Clevo haswell P150 series working but can't reset anymore

Hi, there!

How r you doing guys?

Got a problem: since last week I've noticed my clevo is not completing a restart.

When doing this all I got is a black screen with leds and fans still on. I need to reboot the laptop manually get it on again.

The machine is working after powering on, the problem is it's not completing a restart.

And when starting the laptop, look like the post process is a boot longer, just some seconds longer compared to before also. I used to see the American Megatrend logo appear a bit earlier.

If I only turn it on and shutdowns after work I got no major problems.

Any ideias on fixing this, please?

Thanks in advance and best regards from Brazil!

 

You could reset the EC, take out the power and main battery for 30 seconds.

 

Thanks for the input and sorry for my so late response, I dealing with some covid serious problems in my family.

Back to the post: since them the problem started early in this ear, the laptop still take some good seconds to boot. Tried to reset the EC as you suggest but no luck.

Any more ideas worth try?

Thanks again for the help!

 

Try with a single stick of ram, swapping each and see if that makes a difference.

 

Thanks, I'll give a try this weekend but since my BIOS is not up to date is not possible this to be the culprit?

My current is the American Megatrends 4.6.5 from 11/272013.

 

Usually not the BIOS version that does that kind of thing.

 

Got it! Firstly I was afraid of a GPU problem. I've noticed when the black screen occurs the "turbo led" is lit, but doesn't seems the case since I have video working w/o problems and the applications like premiere or after effects works fine. I've noticed two new things yesterday:

1) I couldn't hibernate windows, when tried to restart, windows said there was a problem with the files to restored to computer state.
2) I could suspend/sleep the windows only after two tries. Because the windows got back BY ITSELF from the sleep mode behaving normally keeping the sleep state only on the third try.

Are these important to trace the problem/

I have 4x8Gb ram sticks on this laptop. I'll check each one as you suggest and report here.

Thaks again, Meaker!

 

Sleep/Hibernate can be tricky with custom equipment due to laptops being more complex to do that with.

 

Got it about the hibernate thing.

Now I have a bigger problem, Meaker:

As I opened the laptop to check the memories as you suggested, I tried to clean the laptop and change the thermal paste.

After changing, the laptop turn on, no video and seconds later it reboots.

Tried to clean and change again the paste, some paste did fall on top of the CPU (I didn't remove it on the cleaning) tried to clean it with some acetone and very gentle clean toothbrush but no luck as well.

Right now I dont know what to do next, please help. Thanks again!

 

The paste itself is usually not conductive, the danger is knocking a passive component or static shock. Were you grounded when working on it?

 

Hi, Meaker.

Did a complete CMOS reset, the laptop came back to life (dont ask me why). But only recognizing 16Gb instead 32GB of RAM.

I swapped the RAMS modules, after some changing the same problem appeared (the laptop turn on, no video and seconds later it reboots.).

Later I did clean one module with some dirt on the contacts and then 32 GB are recognized again.

Right now I'm writing from the laptop. But since it takes so long to reboot I'm only putting it on sleep mode after finishes my use and not shutting it down overnite.

As I did clean the system and changed the thermal pastes, temperatures have dropped absurdly. Until now no audible fan noise came from it, after a lot of use opening videos, giving my music lessons live from videochats, etc.

Averaging 45 celsius degrees for the 4 cores right now.

But until the old problem: system boots on black screen and take long seconds, sometimes minutes to show bios post and sometimes boots normally immediately.

No ideia what I can try from now.

 

Yes, I always touch a wall before manipulating any sensitive electronics.

 

Does sound like you had a charge buildup, glad the EC reset got it. Almost seems like it's taking a long time to train the ram. How does one stick react?

 

HI, Meaker.
I can try again with the RAM modules on the weekend.

Just heard someone saying had this exact same problem than mine and he found a solution with a BIOS update.

Any chance this can me my case as well since my p150sm has a far outdated BIOS?

 

All BIOS files for the system will be old to be fair but you could email the original reseller.

 

I tried to, but since my laptop is pretty old and I'm not the original owner I dont have the purchase info to reach the local reseller support.

Couldn't make the RAM test this weekend since we got extra work here.

The local reseller said anyway they has no newer bios version than my current.

I'm thinking about having a bad cap problem on my mobo. Any ideas on this please?

Another question: Could I use a newer mobo like a 6-77-P170SM00-D03A (or another on for P170 series) on my P150SM? It looks to use the same components but has support to newer graphics cards natively.

 

As far as I know, you can't use the P170SM mobo in the P150SM chassis, the power connector is slightly different.

 

A few bits stop that but yes power is certainly different for connector.

 

Hi, Meaker. Some updates:

The single ram module or even w/o any modules produce the same effect: slow booting.

I think I've found a lead to my problem: sometime ago my laptop booted with the wrong date, like I had a dead CMOS battery. After this, it worked fine but I ordered another CMOS battery online.

This new one came and even after replacement the system dont boot up with the correct date. Looks like the BIOS is trying to boot but it cant w/o the battery working properly.

So this can explain my slow booting problem? The mobo not recognizing my battery?

As said before it works fine after it boots.

 

About this mobo question. Here's a pic of mine:

So, are these listed models all compatible with my laptop?

 

Only the ones of the same size so p15x. If it effectively EC resets each time it boots that could explain the slow boot. There is no battery recognition though, just the voltage it gives. Maybe a damaged holder?

 

Maybe. If its the case. Is it fixable?

 

They are not compatible, believe me. I've become an expert in P170/P150 Mobos in the past few months as I searched for a very specific P170SM mobo with an eDP port. Even the P177SM mobo and P170SM will give you compatibility headaches.

 

Yeah possibly, you could measure the voltages on the connector is good with a multimeter.

 

I need to get a multimeter first.

You said probably its not a Bios issue, Meaker. But do you know this site? Is this trustable? I cant find Clevo bios downloads directly on their side.

http://repo.palkeo.com/clevo-mirror/P1xxSM/

My reseller dont have a newer bios than mine. I did check with them.

On this site there are these problems solved by the bios updated listed there:


"1. System BIOS 1.00.03 for P15xSMx only.
2. Solve “sometimes system hangs during POST” issue. (exactly my problem, right?)
3. Update ME to 1345 .
4. Refer to the content of readme.txt to update firmware."

Thanks again for the help!

 

Meaker, another thing: what do you think about buying a P375SM in these days?

Surged a opportunity to buy one looking good, with one GTX 1070. The internal mic not working it's the only flaw.


Thanks again!

 

It's old tech by now so it depends on the price.

 

Thanks, Blacky. I believe in you!

 

U$ 900 ?

 

And about this, Meaker. Any thoughts?

 

Not cheap but I suppose the 1070 MXM module has some value.

 

The price is ok. Just the CPU and the GPU together would be valued at around $700 on ebay. You are not losing money by buying this machine.

 

Thanks, guys! I'll check the machine today. If its really in nice shape I'll get it!

 

In terms of the BIOS there is the directory on these forums, have a look on there.

 

hi, guys.
Just got the machine.

Seems to be ok and a have a lot of questions about it. But I'll be do it on the popper forum place.

Going back to my P150, now the keyboard just start to fail some keys. They are not working anymore. Including the F2 key so I can't enter BIOS now.

Looks like my BIOS are messed even more now, do I need a new mobo ?

I'm getting really lost here, I'd like to keep using this machine. I like it a lot.

Thanks in advance!

 

Sure you don't just need a new keyboard?

 

I'll try to buy one cheap to test.

 

Worth a shot at least also worth checking the current one's cable is fully seated.

 

Hi, Meaker. Unfortunately my suspicious was right: not a keyboard problem but is something else. Did change the keyboard but the faulty keys were the same.

So do I need a new mobo now or there's something else to try?

Thanks!

 

Check the connector on the motherboard is ok, dirt etc.

 

Hi, Meaker.

Unfortunately was not a dirty only problem. My P151SM, died, or at least decided to not power on as pass the black screen this week.

I'm looking for a replacement MOBO.

My original mainboard part number is: 6-77-P151SM10-D03A#10 .

Will a MOBO part number: 6-77-P151SM10-D03A#60 work on my system or it has to be the exact same P/N (6-77-P151SM10-D03A#10)?


Thanks in advance!

 

Actually its quite the opposite:

My original mainboard part number is:
6-77-P151SM10-D03A#60

Will a MOBO part number: 6-77-P151SM10-D03A#10 work on my system or it has to be the exact same P/N (6-77-P151SM10-D03A#60)?


Thanks again!

 

So it's a P157SM vs P151SM motherboard, I the P157SM had a backlit keyboard so will have some slightly different connectors IIRC. I'm not sure if the just data connector would move over.