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    bricked Toshiba Satelite Pro U400 after windows bios flash failed

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by cypher007, Mar 25, 2014.

  1. cypher007

    cypher007 Notebook Enthusiast

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    the above system is still powering up and looks as though it try's to read the HD briefly. ive tried some recovery methods using the crisis disk v1.0.0.4 but all I get is a loud buzz followed by 2 beeps. any ideas? I could do with knowing the exact recovery bios name.
     
    cypher007, Mar 25, 2014
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  2. jotm

    jotm Notebook Evangelist

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    If you bricked the BIOS, it may be impossible to recover.

    I can recommend you try this method:

    Download the BIOS from Toshiba's website, unpack it until you find the toshbios.img file. Format a usb flash drive and place that file on it.

    Also create a copy of that file and rename it to [partnumber].img, where [partnumber] is your laptop's part number, i.e. PSU45U, PPM81U or whatever it is on the bottom of the laptop.

    Insert the USB drive into a USB port and with any luck, it will autoflash it (alternatively hold WinKey+B, then power up the laptop and release the keys a few seconds after it's powered up).

    I've no idea if it works for this Toshiba though, I know it works for some laptops with Insyde BIOS. Maybe someone else can recommend other techniques.
     
    jotm, Mar 25, 2014
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  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    I bricked my old HP Pavilion (circa 2005) via a failed BIOS update. I had to send it to the repair depot where they fixed it under warranty. You might call Toshiba and see how much it'd cost to fix if trying what the above poster suggests fails.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Mar 25, 2014
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  4. cypher007

    cypher007 Notebook Enthusiast

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    anyone still trying to get there Satellite Pro U400 working this is what I did and it worked:

    use the crisis disk 1.0.0.4 and replace the bios.wph with the Toshiba u400 bios, but you need to rename it bios.wph.

    create a usb with the crisis tool, you might have to run as admin and compatibility mode xp. it will create a usb stick, and appear to copy files but you will need to transfer the bios.wph, minidos,sys and phlash16 to the usb stick.

    now I recon there is no key for bios recovery on these laptops, as the next bit effectively give the device no choice on what to boot from.

    remove the hdd and dvd drive. then insert battery and plug in the usb drive. power up and it should read from the usb drive. then it will start beeping seemingly randomly, but I think its actually flashing the blocks, as you get a short beep now and then.

    after about 2-3 mins the beeping should stop and it will reboot, job done.
     
    cypher007, Mar 31, 2014
    #4