Detailed instructions for Acer Aspire 7741G bios flash via USB

Dear community
I would need some help with my old laptop. Long story short I ran into a situation where the laptop boots up but stays with black screen. Only bios flashing help needed. I found many solutions saying to extract the exe bios file downloaded from the original asus product support page, but there are no desired files for USB flashing (.fd - also I cant find the .fd combo inside a Hex editor opening other files in that extracted 17CP126.exe file). Inside the DOS>BIOS folder I find only the .ROM and .WPH file extension (near the phlash16.exe and ACERACDC.EXE). I've also tried with older BIOS versions.. no luck. I putted every combination possible on a fat32 flashed usb and inserted, boot up with Fn+Esc button pressed, I hear the fan but the laptop is not uploading the bios. Could anyone explain me the right way for my specific laptop?

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JackE

Unless a bios update or downgrade was unsuccessful, black screens are usually caused by a problem with the video cable in the hinge area from wear and tear of opening and closing the lid too much. Accordingly, the first test you should do is press the FN+F6 combo to try to turn the screen on. If no joy, the next test is to HDMI out to a TV set to see if you get a screen by pressing the FN+F5 combo. Report back with these results.

As for the FD file in the FN+ESC cold boot method, it should only be tried as a last resort because you could actually wind up corrupting an otherwise uncorrupted BIOS. You're looking for a bin, rom, wph or fd file that is further extracted from the Windows exe on another Windows machine. You should get a failure message. Leave the failure message open. Then search for temporary files in the C : \ users subfolder usually found by using H2O*.* in the search field. The usual filename s an isflash.bin which should be re-named JE70x64.fd and should be the only file on a FAT32 formatted stick. The FN+ESC cold boot flash method with this stick only works less than 25% of the time.

Chotu

Hey Jack
Thanks for your opinion and help. The fn+ F6 or F5 options doesnt show anything on the screen, nor the additional monitor I have plugged (once via HDMI, once via VGA). Im struggling to find that temporary file. Could not locate it. On other sites its written its hidden in AppData folder. I have checked it all and couldn't find it. I left the error open. Any further advice?

JackE

Have you searched in the C : \ users subfolder using H2O*.* in the search field?

esadbase

Hello @JackE,

I have exatly the same problem with the same Laptop (Acer Aspire 7741G). Jack, there is no file called isflash.bin anywhere. You are welcome to download the ACER 7741 BIOS v1.26 and see if you can find the isflash.bin file somewhere. Please help. Here are all the unpacked files:

JackE

Please show the download link.

esadbase

Hi @JackE ,

where is the download link? I can´t find it. Please send me the download link via DM.

JackE

Ich frage SIE!!! Woher haben SIE die Datei „BIOS_Acer_1.26_Windows“, die SIE oben gepostet haben?

I'm asking YOU!!! Where did YOU get the "BIOS_Acer_1.26_Windows" file that YOU posted in this screenshot?

AnhEZ28

@esadbase

There is the "E08AC117.bin" BIOS file. Put that file into an empty FAT32 USB and try to do the recovery flash.

esadbase

@JackE

Slow down man (or girl). I'm from germany. I misunderstood your message. I mixed up the meaning of the word "show" with "look".

Here is the link: https://drivers.plus/de/acer-aspire-7741g-bios-1-26/52354/

esadbase

@AnhEZ28

I tried nearly every file and every method on all USB ports. I also renamed this file to "E08AC117.fd" or to "JE70x64.fd" or to "bios.wph". And i've also tried with including the file "phlash16.exe" or with and without using wincrisis_1.0.0.4. It will not work.

JackE

> >Here is the link: > >

Sorry, it's not an Acer link. BIOS firmware from non-Acer archives are questionable. Unfortunately, the official BIOS downloads are currently unavailable for this Win7 era machine. Even with an official download, the FN+ESC cold boot recovery method fails more often than it succeeds. If you haven't seen it already, an earlier apparently unsuccessful attempt using a similar archive is shown in this link.

If the black screen on your machine happened suddenly for no apparent reason, it's more likely that the LCD video cable has developed a trace break in the hinge area from wear and tear of opening/closing the lid. A $20 part.

AnhEZ28

@esadbase
Seems like the problem is not from the BIOS. Try to plug the laptop into a TV or a monitor to test if the laptop can still turn on.

esadbase

@JackE

"BIOS firmware from non-Acer archives are questionable"

Thats for true. But my BIOS File is original. I got it from the Acer website at the time.

"it's more likely that the LCD video cable"

Nope. The reasan of Blackscreen is BIOS Flashing with wrong BIOS. I have two ACER 7741G. One with flash fail and one with full function. I also tried the BIOS CRISIS RECOVERY method on my working ACER 7441G with the same result. USB is addressed, but the reading process does not start.

I'm starting to think it's a conspiracy à la "The Trueman Show." Because there are so many successful guides for other ACER models on the internet. But in 7741G, a magical hand appears to be intentionally hiding the necessary information. (Imagine you are now hearing the theme music from the TV series "The X-Files")

JackE

> >The reasan of Blackscreen is BIOS Flashing with wrong BIOS.> >

OK. Try this. Remove charger & battery. Remove the BIOS 3V lithium coin cell from mainboard coin cell socket. Short the mainboard coin cell socket + - terminals for about 10 seconds. 3V coin cell should still be greater than 3.1V open circuit Then put everything back together.

Battery must be fully charged and plugged in. Rename the BIN file JE70x64.fd on the USB stick. It should be the only file on the USB stick. Then try the FN+ESC cold boot method again.

esadbase

@JackE

My dear friend, the batteries in my laptops are not working. :o)

Does CRISIS RECOVERY only work with a battery or can it also be done without it?

JackE

Sorry. No. Battery must still be usable, fully-charged & plugged in. BIOS lithium coin cell must also be over 3.1 volts open circuit.

AnhEZ28

@esadbase
You can find someone with a BIOS programmer device to reflash the BIOS.

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