Compaq Presario CQ61-310SV: BIOS corruption failure

[the1]

Same problem here... no solutions yet.

Prior to failure, boot time was looooong. Thought bad HD. Fixed drive, popped back in... blink blink, no boot. fun.

Methinks if a bunch of us are having the same problem, it's a design flaw.

[Mrstenter]

Hi The1,

I understand that there are complications on your computer with Booting up.

If you follow this document it has many links to check the BIOS.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/bph07110

If this document does not help try recovery.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03801890

Please let me know if you require further assistance.

Thanks

[Ton_Otten]

A few years ago I was adviced in a similar case on another HP forum (Re: DV7 Numlock & Caplock 4 flash code = Graphics Controller Not Functional) to take out one of the two RAMs and to my astonishment the HP Pavilion DV7 woke up and started working again! Unfortunately it stopped working after a couple of months.

With this procedure in mind I recently got a HP Presario CQ61-406ED running again by taking out the two RAM-DIMMS and trying to put them back, one after the other, in each of the two RAM-slots. The 1GB DIMM worked in both slots, the 2GB DIMM worked in one slot only and unfortunately, the next day it had stopped working during update nr 26 of 81 Windows7 updates. Both DIMMs have the HP brand.

So now this laptop is forced to run Win7 on just 1GB.

It had been stowed away since 2010 because it was assumed to have broken down: at startup the screen stayed black with only two keyboard lights flashing, indicating a corrupted BIOS.

I wonder how long this 'solution' is going to last.

Ton Otten,

Retired from KPN,

Royal Dutch Telecom Services.

[Mrstenter]

Hi Ton_Otten,

I was reading your post about your Compaq Presario CQ61-406SA Notebook PC. Something I noticed in reading the specifications your computer supports up to 4 GB DDR2 memory.

2GB Module - DDR2 800MHz  or 1GB Module - DDR2 800MHz

Specs: DDR2, 800MHz, Non-ECC, CL6, 1.8V, Unbuffered, SODIMM, 200-pin

If the ones you are using

Here is a link for the Compaq Presario CQ61-406SA Notebook PC Product Specifications

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02007948

Hope this helps.

Thanks

[Ton_Otten]

Hi Mrstenter,

Thanks for your help. I checked  your specifications given above with those of the memory DIMM I had to remove from the immobilised laptop in order to get it going. They were exactly as you specified and what's more they were marked as HP Spare, nrs 598861-001 and 7F1034. The type specified was: MT16HTF25664HY-800J1

So I think there's nothing wrong with them, the 2GB just doesn't pass the BIOS POST.

Unfortunately part of your message above is missing, so I am not sure I quite understand what you meant.

Ton Otten.

[Mrstenter]

Hey Ton_Otten,

You have to use 2 of the same memory. If it is 2s or 1s. Both have to be the same or it will cause complications.

Here is a document that might help.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00820047

Thanks

[Ton_Otten]

@Mrstenter,

I don't quite understand this.

This laptop was sold with 1GB and 2GB memory modules, as specified in HP's own product specifications.

It performed well during a couple of years, untill the present "BIOS corruption" error showed up and persisted.

And now you're telling me that only identical modules are allowed?

[Mrstenter]

Hi Ton_Otten,

Yes, as taken from the specifications on the Motherboard. Here is a link so you could look at the specifications.

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c00820047

Let me Know.

Thanks

[Ton_Otten]

Mrstenter,

And I was referring to:  

http://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02007948

Also HP!

[fnirepairs]

I wanted to respond and let you know what worked on a CQ61-412nr. I found replacing the BIOS battery and placing a 1gb 5300 RAM module in DIMM1 closest to the MB allowed the system to boot. Now, the BIOS was corrupt still preventing the keyboard to work, so I used a USB keyboard to boot the system. I then updated the BIOS which corrected the main issues. What seemed to cause the issue was the GPU was having issues due to a clogged cooling system. This required a reflow (Reflow's need to be performed correctly by a professional only!) This corrected the issues with my system. I hope this may help.