Sager NP9370 / Clevo P370EM - No BIOS, No Fan - HELP!

Sager NP9370 / Clevo P370EM
680M SLi

I recently tried to flash the VBIOS Clevo 680m - 80.04.29.00.01 on my notebook, because:

1. The VBIOS 80.04.33.00.10 doesn't work with any newer Nvidia Driver. I get video issues, like gradients not properly "defined", bad performance overall, and only the first GPU recognizes the nvidia driver properly when using this VBIOS version.

2. The VBIOS 80.04.67.00.01 was overheating the second GPU while gaming. It hits 100 Celsius and then the PC shut down.

The only VBIOS that was working was the custom 80.04.67.00.01 by slv7. I wanted an "original" VBIOS, so I tried to flash the Clevo 80.04.29.00.01.

And that's when all my problems started. The flashing went OK, I restarted the PC like normal and went to the Windows 8.1, the only thing different was that the system was "bigger", the menus, windows, mouse, etc, was like 125% bigger than normal (I already flashed other VBIOS and that never happened), I didn't care because I just flashed a VBIOS so I'd run DDU and do a clean driver install anyway.

So, I went to "msconfig.exe" and set the Network Safe Boot and hit OK to restart in safe boot (all the time while I was doing this, the system was in this "big mode"). DDU and the driver was already on my Documents folder.

And that's the problem, the computer doesn't even do the BIOS/POST part anymore. I click the power button and get the keyboard backlight, the icon above the keyboard flashes for a bit, but then stop. I don't get anything on the screen, already tried connecting to an external monitor via HDMI, didn't work, even the fans are not working properly, sometimes one works, sometimes two, but they stop in seconds.

The computer doesn't give me any beep, nothing.

I have a XPS14 running a 630M, is it possible to remove one of the GPUs from the Sager and connect the 630M to try to flash the old working VBIOS in the 680M or will it ruin my 630M? I can't risk that, because that's the only working computer I have as of now. The Sager is my main rig, I play and work on that, help please.

I use nvflash in DOS mode, so when I do "nvflash -a" this should give me both the 630M and 680M, of course, if running via 630M give me the screen. =S

What can I do guys?

 

The 630M in that model is soldered so can't be swapped. Maybe get a cheap GT240M or similar?

 

I'm afraid that where I live I can't find one of those. I do have an old ATI HD5670 for Desktop, is there a way to use that? If it was a GPU problem, I would still get BIOS access, wouldn't I?

 

No, you need to get an MXM card in the primary slot that will boot so you can flash the secondary (so long as the card is good.

 

Do a BIOS reset by removing AC power as well as BIOS battery for 30s.
That should be enough to let it boot. Reason is that vBIOS v29 has no UEFI support.
If that isn't enough, remove the SLI cable.
If that isn't enough switch cards.

 

I already tried this reset thing, didn't work.

About UEFI - I didn't think about that. But indeed, that's certainly the case here, I use UEFI Windows 8.1, the BIOS was using UEFI, Sager logo with the Windows 8.1 loading thing. I'm so stupid, I didn't look for that before flashing.

So, remove the SLi cable and try to boot? And when you talk "switch cards" you mean put the slave in the place of the main and connect the cable or still without cable? I'll be waiting for your reply to confirm the procedure, so that I don't ruin anything more =p

 

Yes, correct, but are you sure that you resetted the BIOS properly? Once it is reset the BIOS will default to Legacy Mode and let you boot to reflash the cards...the problem with the v29 vBIOS is only in UEFI mode.

 

I think so, what I did:

Removed the AC yesterday (since the notebook was not working I put it in the side), removed battery now, left the notebook like that for 1min, put the battery and then turned on and got the no bios, no fan issue. I'll try again, is there any other method?

 

Nope, AC Adater, battery AND BIOS BATTERY. Check out the Service Manual (click my signature) on my blog for the location (On P1xxEM its below the keyboard)

 

I was afraid you would say that, indeed, some people said about this BIOS battery below the keyboard, but there is another problem (**** yeah -.-): This notebook has 5 screws holding the keyboard, but 2 of them are really damaged so I can't "fix" the screwdriver in the hole properly (I don't know why, I never opened the keyboard part) and I can't remove the keyboard because of this. I turn the screwdriver and that doesn't have any effect as the hole is damaged...

Well, I'll have to go to any near tech assistance to remove these 2 screws, because I don't know how to remove them alone in this case, or perhaps I don't have the tools to do that (I don't even know if there is one). I don't care if it will damage them or not, because I'll be changing them for new ones anyway. =/

I don't know if I can reach this BIOS battery from behind removing the parts, is it possible? Is there any tutorial/video about that? I already opened the lower part of the notebook many times but just for small things like cleaning, RAM, HDD, Wifi, etc.

PS: Mine is P3xxEM, not P1xxEM, but it's below the keyboard too.

 

Just apply enough pressure and they will move, there is no other way to reach the cmos battery.

 

The screw is really damaged, doesn't matter the pressure I put in it, it doesn't unscrew, the screwdriver doesn't have a firm position to attach itself because the head is loose, I'll have it removed using the right tools, it's the only way.

 

Hell yeah, it worked. I managed to remove the two screws and did the battery thing. The pc is booting now in Legacy mode, I'll flash a newer version of the GPU VBIOS so that I can set back to UEFI and get to Windows.

MANY THANKS!

 

Good!
The stock v67 vBIOS is actually the proper base for EM systems...

 

The problem is that I was getting high temps using this v67, the 2nd GPU goes to 100 Celsius while gaming, then the notebook shutdown, I'll do a cleaning and redo the thermal work that is a bit old, to see if that gets better.

 

The paste is too old.. If you can get some good Gelid GC Extreme paste and some Phobya XT thermal pads, repaste your CPU and repaste and repad the GPU