Fujitsu E420 (American MegaTrends) BIOS 2.15.1236. bricked up

[Atasas]

Hi guys,

I'm in a process in rebuilding this antique machine for my very, very elderly friend.

Had all the issues Win 10 pro x64, I've sorted, only to end attempting to update BIOS (as a "last call")

ended downloading all the drivers manually and... decided to let it do it's do, to update what's outstanding automatically (I think is this thingy DeskView x64 Instant BIOS Management( Fujitsu Technical Support pages from Fujitsu EMEA ; file Title DeskUpdate (Setup)Version (Publish date)5.02.0037 (12/08/2021)Size86.15 MB )

well, needless to say, didn't go to plan

Did press F2 and F12, BIOS just don't progress no further

Did unplugging all of the devices "trick", powering back on - etc- dead!

There are couple of pin rows (one of the) as in for resetting Bios, other seemed completely unrelated (in red)

Pins connected b2+b3 and a2 pin is missing.

from memory did try reconnecting a3+b3. just like Fujitsu Futro S720 Thin Client (parkytowers.me.uk)

still "nada!"

Downloaded some .exe mainly packages without being sure of model number of the machine on to USB stick... kinda silly try... and one something like USB flash container

Still, not that I could boot anything, as BIOS doesn't load.

 

As it comes to the files etc (his photos of grand kids mainly) are all safe, his HDD from clean-"fresh" Win10 reinstallation, I could extract some info, but not much, however it's beside the point.

HOW ON EARTH TO "UNBRICK" damned BIOS?

Thanks gents!

 

 

 

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Try powering down the system, disconnecting the AC line power cord, disconnecting all of the drives from the computer, and removing the CMOS/RTC backup battery (the CR-2023 coin cell that looks like its partially located beneath the CPU fan in photo #3).

Wait a few minutes, plug in the USB flash drive with the BIOS firmware update on it into the PC, reconnect AC line power, and power up.   You should then be able to flash the BIOS as you normally would from there.

When done, power down and plug everything back in (drives + battery). 

Now, power up once more, go into the BIOS settings, and get everything  set that you need to in there (date and time, Secure Boot, boot order, etc.).  Save that, and you should then be up and running.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[Atasas]

Nope, nothing.

I need HDD connected, got the USB flash with BIOS, screen and keyboard, still the same... By the looks of it I'll be buying a computer for trying to fix it (for free of course) 🤦‍♂️

[Atasas]

On 23/07/2024 at 20:32, goretsky said:

Hello,

Try powering down the system, disconnecting the AC line power cord, disconnecting all of the drives from the computer, and removing the CMOS/RTC backup battery (the CR-2023 coin cell that looks like its partially located beneath the CPU fan in photo #3).

Wait a few minutes, plug in the USB flash drive with the BIOS firmware update on it into the PC, reconnect AC line power, and power up.   You should then be able to flash the BIOS as you normally would from there.

When done, power down and plug everything back in (drives + battery). 

Now, power up once more, go into the BIOS settings, and get everything  set that you need to in there (date and time, Secure Boot, boot order, etc.).  Save that, and you should then be up and running.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

Well got the HDD out, some "findings"

It definitely is Futjitsu Esprimo E420 [YLST036689]

 

The BIOS "flashing tool" is "fake", in a sense, it's created by Win System, currently looking for a correct BIOS flash ISO image, intend to mount it on USB, as having CD (DVD) ROM might be giving it "wrong ideas", but not discounting finding a blank DVD and burning it.... BUT! I remember to have set up BIOS to boot from HDD 0> HDD 1> USB (Legacy)> USB> LAN and I might, just might have left CD ROM as a last option... as any IT literate person would :D... that is, if BIOS function as they should

 

.....................................................................................................................................................................

 

One dirty Fujitsu is having none of it (having disconnected everything and attempted flashing with USB CD image, USB'ed with unetbootin-windows-702.exe... ) could it be wrong file (CD ROM) of USB file format?

....................................................................................................................................................................

 

 

[Atasas]

1- anyone knows of the place (in UK), that would sell DVD's?

found good manual Fujitsu ( ESPRIMO E420 E85+ : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive )

2- Unfortunately links to defunct Fujitsu site, that doesn't give me no potion to find correct BIOS ("catch 2 2 )

3- as BIOS crashed during installation, DVD (CD) isn't going to boot anyway

4- Looked in archives etc for a simple BIOS flashing program, as the lot of ISO's found are all BIOS post executable command packages (checked the lot with ISO buster), in effect, I need to access BIOS chip to "blunt it" so that it would load command from external (whatever, most likely to work USB) source... that means options 1,2,3 isn't going to work either way.

 

ANY suggestions gents?

[goretsky Supervisor]

Hello,

Ah, I did not realize the machine needed to flash its BIOS from a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.  I would suggest making the boot CD on another computer, and then using an external USB CD-ROM or DVD-ROM to apply the firmware update.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

[Atasas]

On 25/07/2024 at 00:05, goretsky said:

Hello,

Ah, I did not realize the machine needed to flash its BIOS from a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive.  I would suggest making the boot CD on another computer, and then using an external USB CD-ROM or DVD-ROM to apply the firmware update.

Regards,

Aryeh Goretsky
 

Thanks for the good wishes, but it's simpler problem than that. BIOS doesn't load up, as it is already loaded up, but something isn't right to process everything through.

 

If BIOS isn't operating, I can not load nothing via (BUS or "SATA" (HDD and CD/DVD ROM)), nor I can find appropriate BIOS flush version, that could potentially overwrite failed BIOS set up file. All BIOS I've found on Fujitsu support page are from pre 2012 versions, that are ISO's, that I could load via CD ROM, if it was operational, except it's not, as BIOS simply doesn't connect no BUS (SATA) or even USB to accept BIOS settings.

To complicate my issues further, BIOS designed by American Megatrends, as it's their chip on MoBo, that I couldn't take it out (as older days it was possible) to rewrite it's tiny "brain" (memory chip) either.

Also, from memory any BIOS settings "version" being older, that one attempts to overwrite existing not going to work. Fujitsu doesn't show no newer version of the BIOS than 2.15.1236. mentioned on either other, but Win based update package FTS_DeskUpdateSetup_5020037_1257531.EXE. 

I've had downloaded FTS_DeskViewx64InstantBIOSManagementBIOSUpdate_6850081_1223234.zip , that is again Windows based installation package (.exe's)

 

If F2 or F12 functions would work (BIOS wouldn't have crashed) that wouldn't be a problem, but it DID and I really am stuck with no way, that I could think off, how to overcome it.

 

PS, spoke to the old fella, he's not saying, that I should get him PC instead, he could live without one.. but that's not how I am able to deal with, never mind hating, some software issue ruining hardware, let alone beating me.

Matter of a principal now to resolve it...

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

Seriously, why are you trying to do CPR on a "dead" motherboard? (technically saying)

You're dealing with a dead company that hasn't been around after Win XP (7 maybe?)

As you said above, you are using it to give to an elderly friend. Right?

If I were you.. I'd dump the old thing, get a DELL Optiplex off ebay and be done with it.

[Atasas]

On 25/07/2024 at 01:48, Mindovermaster said:

Seriously, why are you trying to do CPR on a "dead" motherboard? (technically saying)

You're dealing with a dead company that hasn't been around after Win XP (7 maybe?)

As you said above, you are using it to give to an elderly friend. Right?

If I were you.. I'd dump the old thing, get a DELL Optiplex off ebay and be done with it.

I get it where you are coming from and I have already (almost) given up, but 1- hate being beaten, 2- ... dunno!

In theory, at least, flashing BIOS- all there's needed, in the same sentence, the hassle- grief it is causing me, would be very pleasurable to burn it

 

[Atasas]

The Fujitsu forum more or less dead, mere 11 views ...

(Esprimo E420 [YLST036689] BIOS 2.15.1236. bricked up - Fujitsu Support Forum )

However this board earned me couple of likes, once I considered intension of burning it.

Are you sleeping alright guys?

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Can someone remind me of Windows registration key file and extension (location on the old HDD), that I looked for, just can not remember how to extract it, if that's doable, as I've obtained Lenovo PC of same'ish specs, but don't want to slap dodgy Windows on, as HDD would need be reinstalled from fresh.

 

Thanks!

[Mindovermaster Global Moderator]

That Windows question would go better in the Windows forums. However, I am not sure on that playground.

Yeah, like I said, just burn it 🔥