HP Mini 210-1036VU BIOS corrupt – Need to flash BIOS via USB key

[Madura]

Hi 

I have a issue with my HP Mini 210-1036VU

I changed the boot sequence and clicked save and exit from the BIOS setup

That was the last time netbook worked!!!

I followed various instructions from various forums/websites for weeks.

Lastly I tried what is given here

I used sp52509 HP Bios Update UEFI to create a USB recovery (512MB formatted as FAT and named as HP_TOOLS)

copied 3660F24.fd from SP52461 and put the file renamed as 3660.BIN in the \Hewlett-Packard\BIOS\New\ folder

followed the instruction on how to start while holding windows+B

I could see activitiy in the USB key as something is read from it! but sadly it could not recover the BIOS, still I have the black screen.

Tried several variations of it according to various websites such as just copying the above file 3660.BIN to root of the usb key named HP_TOOLS and using start while holding windows+B.

Each and every time I can see that the USB key activity LED blinks for about 11s every 10s but nothing comes up on screen!

Can someone please tell me if I have used the wrong files or a wrong method for this to not to work?

Please help!

[Cloud_Strider]

I'm not really certain where the file you mentioned (sp52509 or sp52461) are from as they weren't available for the downloads for this particular unit. This process is very specific.

First, create a USB drive by downloading and running this. This should already have the BIOS recovery as part of it, so there shouldn't really be a need to extract anything to a folder from a different file.

Next, follow the USB stick instructions listed here.

If you are experiencing a BIOS recovery or corruption error message, this should help.

[Madura]

Hi Cloud_Strider,

Thank you for the reply.

I followed your instructions and created a USB (512MB formated FAT/FAT32 and named HP_TOOLS) from sp50286.

According to the description given this is HP System Diagnostics.... does it update the corrupted BIOS when booted from USB?

When I initiated the Windows + B sequence I could see USB drive activity LED blink indicating something is read from it (for 7 seconds every 8 seconds)

But still screen remains black (no backlight even)

The files I mentioned in my original posts are from the links given below.

sp52509 - According to this link it supports HP Mini 210 NetBook PC

sp52461 is supposed to be the BIOS update for HP Mini 210-1036VU PC  >  Microsoft Windows XP from which I took the BIOS update file and renamed it to 3660.BIN which is supposed to be the MB model

so far I did not get anything onscreen!

Any advice?

[Cloud_Strider]

Those files don't really apply to your specific model of netbook. At least, they were not listed on the software and drivers page any of the times I looked.

A BIOS corruption usually won't cause a blank screen. At least, I have never seen a BIOS corruption cause a solid blank screen. That's not to say it isn't possible.

Do the caps lock key or num lock key blink? If so, what is the pattern?


"According to the description given this is HP System Diagnostics.... does it update the corrupted BIOS when booted from USB?"
Yes, it is the emergency system diagnostics ( the HP_Tools partition) which is used to perform various hardware tests and stores a copy of functional BIOS for this purpose.

[Madura]

Hi Cloud_Strider,

Thank you for the quick reply.

My experience is a fraction of yours when it comes to corrupt BIOS 

Caps lock stays litup if I switch the machine ON normally. When I try to recover BIOS using usb Caps lock is OFF.

If I remove the RAM then only I can see the caps lock blink in a sequence

I tried to recover the BIOS according to your instructions while all the non essential HW removed (HDD, WiFi).

But still the screen is black!

I am bit confused as to what this could be as the last thing I did was to "save and exit" from the BIOS setup after changing the boot sequence! 

I tried a different SODIMM thinking RAM error. But result is still the same. External VGA does not give a video signal as well.

I am bit desperate....  

Any suggestions from your experience?

Thank you in advance 

[Cloud_Strider]

The exact behavior could be a RAM issue, so I think you were headed on the right path.

The video card appears to share the system RAM, so if the RAM is not detected properly (or functional) then it would give a blank display.

At this point, I do not believe it is a BIOS issue. Changing the boot order alone shouldn't cause anything like this. If it was an incorrect settings, most BIOS I have played with were able to detect the incompatibility and revert back to the previous settings.

I would say the issue presenting itself after a BIOS setting change is more coincidental than cause and effect.

I can only suggest removing all RAM modules, the HDD, the battery, and the charger. Hold the power button for 1 minute.
Reconnect the battery and the charger and then attempt to turn it on. You won't get anything on the screen, but it should beep identifying the core of the system is functional.

Let me know the results of that. Also, reinsert the RAM only and then try turning it on and also let me know the results of this step.

[Madura]

Hi Cloud_Strider,

Sorry about the late reply as I was away on a holiday for few days. I have mentioned the steps I followed below.

"I can only suggest removing all RAM modules, the HDD, the battery, and the charger. Hold the power button for 1 minute. 
Reconnect the battery and the charger and then attempt to turn it on. You won't get anything on the screen, but it should beep identifying the core of the system is functional."

I removed HDD, RAM (1GB PC2 6400), mini WiFi card and held the power button for 1 min. There was no beep code (I have never heard a beep from this model, other than windows sounds) but the caps lock LED blinks in a sequence of 3 blinks approximately 1s apart then 3s wait, again 3 blinks approximately 1s apart...

I checked the RAM on another laptop and it is working fine in that laptop.

I put a different RAM module to this (1GB PC2 5300), still the same black screen with caps lock LED lit up continously. (it is same result for the original RAM module as well). I tested the RAM with HDD, mini WiFi card removed.

I do have to say that the inial issue started after I tested a 2GB RAM on this laptop. It worked fine loaded windows...etc.

Then I went to BIOS to change the boot sequence so I can boot from USB, and when I clicked "save and exit" that was the last time I saw anything on screen 

If it is not an issue with the BIOS what else can it be?

Windows+B sequence works and I can see activity LED light up in the USB as well as HDD. Doesn't that mean motherboard and core compoenents are functioning properly?

Please help

Thank you in advance 

[Cloud_Strider]

Thank yo for the update.

Review this document.

The caps lock key blinking 3 times indicates the issue is with the RAM. You have tried different sticks of RAM, so there is not a lot to suggest at this point.

The document lists the following to try:

Reseat memory modules (see next section).

Test memory from UEFI or BIOS.

Replace bad memory modules.

Service.

The first one has already been done and the second one is not possible for this particular notebook since it uses shared memory with the video card. If it had dedicated video memory that was separate from the system RAM, then it would be. The next two steps is to replace the RAM with brand new memory modules for this unit or to have it serviced by HP or a local PC shop. The only thing that can come to mind is that the RAM experienced ESD (electric static discharge) at some point and has finally failed as a result. Computer components are very sensitive to static electricity and can fail from static electricity that we can't feel and are unaware of.

The symptoms do match and identify with RAM issues.

[Madura]

Hi

I would like to state that the caps lock key blinking 3 times only happened when I removed the RAM.

When I put the RAM back, caps lock LED is lit permanently

But again a problem with the RAM module can be ruled out as it is working perfectly in another laptop.

When I insert a working RAM module in to the laptop with the issue still the caps lock LED is lit permanently.

Windows+B sequence works and I can see activity LED light up in the USB as well as HDD. Doesn't that mean motherboard and core components are functioning properly???

So again back to the assumption this has to be an issue with BIOS

Am I incorrect with the logical assumption based on the above statements?

[Cloud_Strider]

Not exactly. A corrupt BIOS won't cause a blank screen. You should get some message regarding corrupt BIOS on the display and all functionality would have been restored following the Windows + B since the restore process is working.

One of the core components is at fault.

Let's do a test to verify the video card is functional or not.
The notebook should have an external monitor port. Try connecting the notebook to an external monitor and let me know if you get anything on the screen.