Samsung 9 series np9003xc won't let me access the bios

Hello guys.

After re installing windows 8.1 in my samsung 9, I'm no longer able to access the bios during boot up.

After searching the forums, I still haven't found a solution for this issue. I've removed the fast boot option and I've also tried shutting down completely before starting up. But it will always ignore the F2 key. I've also tried pressing the F2 and the FN key at the same time, but it's still not working...

Any more tips on how to solve this?

thanks.

 

Start by reading this.

John

 

Hello John.

I've tried going through the steps (mainly the boot with the fat32 usb stick) and when I don't get the uefi firmware settings shown here http://forum.notebookreview.com/att...not-showing-access-uefi-firmware-settings.jpg

What does this mean? Btw, I've just noticed that I couldn't access the bios after reinstalling win 8.1 while trying to solve the hang up on first boot problem (after hibernating or shutting down, when I try to restart, it won't boot...the screen stays black and I don't even see any message for accessing the bios...)

thanks again.

Luis

 

I'll have to let others more familiar with fighting this problem to help you do the troubleshooting in the knowledge that others have also had (and succeeded to beat) the same problem.

However, so they know where you are starting from could you clarify which model notebook and whether it originally shipped with Windows 7 or Windows 8.

John

 

Hello again John,

Sure.

I've bought a np9003xc-a01pt notebook and I've installed windows 8.1 on it (deleted all the partitions during the process). I've wen to the samsung page and I've downloaded the bios update utility to see if it helps. It's installing right now and it seems like it will take its time before finishing...

Luis

 

Good news, it seems...

Updating the bios with the samsung bios update seems to have worked out. Now I can access the bios again (f2) and I'm able to restart from an hibernation...

I'll keep monitoring it in the next couple of days to see if everything is working out well.

Thanks again for your help.

Luis

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/762238-how-unbrick-samsung-laptop-after-win-8-1-upgrade.html

Yeah updating the bios successfully will be one of the main things. For a lot of us, we experienced an issue where installing the Win 8.1 update corrupted the motherboard firmware resulting in an inability to enter BIOS settings. I am assuming that your fresh Win 8.1 install might have done the same thing.
Just keep trying the guide above or other guides posted on this site to update the BIOS. If that doesn't solve your problem, come back and we'll see what we can do.

 

Great! Glad it worked!

 

Hello brainiak4431.

I've managed to update the bios by using the app available on the samsung web site. It just took a while (and a lot of time to shutdown and to restart - when compared with the default time), but now everything seems to be working...

Luis

 

I'm glad to read that you've managed to overcome the obstacle.

For the record, can you indicate whether the BIOS is P**AAC (= originally shipped with Windows 7) or P**ABK (shipped with Windows 8). The UEFI implementation of the former isn't very good which is why Samsung found it necessary to have a new BIOS for proper Windows 8 compatibility (and it still required several updates to get a satisfactory result).

John

 

To be honest, I didn't really paid attention to it. I've just looked for the latest bios update for windows 8...can I check that info at the bios now? (I've already returned the pc to the owner, but can check it out later if that info is available somwhere...)

thanks,
Luis

 

Good job getting that fixed, Luis!

And thanks a lot for helping, brainiak!

BIOS updating is usually the solution to these cases (or BIOS roll-back when already at the latest version, and THEN updating). Occasionally a simpler CMOS reset (as described here and here) has solved it, but that is rare.

The problem is that often there is no running Windows from which to do the BIOS updating, and no easy way to boot an external device: F2 doesn't work to enter BIOS, F4 doesn't work to enter Recovery, and F10 doesn't work to select a boot device.

In addition to brainiak's guide ( here, the same already linked twice), the thread linked below walks through a few cases of diagnosing and repairing this issue. One case ended up being perma-bricked and Samsung had to replace its motherboard. Another was able to perform a factory restore after some gutsy unplugging/hot-plugging of the SSD, and then update the BIOS after getting Windows going again. We normally recommend trying to boot a WinPE to this end, and brainiak's guide contains links to some WinPE images.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/755985-how-boot-bios-when-function-buttons-not-showing.html

 

The name of the BIOS update file includes the BIOS name as well as a date code or running the standalone BIOSupdate.exe will give the BIOS name and version. However, if you've returned the computer to the owner that won't be so easy to check.

John

 

John, I'll try to get that info later and I'll come back if I manage to get the name of file.

 

Hello again guys.

According to the BIOS update utility that I've used, the current (working) BIOS version is P07AAC (and, if I'm not mistake, I've used the file ITEM_20131127_21276_WIN_P07AAC.exe).

Thanks again.

Luis

 

Thank you for checking.

That's the most recent BIOS for the versions originally shipped with Windows 7. There were problems when people tried putting Windows 8 onto these notebooks and an avalanche of headaches when Windows 8.1 arrived.

John