HP Compaq Pro 6300 SFF PC - Product #D8C56UT Boot Up Issue

[DavyP49]

Hi,

I'm having an issue booting up this computer as it currently is unable to reach the bios screen, the very last thing that I saw displayed on my display screen stated 'FW Recovery Error'. Just for easy reference I'm including the product information that I copied from the actual hp support page for my specific computer, I had actually opened an actual hp support case about my issue, but much to my dismay upon checking this morning on my hp dashboard page it's currently showing there aren't any 'active' cases associated with this particular computer. As I never received ANY further follow-up communication of any kind from hp support, I feel as though they simply just deleted my case in the hopes that they wouldn't have to deal with my issue. To me I feel as though it's a slap to my face and like this is SURELY no way to treat what I used to feel as though I was some kind of valued customer, whenever I decide to consider the purchase of a newer computer of some kind thanks to this I won't consider the hp brand in my decision.  

Thank you for contacting HP Support. This email confirms your request for service; the details of your case are below.

[Personal Information Removed]

The HP Compaq Pro 6300 Small Form Factor PC is with Intel Q75 Express chipset supporting Intel 2nd and 3rd generation core processors featuring Intel HD Graphics Intel 82579LM GbE integrated network connection, DDR3 Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory (SDRAM). It has dual independent monitor support via VGA and digital DisplayPort 1.1a video interfaces.

I ordered a new replacement power supply for my HP Compaq Pro 6300 SFF - Product # D8C56UT desktop computer really hoping that by doing so it might fix my current issue. After I installed it it's still not offering to boot up properly, now before the computer shuts off I just hear one short beep. I'm actually thinking now that my original power supply wasn't defective at all because even with the new power supply installed it seems to be doing the exact same thing. Someone had recommended to apply a new coating of good quality thermal paste under my cpu, which I'm planning on doing in a few minutes, I also read on a different site that some hp computers offer a method to 'reset' the factory bios by pressing a combination of two keys on the keyboard (windows & b) but at least in my case I don't know if that's a plausible idea or not because in it's current state I'm not sure if any of the available usb ports are even active or not. In all of my year's of dealing with various computers I've never had anything like this happen. I'm still hoping that someone who might have possibly had this same or very similar scenario might post a solution that fixed their computer.

Thanks in advance for any and all viable suggestions !

David

[DGroves]

the "firmware Recovery" message you mentioned seeing is from the bios or Mgmt Firmware being corrupted

while you could try the bios recovery procedure used for the 6300 pro working used boards are quite cheap on ebay

the 8300 is the premium model that has a few upgraded features, and supports newer cpu's

you can compare the HP " quickspecs " for each board to see if the 8300 model suits you

used working 6300 is 14.00 on ebay

https://www.ebay.com/itm/175365985008?epid=12008894424&hash=item28d4a092f0:g:7cIAAOSw7itiiDGN&amdata...

8300 board 20.00

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314157792192?hash=item4925437bc0:g:~WQAAOSwsCRi7AQp&amdata=enc%3AAQAHAAAA4A...

[DavyP49]

Hi DGroves,

First & foremost thanks so very much for taking the time to provide a response to my question. My next step was to apply a new coating under my cpu assembly, but now after what you have stated I'm really thinking I'd be wasting my time. I think my biggest question might be as to what could have possibly caused my motherboard to have become defective ? Also while I'm thinking about it, as far as my hard drive goes I remember deleting the recovery partition on it, at least for the current moment I can't remember why I did so. Since I do in fact value your opinion, is there any chance that my motherboard MIGHT still possibly be functional ? Another item that I thought was causing my issue was the atm power switch, so I order a set of three new switches & installed one, until I received the switches I had been touching the ends of the two wires together to finally get my computer to boot up. At this point I really need to make a decision as to if I really want to keep sinking my money into my older computer or just be satisfied with the two remaining windows computer that I have left, by the way the one I'm currently using to type this reply on is even older than the one I posted about. I'm currently 73+ years old and I've already noticed that since my wife & I retired in 12/2018 that my memory..etc.,  has indeed changed. I've always had the bad habit of not wanting to give up easily when anything needs repaired. I believe why you are suggesting to obtain a replacement motherboard is that's where the computer bios resides. As far as the two motherboard 'links' you included I assume that you are relatively sure that the 8300 will fit in my computer I'm guessing.   Please Stay Safe & Healthy !

David   

[DavyP49]

Hi DGroves,

I just wanted to keep you updated as to the latest information concerning my desktop computer issue, earlier this morning I decided to try one last thing. As I had a spare ssd I decided to migrate a copy that's working great over to the ssd, still hoping that might correct my issue. After installing ssd into the non-functional desktop nothing changed, so at this point I'd really tend to agree with your assessment of my current issue and say my current motherboard is in fact defective. Upon going to the ebay page via the link you provided that 8300 motherboard looks like a winner to me. Since I viewed that item the seller has offered me a discount on which drops the price down to $18.99, one thing that I'm somewhat concerned about is making sure this motherboard will fit & function properly in my  HP Compaq Pro 6300 SFF PC - Product #D8C56UT .Thanks again for the assistance you've provided to me. As I really don't want the ebay seller to sell the motherboard to someone else I'm going to go ahead and accept his offer and place the item in my shopping cart but wait to complete my purchase until i hopefully hear back from you.

David 

[DGroves]

the 6300 and 8300 pro boards are the same in dimensions and rear I/O ports, and use the same power supplies

(do not confuse this HP/Compaq model with several other models that also have 8300 in their model name)

as such swapping between the 6300/8300 is as simple as a board swap

and a possible cpu change (the 8300 can use newer cpu's as i mentioned)

the cpu coolers swap between boards

ram does not need changing as both boards use the same ram

8300 sff main support page

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-compaq-elite-8300-small-form-factor-pc/5232852/manuals

8300 quickspecs page (supported cpu's Intel 2nd & 3rd Generation Core i3, i5, i7 Processors)

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-compaq-elite-8300-small-form-factor-pc/5232852/document/c033...

https://support.hp.com/bg-en/document/c03345460

6300 pro quickspecs page

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03387773#:~:text=The%20HP%20Compaq%20Pro%206300,Random%20Acce...).

[DavyP49]

Hi DGroves,

I'm so thankful that you are taking the time to help me with my issue, I've already ordered the replacement 8300 motherboard and it's already been shipped and is supposed to arrive fairly soon. Are there any tricks that you know of when changing out a replacement motherboard? Since I do value your opinion and knowledge I'd be glad to hear if you have any. This proves to me that there are still good people in this world of ours.

David Wright 

[DGroves]

please order/acquire thermal past before doing the board swap

https://www.amazon.com/Noctua-NT-H1-Pro-Grade-Thermal-Compound/dp/B002CQU14A/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=the...

the cpu swap is the most critical as the pins in the socket are quite delicate i recommend you remove the existing motherboard from the chassis and leave in the existing cpu

when ready to remove the cpu first clean the existing thermal past off then unlatch the retaining lever and flip open the cover

note the orientation of the cpu, it will have a small gold triangle in one corner gently remove the cpu you can hold it in with a finger while flipping the board upside down and let gravity do the rest

now orient the new board in the same way as the old one was and gently place the cpu over the socket and let it drop in,

the socket has two small notches that mate with the notch cutouts on the cpu when oriented correctly

you might want to practice removing/inserting the cpu on the defective board first

now install the replacement board, and connect the power supply leads to the board, they are almost impossible to get wrong as each motherboard socket is a different number of pins

then install/swap the ram modules pay attention to which sockets are used if you have only two modules

i recommend watching the HP video's below first

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImcL0x8WJN8

[DavyP49]

Hi DGroves,

At this point in time I feel as though I've known you for awhile now, and like I've previously stated to you thanks SO very much for providing me with what I consider outstanding assistance & depth of help provided !!  I had already previously ordered & have since received a syringe of what's supposed to be high quality thermal paste w/ spreader as one of the things that I had planned on trying to get my computer fixed was to apply a new coating on the underside of my processor which I ended up not doing because I have since ordered the replacement motherboard thanks to you providing me with links to do so. Whenever I do receive my ebay order I plan on taking everything slow so I perform the motherboard swapout correctly the first time. I'm thinking that taking at least one detailed picture of my current motherboard might be a great idea, so I will be able to connect everything properly.

David Wright   

[DGroves]

hardware reference guide (from the main HP model link i provided previously)

https://www.manualslib.com/products/Hp-Compaq-Pro-6300-Series-Small-Form-Factor-3137803.html

[DavyP49]

DGroves,

I'm still blown away by the amount of help you've been providing to me, at least this part I did correctly as I saved a pdf copy of this manual a long time ago.

David