Reviving dead Dell Workstations with bricked BIOS

BIOS/UEFI Modding BIOS Modding Guides and Problems
17

By the way i forgot to mention if your bios and system are manufactured after 2015 just go to dell downloads then get the bios.exe file than rename it to [ BIOS_IMG.rcv ] than format a 2gb USB drive to fat32 and copy the bios recovery onto it. turn the computer off wait 5 sec, than plug in the usb drive and continously press CTRL+ESC while you press the power button the bios recovery should load now and just fallow it through.

18

To recover full bios functionality you need to follow new crisis recovery procedure for the (after 2015) workstations or pc’s identical, laptops somewhat different.
1, download the bios_xxx.exe from dell for the service tag in question.
2, format a relatively small 2-8GB USB flashdrive to (FAT32).
3, rename BIOS_xxx.exe to [ BIOS_IMG.rcv ] than copy it to the USB flashdrive.
4, power off the computer, and insert the USB.
5, hold CTRL+ESC while pressing the power button, but keep hold CTRL+ESC until you see the bios recovery
Follow instructions, this method actually will overwrite the whole content of the flash including intel ME region that the normal update actually have no permission to do. Intel say is for security reasons, they disabled reading and writing in the security descriptor. I would say if you not planning to use ME as a remote configuration platform is better be removed (crippled) with ME_Cleaner. (for security reasons). ME is basically a small 486 cpu running a MINIX os intels (Active Management Technology) from the beginning on kernel ring level -1 at the first nanosecond as soon you press the power button. It looks a lots of users dont understand or cannot be bothered to do the research, that why the heck we need a computer running below kernel level waaaaaay before my bios actually loaded into the memory. Basically without intel ME your CPU will shut down every 30 minutes or so. I have tried it. Only way to access intel ME module in the SPI flash is either use the fatory recovery tools provided i,e Emergency bios recovery or with an external flash programmer.
https://www.troopers.de/downloads/troope…ME11_Static.pdf

19

Can I use your procedur to recover my dead Dell T5600? My dell got bricked, no caps lock or hum lock on the keyboard. When I turn on the system immediately led 3 and 4 flashing with amber power light. I’m sure the bios got currupted.

I have MINIPro Programmer. Can some one sent me bios bin for 8MB and 4MB bios? I really need this computer to finish my work. Thank you so much

Thx sorry for my bad englist

20

Since you have programmer, get a verfified dump from each BIOS chip before you write anything. Upload them here and then I can pull your details out and put in other dumps for you to fix the board with (Serial, LAN ID Etc)
If you want to do yourself, there is dumps linked in this thread, and another link in there to with another thread that has dumps in it as well - DELL T5600 - BIOS A15 & A17

21

Ah ok thankyou so much i will upload my bios ti zippy share.

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here’s my bios dump.

https://www101.zippyshare.com/v/YiBSVHe4/file.html

23

What happened to cause brick, bad BIOS flash, bad mod BIOS, or bad ME update etc? So I can know what might need fixed.

This info I found so far, can you please check system stickers and see which of the bold is the exact system model/ID, thanks

MAC = F8:B1:56:AA:87:AA

ME = 7.1.91.3272

Version 15 or 17

PM393B5270QB0-YK0
393B5270QB0-YK0

M393B1G70DB0-YK0
393B1G70DB0-YK0

18KDF51272PDZ1G6K1

HDD - WDC WD60PURX-78T0ZY0
WDC WD6400AAKS-41H2B0

CD/DVD LITEON IT LCT-512L9S

PPID ÿ CN0GN6JF722003AC00KMA02ì
PPIDÿCN0GN6JF722003AC00KMA02ì
50 50 49 44 1e ff 43 4e 30 47 4e 36 4a 46 37 32
32 30 30 33 41 43 30 30 4b 4d 41 30 32

24

I didn’t do anything… just plug the ac cord and diagnotic led number 3 & 4 imideatly flashing. I measure ram and cpu voltage using multi meter, volatge reading is Zero.

So i assume that the CPU doesnt not POST. It’s just my assumption

25

OK, well lets do quick dirty test without getting your board details in BIOS first, except I will correct LAN MAC ID so your Ethernet works. Then if working, we know CPU is OK, and we can then fix BIOS with board details I asked about.
Here is dump from another users board, working, with your LAN MAC added. Please test if these are working, if it’s working then we’ll move forward and fix your board details.
https://www42.zippyshare.com/v/RDTmKBNd/file.html

From these three links, it looks like 3+4 means system is in sleep mode?
https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/…systems?lang=en
https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/…p-codes?lang=en
https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/…systems?lang=en

Also, if you moved memory during troubleshooting, check this, you need at least one memory stick per CPU following the guidelines
https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/…-memory?lang=en

26

Im not in home right now., in few more hours Soon as i get home i will Flash your bios.

From the link you give me, i only see Solid Led 3-4 not blinking led 3-4.

Again Thankyou gor your help

27

You’re welcome! Yes, sorry I was not sure how that would look and what LED’s you meant etc. Read each of those links, none apply?
Hopefully BIOS in #25 is working for you, otherwise you may need another CPU to verify if CPU dead, or another board to test your current CPU in

28

Ok i’m home and ready to flashing the bios chip. I give you the result in 39 minutes.

About the Led. What i mean is Front panel diagnotic LED.

29

Sorry for late. Just want to tell you that bios is ok. Unfortunately the problem is in my Cpu, Both my cpu shorted to ground.

I try using another processor the cpu boot fine.

Thx for your help.

30

Glad your board and BIOS is OK, sorry about the CPU hopefully it can be replaced with cheaper one now than when new. How did CPU short?

31

Like I said in previous post. Just turn on plug the power chord in to my UPS and turn on Cpu an boom I got blinking diagnostic led 3 - 4.

I suspect is my Old UPS sending BAD AC voltage to Dell and damage my CPU, because every time I turn on my UPS, I’ve herd like GRRRRR sound coming from transformer inside UPS.

I have another Cpu intel coffelake 8700k is damage two days right after my dell Cpu damage and have the same symptoms (CPU Shorted).

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Yes, that sound bad, I would not use that UPS anymore! Sorry such new 8700K CPU is dead too, luckily Intel will RMA that for you

33

Good afternoon to all of you

Thanks in advance . I tried to load a mod bios with NVME support , but now I have a T5600 station bricked :exploding_head:

When I turn on the computer start the fans, but not complete POST, or LEDs on the front, I made a previous backup 12MB, and I have hardware programmer but I do not locate the BIOS chips, and I do not know if it is possible to do it this way.

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How to flash BIOS (8M+4M) using HW programmer on DELL Precision T5610 ? - BIOS/UEFI Modding / BIOS Modding Guides and Problems - Win-Raid Forum (level1techs.com)

You got a spi programmer… but didnt prepared yourself before…great planning.
Now take a look at the motherboard, like you see that T5610 motherboard in the linked thread, 2 SPI chips 8 and 16 SOIC, labeled SPI, starting digging.

EDIT: Only after a recovered system, the mboard has a service jumper, with this the best way to mod is dumping the bios region with FPT tool (and a full backup and/or by regions), mod it and flash again with FPT.

35

Thank you very much Meetwar

you are right :frowning:

Yes, I have CH341 and TL866, but I can’t find the EEPROM chips , I have the MB 0Y56T3 from a DELL T5600.

I will check the thread you indicate

Thank you very much

36

Thank you I have located the U_SPI1 & U_SPI2 chips.

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