BIOS update killed my computer

I have an older Sony VAIO laptop (PCG-9J4L) that I downloaded the BIOS update from Sony halfway through the process the computer shut off by itself and now I have nothing. There are no lights or fan. Is it possible to reset the cmos to factory settings or do I have an unrecoverable problem.:cry

 

Check battery for voltage, along with the power adapter. Depending on how old the machine is, the battery and power supply finally went tits up, and that could be your problem.

 

I agree to check the battery - just pulling it out for 30 seconds (with the computer unplugged first) will reset information stored in the CMOS memory module. But sadly, I don't put much hope in that fixing your problem. I hope I am wrong.

Note CMOS is a device - a specific type of memory module used for years (since before personal computers) in many different electronics devices. It has unique data retention properties that make it ideal for temporarily storing data.

The BIOS is a program, not a device. A program (in effect, a mini-OS), stored in a discrete and different type of memory device - typically an EEPROM memory module used to semi-permanently store data. In the case of a computer motherboard, to store the BIOS - "BASIC input/output set" of instructions - a component of the "chipset". The BIOS is the program (OS) that sets up "basic" (not BASIC) communications between the major hardware components (CPU, memory managers, drive controllers, VGA graphics, keyboard mouse) along all the motherboard buses. Once everyone is talking, and date and time are set, all the BIOS knows to do next is to look for a boot drive.

Also, the CMOS does NOT contain or hold the BIOS program. It holds some preliminary information it picks up from some of your hardware (drive data, RAM, CPU) and it holds the settings you changed from the defaults set in the BIOS via the BIOS Setup Menu (date and time values, for example). The BIOS is not in, or "running" in CMOS.

When you update the BIOS, you are reprogramming the EEPROM, not the CMOS. And if the update became corrupted, the EEPROM is toast, not the CMOS. So resetting the CMOS will likely have no effect.

Most BIOS makers do provide a recovery method, but it has limitations. It involves the protected Boot Block sector of the EEPROM which some times can be used to get you going well enough to boot from a floppy - which hopefully is enough to flash the BIOS - without corruption. See BIOS Recovery Instructions.

Of course, those recovery instructions assume you can boot far enough to use a floppy. But your system seems to be dead dead, I am sorry to say. Your only option may be to send the notebook back to Sony to reset the BIOS. BUT, I suspect they will just want to replace the board - for a pretty penny, from your pocket.

Years ago, to upgrade the BIOS, you had to replace the PROM. Later, when motherboards were still very expensive, if a flash failed our only solution was to replace the EEPROM (or EPROM) chip with a blank and reprogram it from scratch. It was very labor intensive and required critical skills and a steady hand with a soldering pencil as motherboards even then were multi-layered PCBs and these devices were, and still are, very heat sensitive (and we were still just learning about ESD). Today, it is just not cost effective to repair motherboards.

You wanted to get a new notebook anyway, right? rolleyes I would suggest before further troubleshooting (where there's the risk of further damage) you pull your harddrive out of the notebook and install it into an enclosure, or as a secondary drive in another computer, then copy off any files you want to keep. If, at this point, you feel the notebook is not salvageable cost effectively, you might just run Eraser on the drive. This is a "wipe" program that uses DBAN technologies to ensure no recoverable personal data is left behind.

 

Digerati,
You are correct. I miss spoke when I said CMOS. I have read the BIOS recovery link that you sent but don't think it will work in my case. I have nothing, no indication that there is power on or anything so can't boot from floppy. I have checked the power brick and it is outputting 19.75 volts under no load. I have a second power brick but still no go on the computer. I think the best thing is to consign it to the trash. I need a beater that I can ship to job sites and was wanting to use this one. So much for Sony BIOS updates, that's one of the risks.

 

A lot of people think CMOS and BIOS are one in the same. And a lot of people - even those in the know - interchange the two when speaking/posting because they are so closely related in their functions, we just associate one with the other - so I was just trying to make it clear as mud for all reading!

Well, that does not really mean a lot. Power supplies must be tested under realistic loads for conclusive testing.

Well, that is the inevitable for all computers, though we hope later rather than sooner. I do remind you to wipe the drives first. And also, I would recommend you recycle rather than toss in the trash - some of that stuff needs to stay out of landfills.