[johngehring]

I have a Toshiba L505-S5984 P/N PSLU0U-02N003. Computer working perfectly fine when I received a Toshiba email suggesting a BIOS update. I download Toshiba's BIOS update. Download was successful. Installation message indicated BIOS was erased. Utility hung. Toshiba tech support told me to remove power. Computer no longer even turns on. Toshiba tells me that I need a new motherboard.

Is there anyway that I might be able to program the BIOS on the motherboard or is it possible to program the flash memory and install it on the motherboard?

Thanks for any help

 

[JMPC]

If the computer won't even boot there's nothing you can do. If they have a procedure for resetting the BIOS you can try that to see if you can at least get to the POST process to try and flash the BIOS.

 

[Tyree]

A bad Bios flash can render a Mobo useless. I tend to agree with the Toshiba tech.

 

[epshatto]

You should only ever do a BIOS update for two reasons - 1, there's some function a BIOS update would grant you that you both want and also currently don't have, or 2, there's some function on your motherboard that has stopped working.

The reason for this is that a BIOS update is risky business. If you update with the wrong BIOS file, you now have an expensive paperweight for a machine.

Sometimes you can revert from a failed BIOS update. JMPC is correct in suggesting that you find out if Toshiba has something you can try to recover from a bad BIOS. But JMPC and Tyree are also correct in suggesting that if you can't even boot, this is not really going to help you. Also if the tech didn't mention it I doubt there's anything available to you.

You will have to either obtain a new motherboard and install it or have it installed, or simply buy a new computer.

 

[johngehring]

I'm guessing that the manufacturer can program the BIOS flash on the motherboard. The question is how is it done and can I parse the BIOS download file such that it is deposited in the proper addresses. Is it possible to obtain a BIOS flash device and have someone solder it into my motherboard?
Thanks,
John

 

[dai]

not sure i think they take the bios chip out and put in a reflash unit to to do it

see if this helps

How to Blind Flash in BIOS | eHow.com

being as it was their suggested update that caused the problem have you contacted toshiba about them fixing the problem free

 

[johngehring]

Thanks for the info on blind flash.

Toshiba tells me that since the computer is out of warranty, I'm on my own despite the fact I used their utility and followed the directions of their technicians. Customer support told me that they could not confirm I did what I was told. I asked that they review their "recording" of my conversation with the technician to confirm that they told me to power off the computer when they later told me that such an action would make the computer totally unusable. So much for customer satisfaction.

 

[dai]

see if you can blind flash then you have nothing to lose