IFL90 booting problem.

Hello!

I have booting problem with my IFL90, it sometimes just won't boot. I start it, it shows me a Phoenix BIOS logo and then when should appear a windows boot logo screen it won't. Just little underline line is blinking in left top corner and no reacting pressing any key. Then I turn it off and start again and it's booting perfectly. In most cases it boots normal. I tried to use windows with and without AHCI mode enabled, but the same. I have a Windows XP SP2 Pro on my IFL90, not tried Vista jet. I do some search in this forum and saw a lot of information about BIOS updates. My IFL90 have a BIOS version 1.10 but the newest is 1.16, maybe it's BIOS not working good. Looking for some opinion.

My setup:
IFL90
15.4"
C2D T7250 @ 2 GHz
2GB RAM
HD 250GB Samsung
GF 8600M GT
BT, WiFi
Windows XP SP2

Sorry about my English, I'm from Latvia.

 

Try to bring your BIOS version to at least 1.13...it can help....did you try a Chkdsk run ?
No problems with your english...pretty clear.

 

Yep just update to version 1.13.
It seems your notebook is hanging at the post for loading the AHCI driver.
So just update and see if the issue is solved.

 

Should i update to 1.12 and then to 1.13?

 

I have had this problem to. I think it is realy Win XP AHCI driver issue. Now i am using 1.16 BIOS and i think the problem is gone . I can't tell it for sure because it was not happaned all the time but only occasionly. But after BIOS upgrade (approximately 2 weeks ago) untill now it didn't happened. So BIOS upgrade potencially will be helpfull.

 

Some have sucessfully done so. I personally went from 1.10 to 1.16 with no problems so far neither.

 

My personal advise is to upgrade from version to version so from 1.12 to 1.13 and step by step to 1.16.
Check this changelog for the bios update this might give you the idea.

 

Thanks for answers. What it's mean in changelog for v1.11, 1.12, 1.13 - "please update EC BIOS K03A109A.ROM.
Please add parameter '/pf=slp2' when you are going to flash v1.12 BIOS first time, if you never update v1.02 system BIOS or later."

And there is no version 1.11 at bizcom homepage, but in changelog is.


p.s. delta90h how you did your bios upgrade? Step by step or jump to other version?

 

This is because the extra line is inlcuded for the BOOT LOGO.
If you are running an older version say 1.02 then you must upgrade by going to version 1.10 and add the line mentioned /pf=slp2.
Further information isn't an issue for you just upgrade to version 1.16 from your version on.
But my advise is to go step by step, then you know what you have done wrong when it fails.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!KEEP IN MIND BIOS FLASH IS ON YOUR OWN RISK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I went from 1.10 to 1.12 and then 1.13...everything OK.
I did not put any extra parameters...just executed the .bat from USB boot drive.
Good Luck!

 

I know that bios flashing looks very easy, but in case of fail the end can be bad. That's why i'm here.

By the way, it's a best forum so far, about compals.

 

Have you a problem with the flashing or is there any trouble flashing the BIOS.

 

I have a bios update problem. I made a bootable USB flash drive. Copyed in it bios folder, in this case IFT00112, with all files in it. Then i boot from this drive and write: C:\>IFT00112\IFT00112.bat, press enter and returns: C:\>PHLASH16 IFT00112.WPH /X /MODE=3 Bad Command or file name. I type dir command to check if the drive letter is right and all was ok. Maybe you can post quick guide how to copy files in flash and command line in dos mode.

 

You have to change directory;

1. Go to the root; cd\ [press enter]
2. Change to the IFT00112 directory; cd\ift00112 [press enter]
3. Execute the batch file; ift00112 [press enter]

 

Remember to boot from the USB drive.

 

When you are booting you must press F12, then choose the USB drive and follow my directions above.

 

Check my website and follow the document whit the info on how to creat an USB-STICK.

http://www.r-verbeek-1.speedlinq.nl/Compal%20USB%20Flash%20Document.pdf

The files you need are there also, but you can also at yoru own files ar other BIOS files.

 

Huh...., It was most stressfull moment in my computing experience, but all went perfect and now i'm running on bios v1.13. Will test for some time my ifl90 if bios update solves my problem, and post results. Big thanks for support, especialy to RePaRaQu and Wirelessman for command lines. These commands must be added in that pdf guide, because if you don't know dos, it's hard to understand.

Greetings from Latvia!

 

I have exactly the same problem. From time to time on startup procedure my Compal IFL90 with BIOS version 1.10 won't go beyond the Phoenix boot logo.

BTW, I'm running Windows Vista and ACPI disabled.

Ilmarz, can you tell if BIOS upgrade has resolved this?

 

It doesn't matter what type of OS your running
BIOS version below 1.12 are causing Windows XP to not start correctly because of the AHCI interface not being detected correct.
My advise is to upgrade to version 1.13.
AHCI is and will work fine on your notebook.
@ TwiceBlessed any reason for the disable option for AHCI with vista on your machine.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but AHCI won't work If it was disabled during windows installation. If I enable it now it will give BSOD on next windows startup. What comes to BIOS update. It simply looks a bit risky , considering that I need a computer for work and studies.

 

The AHCI allows the communication with the Serial ATA (SATA) devices (e.g. HDD, Optical drive).

Enabling AHCI in a system BIOS will cause BSOD while installing Windows XP where AHCI/RAID drivers are not installed, so switching to AHCI mode requires installing new drivers BEFORE changing the BIOS settings.

In some chipsets and mobos (e.g. Intel ICH9) no Windows XP drivers are available from either the manufacturer or Intel, so this means AHCI can not be used on the system unless the OS is upgraded to Windows Vista. But I think this doesn't appply to you because correct me if I'm wrong, you have a new laptop and are installing a fresh Windows Vista version, right?

Is you have already installed fully or partially Windows Vista, then enabling AHCI in a system BIOS will result in a BSOD if SATA has been running in IDE mode during Vista's installation. So, before enabling AHCI in the BIOS try to follow the instructions found at Microsoft Knowledge Base article 922976.

Also, enabling AHCI in a system BIOS on installations of Windows XP or Windows Vista will cause SATA Optical drives to disappear, then for that you can use the hotfix for Windows Vista: "SATA optical drives are not available after you start a Windows Vista-based computer."

I'm not an expert on this, I just did the research for you

 

Correct and by reading your line Wirelessman I say here are your point 10.
THe MS hotfix will solve the AHCI BSOD issue in windows vista.
My advise is to leave the AHCO mode enabled in teh BIOS when installing Vista.
The performance is much better, and the HDD is rapildy faster with data transfer when reading/writing.

 

Wirelessman

Hmm.. I am a bit lost here. Actually, I have been using Windows XP for awhile then I've made it to dual boot with Vista. Right now, Windows XP is long gone but I still get a BSOD if I enable AHCI in BIOS. I am aware what AHCI is and what advantages it could bring, however, I wasn't insightful enough to find the solution mentioned by you. Just thought that I will reinstall Windows with ACHI enabled when there will be an opportunity for this.

If I understood you correctly then

1). I have to edit the registry as described in Article 922976 to enable AHCI-driver
2). and to apply hotfix for SATA-drives visibility.

BTW, Wirelessman thanks for your help and research you've done for me, though your reply was just a little bit sarcastic.

Cheers

 

Not at all, I just didn't want you to think I'm an expert, especially when I did the research. In other words, I didn't want to take the credit of the knowledge that it wasn't mine.

I apologize if it sounded sarcastic, I was just trying to be humble but I guess it didn't work, sorry my friend.

I hope you get the results you expect, sincerely.

 

No problem , once again thanks for you time.

 

I appreciate your understanding, please don't hesitate to tell us if you were successful solving your issue.

 

I was tested my ifl90 for a week with bios v1.13. The great news is that windows and programms runs faster now with AHCI mode enabled, but the bad thing is that it still stucks on booting. I haven't any ideas how to solve that booting problem. Maybe is some program or whatever that writes some kind boot log file history and i can recognize in which process it stucks.

 

Please define "stucks on booting". It takes a long time to boot? How long?

If you have a ATA(SATA) HDD, you must enable AHCI, you have no choice.

 

I have AHCI already enabled.

I turn it on
It show me a Phoenix boot logo(screen where you can press F2 or F12) then
A little line in the top left corner is blinking and nothing happens, but should show me a windows boot screen and load windows. Then i tur the computer of and turn it on again and it boots and loads windows normaly. Also after bios uprade when it stops booting the Alt+CTRL+Del is working and reboot computer, before any key or key combination won't work.

See the first post of this thread.

 

Just boot a couple of times, the laptop will tune itself and those glitches will go away.

It happens to me each time I try something different that my laptop doesn't like, for example I tried to tweak the memory on windows (not at booting), or I tried the seagate tool to test my HDD, in both ocassions my laptop crashed and it did exactly like yours, but after booting a couple of times, everything come to normal. It's like when you fall on your head (I hope not often), it takes you a few days to work normal

 

ok, will give to it few more days to heal laptop headaches

 

Another thing you can do is to have Windows to start with the settings of a better booting time, which excludes fixing BIOS's flashings.

 

ilmarz I have had the same problem as you. Only update to BIOS 116 will solve it , like it did for me

 

This is what happens with my Compal IFL90 (BIOS version 1.10).

1. On notebook startup BIOS will simply hang-up with the Phoniex boot logo. It will respond to pressing of F2 and F12 keys but it will not load anything. In boot sequence menu it won't detect HDD. You have to wait really long for a boot sequence menu to show up.

2. After failed start in above mentioned scenario notebook will load twice. That is, after intentional shut down and pressing power button again computer will start up, however, it won't show Phoniex boot logo this time. Instead of this it will shut down itself automatically (power button goes off) and automatically restart. I should mention that the hanging BIOS bug can happen several times in a row.

 

Still think the boot problem is related to HW.

 

RePaRaQu

By saying this do you mean that some hardware is defective or has some interoperability problem?

 

Yep, your issue started form the first time your pressed the power button wasn't it.
In my opinion you should return the notebook and let the hardware be tested for errors or other failures.

 

It seems that I have solved this problem by updating BIOS to version 1.16. I have been using my computer for two days now and haven't encountered this bug so far. Before this it was happening quite often. I will continue my observations a bit more to tell you a final verdict.

BTW, BIOS hanging was still there with 1.13 version. When it comes to AHCI-support then registry editing as described in Microsoft Knowledge Base was sufficient in my case. There was no need to apply the SATA-patch.

 

TwiceBlessed i'm waiting for your final verdict if bios v.1.16 solved your problem.

 

Well, I think it did. I had this problem once during a week and never since. I am not completely sure that this particular BIOS freezing was related to our problem (or Compal hasn't eradicated all the bugs yet) because in all other cases my computer worked fine and there weren't such atrocious situations as before (1.10 BIOS version) when I had to restart laptop three times in a row.

All in all, for me 1.16 is much better and If I won't take into account this one particular exception that I had during the week then BIOS hanging is really gone.

 

We mess a lot around with our laptops, then we are surprised that they don't work well. We must not panic, if ever you experience some problems, just follow windows instructions, boot the laptop with the best known settings and that should make it.

 

That's a common sense Wirelessman. Though, you should admit that there were bugs in earlier IFL90 BIOS (and probably still are). I and Ilmarz are not the only ones affected by this because apparently it is a common bug for earlier BIOS versions (prior to 1.16). There is a possibility that ohter people are suffering from this as well, I hope that this thread will help them to fix this problem.

 

I never had problems with my 1.10, I changed to 1.16 because I assumed that it was better to have the latest one, and although it may include fixes, the main reason we come out with a new BIOS is because new laptop components and we have to teach the CPU how to deal with them.

Is your laptop stable now?

 

Yes, mine is. However, I am interested to hear what Ilmarz is going to report about his BIOS update.

 

I would like to hear that too. I'm surprise to see how same laptops react differently to the same BIOS.

 

Ok, here is my final results.

BIOS v1.10 - A lot of boot hanging, sometimes 2 times at row.
BIOS v1.13 - Less boot hanging, but still is. Computer runs faster in AHCI mode.
BIOS v1.16 - No more boot hanging for 2 weeks now. Everythig runs great.

 

Congratulations, depending of the parts used and mobo source a more recent BIOS will work.