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Spin5 SP515-51GN-54XS-Blank Screen After Failed Firmware Update? Need help with BIOS recovery

Member Posts: 14

Tinkerer

edited December 6 in Swift and Spin Series

I'm writing to seek assistance with my Acer Spin 5.

I recently attempted to update the firmware but encountered a power failure during the process.

Since then, the laptop screen remains blank, although the keyboard lights up.
I've tried to recover the BIOS by following these steps:

  • Powered off the laptop.
  • Pressed and held Fn+Esc.
  • Insert the Fat32 formatted USD disk with the copy of my *.fd firmware downloaded from Acer Support site
  • Pressed the power button while continuing to hold Fn+Esc.
  • Released Fn+Esc after about 2 seconds, when the laptop rebooted.
  • After the reboot, the laptop turned on, but the screen remains blank. I'm unsure if this is the expected behavior during the recovery process or if there are further steps I should take.
    I was using the BuzKL114.fd firmware file to perform a manual recovery, but without success.


I've only found guides for recovering for other model, and im not sure if it needs the Crisis disk, which I believe that its unique according to the model.

I kindly request your guidance on how to proceed with the BIOS recovery or any other troubleshooting steps that might help resolve this issue


Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.


Sincerely,

[Edited the topic title to include model number]

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Answers

  • ACE Posts: 2,814 Pathfinder

    I am confused. It is a laptop, and you still encountered power failure? Did the laptop not have atleast 75% charge and ideally be connected to power supply when this was being done? BIOS failure, if the system isn't able to auto recover isn't easy.

    Check this thread here - https://community.acer.com/en/discussion/635750/how-do-i-flash-a-corrupt-bios-for-acer-spin-5-sp513-52-n

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  • ACE, Member Posts: 14,011 Trailblazer

    Acer Spin 5 Blank Screen After Failed Firmware Update

    Hi, Bios is corrupted, and you will have to bring the laptop to Acer Services in your country to reprogram the EEPROM and reset the system to factory default for a small service fee,

  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    Well, the battery no longer able to hold any power as Ive kept on with the adopter for a very long time.

    Thanks the link. Gonna check it out now!

  • ACE Posts: 2,814 Pathfinder

    Check it out. If that doesn't work, I would recommend taking to a Acer service center.

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  • ACE Posts: 12,476 Trailblazer
    edited December 5

    It would help us if you told us which Acer Spin 5 model you have, like SP515-xx or similar? As the only bios recovery guide in these Spin laptops that Acer service guide has is the below guide. Good luck and hope this helps you out some more.

    BIOS Flash Utilities

    BIOS Flash memory updates are required for the following conditions:

    • New versions of system programs
    • New features or options
    • Restore a BIOS when it becomes corrupted.

    Use the Flash utility to update the system BIOS Flash ROM.

    NOTE: If a Crisis Recovery Disc is not available, create one before Flash utility is used.

    NOTE: Do not install memory related drivers (XMS, EMS, DPMI) when Flash is used.

    NOTE: Use AC adapter power supply when running Flash utility. If battery pack doesn't contain power to finish loading BIOS Flash, do not boot system.

    Perform the following to run Flash.

    1. Turn off the laptop.
    2. Insert the USB device containing the BIOS file and the Crisis Recovery disk files to any USB port.
    3. Press and hold the Fn + Esc keys (this is the BIOS recovery hotkey), then press the power button.
    4. Release the Fn + Esc keys after POST.

    NOTE: Flash utility has auto execution function and you need to wait until it finishes which can take up to a max of 10 min.

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

  • ACE Posts: 34,584 Trailblazer

    There are more hoops to jump through to build a crisis recovery disk, the filename used to put the .fd file is important, and not available except to service centers normally.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    Sorry it's Spin SP515-51GN-54XS

    Totally overlooked that important piece of info

  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    Thanks for your detailed guide. I've tried that, below is the only part that I it's showing differently as what your guide describe.

    Or could it be I missed something to consistently perform a reboot after 30 seconds doing the FN+ESC

    1. Also, I wish to find out whether the behavior of my Spin 5 normal for the BIOS recovery, where while holding FN+ESC , i turn on the power and releasing the FN+ESC after 3- 5 seconds, it'll reboot after 30 seconds. But that the only response it'll show each time I tried the Recovery process.

    2. I was under the impression that there might be a name to be set for the .fd file. If it's so, where can I get the info from?

  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    Is there anywhere I can obtain the filename to be renamed for the *.fd?

  • ACE Posts: 34,584 Trailblazer

    I believe Acer only provides that to their service centers…

    Also, you have to continue to hold the Fn-ESC key combo through POST and only release when it is complete.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    I did try that. Which makes me curious to what exactly does it means when it bolts up, regardless if the FN+ESC is release or not, as long as theres a usb drive connected, it'll automatically reboots. And after that it remains blank screen with its keyboard litted up for as long as i leave it on..

  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    Im still unsure how to create this crisis disk, but heres the outcome of placing just the latest firmware downloaded from Acer & the extracted .fd file placed on a Fat32 formated USD Drive

    and this is what happens when tried to perform the FN+ESC and left it for a few seconds

    https://photos.app.goo.gl/uEWUyoixMA6a3VBy8

    Since i cant upload video so im sharing it from Google Photos

    Is it normal to reboot after a few seconds and remain screen blank

  • ACE Posts: 34,584 Trailblazer

    Yes, you should see some activity on the USB drive at some point, but the whole process will take some time. They don't even try to optimize it, since the process is used so rarely.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    To be frank, this issue makes me wonder whether it’s an intentional design flaw or just poor support. There’s limited information available online about fixing a corrupted BIOS with the FN+ESC shortcut, and I’ve never found any successful cases. None of the provided instructions seem accurate enough to achieve the desired outcome.

    It's perplexing how Acer can list multiple BIOS versions with detailed changes and updates on their official site, yet fail to provide a warning or prompt when initiating a BIOS flash. My intention was simply to resolve a driver issue, but the process automatically reboots and flashes the BIOS without any alert to ensure a power supply is connected. This led to my laptop shutting down halfway due to insufficient power, causing severe damage.

    Reading several comments on Acer’s official support platform, it’s suggested to pay a fee and send the laptop to an Acer center. This raises the question: why make it so easy to cause such damage without proper warnings or prompts? It would be more logical to remove such updates from the download site if fixing it yourself is nearly impossible.

    Acer's approach seems to create a scenario where they can charge for repairs on out-of-warranty laptops. As it stands, I'll have to resort to flashing the BIOS myself since that seems to be the only successful solution, rather than relying on FN+ESC recovery steps which I’m not even sure work.

  • ACE Posts: 2,814 Pathfinder
    edited December 17

    @DrIsaacAndy

    This is an issue created by Microsoft, not Acer or any other company, to push BIOS updates also as part of Windows update as if drivers update isn't messed up already.

    I tend to tell people to disable these drivers and BIOS updates via Windows updates, and to use manufacturer website for updating these.

    Normal drivers can still be uninstalled and windows reinstalled (worst case) but BIOS updates are not reversible and shouldn't be pushed via Windows updates.

    The reason why corrupted BIOS recovery isn't publicly available could be because someone may have set up security at BIOS level too and this could used as way to circumvent that.

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  • Member Posts: 14

    Tinkerer

    Im confused. What does Microsoft has to do with Bios files that can be downloaded directly on Acer's official site?

    Not sure if you have used other laptop brands. Like Dell, its almost impossible to flash your BIOS without the power supply connected to the laptop.

    And look at their so called Flash Recovery feature FN+ESC, till now after reading everywhere, I doubt it even works since Ive not read anyone that follows the guide had successfully recovered their BIOS. Those successful ones are done with Flashing the BIOS.

    Infact I personally tried it and there's no where has it shown to have an actual working guide without the excuse of Acer making it difficult to recover due to not providing the actual filename to rename the BIOS file to and etc.

  • ACE Posts: 2,814 Pathfinder

    My statement reference comes from the fact that MS is distributing BIOS firmware via windows updates.

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  • ACE Posts: 34,584 Trailblazer

    Yes, most BIOS revisions come through Windows update these days, especially on models that are newer. And I agree it would be much better if Acer gave us the filename to use for the recovery process, but they likely believe that will just lead to more service calls from people who have tried to mod the BIOS instead of just flashing a stock version. They likely have metrics to back that up, but again we don't have visibility into any of that.

    Click on "Like" if you find my answer useful or click on "Yes" if it answers your question.
  • ACE Posts: 2,814 Pathfinder

    Problem with this is security. Remember the age old desktops where taking out a 2032 battery (CMOS battery) reset the whole BIOS allowing users bypass any boot passwords. If i set boot password on my travel laptop, i wouldn't want anyone bypass that.

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  • ACE Posts: 12,476 Trailblazer

    You need to take SP515-51GN laptop to Acer in your country or to an experienced technician that has a bios CH341A flash tool or similar and can flash the last bios for the Spin SP515-51GN laptop or get a brand new bios chip that already has the last version 1.14 bios program on the chip and replace the bios chip, there is no other solution if you corrupted the bios as the SP515-51GN laptop has no bios crisis disk guide in its Acer service guide like allot of laptop do, Good luck and hope this helps you out. ,

    Below is the Spin SP515-51GN laptop front mobo diagram layout, have a look at #17 as that is the bios chip that you need to either remove to reprogram or replace.

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

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