[HELP NEEDED] NP9377 Prema flash now constant shut downs

wondered if anyone else had come across this problem with a laptopother than a NP9377
I have posted there but that's limited to NP9377 owners

Laptopin sig
Flashed v1 Prema BIOS a while to help with throttling. I live in New York. It's crazy hot here
I was getting random BSODs with the std BIOS so that's why I upgraded it
Then started getting them again. Have a Coolermaster U3 so temps were fine
Prema came out with v2 so flashed that. Followed instructions
Now laptopwon't stay on for more than 15 seconds
It even shuts down when in the BIOS
It sometimes gets to Windows and takes 5 seconds to shut down again
Shutdown - screen goes off and keyboardlights go and fans stop

Tried:
- Clearing CMOS (overnight disconnection, power drain for 30s using power button, AC only)
- Both sticks of RAM(which doesn't say RAMhas not got both dodgy module)

I also cannot get back into flash as it shuts down even when in DOS

Anyone had this before?

I have a support ticket in with Eurocom where I am expecting them to charge me to sort the BIOS flash if that's the problem

Thanks in advance

(Please move if I have posted in the wrong forum)

 

Option 1:

• Make an autoflash with stock EC and run. Second autoflash, only with stock bios.

Autoflash is fast; might succeed before shutdown.

Option 2:

• new blank 1MB EC IC (MX25L3206E) for $1.98 inc. shipping
• new blank 32MB bios IC (MX25L3273E) for $8.91 (kinda hard to find, besides 1,450 min. order ...)
• universal programmer (supports both ICs) for $49.77 inc. shipping (can't use SP8-A)
• SOP8 to DIP8 adapter for $3.15 inc. shipping (convenience)

Write stock EC and bios to the blank ICs and solder yourself or have electronics shop do it for you. Bit cheaper than $350 for new motherboard and 100% guaranteed fix for a bad flash. Plus, you'll have a programmer (for next time).

Btw, didn't mention this, so just in case ... reset to defaults only requires removing button cell + battery + DC and hold power button ~30 sec., overnight disconnect is redundant.

 

Thanks for the detail, t456.

Can you explain - or point me to an explanation - of option 1 pls?

 

Yes, see here. Check for the 'TEST' folder first, otherwise anything else is useless.

If it's there; download stock bios+EC(s), copy all files except the .bats to root of bootable usb drive. Default, non-blind procedure is this:

Code:

afudos.exe P377SMA.310 /E /P /B /N /X
ELASH14B.exe eP37SMA.39 /i /ad /p
EC2FLASH.exe 2nd_P37A.32
off

So it's:

1. flash bios
2. flash 1st EC
3. flash 2nd EC

Better keep it like that. So first run with bios (afudos). You need to modify the switches accordingly; no user input, force flash (in case of id mismatch) and auto-reboot/shutdown.

Afudos switches can be guessed, but the EC flashers are unknown. Can't use "/?" within 64-bit OS, so boot usb on other machine first and type:

Code:

afudos.exe /? > afudos_SW.txt
ELASH14B.exe /? > ELASH14B_SW.txt
EC2FLASH.exe /? > EC2FLASH_SW.txt

That way you know which specific switches you want for all three.

 

Again, huge thanks.

I have copied the files to a bootable USB drive (DOS) created with Rufus. And my laptop can boot from that, but I have little time to run anything.

What do I need to type in that short window?

Is it this?

Code:

afudos.exe P377SMA.310 /E /P /B /N /X
ELASH14B.exe eP37SMA.39 /i /ad /p
EC2FLASH.exe 2nd_P37A.32
off

Sorry for being dumb here. I am not a hardcore laptop user and have never had to do this

 

Doesn't matter. I decided to send it back to Eurocom. At best, labour only. At worst, new mobo and labour

 

No matter; someone will pick up the thread in a year or two when suffering the same issue. And no; you'd need to have customised the switches.