My notebook might have the wrong Bios installed

Hello, I'm new here, just made an account actually. I've been reading interesting stuff here, but I'm not really active on any forum, so I wouldn't join until now, because a problem came up and I would like some help. So here is my problem. I bought an NP900X3D-A01UK, second hand, refurbished *supposedly*. I asked the previous owner if they changed anything, and they told me that the Bios chip was replaced. They also said that the chip was pre-programmed. I fear that it was programmed with a wrong Bios. First because it keeps shutting down on me exactly 30 minutes every time (I have already checked for overheating, I've run cpu diagnostics, samsung's diagnostics, memory diagnostics, and all were green). Also after running samsung's support center app, belarc advisor, and also talking to a samsung tech who ran diagnostics remotely on the laptop, they all read the laptop as an NP900X4C-A02CH. But, I'm positive that it is an NP900X3D-A01, because the mobo is an AMOR2-13, the cpu is an i5-2537M, and also the chassis says so on it. The Bios that is installed on the chip is P11ABK. Is there anyone who uses that same model who can help me figure out if it's the correct Bios or not.
Thank you.

 

The X3D (and the X3C and X4C and X4D) was shipped with one of two BIOS versions depending on release date. Early models which were shipped with Windows 7 had a BIOS P**AAC. When Windows 8 was released Samsung had to issue a changed BIOS (P**ABK) with improved UEFI compatibility.

However, the X3D (and the X3C and X4C and X4D) were shipped with 3rd generation Intel Core CPUs (eg i5-3517U as listed here). An i5-2537M is indicative of the previous generation of Series 9 such as my NP900X3B which has a P**AAH BIOS. There is a lot of family resemblance between the two generations but your refurbisher appears to have used an older mainboard and forced it to think as if it was newer. I'm a little surprised that it works at all but the shut down after exactly half an hour is intriguing.

***Edit*** On further reflection I have a vague recollection of Samsung shipping a version of the X3D which did have the older CPU and a lower price and a quick Google reveals this was true (eg here). That was Windows 8 so it would probably have the P**ABK BIOS unless there was another BIOS for this version. If it was a Windows 8 machine with UEFI enabled then it was vulnerable to bricking and it appears that the refurbisher replaced the BIOS chip with one from another Series 9. It's possible that they could track the model using the Windows 8 key which is stored in the BIOS. In this case, the BIOS ought to work so maybe the problem lies elsewhere.

John

 

I have googled it too, and I also got the same info about it and that it came with windows 8 pro. All of the hardware the laptop wears matches that on the link you posted. I asked about the OEM key stored in the BIOS, and I got nothing. It appears that microsoft has blocked it because it was leaked somehow and they don't know where it came from. But if all the models of this series that came with windows 8 use P**ABK BIOS then it shouldn't have a problem booting the laptop, as it doesn't have one, but since it is programmed for an X4C, then the reason it shuts down after half an hour would be the fact that it is on a different chipset; or that is what I'd like to believe. Isn't there a possibility that flashing the BIOS from the start might solve the problem?

Edit: I just googled the motherboard of the X4C and it is indeed completely different, though I was expecting as much since it's on a 15" laptop.

 

Yes, the 13.3" and 15" boards are physically different although they must be electronically so similar that they can share the same BIOS.

Reflashing the BIOS and clearing the NVRAM would be steps I would take to try to fix this problem. The unbricking threads listed here contain all the steps you need (and a lot you don't need).

John

 

Those were my thoughts more or less, and I've been trying to find a BIOS image around the net to reflash it, but I've been unlucky so far.

 

Sounds a lot like an ME Firmware problem or running a CPU that wasn't meant for the chipset.

 

I can't really think of a reason for someone to replace a BGA CPU, and even if they did why would they use a different one, or an incompatible at that. I was told that nothing apart from the BIOS chip was replaced, and I want to roll with that for now and see if it's actually caused by the BIOS. Also I wanna ask if making an image of the existing BIOS will work, or should I get a completely new one? I'm asking because John mentioned that most likely the P**ABK is probably the suitable BIOS for this machine.

 

See the BIOS roll-back thread. And I'll give you the clue that the previous X4C BIOS was called "ITEM_20131114_21268_WIN_P10ABK.exe".

From which you can create the address of the file:

Code:

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20131114_21268_WIN_P10ABK.exe

Follow the instructions in the BIOS roll-back thread to overwite the newer BIOS. Then you can run Samsung's BIOS Update program to download and update to the most recent ABK BIOS.

There is still a hint of uncertainty in my mind about whether the SandyBridge version of the X3D used the ABK BIOS but I don't recall anyone who has posted here ever had that version of the notebook and said if the BIOS is the same or different.

If you haven't tried the NVRAM / CMOS reset then it's an easy first step: Turn the computer off and disconnect the PSU. Then turn it over and look for the little hole in the bottom with an X in a square symbol. Poke a straightened piece of paperclip through the hole to disconnect the battery then open the computer and hold down the power button for a minute. After that just reconnect the mains PSU and the battery will be automatically reconnected and you can start the computer.

John

 

Oh I have done a CMOS reset a few days ago, didn't change anything. I've had this laptop for about a week and I've been trying to figure out what is wrong with it ever since. I will try to roll-back the BIOS and see if that helps.

Edit: I ran the update like it says in the guide, but there is nothing in the __Samsung_Update folder. I even deleted it and let it make a new one just in case, but it puts nothing inside it.

 

I managed to make a copy of the current BIOS (P11ABK). Is there any way to reflash it outside windows? Phash16 supports only EFI BIOS afaik, but I tried it anyways and it indeed gave me an error.

 

In case it wasn't clear I gave you 2 reasons, sorry for giving you extra information.

The ME Firmware exists on the BIOS chip but is a different as a different region (blocks) so you would need to make sure the ME region is flashed too. Usually BIOS updates will only update the BIOS region and not the ME region, also the ME region tends to be write protected. Perhaps the pre-programmed chip was only flashed with BIOS region.

Here's an example.

http://www.win-raid.com/t1379f39-Yoga-Pro-shutdowns-every-minutes.html

I can see you want to go your own direction so will leave you to it.

 

See the unbricking threads - link posted previously - for ways to apply the BIOS updates.

John

 

I checked the thread and did exactly as it said, but the installation stops and winphlash closes, without giving errors or anything. Maybe that's because it's the exact same version, I dunno. I will look into Dufus' scenario as well and try to get an image of P10ABK in the meantime.

 

Ok so I tryied running ME analyzer, but it cannot get info due to the fact that I don't have MEI installed.. figures. But.. After using SW to get MEI for my laptop, it won't install and it gives the "This PC does not meet the minimum requirements" error. What's up with that?