Samsung BIOS Update Problems

This is how my problem was solved.

PROBLEM
Updated the BIOS firmware using samsung SW update. But unable to boot windows after restart. I am able to enter BIOS setup utility.
Laptop Model No. SAMSUNG NP550P5C-T01AE
OS windows 7
Ram - 6GB - (2+4)
Current BIOS version - PO9ABI

SOLVED! Thanks to my friend Peter.
Solution - Settings to be changed in BIOS configuration.

Goto BIOS config (Press F2 while start-up )
1. Goto Advanced menu
Set 'AHCI Mode control ' to MANUAL
Set AHCI Mode to Disabled

2. Goto Boot menu
Set 'Secure Boot' to Disabled
Set 'OS mode selection' to CSM OS

Press F10 to save and Exit BIOS, and during Boot-up, start windows normally.

Worked with this Laptop.

 

Thank you for this. It's an obstacle that a few people have encountered.

Normally the P**AB* BIOS numbering indicates a notebook shipped after the release of Windows 8 when Samsung enabled UEFI and SecureBoot. It looks like Samsung set the BIOS to re-enable those settings even if the user (or Samsung itself) had disabled those because the computer was running Windows 7. As you worked out, the fix is quite simple once the problem is understood but it is useful to remind people of this potential issue.

John

 

Hello. I need help! I own a Series 9 - NP900X4C-A02IN. Bios is Phoenix P11ABK from 7/ 2015. I'm running Win 10 Professional.

My problem is that my PC keeps on shutting down unexpectedly whenever a processor intensive game is run - this error is consistent across SpellForce 2 and Football Manager 2015. Both these games ran previously without any problems at all. The shutdown is present in both battery and when plugged in.

I checked the Event Viewer and each shutdown is preceded by the message: " The speed of processor x in group x is being limited by system firmware. The processor has been in this reduced performance state for 71 seconds since the last report." This is applicable for all four cores (0,1,2,3).

I have tried the following till now:

1. Unparked all Cores through regedit> ValueMax = 0
2. Set power plan to High Performance
3. Edit Power Plan settings and set processor power management > minimum power state to 100%.
4. Tested processor using Intel Processor Diagnostic Tool.
5. Tested RAM using Windows Memory Checker.

All tests came out fine and there are no heating issues whatsoever.

I tried reinstalling the BIOS, but the executable I downloaded says that I have a newer version installed. I tried forcing it with switches in the command prompt but they all return a invalid option error. The unpacking option as explained in another thread on this forum also fails as it only creates a Applog file.

I honestly haven't had any success and I've tried all options till now. Please, if anyone can help.

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi @ Kain666, welcome to NBR.

That message in Event Viewer is a sign that the CPU has been throttled. During a demanding game, the reason for throttling is typically high temps -- ultrabooks like the NP900X4C are not really designed for gaming.

You can try and clean out the vents and fan with compressed air and see if that helps. On gaming laptops, the traditional advice is to open up the laptop to clean out CPU and GPU fans and re-paste the heatsinks. I'll let others comment on whether this is good advice on NP900X4C.

One other thing to check, though: If Samsung Silent Mode has been enabled, that too will throttle the CPU. Open Samsung Settings (Easy Settings if you have Win7 -- Fn-F1) and make sure Silent Mode is set to OFF, not AUTO or LOW. I know this sounds trivial, but lots and lots of Samsung owners have fallen through that trapdoor.

 

Hi Dannemand. Thank you for the response. I understand the problems of an ultrabook -- reason why I restrict myself to FM and pre 2008 games only Thing is, they all ran without a hitch, until about a week back.

I actually make it a habit to clean out the vents and fan every couple of months. I can't take out the heatsinks on Samsung. And I also checked with Hardware Monitor - CPU temp idle is around 40 degrees with a max of 65 degrees under PCMark.

I checked Silent Mode - its set to off. I would ideally like to do a BIOS flash at this point, but I can't as the P11ABK I downloaded refuses to run citing that my current BIOS is up to date.

Any advice? Please? I'm at my wit's end.

 

Got it, thank you for that update.

Study our BIOS rollback thread carefully, linked below:

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/samsung-laptops-roll-back-bios-updates.696197/

You definitely should be able to extract the contents of the BIOS update file by following @isosunrise's steps in the opening post (run the update, don't click OK, copy the temp folder contents while the dialog is still open, then click Cancel). Otherwise please post the full filename of the BIOS update file, then I'll download it and try extracting it myself.

Once extracted, you should be able to force flashing with the command line parameters described in isosunrise's guide.

 

Hi Dannemand. I actually started from there Thank you for the link though.

My problem is that the installer only creates a DeBugAppLog file. Similar to your response to this post where you point out that the BIOS is a *.CAP file:

Samsung Laptops - Roll Back Bios Updates?

Sorry for being such a pain in the a$$. But I really like my S9 and this is the first time it has ever stumped me like this.

FYI - the BIOS version is P11ABK and you can find it here:

Samsung Download Link

 

I gathered you had already been to that thread. And I see it now, just trying to extract myself (I mean trying myself to extract the BIOS file ) I am not sure why it doesn't work.

I do notice this is the latest ABK BIOS from Samsung. If you're already on this version, you wouldn't be rolling back anyway -- which may also be why it doesn't extract properly.

If you are NOT on the latest, you could just let it run (click OK) and see if it it will update. I am guessing you already tried that.

Otherwise try finding an earlier BIOS version instead. Unfortunately that isn't easy, as I am sure you already know. The latest version in isosunrise's cached BIOS list is ITEM_20130116_946_WIN_P04ABK.exe, which is quite old and may not work with Win8.1. Anything later than that, you have to search using the utility linked in the rollback thread. The last few pages has some discussion on how to use it.

It's the best I can think of. And don't worry, you did your homework, and you're not a pain!

 

anybody know where i can download bios for a np270e5e ?

 

Answered in your other thread here. Please avoid cross-posting...

 

if you have problem with SAMSUNG BIOS UPDATE, just follow this link http://vectorpath.blogspot.co.id/2015/12/oot-how-to-fix-this-app-has-been.html

 

Just be careful too that the image is correct not like below.

 

what do mean with wrong image?

i have screenshot my laptop, and i want talk to you before i click update.. are my picture is right??

my laptop is ativ book 7 730ue3

 

I have a dim recollection of another way to get round Windows 10 security by editing the file properties but this highlights the problem of running older software with newer versions of Windows.

Your BIOS update is fine as the last three letters match. The example shown by @TANWare shows the software proposing to replace BIOS P08AAB by P07ABW which is clearly wrong. This has only been seen to happen occasionally, with no recent reports.

John

 

Instead of the steps mentioned by Hari, just open up a command prompt/powershell with admin priv, and open the .exe file via the prompt. You can add that to the OP as unblocking the BIOSupdate.exe didn't launch it on Windows 10 1607 build 14393.447

edit: Here's what I get after unblocking on Windows 10, and here's how I can launch it via a prompt

 

Thanks. I've added that to the first post in this thread.

Do you know if the workaround shown here http://forum.notebookreview.com/attachments/unblock-jpg.126474/ still works?

John

 

ok, thanks for your information

nice info, thank for your information.. i just know it

in my laptop, i cant find checkbox like picture you share, i think is no longer works

 

I've just downloaded BIOSupdate.exe, right clicked and selected properties and the checkbox was there. However, once I had selected it and closed the properties window, it wasn't visible when I rechecked the properties. So maybe that warning and checkbox only appears under certain circumstances.

John

 

Doesn't for me. I've had issues with other unknown publisher's too, and the only fix was to launch via a priv'ed prompt. I do not remember changing any security settings myself. I do use EMET unlike most users, but I don't think it's related to EMET.

 

That was a check done just yesterday. I should note on subsequent checks the proper bios came up..........

 

Thanks. Then the system is still buggy!

John

 

yeah, here are the two I opted to download;

 

today im try to update bios, but error occured, See Video

do you know why?
thank you all..

 

Please do not cross post. I have responded to your question here. Since you are trying to update the BIOS on a notebook with a custom logo (a non-typical BIOS update) it is best to keep the discussion in that other thread.

John