How do I reflash the BIOS on an Acer Predator Helios 16

AbsolutZeroGI
AbsolutZeroGI Member Posts: 4 New User
in Predator Laptops

Hello. I flashed BIOS 1.16 on my laptop, and ever since the laptop has been booting excruciatingly slow. Sometimes it'll take upwards of 3-5 minutes to see the boot logo, and then after that, it's another 1-2 minutes to get to Windows login.

So, I assumed that the BIOS update futzed something up and went to go reinstall 1.16 from the PH16-71 support page, except the EXE file won't run. It terminates with a "This BIOS file is not allow to flash. The flash process will be terminated."

Yes, the "BIOS file is not allow to flash" is a typo that appears in the error window.

Anyway, I can't use Acer support chat because this is a factory refurbished model and didn't come with a warranty, so this is the only place where I can ask for help.

Is it even possible to flash the same BIOS again? Or, although more risky, I would be okay with downgrading to 1.15 and then back up to 1.16. These boot times are killing me, and other than the BIOS, I can't think of any other cause of the problem.

Answers

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,155 Trailblazer
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/701710/how-do-i-reflash-the-bios-on-an-acer-predator-helios-16

    The PH16-71 last bios version 1.16 only "Updates LAN PXE UEFI driver" which you should not have updated as you don't need this bios update. You only update the bios for the thing(s) that it fixes with your laptop and the LAN PXE is something that you don't use and that is why your laptop has such a slow boot. When using PXE the boot process is changed from the normal order to the order below and that is why its so slow.

    LAN PXE BOOT - Power on --> BIOS --> Network Card's PXE stack --> Network Boot Program (NBP) downloaded using TFTP from server to Client's RAM --> NBP's responsibility to perform the next step (a.k.a. 2nd stage boot).

    Get a guide on how to turn this off as I've got no idea how to do this, as you can't roll back bios version 1.16 to version 1.15 on this laptop. Good luck and hope this helps you out.

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

  • AbsolutZeroGI
    AbsolutZeroGI Member Posts: 4 New User
    edited March 5

    I did some additional troubleshooting and it appears as though the only time I have a long boot is when my USB mouse (a Corsair Scimitar) is plugged in.

    If I unplug the mouse, the laptop boots normally, and quickly.

    Once I plug in the mouse after boot, the mouse works perfectly.

    If I plug the mouse in to any of this laptop's 3 USB-A ports, then it hangs for 3-5 minutes.

    So, if the BIOS is attempting to boot from a network, as would be assumed in a PXE scenario, why would it only try to do that with a mouse connected to a USB port?

    I also booted into the BIOS and PXE is disabled, so it's probably not even trying to do it. The BIOS improved the driver, it didn't enable the setting. While I appreciate the guess, I'm not a 16 year old on his first laptop here, bud, if my laptop were trying to boot off of a network, I would've figured that out on my own when I went into and scanned through every single changeable setting in this laptop's irritatingly restrictive BIOS.

    In any case, I can make the laptop boot normally, but I have no intention of unplugging and replugging my mouse every day until the port (or the mouse USB connector) dies. If I can't reflash the 1.16 BIOS to attempt to correct what is probably a botched BIOS install, then I don't know what to do.

  • StevenGen
    StevenGen ACE Posts: 12,155 Trailblazer
    https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/comment/1263226#Comment_1263226

    That should not slow the boot process down, I've used a gaming mouse with my Nitro and other laptops for years and it never ever slowed the boot process down. Try another mouse and see if that does the same or is it because of the Corsair mouse, which is very unusual. Good luck anyway.

    If this answers your question and solved your query please "Click on Yes" or "Click on Like" if you find my answer useful👍

  • AbsolutZeroGI
    AbsolutZeroGI Member Posts: 4 New User

    I agree, it shouldn't slow the boot process down.

    I tried another mouse, and it still hung.

    This is clearly a BIOS related issue. If I could just reflash it, I'm sure it would be fine. But, I guess that's not possible.

  • User_PH16_71
    User_PH16_71 Member Posts: 29 Enthusiast WiFi Icon
    edited October 29

    Found a way to reflash? I'm having problems and want to reflash to 1.16 or rollback to earlier fw. on my Predator 16 (PH16-71)

    /// EDIT: I am not booting with LAN, so I guess according to @StevenGen I shouldn't have flashed up to 1.16 in the first place!

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