Bricked G73JW (Help!)

So I was having issues with random freezing and USB shorts, and I was trying everything possible to figure out what was causing it. I then decided to downgrade the BIOS since originally it had the 202 BIOS (I had flashed the newest BIOS after I got it) hoping that it would help. So I downloaded the 202 BIOS and was using the BIOS's flash utility to flash it, it seemed to go fine and then it said to reboot. But after that, it wouldn't boot. It wouldn't even post. No lights come on nor do you hear anything starting up at all. So the BIOS flash shorted out the whole laptop? Any how, so I called ASUS and told them what happened, and they said that a BIOS flash voids warranty. I haven't even had my laptop for a month yet, and they're saying they wouldn't honor warranty on it. And this doesn't qualify for "accidental warranty" either. Of course I was furious, so I asked "Are you telling me that you put utilities and bios files there and by using your utilities, that you wouldn't honor warranty, and yet if I had lied and smashed up my laptop saying it was an accident, you would?" Of course he said that he would note that in my account but I mean come on, I told the truth.

So anyways, is there anything I can do? Or am I really out of luck with the warranty on this? My laptop was purchased from Amazon Nov. 26th. Any info or experience on this matter would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

Well, you pretty much out of luck. You can't really ring up again and speak to a different person as he has recorded it on your account. This is really unfortunate, and sucks that they put something up that isn't covered by warranty.

You may be able to replace the CMOS battery? I'm not sure, but sounds as if they whole thing is knackered, and really only option is a m/b replacement...

Don't worry, I'd be furious too! Consider it's not even a month old!! It's unfair. Have you contacted Amazon? (I don't know how Amazon works )

 

Since your laptop is completely dead and doesn't power up, and Asus won't help.. you're choices are pretty clear,

replace the motherboard..

or find a 3rd party BIOS repair facility like: aqstech.com to do the BIOS repair. I know they typically charge $99 for the repair. Compare that to the price of a new motherboard.

 

WOW!!! This really sucks!!!

 

Call again or set up an RMA online -- tell them the computer won't POST and make sure your warranty is registered on vip.asus.com.

 

Yeah, it sucks. I will try again in a few days or so. Hopefully they didn't "note" my account or serial. Thanks for the replies!

 

One would think that would fall under the "accidental" portion of the warranty coverage, you may want to give this a read How to BIOS Flashing and Recovery: Update hopefully you get it fixed.

 

I dropped an email to Gary about this BIOS flashing and voided warranty coverage bs. Let's see what he says.

 

Thanks, I think a definite answer would be help out a lot of people. If it voids the warranty then they really should put a disclaimer on their website where the bios utilities and images are.

 

It has never been the case that bios flashing voids the warranty. I have never seen this questioned until recently.

They would need a disclaimer on the flash software and warnings when you download the update.

Long story short is set up an RMA. If they refuse to cover it just call back and get someone different or talk to an ASP. If you tell them your computer will not POST they should give you an RMA no questions asked.

 

So you used Asus utility to flash your bios and it bricked? ^^ Like he said. Call again. Say it wont post and send it in. For all you know Asus`s own software bricked the computer. On a future note. Downgrading a bios is pretty risky right?

If my g73 starts randomly crashing in a month Id do a clean install. If that didnt help id send it in for rma. The first line of customer service reps are hit and miss. Ive called and spoke with one to confirm something. Called back in 10 minutes speaking to a different rep and them state something totally different than the first rep.

 

Update: Amazon.com was willing to next day me a replacement since I was still within my month of purchase, which I was really pleased with. Newegg and Amazon has never let me down, so I am happy.

Back to ASUS, the funny thing was when I asked the supervisor "So you guys put tools and bios images there for us to use, but if something happens and we brick, it's not under warranty? Not even accidental warranty?" The ASUS "supervisor" I spoke to defended it voiding warranty, so I ask how would I flash the bios then since usually bios updates fix certain bugs/issues... he says "You can always send it into us to flash." LOL

Do you think they'll over night me both ways to flash the bios from 202 to 203? lol, cause I'm actually afraid of flashing now. I'm half joking here.

 

you shouldn't brick if you use ezflash in BIOS... this is stupid.. nver heard them note repairing the laptop if bricked by flash.

Panther214

 

Now I'm afraid to update my bios.
Are there any settings in the BIOS to set the cores? I can't see anything like that in there. 203 settings different than 203? I'm confused...
AIDA64 would only see temps two cores, someone said I enable the cores in the BIOS. It's at factory settings now 202

 

i had the same issue just 2day !! what shall i do my laptop is off now any suggestion please !!!!

can you help me, i had g73jw and i got bios update then its died now !

 

Same thing happened to my G73jh best buy.

Good thing I bought warranty and they replaced it with the HST7

Not sure what you can do now.

I know man, It sucks, That feeling you get when it doesn't turn on.

 

I have bungie jumped and sky dived.

That feeling is worse than both put together like your stomach is doing a handstand. Evil BIOS!

 

i am stucked now, so should i tell local asus support center that i tried to update bios or not !!

 

You are still covered under warranty for a bad bios flash.

 

lol. hope you get yours fixed guys. had the same experience. flashed bios without using a usb. got bricked. my local asus center wouldn't accept the warranty since it was bought from another country. and was forced to pay $360 for a new mobo. it got fixed, and finally flashed it with a usb.

but now i'm experiencing other problems. i think most of the problems that a g73 could have is in my laptop. x_x solved half of them, 4 to 6 problems remain. )

 

it takes balls to downgrade a bios...you have balls man, i would never do that

 

True that good that it turns out okay for you. Thank god i never had any problem with my g73