p170hm defect gpu, replacement with hd7970M

Defect gpu on p170hm, starts up until windows logo than black screen with mouse cursor.
Safe mode is the same scenario, boots up but than a black screen with mouse cursor.

I found a hd7970M, with on it V2.1 G, Is this card compatible? do I still need a different bracket, screws, pad and I hear something like flashing the Vbios of the card, first time upgrading a gpu. If you can give me some info on this that would be nice.

https://www.benl.ebay.be/itm/Clevo-...789405?hash=item3b4346e25d:g:6-kAAOSwswdeYMmo

thank you.

 

Oh this was quite a tricky one, yes it needs the right hardware revision and might need a blind flash.

 

So this card will work and I can go ahead and buy it?, if I have any problem with the install I may come back to ask some questions.

 

The card you posted is an official Clevo variant, so it *should* work based on hardware revision and vBIOS compatibility.

Do you have a picture of your current dying card (Front/back) for physical comparison to the eBay listed card?

If/when you do buy it, make sure to backup your vBIOS on your dead/dying card as you may need to flash the new card with that specific revision to get it working (Make sure to back up the vBIOS on the new card too of course).

 

This is a picture of my first card that died, the HD 6970M. (The current card is gtx485M)

 

Oh, then this is a no way to tell but to try (I thought you were replacing a 7970), but it should work, but as meaks points out, it could run into a revision/vBIOS situation.

 

Since it is from a clevo and the right version 1.2 I will take the risk. Then there is no other option then to buy and try. I will make an offer and keep you posted. Thank you.

 

From what i remember, you need a non-enduro vbios for 7970m to make it work in HM series. I think that vbios from "slave" gpu from "clevo P370 EM/SM" is what you need.

 

I have the required vbios if you need it uploaded. I've flashed v1.2 cards for HM systems before. Remind me to upload it if you didn't already download something to try.

But yes in general you need the vbios meant for the P570WM and P370EM series systems. Most of these cards went into P170EM and P150EM systems, which have the iGPU as the primary GPU, and thus you get a blank screen with no iGPU.

Odds are you will need to blind flash. I recommend figuring out the boot and flash sequence with your current dying card. Figuring out how many times you need to press the down arrow to boot from a flash drive with no image is not fun.

 

My offer of 125 euro's was just excepted on the hd7970m, so it will be here somewhere next week.
Yes I could use the vbios and I found a site with instructions, I am going to need it, because this is my first time upgrading a gpu card.
Fingers crossed that everything works out.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...vbios-for-clevo-p1xxhm-laptops.688656/page-43

I also found this site with vbios for hd7970M for different brands , I don't know yet if I can use it.
https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios...=&model=HD+7970M&interface=&memType=&memSize=

I very much appreciate all the help.

 

Looks good, I think that's everything to give it the best go.

 

Here's a link to the vbios you need. I could not get it to upload here for some reason.

http://www.mediafire.com/file/l5c7n...5.019.000.000.042817.BR042817.008_-_Stock.ROM

 

Update:

Problem 1) gpu installed, but now no bios and no windows, only a black screen and I can't go into bios to select usb flash drive as boot medium.

Problem 2: I can't find how to make a backup of the current bios version of the card.



1) The guide I use, links don't work so I searched for alternatives.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...modded-vbios-for-clevo-p1xxhm-laptops.688656/

2) Bios version, but I can use your version Khenglish

https://www.techpowerup.com/vgabios/128794/clevo-hd7970m-2048-120605

3) bootable dos usb

https://www.howtogeek.com/136987/how-to-create-a-bootable-dos-usb-drive/

4) atiflash 3.95

https://x-drivers.com/catalog/flash/video_cards/companies/ati/models/ati_flash/23836

 

The most important part of all that is the auto execute file.

 

This is the autorun file? I posted a picture of the content of the usb flash drive.

But how can the usb drive start when I can't even select the usb flash drive as primary boot medium in bios?

I am going to need detailed info because I am somewhat lost. NO bios, no files who opened in the tutorial, no info on backup, etc.

 

Why cant you put the USB device as primary?

 

Because I only get a black screen, and if I try F2 or F12 nothing happens.
I can't see bios, before with the previous card I still had bios and windows logo now I have nothing.
How can I put my flash drive as primary if I have no bios?
I tried putting the usb flash drive in without pushing F2 but nothing happens, no automatic booting of the usb flash drive.

And I can't seem to download the files from the forum I posted earlier.

What I don't understand, even if the gpu does not work, I thought that the pc has an internal gpu so I would be able to boot into bios and safe mode without the gpu?

 

iGPU is not powered on HM systems.

F7 is boot selection.

1. Boot system.
2. F7 during POST.
3. Wait until POST completes.
4. Press down arrow to change boot device. Increase how many times you press down on each boot until you finally get the flash drive.

 

Yeah you will need to do it all blind with the current card or get an in place programmer.

 

Update: I put in my previous card, gtx 480M, I was able to get into the flash drive, it was on the first place, but I will still have no picture to type in the info according to the site. But there is a file I can upload where I do not need to input any info into Dos, it will happen automatically, the problem is that I am unable to download that file from the site.

My question is does anyone know where I can download that file: autoexec.bat

http://forum.notebookreview.com/thr...modded-vbios-for-clevo-p1xxhm-laptops.688656/

 

You can just write your own .bat file. It only needs one line:

atiflash -p 0 -fs -fp -reboot biosfilename

 

I have a question about making a autoexec.bat file.
can I make my own autoexec.bat file like this. As I understand it, I should enter this command, "atiflash -p 0 -fs -fp -reboot biosfilename", at the top of my .rom file (hd7970M), change the.rom to .bat and rename the filename to "autoexec".

Am I correct with folowing this procedure?

 

You have two separate files. One is the bios image, and the other is the .bat that references it.

 

The bat file should be calling the flash command.

 

* With old GPU installed in laptop*

Use rufus to create a DOS bootable usb drive: https://rufus.ie/
Boot system with USB drive to make sure it is booting to DOS properly
and get used to F7 select boot device process for a blind flash
-----------------------
Rename vbios file you downloaded from Khenglish to 7970new.rom

Create autoexec.bat in notepad (make sure to set windows to show file extensions so you don't end up with autoexec.bat.txt)
Alternatively create it at dos level with copy command

Just one line in the autoexec.bat file: atiflash -p 0 -fs -fp -reboot 7970new.rom

Copy over 7970new.rom and AUTOEXEC to bootable USB drive
---------------------------------

Boot and select F7 to get to boot select and blind select USB drive

(If you're unsure, you can always disconnect your bootable drive(s) and have it default to the USB drive.)

Sit back and wait for the magic and reboot.

 

I tried it but it still does not work. Before, I tried to boot in dos with the previous card and usb flash drive was in the first place and dos booted fine. I did not try it again because it had already worked.

When I copy the autoexec.bat file to the drive it has already got the same file. so the file is "autoexec (2).bat", I hope this does not give any problem.

On the site of the guide, it uses this line so I also tried that and named the bios update the same.
atiflash.exe -p 0 -fs -fp -reboot 7970M.rom

I also tried place 1 2 and 3 on the boot selection. but no luck.

The files of the bios, atiflash and the autoexec file all go directly on to the usb flash drive not in a separate folder? there is also a folder named "LOCALE" I suppose the files do not need to go in there?

Else I have no idea wat is going wrong.

 

Wat I also perhaps should metion is that after I placed the autoexec file into the flash drive it dissapears.

 

Have you got view hidden files and folders enabled in your view settings?

 

yes I can see hidden files, that is the strange thing about it. It does not show the file, but it says that there is already a file with the same name in that folder.

Any idea's why it does not work. I also tried a different usb drive.

As far as I can see I don't see anything wrong.

 

autoexec.bat is probably considered to be a system file. There is a separate option to hide system files.

You can use any file name btw, it just won't autorun. For example "a.bat" would just be the "a" key, then "enter" at the invisible DOS prompt for a total of 2 key strokes.

I don't know if atiflash also requires you to press something like "y" or "enter" to execute the flash. nvflash requires "y" fot example.

Don't use any folders on the drive.

 

Update: We have some progress. I removed the hdd and now I have a flash drive with led light so I can see if there is any action. You can see the light flashing so it boots into dos.
So the only reasons that it does not work that remain are the command or the files itself.

I also spoke to a local pc expert but he was not eager to solve the problem because he knew the difficulty and had only done this 4 times in his carreer of +20 years.


I removed the autoexec file since it did not work, I tried with entering "flash.bat" and "flash", non work, I also tried with Y (yes) command. The led light flashes short but no further action, so the command is not executed.

I also tried to put in the total command. "atiflash.exe -p 0 -fs -fp -reboot 7970M.rom"

So I suppose that the files itself do not work. That is the only remaining reason.
Either the atiflash or the bios files. Can I ask that someone contacts
jaybee83 for the original files that he posted. (atiflash and the bio file hd7970M)
(I already posted a message, but no answer)

 

So it never reboots right? It just sits there in DOS?

 

Yes, no reboot. But when I enter a new command there is nothing happening, no light flashing. normally I thought you could just enter a new command.

I will try once more to reinstall dos on the drive and see if that makes a difference.

If you have any further suggestions, they are more than welcome.

 

I reinstalled the old card, I don't need to select anything it just boots into dos within 20 sec., than I checked the keys, but apparently the keys are in qwerty. so I restarted and put in the correct command "a.bat" but still no luck.

unless the keyboard has changed to somthing else, which should be highly unlikely,
the .bat file, atiflash or bios .rom file is not doing its job. Because the rest is correct if there is no change from the old card (gtx480M) to the new card (HD7970M).

is this command correct? "atiflash.exe -p 0 -fs -fp -reboot 7970M.rom"
I suppose this is the only reason why it does not work, the flash and .rom are just downloaded from interenet. the rom file has this line at the top.
"Clevo P370EM Wimbledon XT A1 MXM GDDR5 300e/150m 0.9V OPM "

So I see no reason why those 2 files would give any problems.

I am out of ideas.

 

The file names between the batch file and flash image match right? You renamed the flash image to 7970M.rom? You may want to verify by running "dir" in DOS with the 480m. In Windows without howing file extension display enabled you can do things like accidentally name files 7970M.rom.rom

 

They definitely match because I have the file extention showing. And when I hide it, it removes the extentions, so no change of having for example ".rom.rom."

Probably nothing but the .rom file shows as a .txt file, it opens with a text document, is that normal, it is named as .rom though.

I will try to put in the command manually and see what happens.

 

I reinstalled the old card checked all the commands, reinstalled the new card, but nothing happens. But know I narrowed it down to one of the files that is faulty.

So what happens when I entered a random command, it did not do anyting, no light flashing. But when I enetred the .bat file or the entire command, it started flashing so the conclusion is that the process started but did not complete because of the files itself.

So either the atiflash or the .rom file need to be replaced.

Since I know that the .bat file works I do not need to enter it maunually.

So my question again. Can someone post links to those 2 files.

One more question: If I did something wrong in the past would that prevent me from flashing the card and making it work? Something called bricking your card?
So whatever I do know it won't work anymore?
Just wondering why it still does not work.

 

Update: I send the card to a specialist and he tested the card on a clevo p170em, he flashed the card and it showed an error, he said it can never work on my laptop.
He installed a new hd7970m everything works except the hdmi, there is no picture or sound.
How can this be fixed? Bios update? which one? Is there chance that I brick my laptop? this would be the first time, are there clear instructions for this procedure?

 

HDMI is likely an HDCP issue.

 

isn't hdcp only to avoid making recordings? but iIf this is the case I could test this?

There is this forum of someone who solved the issue, but it was an msi laptop. My computer technician who installed the hd7970m said you need to have the correct modified bios version for hd7970m.
http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/after-hd-7970m-upgrade-hdmi-doesnt-work-in-msi-gx640.705103/

I did find different bios versions for the p170hm but non with hd7970m, maybe someone has the correct bios update. Also with instructions.
I anyone knows someone who has the correct bios version please let that person know I am looking for it, thank you.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/clevo-bios-older-models.556299/

 

It's a chain, if it breaks then it thinks you are trying to interfere and cuts out. Usually a vbios thing.

 

So I need the correct bios, I searched but could not find any. Someone must of had this problem before and fixed it?
When I contact the clevo center they refuse to help and say that the end user or third party can not update bios software.

Is this the same for dvi? else I would buy a dvi to hdmi adapter.

 

DVI does not HDCP I believe. It would be vbios rather than BIOS normally.

 

Are you sure it is vbios because the vbios had just been updated by a professional. I am annoyed he did not test or tell me that the hmdi does not work, if you pay 250 euro's for a new card you expect everything to work.

 

There is a chance that it is just a side effect of running it on the system.

 

Can you elaborate on that. and what I can do to fix it.

In order for the hdmi to work, is it not necessary for the bios to recognize the graphics card? (Now it says empty)

I tried a dvi to hmdi adpater, it works but the picture quality is poor and there is no fluent picture.And I have no way to get sound to the tv. But at least for now I have that.

But I would really like to fix the hmdi issue. I appreciate all the help.

 

That bios read does not mean anything (it's just displaying s value on that screen).

It's an unofficial card and always a tricky upgrade. The HM series is picky.