Cannot restore BIOS with USB drive

[norgeek]

Computer won't start, the Caps Lock and Num Lock are giving the 2-blink code I understand to be BIOS fault. The recovery partition is gone since a long time ago. I have a FAT32 4GB USB-drive that I connect to the left-side USB port.

With sp45174.exe only on the USB-drive I get 9 beeps.

With sp45174.exe extracted onto the USB-drive I get 11 beeps.

With sp48895.exe only on the USB-drive I get 2 beeps.
With sp48895.exe extracted onto the USB drive I get 7 beeps.

Is there anything else I can try to get my fathers old work laptop to come back to life?

[MKazi]

@norgeek

Thanks for reaching out to us on HP Support Forums. 🙂 I came across your post and would like to assist.

I understand that you have a Compaq Presario CQ61-311SO Notebook. I read that the laptop does not boot into Windows. I read that the laptop's caps and num lock lights give 2 blinks. 

I suggest you to try perform a BIOS rollback. Please perform the steps mentioned under "Step 1: Recover the BIOS using a key press combination".

Also, refer to this HP document which helps in fixing such issues. 

I sincerely hope this fixes the issue. Let me know how it goes. Good luck! 🙂

[norgeek]

Hello there @MKazi and thanks for responding!

I'm trying to follow the BIOS rollback page. As the hard drive has been replaced a long time ago it does not have the Recovery Partition and the Windows+B key combination does not do anything at all. That is why I am already on "Step 3: Create a BIOS recovery flash drive". Problem here is that the latest BIOS available is so old (2010) that the outdated certificate prevents me from opening  the .exe file ("This app has been blocked for your protection"). I am therefore unable to complete Step 3.2, and furthermore I cannot "Create Recovery USB flash drive". That is why I am trying to move the files to the USB drive manually, and then I get the various beep-codes mentions inthe first post.

I am not able to find any relevant information regarding the beep codes in "Computer Does Not Start and Emits an LED or Beep Code". The only beep-codes I've found that seem somewhat aplicable so far are for the AMI BIOS, where the codes I'm getting might indicate a more serious problem;

7 beeps Processor exception interrupt error, system board bad
9 beeps ROM checksum error, faulty BIOS chip(s), must replace them
11 beeps Cache memory bad

I'm almost positive I got a 10-beep code at one point, too;
10 beeps CMOS shutdown register read/write error, system board bad

Can you conform that this notebook was shipped with an AMI BIOS? If that's the case I might just consider it permanently dead and recommend purchasing a new one.

[MKazi · Accepted solution]

@norgeek

Thanks for your reply.

I must say that technical solutions can only be provided. But it was you who performed the steps to perfection. Kudos to you!

Based on the results, it clearly indicates towards a hardware issue with the laptop. Not sure if this laptop is still repaired by HP service centres.

Secondly, I checked the service guide and the BIOS setup guide and there is nothing mentioned if this laptop has the AMI BIOS. But irrespective of the BIOS, this indicates towards the laptop failure.

Hope this helps. Good luck! 🙂

[norgeek]

Thanks again for your reply! Now I feel comfortable recommending buying a new laptop.

[MKazi]

@norgeek

You're most welcome.

All the best for your new purchase. Take care! 🙂