Is it a brick?

[Grizzly]

11 October 2021  at 12:36, Liam Proven wrote:
Re: Is it a brick? (at least in part)

>On Mon, 11 Oct 2021 at 08:59, Grizzly via ubuntu-users
><ubuntu-users at lists.ubuntu.com> wrote:

>> So I thought maybe a BIOS update may help, I went to the Acer site, supplied
>> the service tag, downloaded the next BIOS version tool which comes as Windows &
>> Dos tools

>> As this box had only 18.04 nothing else I thought the Dos option was the way to
>> go (FreeDos on USB)

>OK... what version?

I reused that USB, but I don't think it had a version number, it was created by 
Rufus 34 

>>  it went OK I backed up the old Bios "just in case" and then
>> tried the update, only to see the "Insufficient memory" prompt

>Oh dear. That's bad. That would have been a good place to stop and ask for help.

I did extensive searchs which mainly advised against use of Dos Memory managers 
(EMM86 etc) on these DOS bootable USB's

>> So I went with a Win7 Live USB

>Uh-oh. Danger, Will Robinson!

It had worked for me before when checking Win7 support of older hardware

>There is no such legit Microsoft thing  as a "Live Windows USB". Only
>ugly 3rd party hacks. This was a *BAD PLAN*.

I have used "Win7-8 to USB" (ver 4.5 to 6.2) often, I could use the Win10 
version but that really needs more resources than most of my boxies have

>>  which was working fine writing the BIOS
>> (AFAICS) until Win7 crashed

>Aieeeee!

>I would not think this would work, no.

>> So now no lights, no POST sounds, nothing on monitor

>You have corrupted the motherboard firmware. This is usually
>impossible to recover from.



>What *EXACT* model is this? 

X1301 

>There have been dozens of ranges of machines called "Acer Aspire". Even dozens
>of different models called "Acer Aspire One". The name is no longer
>meaningful. 

>Some manufacturers publish a BIOS recovery CD image but it's very hard
>to use. I failed totally on an old Toshiba of mine, but a friend and
>colleague managed to recover it for me. (Lesson: do not use
>unactivated Windows to reflash firmware.)

not unactivated, since the aspiresame with Win7 Premium, it still has the label 
& keycode, no problem activating, I still have 5 unused Win7 keycodes (plus a 
useless Vista keycode) from the lappies & desk tops that were turned over to 
ubuntu