BIOS update failure A02 -> A10 -> A02 in m17x R2

Solved! doing backup recovery to older version worked!
**************

Hi

In preparation for upgrading CPU and GPU in my m17x R2 I decided to update BIOS from A02 to A10.
After successful update in win7 i rebooted laptop to see blank screen. After disconnecting charger and battery and connecting together I saw sceens (I use external monitor via VGA connector, interestingly I could see some horizontal lines in middle on blank screen, not very bright but still noticeable).

Few seconds after Windows 7 initialization (when windows logo animation is visible) I saw BSOD for fraction of second and laptop rebooted to black screen.
Thinking that maybe flash went bad I created DOS bootable usb flash and successfully ferlashed A10 from DOS.
This did not helped so I flashed A02 from DOS, but problems remains!

Tried repairing Windows but get message that "Startup Repair cannot repair this computer automatically". Can write down problem details, but don't think it says anything usefull...

What could be done apart of trying complete reinstall of Windows?
and why this would happend in a first place?

************
Update:
Tried every option from F8 menu. Restore from 2 recent points was not successful as well.
I'm really puzzled how this is possible that flashing BIOS create such problem....

 

Try loading windows install DVD and run repair from there.

 

You checked your BIOS settings? I know for the m17x r4 they revert to a 'default' which might not be what your laptop needs, e.g. the latest versions are setup for uefi boot whereas the older bios was setup for legacy boot.

 

It looks like your primary video card is toast.

If you look on BSOD there should be a file name. If it starts with ATI then a new card is required


Same symptoms as me a couple of weeks ago. No internal display. External display showing artefacts

Hope this helps

 

It rather is problem of HDD (0x0000007B) I tried several things but no help.

I often say that computers have their own life and do what they want without logical explanation. This happen just today as well. After another forced reboot suddenly m17x fails to boot and gives me blinking scroll lock. According to post errors of this model, this error persists when no CPU is detected! Additionally fans was working even after switching power button off. Disconnecting PSU and battery helped and I'm back to 0x7B error.
I swear i got few new gray hairs on my beard

I tried several times to upload photo with BSOD but getting this error every time:
Problem running JPEGTRAN:
"/usr/bin/jpegtran" -copy none /apps/apache/forum/notebookreview/gallery/data/500/DSC00523.JPG
Error Code: 1

full BSOD error message is:
*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xFFFFF880009A9928, 0xFFFFFFFFC0000034, 0x0000000000000000, 0x0000000000000000)

 

1. Tried to do a power drain?
2. Have you tried entering the safe mode, or is it not an option?

The scroll lock can be a little tricky to diagnose,
for example i get blinking Scroll lock when i try to put Dell 6970M inside my M17x R2.

 

I'm back to A02 BIOS and all settings looks fine. Only option is that A10 made some change that is still there but is unaccesible in A02. Will go to A10 and check all settings there.

 

yeah did powerdrain several times. At lest what i think is power drain. Disconnected PSU, removed battery and hold power button for few seconds.

Safe mode gives same error, but i Can access Startup Repair and after it gives me info that repair is not possible, I can access some options, i can for example install drivers, try to rollback to chosen backups (not helping) etc

 

Yes, from 15-45s to do a power drain.

If you have any spare Hard drive, you could try instaling Windows on it, just to rule out Driver issue.

Also worth checking, what is your SATA mode in BIOS set to.

 

Solved!

For some strange reason reverting to last 2 backups i had wans no solution. But I had another previous backup points on my external and it worked like charm!

thanks for your help guys! love this forum!

 

Good to hear that
Are you going to try flash A10 again?

 

Yes, A10 is already in, but this time flashed from DOS, not like first time from Windows. All ticking now.

 

Great to hear that.

 

ALWAYS flash from DOS.
I don't understand why it's even possible to flash from within an OS. It could be running a service on the background that ruins a flash session.

Did you flash to stock A10 or modded?
There is no reason why you should not use the modded A10 bios.