Acer swift 5 Sf514-52T BIOS update failure

I have recently tried to update BIOS of my laptop to the latest version (1.11) as I needed the updates to install Linux. The power cable disconnected in the middle of the update and i didn't notice. When i switched the laptop back on, the keyboard lit up and it stays lit indefinitely but the screen is completely blank. Tried everything, pressing the battery reset button, disconnecting the CMOS battery, contacted Acer Support who advised me to press ALT + F10 when pressing the power button, even connected to an external monitor through HDMI but still nothing on the screen. Then tried to install in Crysis recovery mode. On a different laptop, i formatted an USB drive to FAT32, downloaded the latest BIOS update from ACER's website. Ran the executable,left it running, looked in C:\Users\MyUser\AppData\Local\Temp and found the files shown in the picture below:

Copied the VVBI0111.fd on the USB. Then inserted the USB in the SF514-52T, plugged in the power cable, held FN+ESC pressed, then pressed the power button. The laptop switched on, then restarted after 5 seconds, then nothing happens. The keyboard stays lit all the time, and the fan switches on a certain interval. The screen is still blank. I am willing to do anything, even if it will destroy my laptop completely. It's not worth sending to a repair shop, i'd rather sell it for parts. If you can't share advices here as they might violate Acer's term of service, write me at nicorici@protonmail.com. I know it sound phishy as hell, but i'll PayPal 10-15 pounds to whoever gives me a working solution. Thanks!

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eGomes

Hi @nicoriciul,

You need to rename the .FD file to specific name required by the Crysis Recovery Mode, check this topic:

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1122914#Comment_1122914

nicoriciul

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1217961#Comment_1217961

Thanks for your reply. I tried following the instructions in the video, but i don't have the isflash.bin file. At the same time, i tried looking for .fd in all the files in the temporary files saved. But i can't find anything that might look like a file name.

eGomes

Try rename VVBI0111.fd file to CarlsbergKBL.fd

nicoriciul

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1217984#Comment_1217984

I tried but i have the same behavior: When holding FN+ESC with the USB plugged in, after about 5-10 seconds the laptop restarts, then the keyboard stays lit and the fan switches on and off at around 30 40 sec interval… I also read somewhere that sometimes .bin extension works. Tried this but to no avail… Thanks again for your help.

eGomes

Have you tried to use Crysis Recovery Mode on all available USB ports of your laptop? Remember, the *.FD file should be the only file present on your USB flash drive. Try to do with another USB drive with different capacity (example: 4, 8 or 16 GB) formatted in FAT32 to improve the chances of compatibility.

nicoriciul

https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1218456#Comment_1218456

Thanks @eGomes. I currently use a 32GB USB and the *.FD file is the only file on the USB. It is also formatted to FAT32. I don't have any 4, 8, 16 GB USB's but I could buy all these with 15 pounds. I am faced with the choice of buying a used motherboard which is around 60 pounds on eBay and change it myself. I also found BIOS chips for my model for 16 pounds but it requires proper BIOS chip identification on the motherboard and micro-soldering. I have very big hands which I think were made for everything except micro-soldering. Should i invest ~15 pounds for some USB's and try with those (Crysis Recovery Mode) or i am better off buying a used motherboard. Sending this in a repair shop would cost the same. However, since we are here on this forum, i would maybe like to try the hard option (with the Crysis Recovery Mode). Any advice is appreciated.

eGomes

Hi @nicoriciul,

We don't know at which stage during the UEFI / BIOS firmware writing process the same was abruptly interrupted by power failure. But it is very likely that the Intel ME region in SPI/BIOS was corrupted. In this case it is possible try to recover it with the help of an SPI programmer.

https://winraid.level1techs.com/t/guide-clean-dumped-intel-engine-cs-me-cs-txe-regions-with-data-initialization/31277#msg24423

Maybe if you could borrow another USB flash drive from a friend or acquaintance. It would justify giving it another attempt! Otherwise, I believe the ideal is to find a specialized technical assistance so that you can do the rewriting of the SPI/BIOS chip. Obviously, if the costs are not equivalent to the price of a motherboard.

nicoriciul

Hi again. I bought 4 USB flash drives of 1, 2, 4 and 8 GB. Tried each of these with both file names: VVBI0111.fd and CarlsbergKBL.fd but still the issue remains the same. The motherboard is not available anymore last I checked… Do you think i should try to rewrite the SPI/BIOS based on the instructions from the guide you included in your last reply or this is highly technical process?

Many thanks,

George

billsey

Try CarlsbergKL.fd instead, Carlsberg KBL is a slightly different model…

nicoriciul

Hello again @eGomes and @billsey …It seems i have ran out of luck. Bought a secondhand motherboard, installed it but it doesn't work and i don't actually know what the problem is with this one. It powers on, the keyboard stays lit and the fan spins like crazy continuously. Amongst other things i have tried installing the BIOS but to no avail. So i switched to the initial one and tried all the versions of BIOS from acer's website. Will probably take it to a specialist in a week or so, which is what i should have done long time ago :)) If you have any more ideas, let me know. I tried looking or a BIOS chip online but it's almost impossible to locate the BIOS chip on the motherboard. What's more impossible for me is to cleanly desolder the old bios chip and solder the new one :)).