Laptop dead after bios update

I just bought Asus n71ja-ty014.
All was working fine until I did a major mistake and updated the bios while the laptop was working fine. I have learned the hard way that bios update should not be done if all is working fine.
Btw, I have done more than 10 bios updates on various desktops and laptops so far, never a problem.
I read the guide on this forum and used recommended Asus utility in bios. After starting it, I positioned browser window on bios file. Clicked enter. Got 2 progress lines. All finished fine. Got message that laptop is shutting down. After that it's dead. I press power button, but nothing happens.
Completely dead, doesn't even flash power button, not to talk about post screen etc.
Founded bios file here http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=RDXLBhVczhtgIywo

Does flashing bios voids Asus guaranty?
Any ideas what this behavior suggests?

 

Since you just bought it, can't you just take it back to the place you bought it for a replacement?

 

Past that time...

 

The link you provided only has the first release BIOS, the one that was likely already installed in the n71ja at time of purchase. I don't understand what you were updating?

I believe most failed BIOS updates are caused by not heeding the warnings, something interrupted the update or you used the wrong BIOS update. I can't speak for ASUS, but I wouldn't think a failed ASUS BIOS update would void the warranty. ASUS must know that these things can happen, and yet they continue to make available BIOS updates.

 

Yes it says first bios. Version is 204. I had 203.
I checked and double checked bios version and laptop model...and than checked again.

 

Usually, I think ASUS tells you that the bios update failing is not covered by warranty.

I had this same problems once with an ASUS notebook (F3jp), where the notebook failed to start after flashing the bios.

I sent it back to ASUS. I just told them that the notebook is totally dead without mentioning that it was due to bios flashing.

They repaired it for me without any charge. They replaced the complete mainboard with a new one.

 

Was also totally dead? No nothing?
There is no way for them to know if i updated bios?

 

Yes, it was totally dead. Pushing the power button did completely nothing. It was dead as rock. So there was no way they could tell if I flashed the bios or something went wrong with the mainboard that led to dead notebook.

It was very similar situation to yours. There was a new bios available for my notebook and I went to flash it. I used easyflash utility from the bios but after finishing flashing the notebook never started again.

 

Thank you very much. I feel a bit better now.
Do you intend to flash bios on your N71?

 

I dont know if its helpful, but once after a bios update my little Eee refused to start and the power button did nothing. I then disconnected power, removed battery, connected again to mains and then restarted and it worked. May as well try it? Though I do think your laptop is probably dead

 

Ofc... i did the battery thing several times...

 

Sure, since the failed flash with F3JP, I have flashed my M50vm many times and will do it also for N71JQ if there is a new bios that brings some kind of advantage to the machine or fixes some bug.

 

You're very brave.

 

As mentioned, I would try taking out the battery as well as taking out the ROM. I accidentally put my headphones into the usb port and it wouldnt turn on after that. I proceeded to take out the battery and the memory, discharged it, and the put it all back in. Turned on after that.

 

I am trying 'I didn't do anything' approach. I wont disassemble anything before I send it to service in order that notebook looks genuinely untouched.

 

You may have already done this, but if you haven't it's worth a try. Most likely when you call ASUS the CSR is going to ask you to do the following:

1. Unplug the AC.
2. Pull the battery completely out.
3. Turn the Laptop over and using a paperclip, push and hold down the reset button for at least 15 seconds.

 

I don't know that reset button exists on my model. I just checked again.

 

manve don't sweat it.

Just tell them the computer no longer turns on. Get an RMA return it. They will replace the entire motherboard and ship it back.

Don't worry

I had a G1 where they replaced the entire G1 and sent back one with a 8600 when I had a 7700, since they no longer had one in stock and it was clearly evident that I had tampered with the CPU to replace the stock with AS5 at the time.

Well what they did was weird. Let me explain.

They used the same HDD caddy, the same DVD drive, the same screen, the same keyboard and battery. But they replaced the bottom and top casing and the back casing for the screen. Replaced the MB with the one with 8600.

How weird is that? A lot more work than just shipping a new G1 if you ask me. But whatever, that's Asus. BTW the 8600 fried as expected, but the second MB replacement still lives today.

 

heh
I went partially crazy since yesterday. Like a member of the family died.

 

I thought all ASUS models had a reset hole. I agree with ziddy123, just RMA it and you should be fine. Sorry for any confusion on my part.

 

Hi there,

I am looking for the following bios:
Acer Aspire 5310, Intel 27A0 rev 3, 2008-12-08, v1.50
Do you have any idea where to get this, who to ask? Acer does not list it, does not respond properly and I could not find anything in the forum here.
Any help is appreciated.

Thanks

 

There is a good reason why you couldn't find anything here, this is the ASUS forum.

You might want to post in the Acer forum, click here.

 

That came from a search for "acer bios update".
It is already posted in the acer forum.
Thank you for your help.

 

MB is dead...
One thing is certain: I will never use Asus utility to flash bios again!

 

Was your operating system (XP, Vista, Win7 etc.) 64-bit?

I have heard that several people bricked their laptop while flashing their bios with ASUS utility on a 64-bit OS.

However it looks to be working fine on 32-bit operating systems. I did sevreal BIOS upgrades with the ASUS utility and they all went fine (on 32-bit operating systems, though).

--

 

Thanks for that rumor, now I'm never going to flash from windows

 

I am talking abut Asus utility from bios... I know a lot of ppl that flashed from win7 64 and all went fine. Same model.

 

This happened to me about a year ago. I was updating a customer's bios and stupidly made the mistake of updating the wrong set. I destroyed the cmos censor.

I fretted about this for days until I saw that there were some places that could easily replace the cmos chip for about $200, I found a site on ebay but there were others, just do some googling, because I can't seam to find the seller, but It saved me. for a couple hundred bucks you could save your laptop.

 

Well, seams like you didn't read the thread.

I did no mistake and no point in talk about bios chip etc because it's under guarantee and mb will be replaced soon.

 

Dear OP,

BIOS Updates are designed to be as effortless as possible and it is unfortunate that your unit did not respond well to the BIOS update even after following the correct precautionary measures. We have seen scenarios such as these before and if you contact your service center and inform them that your unit is not functional and it is within the warranty period you should be covered. Technically BIOS update failures are not covered by warranty but for your particular case, I don't think it will be an issue to obtain a RMA.

 

Thank you for an official statement.

Btw, what does OP means?

 

Original Poster. The person who sent the first post to the thread.


--

 

Got my notebook after 3 weeks. MB replaced free of charge. One interesting thing: on the paper i had to sign to get the notebook there was a sentence 'minor scratch on upper side'. I read it and was terrified.
After unpacking i searched the notebook, but couldn't find any scratch... crazy...

Got bios version 204 on new MB so the bottom line is that bios update can be done in a little over 3 weeks. Great success!

 

Welcome back.

Are you going to update the BIOS again?

 

LOL! "... now what did we learn?"

 

Ah poo, you saw right through my facetiousness. LOL

 

I am going to update only in case of a major update like enabling integrated gpu.

 

I did a similar thing to my laptop as the OP. Guess I will RMA then.

 

it means urs got scratch b4, n they replaced it also..

 

Same thing happened to me as the OP.

I had followed the bios update guide which was on this forum, and had saved the bios file on my hard-drive.

That is what resulted in my computer frying. The result was that I sent it back to Asus and they installed a new motherboard.

The guide has now been updated to explain that its not advisable to save the Bios file on your hard drive.

I would suggest updating the bios by putting the BIOS file on a USB stick, which has been formatted to FAT.

 

Hi! I have the same problem going on with my N82JV. Just flashed BIOS from 204 to 0210 via their Bios Easy Flash Utility, and the thing is cold dead after the process shutdown... I just bought the laptop .
OP says that they replaced it for him, however my customer rep told me that I must send it for repair out of warranty !!!
Do you know if I should try call again saying that it went dead no reason, and perhaps get a warranty treatment.
I JUST BOUGHT THIS THING AND THEY WANT ME TO PAY FOR REPAIR AFTER I USED THEIR EASY FLASH I just don't get it. Please, advise if there is a way to have this fixed under warranty, and how...
Thanks in advance for all your feedback!

 

Just say it died then. It's what I did and they fixed it under warranty.

 

All went well
I did as you said, and have mine N82JV back in front of me working like a charm. Turnaround time of five business days...very cool
Thanks again for the advice, pal.

 

I'm glad I could help

 

Hi!
I had same problem with my new notebook. I bought Asus A53SV-XT1 and worked for 2 days, but after I updated its Bios, laptop died as happened to others in this thread. I called Asus customer support. He told me Bios update failure is not covered by Warranty, I have to pay for that to get fixed and they will contact me about fixing pricing after they got my notebook. I live in Canada, I sent notebook with RMA number to Markham/Ontario (Asus repair centre in Canada). They fixed that by replacing motherboard but nobody called me about pricing and actually they fixed that for free. Repair took only 3 working days [they got notebook on Friday and shipped it back to me Tuesday] (exclude shipping time). Now it works very well with no issue, but a little experience that I will never update Bios, lol [for RMAs in Canada you(customer) pay to ship notebook to Markham/ON and they pay for shipping back to you]