Hi Guys
I am seeking out forums where this problem lies unsolved, I am creating an account specifically to share the solution as I have struggled myself with this and have not received any help other than having to send the device back to the manufacturers to replace (and losing whatever data was on it), even the company’s technicians can’t give me simple instructions how to reset/clear the corrupted BIOS, their solution was for me to travel to a country where a service Centre exists to have the device replaced under warranty, the ticket alone would be more than double the amount of the device..
Ok enough fluff, lets get to the solution.
First let me clarify, this solution is applicable to resetting/clearing the corrupted/incorrectly set BIOS of a device where no other means exist to allow it to boot (no cmos clear jumper/ no removable cmos battery/ no removable device battery/ no BIOS reset button/ shorting BIOS pins doesn’t clear settings/ USB ports not working with peripheral devices/ display is disabled / device doesn’t boot at all/ no sounds).
I had all of the above problems, two times with identical device models, basically the device is bricked after changing certain BIOS settings, I replaced my first laptop/tablet device within the first month under warranty, after I received my new device I bricked it again accidentally after a week after changing basic video memory settings in the BIOS, I wasn’t in the UAE anymore and couldn’t take it back to the repair Centre and contacting yielded more frustration.
Ok here’s what you do:
Preparation:
– need 1 x usb flash drive -any size
– Need to know your BIOS name, version etc. ,Google a YouTube video of your device with a bios related theme and note the name of the BIOS if you don’t have the manual. mine was a “InsydeH20”
– Download your BIOS firmware, i found mine in the YouTube video comment, downloading an unlocking or upgrading BIOS firmware file for your model can also work.
– Format usb drive Fat32
– The BIOS firmware you downloaded will be one file like this: “
FirmwareName.fd”,
copy this file to the USB root and rename it exactly to “Bios.fd” (no apostrophes).
Ok now to the solution:
1. Open device, being careful not to break any clips or small ribbon cables.
2. The device will only be a circuit board with various chips, you won’t see standard things like RAM chips, Hard drives, CMOS batteries or anything removable like with a traditional pc/laptop. (attached is a picture of my motherboard/device inside to illustrate)
3. Locate the connector that runs from the battery to the motherboard/circuit board, pull it free, it is usually a small flat white connector with 4 pins that can be pulled free, if yours is soldered you’ll have to De-solder it.
4. Push the connector back in partially, the device should make a clicking noise from the speaker or the LEDs should flash briefly as it comes on for a split second and goes off again. repeat this just for good measure.
Now let’s try the easy solution first, if you power it on but have no display, you can immediately press delete or f2 or whatever key enters BIOS, I had to hold volume up + volume down to enter UEFI BIOS, and from there enter the BIOS, the Chinese hid this BIOS away for a good reason hahahah, you need to have a video of the BIOS or something to navigate it blindly but usually once you think you’re in press the reset BIOS key, usually F9 or something, press enter, and F10 or whatever key saves and resets, if you’re lucky the BIOS should be reset.
None of this worked as I successfully entered my BIOS several times and reset/restarted the device but it still wouldn’t reset, every time you fail clearing the BIOS and the device doesn’t want to boot, repeat step 4. trust me, without doing that first nothing wanted to happen when I tried entering BIOS again.
Ok now for the final solution (short of JTAG recovery/ physically replacing BIOS I guess haha)
5. Place your usb drive in a usb port, as soon as you power on the device you need to hold a specific combination of keys, i would suggest a usb stick with a small led light that shows you when it is accessed so you’ll know when it is working.
6. I had to immediately start holding Fn + R after powering on, keep holding the keys and watch the flash drive, it should start rapidly flashing. release the keys and wait for the system to reboot after a few seconds.
(other combinations to force the firmware flash for other devices are Fn + Esc, Fn + Win key, you could require a different combination)
7. You should see the screen come on and some text flashing by etc, enter BIOS as normal and reset it to default settings to be safe.
8. Enjoy victory.
I don’t know if this will work for resetting BIOS passwords or other kinds of obstacles keeping you from accessing the BIOS, but I don’t see how it wouldn’t work unless the passwords are stored somewhere else or something.
Sorry for the long winded wall of text, I wanted to be clear as possible, feel free to ask if there is anything I can help with.
Kind Regards
Shawn (ou balneus)
