P370EM - bios locked after RMA

Hello,

I have just received yesterday my P370EM. (the one of the ati cards). It was repaired in the UK official technical service (with my reseller in the middle).

The boot is configured to use the network booting system. It does not connect, so do not boot, so "PXE-M0F: Exiting PXE ROM." and "Missing operating system".

I cannot access the bios to change anything it is just like the keyboard were of no use. control + alt + del works to restart the computer. F7, ESC, del, F12, Fn + B, ctrl + C, do not work.

I have already tried with a bootable usb, with no results. (checked that the usb works on other computer)

I am awaiting for my reseller to receive a response from UK and notify me how to solve this. It is frustrating.


Please anyone by here, could you give me a solution? I think that a cmos reset should fix this, but I do not know how to do that in this computer (do not know where the inner battery or the cmos reset jumper are).

Thanks you very much.

 

Reset the CMOS. Remove the keyboard and unplug the CMOS for 5 minutes and this should reset the BIOS to default (non network boot). If your BIOS is "network boot" on "default" settings, have a strong word with your reseller and the repair shop.

 

Did you try holding down F2 after you turn the computer on or rapidly tapping F2?

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

Power cycle the system (remove charger and battery, hold power button for 5 seconds, reconnect power), then boot the laptop and try to change the boot order again (F2). It sounds like your keyboard is in working condition if Ctrl + Alt + Del yield a reboot, so resetting the EC may resolve the problem of not being able to access the BIOS or boot selection prompt.

 

Thanks you all!!!

I suspect that the problem is UEFI related. They used a windows 8 or something similar, the SO locked the UEFI so the bios can only boot from the same OS. The OS is not pressent... BOOM.

The keyboard of the laptop? Do you know a web where it is explained carefully?

I have found http://www.notebookcheck.net/Review-Clevo-P370EM-Barebones-Notebook.81409.0.html and videos about other clevo models. will search more this afternoom from home.

Rapidly . Will repead the check this afternoom, both repeatdly and holding.

I tried this or something similar. Waited 20 seconds holding the power button. Will try again.

Yeah, the keyboard works, and if you press enough keys you start hearing the classical -keyboard cache is full- beep.



Then, this afternoom, will try the F2, then the battery power cycle, and then the -remove the keyboard, disconnect the cmos... battery?...- thing

I am starting to hate UEFI...

 

Turn off the laptop and remove the PSU and the battery.
Use screwdriver to kind of push up the thin black bar DIRECTLY above the keyboard. If you look closely at your chassis, you will notice that it is a thin strip and not actually part of the larger chassis. It should come out easily.
You should see five screws. Unscrew them, then lift the keyboard out from the top-center slowly. It will resist a bit, but then pop right out. Be careful you do not pull out the cables. There are two cables; one is for the keyboard and one is for the backlighting.
After the keyboard is removed, you should partially see your motherboard. There, you should see a small, round, black battery-type thing. It should have entwined red and white cords coming out of it. Unplug that for 5 minutes, then plug that back in, then put the keyboard back, and screw the keyboard back in, then put the black bar back above the keyboard, then try and boot and access the BIOS.

 

Thanks you!!!

Only the D2 Ultima method worked. (disconnect the CMOS battery for a while). and now, after this cmos reset, the F2 and F7 works.

Now I do not know how to set the raid mode of my 2 hard drives. The disks do not boot, and the windows installation disk only sees one of the drives, apparently... weird...

Please, can you help me???

 

Glad that you got the BIOS back.

As to your hard drive problem, does the BIOS show both hard drives? That's the first thing to check. If it doesn't show them both then either one is missing or has a loose connection, no power, or another hardware failure. If it does show both, check your SATA configuration and make sure it's set on RAID then under Intel Rapid Storage Technology, look and see if it has any RAID volumes listed. If not, it should show your two hard drives, just hit create RAID volume and the rest is self explanatory.

 

Thanks you!

had already the sata to raid. I see the 2 hard drives. From the windows installer I, with drivers, have seen the raid partition (controlled by software in this case)...

Under Intel Rapid Storage Technology I see only that it is Enables, and just below it shows "No valid iFFS partition found". I do not see options to create partitions either. hmmm... I have just seen something weird, the bios date is from march 2012. Is this correct????

I am looking for the official newer bios but they are not anymore... :S :S :S (I am starting to be a clevo hater...)

 

Intel Rapid Storage and Intel Rapid Start are two different things. From reading the manual for your machine, you use Ctrl+I when the BIOS loads the option ROM for RAID to setup and manage RAID - here's the user manual if you need it - http://repo.palkeo.com/clevo-mirror/P370EM/EUM.zip

As for the system BIOS, you can get the latest stock Clevo-branded BIOS from Prema's site - https://biosmods.wordpress.com/stock/ or you can email your reseller for their branded bios if they don't use a stock Clevo. Keep in mind resellers have their own policies on BIOS flashing, if possible get the files from them. There's always a risk of bricking the machine with a bad flash so only do it if you have issues.

Make sure to watch the video on how to flash Prema's stock BIOS at the top of the page if you use his BIOS, it walks you through the whole process from the download to the flash.

 

No control + I nor C nor nothing. The Intel Rapid Storage booting screen were not showing up. (I have saved a video from before cmos reseting, and some photos of after...).
My reseller sells basic clevos. He have tell me to use premamod bios...

I have endanger my computer using it... and after a almost hearth attack because in a p370sm video of the process appears 3 stages (executing step2), and in my case did a stage 2, stage 1 and just a shutdown... without the stage 3...

P370em bios is so primitive... so basic... -.- I cannot configure my memory nor nothing... no upgrades, no official files on the official site... I hate clevo...


After the update to the bios premod, I see the raid configuration... and I can press ctrl + I, at last!!! check the configuration and VOILA!!! my windows is starting as nothing have happent... after like 3 months of being broken...​

 

Well I'm sorry to hear that you had so many problems but I'm glad that it is fixed now. As for the video, from what I understand the EM series is a far shot from SM, I didn't realize the BIOS is as well but that's why Prema gives such great instructions for flashing. I got a stock Rom that wasn't Prema and didn't feel comfortable with the flashing process he makes so easy.

 

Thanks you!!!!!

This computer have been a bit hellish... I bought it in may 2013. The new version of this chasis were coming (mine is P370EM, I do not know which one is the new version), but the reseller said that it was a better idea this one because of driver stability. (and I did not know when the new chasis were going to arrive... grrrrrr hate clevo grrrrrrrr). The reseller did not told me that I wont be able to upgrade the graphical cards never (already ati radeon 7970m), and I think he did not know either. (extraofficially I could upgrade to the next gen of ati, as I have read somewhere like a month ago... if I have understanded correctly).


The computer took between 2 weeks and a month to arrive at my home (the reseller took some time to get one p370em chasis, which were being removed form the market). When it arrived at home I discovered the bad news about that the p370em with ati it did not had by default any 120hz screen output. (supposely I need to buy the active adapter for that... like 100€... -.-). Ah, because of me asking, I were able to avoid being sent the computer built for other person (with less memory and with less quality), but not completely... the computer came with a dvdrom instead of a third hard drive case in its place. Sometimes I doubt that the screen is the right one xD

I have been using since then... with some ati driver issues and crossfire that you should know... but not criticals... so...

But usb pendrives and external drives starting to fail to be detected and mounted... I had an external drive (awaiting for that special case to be placed in the dvdrom drive slot of the computer...) and started to only be mounted 1 of each 3 times, to do not be mounted at all finally. Until I place it in the case and it worked again.

And after some time using it (year and half)... the computer got broken like 2 weeks before 2014-2015 christmas. The computer was a week doing weird things, basically restarting some times before booting normally, and after 3 hours restarting again itself. At last, it just stoped showing anything in the screen but you could see the hdd lighting flashing and hearing the windows booting music.

I sent the computer to the reseller the 5th of january without the hard drives. The reseller sent it repaired the 18th february after a long and large discussion about if I should pay or not the broken GPU (by a very high price, I must say, almost 400€ for one 7970m, as they (reseller and official technical support) were telling me that the graphical card were burned because of no maintenance (supposely I must open the computer and repaste all the cpus and gpus each 6 months, and this was not specified in the manual, anyway). In the meantime the computer were sent to the official technical service in UK. After a long discussion and I requesting a photo of the supposely burnt gpu they said me that clevo had accepted to receive my broken gpu... and finally of the finally and after a long time and a problem with the delivery (bad delivery enterprise, which did not have the complete destination address (my fault) were waiting for me to contact me, but nobody contacted me to tell me that, or who/where to contact while blaming the psotal service of my country that were not related with the shipment... -.-).

And finally finally finally I have the computer at my home the 10th of march of this year (3 days ago), and with the problem I told you in this thread, while the reseller were taking almost 24 to respond to each question (only by late afternoon), yesterday I wrote the first post of this thread and sent this morning an email to the official technical service... and today finally I could catch the reseller by gtalk and speeds up this a bit...

The technical service which locked my computer do not know what happened and sent me a reply waying about me trying F2, and with the service manual of the computer... which is... nice... have some things that should come in the basic manual, as installing the second hard drive, etc.

And finally finally finally, finally a pair of hours ago I was succeed booting my old windows... at last!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And the pendrives are detected and mounted normally. HD are detected but not mounted, but I can mount them manually.

Have been an stressfull and frustrating journey...

One question, how can I check that my laptop screen is a "- Ecrã Optronics 17.3' 1920x1080 Matte 70%Gamut" ??? Will try everest...

 

Wow sounds like you have been through a lot with that machine, glad that it all worked out in the end though. Sometimes these unfortunate things happen. It is not true that you can't upgrade the GPU though. GPU in the EM series can be upgraded to 970M and 980M. You can find cards on eBay or Eurocom or RJTech are the ones I know of. Cheapest price I found was from RJTech. They have the 970M for 450. For some reason 9xxM works with EM but not 7xx or 8xx.

You can verify your display using this software

http://www.entechtaiwan.com/util/moninfo.shtm

Should tell you everything you need to know and is totally free.

 

Yeah, too much for a 2000€ computer. And too noisy and a bit "cheapy" sometimes (by example those sinks not being correctly connected to the fans air exit.

The last 7 years I have had enough computers problem to get me tired of them... (7 years ago I had random problems which were caused by overheating gpu, and lately found that another component overheating were the 325€ asus motherboard. Never again an asus motherboard unless it is know for sure that it is good, as usually asus build too many faulty motherboards). Finally both gpus were replaced, but after like one year and a half with the problem (I expend months trying to figure what was going on... -.- because now a month it works, 2 weeks fail with sli, now 2 weeks work... now almost never work... etc).

Ok, ty about the clarification about the gpu, I only knew about only being able to upgrade to

Is posible to install those nvidia cards in P370EM (instead of P370EM3). I guess than yes, but you have the same 120hz output problem. Do you know if the active conversion of, if I remember correctly hdmi to dvi-d, is enough to have the 120hz output or is it imposible with this chassis? Anyone by here hace experience in this and could advise me of an active conversor model or trademark?

If I sometime upgrade to those new cards, will I be able to obtain the sli cable to connect 2 of them? :-O

About those shops, are US shops. And nice prices (here technology is much more expensive). I could buy from here to those shops, but ad the shipment arrival it probably will be charged with tons of taxes, and if it fails, sending the item or items back will be more expensive. I will try to locate a reseller in Europe and compare.

Thanks you about the monitor program, I checked the monitor and remembered having done it (but with everest I think) after receiving the computer the first time.

 

Sounds like you have had some bad luck with the computers! I only had problems with the heatsink for my CPU (not enough contact, they replaced it for me when I sent machine to get 980Ms) and of course those hot and failure prone 880Ms. Not Clevo's fault but sending the computer to the shop twice since May when I bought it...

I can't answer about the 120hz issue. Does your machine have iGPU enabled or just dGPU? Machines that offer both can not run 120hz because it's not supported by Intel graphics. Outside of that issue, I'm not sure, maybe someone else can tell you. I have no problem with 120hz LCD in mine because it has no Intel graphics and 980M is more than capable of handling 120hz. As for the SLI cable you would have to ask when you purchase the cards, I'm sure they can get one. Clevo parts can be hard to come by but if they can get the cards I see no reason they can't get the cable.

 

Yeah, basically

About iGPU and dGPU, I have no idea . Will try to investigate.

Thanks you!

 

I'm so sorry you have had so many problems with your machine. You make Ethrem and myself look like our problems were jokes. I'm glad you eventually got it working and I'm glad you're on Prema's BIOS now and I hope you enjoy the rest of that machine. It's a powerhouse, especially with the right GPUs in it. With Prema's BIOS now you can use 980M GPUs in it without an issue.

 

I looked it up, your machine does not have iGPU much like mine. It's completely disabled.

 

ty. It is good if the only problems we have are this type of problem

I am glad I could upgrade it in the future. I wish those cards get much cheaper. 1500$ for two cards is incredibily expensive :S (madness!!!)

I have the ati p370em version. Are you sure that I can upgrade to nvidia?

So... can we get a frequency of 120hz? Based on what you write, sounds like a yes.

I have checked and I would convert display port to dvi-d 120hz. Other option is with hdmi... hmmm but it is weird that it have not already 120hz... :S

 

They released a 3D model of your machine so 120hz should definitely be possible. HDMI would not work as there is not enough bandwidth but displayport should have enough but I can't find the version the EM has.

 

You can indeed use nVidia cards.

Internal 120Hz screen is the LP173WF2-TPB1. You will need a 50-pin eDP cable to install it.
You can use 120Hz 1080p with displayport, you do not need to convert it

120Hz internal only works on nVidia cards as far as I know, though.

 

Thanks for answering the displayport question, I was getting conflicting information on the web.

 

Well our thunderbolt ports are DP 1.1a and n=1 uses a 144Hz 1080p ASUS monitor on his, so I know it's possible.

 

Well that's the thing. It doesn't have Thunderbolt and I couldn't find the DP version of the machine and people were arguing back and forth about which version supports 1080p@120.

 

True, but it was a 2012 model, so DP1.1 should be the minimum thing it has.

 

Thanks you!

I was told by my reseller in the past (maybe a year ago) that the internal screen of 120hz was not posible because, supposely, it was needed to be the p370em3 which have something special (I do not remember) and that clevo do not sell the kit... :S

LP173WF2-TPB1? Those are sold on aliexpress, by example . Are there other screen models as options? (like better color, or maybe more hz? currently I am using an screen supposely better in the colouring, and matte) (do not mind it are more expensive, I will compare and take a decision). I am looking a bit, but will not be able to look much more until this afternoon (now is morning here).

About the cable... where can I buy it? by example, this screen: http://es.aliexpress.com/item/Brand...-Screen-120HZ-50PIN-1920-1080/2041934057.html appears to have already a cable attached.

About the conversor, it is because my 3d external screen (an old alienware one) is DVI-D or HDMI, but not display port

This computer as an high end one should have more 120hz+ compatible outputs... :S

I remember had been looking this two to three times in the past, and that finally it apparently was posible... it is very confusing when one as me is an ignorant about the subject and there is obscure information about it in the web.

 

I am asking those screen vendors directly about the cable.

I have seen that in aliexpress there are many of this screen with many prices. Some says compatibility with A or B, other 50pin... :S :S

http://es.aliexpress.com/item/Brand...-Screen-120HZ-50PIN-1920-1080/2041934057.html sounds nice... waiting for the response of the vendor about the cable.

About the screen we are talking about: http://mikesmods.com/mm-wp/?p=381

 

@clevo-extreme might be able to help you with the cable... PM them..

 

Done, waiting from monday

 

Probably get a faster answer if you go on their website and use the messaging system there... They are slow to reply to PM's sometimes...

 

Good idea, ty!

Hmmm... my clevo have get some type of breakdown after 20 days at my home... something else needed a repair too...

Green or blue rectangles and lines in teh screen, something blinking characters...

One question, do you know if 7970m crossfire are troublesome? I have been suffering a lot of game problems from the start, like vibrating image, not being able to use dual monitors without weird problems, stepped images... (I do not know how to tell this on english, I say stepped when, while moving the camera fast, there are like cuts in the screen while part of an frame coexists with parts of other frames and causes noticeable cuts on the image)

 

Sounds like dead GPUs or screen now... 7970Ms are known to be troublesome.. The thing is if your system has had so many problems maybe your better off sending it for repair and selling it.. Just to confirm this swap the primary and secondary GPUs...

 

If this is the case, AMD should replace all failing gpus with working units of the same or a better model.

Anyway, what do you mean with "troublesome"?? Is there a way to fix those issues user-side?

 

Yeah, they should replace for using low grade silicon that failed often after 1 year. But they won't. Just like nVidia won't fix the 880M overheating and voltage fluctuation crap.

 

This is a shame. Those graphical cards are not cheap... -.-

I will demand a solution from my reseller.

Anyway, in my country if I remember correctly, if a product fails consistenly you can get a refund of the product. Do not know if withing UE is the same, so I will research.

 

No, they're definitely not cheap! What you described at the end of your post sounds similar to what we call the "Lemon Law." Not sure of where you're at and how the legality of it works there, but it's something to consider if you must.

Best of luck to you with that laptop.

 

Ty. The computer have been some days on the technical service. No further news.

 

Please, do you know where I could get more info about this? How did you get that conclusion? Seeing tons of forums? Are there an article or something by there to read?

Thanks you