Bricked Two DV6-1030 with BIOS F.21 "VERIFY ERROR" Insyde Update Program [ Edited ]

[korbbot]

I've managed to bricked (dead won't power on) 2 DV6-1030US laptops trying to install the 2009-5-15 posted F.21 A firmware.  Could someone from HP please look into this and pull that update?!?!  I have my third laptop, it still has F.02 on it and I want to upgrade, but don't know what is safe... should I be doing the firmware upgrades in order?  Can I not just jump from F.02 to F21? 

 I contacted CHAT support and they again told me to use the BIOS F.21 A.  SP43724. 

Look for a lot of "Refurbished" DV6 on Tigerdirect if this BIOS stays on the HP Support site. 

THanks

Aaron

Message Edited by korbbot on 05-27-2009 08:23 PM

[korbbot]

I just tried going from F.02 to F.10 and its done the same thing... setting at a screen that says "VERIFY ERROR" and now the keyboard doesn't work... touch pad doesn't work... Winodws is still running... the fan is screaming at full speed and if I power the machine off I won't be able to boot it back up.  Guessing this firmware is killing them all. 

Again, HP CHAT support is suggesting this firmware for flashing the BIOS. 

[itisilol]

we are going to see a lot of this untill hp goes back to dos flash utillities..as winflash (windows flash programs)

seem to lock up more than just this model of laptop...seen it on  desktop boards too... seems this all comes back

to hp's idea of making bios simple...(ie all options locked down) it seems the opinion there is us end users are

not too bright... we can't run dos... and we have no idea on setup or a clue on what we want in settings....

sad...next time  a Asus is in order...bought the G/F one for xmas... as the dv2000 i have was having issues..

i was not going to buy another problem...

just my 2 cents... i know it did not answer the question..

but i feel better after the rant...thanks..

[errodrigues]

I'm a new victim!

Just got my brand new dv6-1030us from Amazon, turned it on for 1st time and when HP Health Check poped-up with a list of updates to install, the BIOS upgrade was the very first. RIght after I confirmed the upgrade, I got the "Verify Error" and same symptoms: Windows frozen, fan running like crazy, HD light blinking like crazy and can't even turn the computer off. After 20 minutes of waiting, I removed the AC adapter and battery to force computer to turn off.

After that, the computer never gave any sign of life again. The only light that I see litten is the tiny white LED right beside the AC connector. Battery charging indicator also doesn't light up.

After 10 minutes chatting with HP support, I decided that it would be much easier to simply return the laptop to Amazon and get a replacement (and BYPASS this ridiculous BIOS upgrade next time).

It's simply unbelievable that HP publishes such an absurd firmware upgrade. I hope they fix this asap.

[jrtjrt]

Was just about finished setting up my new hp laptop and wanted to get rid of an error message I was getting - something like "hp smartadvisor tv application crashing".  Googled it and I ended up running the "hp fixit utility".  I ran the suggested Bios update, got the verify error, screen froze, no access to task manager, fan was screaming, had to go to work so pulled battery and unplugged it, now dead as a doornail!  Really thought the machine was great until now.  Hate to return it and start over, but sounds like that is the way to go?  Or return it and get my money back?

[DerrekD]

Yup same problem here as well.  HP list a F.22A Bios on their driver page but when you click on it to download you get that the file is not found.  Downloaded F.21A and just like everyone else here got the exact same error.  I requested a RMA from Amazon.com this morning and I just got the email they are sending me a new laptop overnight.

Also like jrtjrt,  I get the error about "hp smartadvisor tv application crashing."  Anyone else getting this.  I think it started after I uninstalled the Norton trial software.

[korbbot]

not to hijack my own thread... but I too had the "TV" Crashing Error after removing Norton. 

[errodrigues]

I also had this SmartTV crash but it went away once I installed all HP recommended upgrades (including SmartTV but EXCLUDING the infamous BIOS one, of course).

[DerrekD]

Yea I had downloaded the SmartTV upgrade but never got a chance to apply it since the BIOS upgrade bricked it.  Glad to know there is a fix for it.  Yesterday when I posted the newest BIOS listed on HP's site F.22A was unavailable to download, today I see its downloadable.  Anyone give this version a shot yet?  It says it allows the BIOS to Vista with SP2.

[matwer]

Ditto.... exaclty the same thing... I proceeded to brick two DV6-1030.  It is completely unconscionable that HP includes this 'critical' update as the top program to install after you scan your laptop using HP Total Care Advisor.

Shame on you HP... for including this untested software to flash bios.

This is really, really unbelievable.

At least this happened on a brand new laptop with not one bit of personal data on it.  

DO NOT USE THE INSYDE UPDATE PROGRAM TO UPDATE YOUR BIOS.