an SSD in, MyAsus asked for a bios update, did it, and now it works *perfectly*. It's got a high end ryzen and a RTX 3050 TI as well!
Have you ever encountered that? My guess was an "unstable bit" in the eeprom or something, but I don't know how realistic that is. BIOS repairs, for some reason, are some of my favourites lol
Damn , I learned a ton in this video. New subscriber!!!!
What tools do you use to rewrite BIOS?
Recent windows 11 update went into restart and returned with a permanent light blue blank screen. I shut it down and it came up with "installing updates - dont turn off". Another restart and it was done. Why the blank blue screen?
You don't need to update the BIOS = Basic Input Output System.
Leave sleeping dogs lie.
If it ain't broke don't fix it.
unfortunately that isn't true any more, for the same reason it's a bad idea to use windows without updates on the internet.
@@drumphil00 Explain yourself. Hello from well educated Europe.
@@petergibson2318 the bios is part of the software that runs on your computer, and all computer software is subject to vulnerabilities. As it's grown in complexity the potential for vulnerability has grown with it.
This is why I disable capsule updates in BIOS and only flash using USB.
sadly, not every bios allows to disable the capsule support.
@SDogo I think hp has the most locked down bios
You don't wear an ESD wrist strap?
What happened to the BIOS write protect soft switch? Oh well, I guess it doesn't matter anyways, the Microsoft EULA allows for destructive upgrades as well as beneficial at your expense. What a wonderful business model! 😮
I always do bios updates and never have had problems. Some inspiron computers are as much junk as HP computers are. Vbios updates are tricky at best and you can brick it easier.
Yep ... been there experienced that on my Gigabit Aero 17. Painful ... Thanks Microsoft. P.S. It really is a PIA if you have bit locker enabled... be sure to document the recovery key - or else!
Windows 11 is why I'm going back to a Linux system.
That reminds me of the Samsung Chronos laptop debacle.
They made a motherboard with a BIOS that got stuffed/bricked by UEFI code.
And they were not willing to admit it.
Was there a class action suit in the US?
Not in my country anyway. I had to shell out for a new mobo.
I believe we used to be told back in the day: "No software can destroy hardware".
Hah!
I have taken all my older laptops and installed Lynux Mint, They never ran so well.
Also I set my desktop to a metered connection and stopped updates over a metered connection so they don't automatically update.
I use Dell and UEFI updates suspend bitlocker before updating
Can read bit locker code from old corupted and saved bios file?
As much as I like to blame microsoft, how do we know the customer didn't "abandon ship" in the middle of the BIOS updates/restarts and cause the BIOS to corrupt?
I agree, Windows Updates shouldnt be handing out BIOS updates to basic users.
Great service tip.
Very Helpful
I just had a similar situation occur with my Dell 7920, where the computer immediateky started rebooting endlessly with "missing memory" errors. Fixed by replacing the MS-supplied BIOS with the most-recently-released official Dell BIOS. It was worrisome.
Thought Dell had a fail safe recovery "vulcan nerve pinch" keyboard combo
to recover corrupt BIOS from Generic copy
@@xprcloud yes they do on systems made after 2015 I think
@@remixedcat In this case then, I wonder why he needed to reprogram the chip with special lab equipment VS the Vulcan nerve pinch.
I remember having a problem with a Dell workstation, I had to use a 30 year old ps/2 keyboard for the nerve pinch cause USB interfaces came on line too late in the boot process to be of any use with a usb keyboard, the pc has a ps/2 connector.
@@xprcloud that's what I was thinking, but since it uses insydeH2O vs dell's custom bios it might be a little harder to do the recovery. I know Dell puts different BIOS on some systems. They use their custom graphical one, InsydeH2O, and aptio.
Didn't George Santos have the same problem - corrupted bios? He. too. got a swift reboot...
Sir can u make a video playlist for step-by-step laptop repair tutorial for beginners
Is connecting the battery while laptop is powered ON safe?
19:37 I bet it is doing a memory training there. They have to reboot a few times to figure out the opioum memory timings.
Off subject but win 11 updating from win 10 on a personally built pc of which pushes secure boot of which then breaks my Linux installs. So secure boot and Linux installs is fun. Google various Linux’s that support secure boot but non of ones I was using did. Pain in the backside. I’m wondering maybe the M$ bios/uefi update is maybe updating secure boot keys since w11 really wants secure boot active ? W11 crashes if secure boot off, as if win11 tries to update tpm or somesuch and secure boot of it’ll blue screen on ya… not sure though.
Win11 requires secure boot, but you can modify the registry to make it work without it but you may need to reinstall win11. Not sure I have not tried that myself.
Not really related to the video but why are those barrel adapters still a thing?
Because they're more durable than usb c for laptops.
I remember back in the '90s I got the Chernobyl virus that wrote itself to the bios chip, it took me months to find out what had happened, I figured out what was going on when I put a known good drive into the computer with a fresh OS and that became infected despite the ethernet not being connected, I had to dump the drives and replace the bios chip in order to get the machine working again.
I have a Dell laptop that someone gave me that I think it has a similar problem. Any way for me to fix this?
I remember around 14 years ago my computer stopped booting. I paid a specialist to fix it and all they had to do was boot it with a disk to the beginning. I received the laptop back and it started downloading updates again, once it downloaded the latest update it wouldn't boot again. I said I'm not paying twice to have this fixed when it has to be a Microsoft problem so I called them and after being on the phone nearly 4 hours they just told me how to download the update before and turn off updates so it would continue to boot. After that incident I started buying MacBook Pros and Mac mini and I've never gone back. Smdh.
Linux mint 22 cinnamon and cup of coffee ☕️ a daily routine 👌
That's why, exactly why! It's not wise to allow Microsoft to do more than just updates for the operating system. You can see once again what can happen. But what am I saying? 10 years ago, we were laughed at because we criticized this in Windows 10. Oh well. Who's laughing now?
But it's good for good workshops, it secures their existence (I personally don't begrudge them!) but it shows how much power Microsoft has and what can happen!
Microsoft simply can't do it anymore and should stop its activities forever. No, I'm not going to harp on about the Linux issue. A lot of things are messed up there too, but (so far...) there aren't any such fatal, catastrophic interventions.
Simple logical straight forward TSing. Nice.
Thanks!
Music loop is annoying AF.
Hi can you explain how windows is forcing bios updates never seen that before or is because of the microcode vulnerabilities?
@wesmerts9670 Get off your ass and research. Own your knowledge.
its not forced.
its just there on hold.
waiting for you to click it😂.
thats why read before you randomly click
its named is "insyde software"
thats the bios update. click it and your laptop dies
There is no way to do this without any mark or asking.
The manufatuer have to lock down the winbond chip by the write protect pin and olso need to add a ENABLE push button to gets the bios updating feature ON by the user.
may save some down time and money for the constumer.
Thanks for adding actual captions for the Deaf
Windows should not be doing BIOS updates.
Only the user should do an update and only using the manufacturer BIOS update
Most manufacturers tell you not to updated the BIOS unless it is absolutely necessary to correct a problem.
The BIOS that came with the machine should not need to be touched.
If you replaced the CPU it may need the BIOS flashed with a new version.
But, you should NEVER update the OS that came with the machine.
I have NEVER seen it end well
The resources the new OS needs are more than the laptop can provide.
Laptops are designed to be 3 years and replaced by a new laptop.
The only laptops I have seen that have the power to handle a new OS are the high end thousand dollars and up models.
In the old days the BIOS chips had a ROM portion and the portion that can be rewritten and they had a scratch pad area, so when you were updating it the update was written to an area and verified before the update software would switch the BIOS chip to use that new version.
And if something went horribly wrong, you could pull the power and use a method to clear the BIOS and have it write the ROM BIOS into the working BIOS and allow you to retry updating the BIOS.
And you used to be able to hot flash
The chips used to be socketed and big enough to pull out
I booted machines that were working, pulled the chip while it was on, put the bad chip or a new blank chip into the socket and flashed the BIOS I needed to it in the working machine and pulled it and plugged it into the machine that was not working and it booted up fine.
Nowadays the laptops are not designed to be fixed or updated.
The 800 dollar HP desktop I just bought, I was sick over the fact it has a laptop board and 180 watt proprietary power supply and no DVD
But, I got a model that had a SATA port and a power cable that, with 2 power adapter cables, I was able to buy a used HP DVDRW slim laptop drive and put that in the front of the case and connect it to the power and SATA and I have a DVD , which is critical for booting my Acronis DVD.
I can't believe that desktop computers don't have ANY 5 1/4 or 3 1/2 slots or SATA and the power supply is just enough to run the board and nothing else.
I talked with the guy in Best Buy, explaining the case with 5 1/4 slots and he was like a deer in headlights and I pulled up a picture of my machine and he was like " I have never seen anything like that before "
I'm like, WOW I AM OLD
But the fact that they have stopped putting a DVD in laptops, what are they thinking ?
And Windows with their Secure Boot and the C-State that crashes any machine you try and put Windows 10 or 11 or 12 on, I really hate what Microsoft has become.
I had to buy Office 365 that I have to pay 150 dollars every year.
I have Office 2007 and I really miss being able to just pay once for the software.
Now Microsoft wants you to pay every year for the OS, Office and every other MS product, so you pay 600 dollars every year for your computer software
Just EVIL GREED
you're not old you were talking to an dummy who is a salesman for computers. 5 1/4 slots are less common but some cases still have them. have to go oit of the brandd prebuilt areas for that though
I always disable UEFI because using a M$ downloaded install ISO applied to a
USB via "Windows 7 Download Tool" the bootable USB does not appear in the BBS screen to perform a clean install. Also, if future repairs are needed, Hirens Boot PE legacy bootable also won't show up in the BBS.
Dang I wish I could reprogram the BIOS on a Optiplex 7060 that I have. I replaced the motherboard with a used one on ebay and the service tag doesn't match now. I would love it to reflash it so I can enter the correct service tag to match.
You shouldn't need to do that. But if you want you can probably find an old version of the Dell Service Tag Reset Utility but probably not worth it.
Thank you for this video 🤩! I've learn something new.