I have a Dell Inspiron 6400. After purchasing a new battery, the computer gave me a message that it wasn't recognized so, after a suggestion from the battery vendor, I downgraded the BIOS to an older version.
After doing so, the computer stopped working entirely, would not even go to POST.
Starting the computer with Fn pressed makes the LEDs flash in a pattern that the Dell website says means "motherboard error".
Is there a way to reset or flash the BIOS directly from the motherboard?
I just went through this myself - you can fix it, but you need access to another PC to do so.
Start by downloading the latest BIOS update from the Dell website, then open a command prompt and execute the BIOS update file with the -writehdrfile parameter - in my case, the command was:
mm061a17.exe -writehdrfile
This should create a file with the name "mm061a17.hdr" - copy this to a FAT16 formatted USB stick and plug it into one of the USB ports on the laptop. Remove the battery and AC adapter cable.
Then hold down the 'END' key on the keyboard and plug the AC cable back in - the power light should come on. Finally release the 'END' key and the system should start to read the USB stick, reflash the BIOS and finally reboot.
If your BIOS is now corrupt you will be unable to reboot and try the BIOS flash again, not easily anyway
A lot of newer systems have special BIOS recovery procedures that can be done. You will need to consult your motherboard manual or motherboards manufacturers’ site to get these steps
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