Laptop seems completley dead after updating firmware sent to me from pcspecialists

[DizzyBHigh]

Hoping someone can help me

I just tried updating my firmware/bios (not got as far as bios computer is dead ) sent to me by pc specialists

I created a bootable usb using rufus copied the BIO and EC folder to it

Booted off the usb went to the EC directory and ran ecflash bat file

Something seemed to be happening initially then it just sat there with the updating screen, the progress bar didnt move at all then the computer shut down after about 30 minutes

i unplugged the ac for 20 seconds (it said 5 but i did 20 too make sure)

i plugged the power back in and now the laptop wont even turn on....

hope theres some way i can resolve this without sending the computer back to pc-specialists (the warranty ran out 1 week ago and i am based in berlin now)

cant work now or do anything am properly screwd anyone offer any suggestions???

thanks in advance

 

[steaky360]

First thing would be to try and ensure the laptop is drained of all power to force as much as possible to reset - take out the battery, hold the power button for about 30 secs. Then plug the battery and laptop back in and try to turn it on again.

 

[DizzyBHigh]

First thing would be to try and ensure the laptop is drained of all power to force as much as possible to reset - take out the battery, hold the power button for about 30 secs. Then plug the battery and laptop back in and try to turn it on again.

I tried that from another thread here, i will try leaving it unplugged without the battery for an hr or so and try that again.

am i right in thinking that the power button should do at least something make a beep or something?

or would a dead bios stop the power button from working totally?

 

[steaky360]

No that shouldn't I'd expect some lights or some such to appear.

Does the power brick have a light when its plugged in? Do any of the lights on the laptop illuminate (to show the laptop is receiving power etc.)?

 

[DizzyBHigh]

No that shouldn't I'd expect some lights or some such to appear.

Does the power brick have a light when its plugged in? Do any of the lights on the laptop illuminate (to show the laptop is receiving power etc.)?

The power adapter has a green light, i cant remember if when the power is plugged into the laptop, there was a charge light, there is not one now, no lights nothing with the ac adaptor plugged in, (with and without battery plugged in.

no no sign of life at all, no lights no sound of disk whiring no beeps nothing its as though the power button does not do anything (which it currently does not)
Ive never experienced this before on any computer usually at least a fan or something comes on.

 

[mantadog]

Probably not the news you want to hear, but I don't like the sound of this at all...

You might have found one of the only ways to really brick your computer, were you experiencing an issue that required flashing the motherboard?

Laptops i'm not sure of, but I know higher end desktop boards have recovery features for this built in, laptops I have my doubts about.

About all you can do is what steaky suggested, though I would add it might be worth opening up the bottom of the laptop and finding the watch battery. Dig that out and leave it out for a couple of minutes. if its your lucky day you might get a chance to re run the installation by clearing the CMOS. Put it back in, do up the bottom and try restarting. If not you might need a new motherboard.

 

[steaky360]

I guess it would be worth trying to unplug everything and ensure you're holding the power button for a period of time (although you may have tried this).

If not, unplug everything remove battery etc. and leave for a few hours to see if this makes a difference (kind of of clutching at straws here, not sure what else to suggest other than giving PCS a call).

On a slightly positive note, I don't think PCS will just refuse to help because your warranty has expired, if its something they can talk you though I think they would still assist you.

 

[DizzyBHigh]

Thanks for the advice from everyone.

I kinda know where all this is going, i wanted to avoid sending it to pcs because:
1) i am living in berlin now
2) its what i use for work (i am a freelance programmer, so i am pretty screwed workwise now)
3) The time and cost its going to take to get it sorted (if it can be).

I have found PCS to be very good support wise, though the warranty ran out 2 weeks ago (great timing).

The fan had been playing up much louder than normal (its really loud normally) but now its clicking horribly, i guess the bearings are shot, i ordered a new one for 10 quid and it arrives tomorrow.

I had been reading the thread on these forums about the lod fan and people had said there was a firmware update that increased the fan table so it wasnt just off medium and full, offered more settings so the fan didnt go ballistic all the time.

I spoke to pcs over the phone and asked about the firmware and they sent me a dropbox link by email with the new bios/firmware.

i should have left well alone, now i pay the price i guess!!!

I will contact PCS tomorrow and see what the say, hope the motherboard does not need to be completley replaced, thats gonna hurt moneywise and timewise!!!

these things always happen at the worst possible moments, have so much work and cant do anything right now

 

[mantadog]

Too right, always seems to go belly up when you could really do without it.

The new fan would have been a much safer fix, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. have you taken out the coin cell battery and tried it that way? That is probably your last hope.

Take off the bottom of the laptop (the biggest section), you will need a really small screwdriver and make sure you get all the screws, the cover should just pop off, if its stuck you've missed a screw. Look on the motherboard for a small battery, take it out and repeat the steps outlined by steaky above.

Worth a shot giving PCS a call tomorrow see if they can suggest a miracle cure, but I cant think of anything else that could work.

 

[DizzyBHigh]

Too right, always seems to go belly up when you could really do without it.

The new fan would have been a much safer fix, but hindsight is a wonderful thing. have you taken out the coin cell battery and tried it that way? That is probably your last hope.

Take off the bottom of the laptop (the biggest section), you will need a really small screwdriver and make sure you get all the screws, the cover should just pop off, if its stuck you've missed a screw. Look on the motherboard for a small battery, take it out and repeat the steps outlined by steaky above.

Worth a shot giving PCS a call tomorrow see if they can suggest a miracle cure, but I cant think of anything else that could work.

Yeah i know about the CMOS battery, it seems to be on the bottom most layer, so i will do it tomorrow when the fan arrives, think your right though its probably not going to be the miracle fix i need, though i will give it a shot before sending the lappy back.

again thanks for your advice its much appreciated.

 

[DizzyBHigh]

Thanks for eberyones help and suggestions

I tried removing the cmos battery, so many screws to undo to get at it!!!!

just as you think you have them all it still dont open then you find another hiding away!!!

Did not help, i even bought a new battery just in case that one had died (its only been a year so unlikley) and same state bricked power dont work.

I contacted support and have an RMA and am sending it back, gonna be a hard 2 weeks without a computer, but i know PCS will sort it, just waiting to hear on the cost

To anyone thinking of upgrading the bios/firmware i would suggest sending it to pcs for them to do to save you from my predicament.

I will let you know the cost of the repair when i know

once again thanks to Mankadog and Steaky for your advice, is greatly appreciated.

 

[mantadog]

Sorry to hear that didn't work, but you've at least exhausted everything you could do yourself.

I swear people think I'm mad sometimes when I tell them not to update to the latest firmware for their motherboard, its not like the other software that can be quite easily undone if something goes wrong. Hopefully if one good thing can come of this, its others wont fall victim to a needless upgrade by reading this.

Not much else to say, other than you will hopefully only be paying for postage + parts, you should still have the labour constituent of your warranty in place...

Let us know how it goes anyway.

 

[ubuysa]

Updating the BIOS has always been a tense few minutes for me because it's one of the few (actually I think it's the only) change that you can't backup beforehand to give yourself a way back. It's one of those do-or-die things - which is why I never update a BIOS unless I absolutely have to.

I'm sure PCS will be able to sort this out for you, I'd really like to know how though, if only for my own satisfaction than anything else. Anyone at PCS care to comment?

 

[mantadog]

Updating the BIOS has always been a tense few minutes for me because it's one of the few (actually I think it's the only) change that you can't backup beforehand to give yourself a way back. It's one of those do-or-die things - which is why I never update a BIOS unless I absolutely have to.

I'm sure PCS will be able to sort this out for you, I'd really like to know how though, if only for my own satisfaction than anything else. Anyone at PCS care to comment?

I know some motherboards have swappable chips that can be removed then solder on a new one. Not sure about laptops particularly but if you cant just replace the chip its a new motherboard job...

 

[TheGSL]

I've updated both my optimus v and other older laptops recently with new bioses, it is one of those times when you need to really pay attention and make sure that the psu is not gonna be unplugged or knocked etc., but having done it multiple times over the years, never had any problems, as long as you know what you are doing and take care you should be fine. On this occasion it sounds more like a software failure than a hardware one. Perhaps the files pcs sent you were wrong in some way?

I don't know if the bios is surface mounted on your computer, but if so, it might be an easy repair to replace it. Have you got any voltage testers perchance?