Request for owners of Sager NP8130/50, Factory bios dump with AFU

I'm looking for anyone with a post recall Sager branded P150HMX NP8130, NP8150 who would be so kind as to dump their factory bios, mine came preloaded with a 1.01.06[randomlettershere] and 1.01.02 KBC/EC. Dated 3/3/11.

I've since tried one of the Clevo bios updates and have some reservations about it and admittedly did not backup my old bios first.

A windows version with ui of AFU Aptio that supports saving the bios NOTE: you WILL want a usb keyboard and mouse plugged in to use it, it temporarily disables EC (ps/2) while the app is open
http://www.bios-mods.com/tools/AFU%20for%20Aptio%20v2.28/aptio/afuwin64.zip

Theres also a command line version included, both it and the dos version of AFU included with the clevo bios updates supports saving the bios with the /O command.
AFU dos: http://www.bios-mods.com/tools/AFU%20for%20Aptio%20v2.28/aptio/afudos.zip
Anyone willing to take a moment and do that would be most appreciated.
The one time I proceed without a backup, to be the last time.


EDIT: not needed anymore, laptop is bricked from the official Sager bios I was sent, I'm doubting the competency and business practices of Sager.

 

Crap... I didn't back up my old bios too. I just got my laptop yesterday I had 1.0.1.07 on it but it wouldn't work with my SSD so I downgraded to 1.0.1.04 and my SSD boots up fine everytime so far. If you need a backup of your bios you can email your reseller for a copy.

 

I went the email reseller route too, just awaiting a reply on it.
Hopefully they or someone comes to the rescue.

 

Reseller won't send me the bios, they told me to contact Sager tech support (which have not responded in 2 days).
That coupled with the worn spot on my trackpad after I only got this laptop in March is tempting me to send it back since I'm within the 30 days, I do graphic design but i'm not even that hard on the trackpad, I switch between it and a bluetooth mouse...

Theres stuff I absolutely love about this laptop don't get me wrong, but I'm in serious question about the longevity of it should I need a new bios or in this case I'd like a new one right now and can't seem to get it.

 

I feel the same way about this laptop I just got it on friday. I have a few dead pixel but i was able to remove some of them. I already modify it to use 2 hard drives. I also order Kingston 1600mhz ram for it. I just have not clocked it to that speed yet. I kinda want to return because of the bios issue and dead pixel. I realize you have to have at least 5 pixel to get a LCD replace by RMA. I dont remember how many I had but I wish I didnt fix them. I wonedering if they can replace my LCD because I am not sure if I can return it. Also I notice some blemish on my top cover. When I got the laptop I notice smudges on the LCD. It was easily wipe off. But I just thought this laptop is suppose to brand new. Maybe they had to replace the motherboard because of the recall and reused the old parts. I dont know...

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but... Doesn't the 8130 have the rubber finish? I would assume that, that coupled with heavy usage of the trackpad would be completely natural then.

 

You're thinking of the 8150 with the rubberized finish, the 8130 is plastic.

 

Got a reply from Sager tech support, they sent me bios revision 1.00.08 with the file date 4/7/11.

I'll give it a go.


EDIT: BRICKED, now the owner of an expensive paperweight by running an official Sager bios update that even prompts you with a disclaimer saying it's specifically an update for NP8130 and NP8150's, I feel screwed by Sager.

 

Your kidding me. It Bricked your laptop....wanna sell your LCD... I got a stuck pixel in mines.. I'll trade you...

I'm kidding. I am sorry for your lost. This happens because its a new product...It was bad enough intel screw up and now this...

 

Personally I just feel dumped on by Sager, I don't think they even bother testing their own stuff much less care if it bricks, I'll keep trying various AMI bios recovery methods but if I can't fix it and Sager/Reseller won't deal with it then thats all she wrote for me and my first Sager experience, it's been a bitter sweet experience that ended with severely bitter as I had a business event I really needed this machine for coming up, I may have to pull out of something I'm heavily invested in and will not see a return on any of that cash...

I admit I shouldn't have been mucking with the bios with an important event around the corner but I don't think that excuses Sager's negligence.

 

i feel your lost I been having a hard time liking this product. My Asus never gave me headaches just joy. Its bitter sweet for me too. I spend so much on this. I brought 1600mhz ram and it doesnt support it yet. I brought OCZ SSD which doesnt work on it. On top of that i got a stuck pixel. I mean if your paying for something thats 1400 can I not get a stuck pixel...I also got i7-2720qm. I ask my reseller to sent me a new bios update also. Since I have problems with my SSD....

 

Exactly, for the price it should be nothing short of a perfect experience, especially for something classified as a "high end" laptop.
My screen was flawless with zero dead pixels but I'm worried if I even go the replacement route of getting dead pixels, and if I'm conned out of my money due to this then I'll make it a point to steer everyone I know away from Sager products. To think I was actually recommending them to people not too long ago, I was going to order an NP5170 for the miss's after this business event, I also had a co-worker that was going to purchase the NP5160 completely based on NP8130 experience, both those are on hiatus till I see how this pans out.

It's complete BS to get a half functional machine with bricking updates that are supposed to solve the non-function of the device, thats just plain screwing your customers.

 

Sorry for your problems guys, but if you were having so many problems the warranty let's you return the laptop out of disatisfaction within 30 days of shipping date. Just wondering why you didn't opt for a return or exchange?

 

No luck with finding a recovery mode? What has Sager said regarding the update?

It would be terrible if it's unrecoverable, and if it even costs you a DIME to restore to working function.

 

I am not in a good position to return it. I sold my Asus G73JH with i7-920XM CPU on Feb 4 to order for the Sager I place my order in Feb 7 and recieve it on April 8. I needed the laptop since Mar14 for my software devolpment class. I did request to cancel it twice but they told me its almost comming so I waited. As of now I am failing one class due the fact I do not have a laptop at that time.

While I was waiting I order Kingston 1600Mhz RAM, OCZ SSD, ODD Caddy, laptop backpage and etc. I told my supervisor He can buy my old ram as soon as it comes in.

When I install the ODD I remove the face of the stock DVD and superglue it on my ODD Caddy.

I mean I understand If I brought something cheap and I would run into problems. But I paid good money for it. This is the money I earn while bleeding and sweating in Iraq for th US Army.

Yes I could return but I have ask my supervisor for the RAM back. I have pay for the lost of the DVD drive. I can't return my Kingston RAM or OCZ SSD and ODD Caddy. I have to pay 65 dollars to ship it back. Overall that close to 450 dollars. Because they sent me a faulty laptop. Not to mention I to retake a college cost and pay for it again. Also it doesn't pay for the time I have take off or spend for this POS.

Also as of now they are not even tracking my Sager Laptop. It is not process in the system yet So I can't even request for a return or exchange. They told me it takes 2 weeks...

So I have 2 clear choices. Kept the laptop and use it for school.
Or return it and take a huge lost.

 

It currently suports 2 2gb modules at 1600mhz. It will never support more than 4 gb.

 

What your talking about is the i7 2630qm CPU it can only support 4GB at 1600mhz... I have the i7 2720qm.

This is what my reseller told me: (Basically they even told me to return it. The kingston HyperX won't work because its JEDEC standard at stock is 1333mhz you need a bios that lets change its timings or a chipset that support intel XMP which in both cases the 8130 does not have . The 8170 uses a different chipset)

"Here is a statement by Sager on the RAM running at the full 1600mhz. If you still can you may want to return your Kingston memory and replace it with something running on the JEDEC standard.

Some Answers related to 1600MHz DDR3 Memory on Sager NP8170, NP8150, NP8130, NP5170, NP5160.

First I would like to provide the following information.

There are two type of DDR3 1600Mhz memory available on the market.

First one is the official 1600Mhz memory which it is profiled by JEDEC memory standards @ 1600MHz

Second version is profiled for Intel XMP @ 1600MHz. (overclocking friendly)

Intel Core i7-2720qm,2820qm,2920xm natively supports maximum 2peices of 1600HMz memory with JEDEC memory standards profile, which it will work on NP8170, NP8150, NP8130. With 2x DIMM max when paired with one of supported processor.

The 1600MHz using Intel XMP is only supported on Sager NP8170 when set to 1600MHz XMP using the Intel Extreme Tuning, and that you will be able to populate all 4 DIMM slots, and it may be paired with any processors. As the 1600MHz speed is achieved by the overclocking function.

At this time Sager is still waiting for more 1600Mhz JEDEC standard memory to be offered by different brands in order to complete our comparability testing and list, so that we can offer the memory option on our systems."

 

Atmosk my reseller sent me a bios I'm scare to update it now...They said its a new one and it fixes the USB 3.0 and maybe my SSD problem...

 

Atmosk, I was told by a Sager Rep that if you are running an AMI CLEVO BIOS, and attempt to flash back to an official AMI SAGER BIOS (Regardless if it's newer) It will brick your computer, as in it won't even boot.

Were you running a CLEVO BIOS or the Factory SAGER BIOS when you attempted to update your BIOS?


Here's some interesting info:

Apparently (I was told by the Sager Rep) Clevo (whom compiles the BIOS for Sager) knew about the problem but didn't inform Sager about it, so cases like yours are popping up.

I was trying to get the new BIOS from Sager and I was asked very exhaustively what BIOS I had, and I told them it was an AMI CLEVO BIOS for the P150HM chassis and my boot-logo now read "Style Note". I was told not to update my BIOS to the AMI SAGER BIOS (the one Atmosk flashed to; 1.00.08) to avoid bricking my computer.

I asked a lot of questions and I found out the following VERY important info:

- Regardless of your chassis (at least for current models: P150, P151, P170, X72xx, X81xx), if your computer has a SAGER BIOS, only use SAGER BIOS's if you want to preserve your boot-logo. You can request the new BIOS's from Sager tech support thru an email with your serial number, and use those BIOS's.

- Regardless of your chassis (at least for current models: P150, P151, P170, X72xx, X81xx) You CAN flash to a CLEVO BIOS, but beware; apart from losing your SAGER boot logo (w/e), you will be unable to flash back to your SAGER BIOS (regardless of the chassis too)... as mentioned, your computer will brick COMPLETELY, and will not even turn on. AT ALL. (or so I was told, please confirm Atmosk)

- I was told by the Sager Rep that once you go CLEVO BIOS, you can't go back. (I think that's clear now) so continue using CLEVO BIOS's.

Hope this helps!

 

I guess it's been a good thing that I caution people with Sager bios's from going to Clevo then wanting to go back, it's good to know this is an actual documented issue now and leaves no doubt.

I am on a Sager bios now, 1.01.08LS1 but it did take bricking the laptop and having it recovered to get there, I haven't tried Clevo bioses since and will be continuing sticking strictly to Sager branded bios, I sugest all Sager owners do the same unless they intend to forever use the Clevo bios.

 

I understood by your post that you were in fact on a Clevo BIOS when you tried to flash back to a Sager BIOS then? (Tell me if that's correct)

In such case, that leaves absolutely no doubt; either stay Sager or if you go Clevo stay Clevo people.

 

Yeah I was on a Clevo bios prior to updating to the current Sager bios at the time, so yeah it's confirmed people should stick to their Sager bios or lock themselves to Clevo.

 

That's why I wrote in my Clevo BIOS thread that it's best to ask for the latest BIOS from your reseller and only get it from the thread if you have no other option.

Truth is, as a product gets closer to EOL Clevo usually will continue to provide BIOS updates while Sager usually does not so at that point you might be able to make the switch from Sager to Clevo.

But either way, it's good to know.

How did you recover your BIOS Atmosk after getting bricked?

 

In this day of such fast moving tech, I have no idea why we are still using such Bios which I see as ancient. It is simply a weak link with unnecessary risk.

Having the potential to render your entire laptop useless is simply ridiculous in this day and age. At least it wouldn't be so bad if they incorporated some kind of fail safe backup chip that you could always recover to. I guess they would never do that because they would lose service centre business

 

Most mid-high end desktop motherboards have a backup bios or dual bios built in so this can't happen.

 

lol, he didn't, if I understood correctly, he had to send it in and get it replaced. He's a Sager man since then ...

 

Yes, he told me that. That's ... nasty. I'd rather buy a new CMOS chip for 30 euro and re-solder it at a friend but that's me without any warranty.

 

Bumpidy? Is there a jtag port on this laptop for the BIOS? I don't even know if it is commonplace, if there is, rescuing this laptop wouldn't be too bad.

BTW where are the clevo bios's to download? I can't find them.

 

The Sager service centres can recover bricked Bios flashes so perhaps there is some kind of Jtag, unless they physically replace the bricked chip...