Samsung DP700A7D won't start after Bios Default Settings

Hi everybody, I have a "small" problem with my all in one Samsung DP700 27" I know is not a Notebook but is made with laptop components.
It was downgraded to windows 7 without any major difficult, it was working perfect for more than one year, yesterday I tried to reinstall the original 8.0 OS with the OEM recovery disc, before do it I reset to default the Bios settings, after that it simply doesn't start, no F2 message at the start up, just black screen for few seconds and than the backlight goes off and nothings more happen, power light stays on and in order to power off I need to keep the power button pressed.
I already tried to remove the power cord and press the power botton, remove the RAM, remove the Button cell battery, reset the bios via RTC jumpers, but there is no way to restart it.....
Please help me if you can..... Grazie, Fabio.

 

Start by reading the unbricking thread and see if any of the solutions listed there work for you.

Do you recall whether you had installed any BIOS updates since receiving the computer?

John

 

Thanks John, I tried to read the unbricking thread, but as long I don't know what Bios version I have there is no way to reflash it, I installed windows 7 immediately after I received the machine 2 years ago, for what I know the only way to do it is by the Samsung application, I don't think was installed on my PC after the downgrade, the Motherboard model could help?

 

Do you happen to remember if you changed from UEFI mode to CSM mode (so-called Legacy BIOS mode) when you installed Win7? If so, your disk must have been changed to good old MBR at the time. That would explain why you are unable to boot after resetting BIOS to default -- which sets it back to UEFI mode and makes it unable to boot from an MBR disk.

To change the UEFI setting, you need to get back into BIOS: After a cold power on, keep tapping F2 1-2 times per second, regardless of whether an F2 message is displayed. If you are able to get into BIOS settings, try setting OS Mode Selection=CSM OS and Fast BIOS/Fast Boot=disabled, then try booting your Win8 installation source again and re-install Windows.

If you are able to do this, you are in great shape.

But unfortunately many Samsung computers delivered with Win8 have a flaky UEFI implementation that is prone to corrupt its own memory (so-called NVRAM) which can make it impossible to boot anything AND impossible to get into BIOS settings.

If that is your situation, you have a more involved project ahead of you.

The post here describes briefly what is the problem (most likely) and an overview of how to fix it. Your goal is to clear the corrupt NVRAM. If you're not already on the latest BIOS, updating it is the easiest, since that also clears the NVRAM. Otherwise you use the BIOS updater flash utility with the /cvar /patch parameters to clear it.

In any case do you need to be able to boot something in order to do either. And as you found, that is the big challenge.

Check this summary and that entire thread, that's where we have the most extensive discussion of this entire problem.

Following are some other recent threads discussing the same (or similar) symptoms. But the solution is most likely in that thread I linked above.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/ativbook-9-frustrating-problem.790176/

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/starting-laptop-np300e5c-s01hk.790187/

http://forum.notebookreview.com/threads/samsung-np540u3c-does-not-boot-any-drive.789869/

You have some study and work ahead of you, but do know that many have been able to revive their Samsung computers with these techniques. Please keep us posted on your progress.

 

mine is the second case, I cannot get in the Bios Settings, the problem is which bios firmware to use for my specific motherboard.

 

If you can figure out the Platform ID of your BIOS, then it should be easy enough to download the latest version using this guide. The Platform ID is usually (but not always) the last three letters of the BIOS version number. The example in that guide is BIOS version P07AAH, for which the Platform ID is AAH.

If you happen to have saved an earlier BIOS update file, its filename will tell us the Platform ID as well.

Otherwise I would start Googling DP700A7D BIOS update and see if a BIOS version is mentioned anywhere in connection with this model. Again, that will tell us the Platform ID and from there we should be able to get latest BIOS update file.

But how are you going to flash it? You need to boot some form of Windows (or WinPE from a USB stick or DVD) in order to flash it or clear the corrupted the NVRAM. And getting something to boot is usually the biggest challenge in your situation.

Without a running Windows the only way is to flash the BIOS chip directly with an EEPROM burner.

Edit:

Hmm... The page here mentions a BIOS version of P05KMM. If I enter KMM as the Platform ID, the following link shows that the latest BIOS update file is ITEM_20140319_21336_WIN_P10KMM.exe:

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/BUWebServiceProc.asmx/GetContents?platformID=KMM&PartNumber=AAAA

Insert that filename in the download link provided in the BIOS rollback guide (again here) and should have your BIOS file. Of course I cannot guarantee that (and flashing a wrong BIOS is bad) but Googling "DP700A7D" "P10KMM" seems to confirm the correlation.

So, now you need to boot some form of Windows. Once again, this summary and that entire thread is your best resource.

 

I think I'm in this situation, after two days of testing there is no way to install any form of windows in my pc, the problem is I already contacted Samsung, they told me to call their 3rd part assistance company, I don't remember the name, I trash the post-it after reading the bad review about them, I'm in Baltimore I tried to contact many pc repair shops but nobody can help me, the new MB is about 280$ maybe is better to go in this direction.....

 

bios file saved, now my last try to install a platform.....

 

I understand.

Did you study the threads I linked, particular this thread, starting with the guide in post #7? These are NOT the ones included in the bricking thread which you say you studied.

Many members have been in the same situation, and while some gave up, many others were able to finally boot a WinPE USB stick and/or install Windows and clear their NVRAM. And they posted about it in those threads.

It usually involves removing the hard disk, and making sure that the boot source (USB stick or DVD) has the correct partition layout and format. The latter is not as trivial as most people think, because it depends on whether UEFI is enabled or not.

That said, you can end up spending a lot of time, and $280 isn't completely unreasonable to save a lovely machine like the DP700A7D.

Please keep us posted on your progress.

 

Our posts crossed each other: Instead of trying to install Windows, I would focus on trying to boot WinPE from a USB stick or DVD. If you can do that, you can clear NVRAM and get the computer back to normal.

 

I Created a WinPE USB stick using rufus with Gandalfs WinPE Win 8.1. but PC cannot start, created a USB using Rufus with Win8 Pro, nothing, I think the usb ports are not working....
I'm going to give up, I'm not that kind of person who gives up easily but right now only the Motherboard needs to be fixed/replaced, if a continue I should need also a new screen for sure.....really thanks for your help

 

I understand completely. There is a limit to how much time one can spend, not to mention the frustration.

And it is indeed possible that something else went wrong with your computer which requires a new motherboard.

Good luck with this. Whatever the eventual outcome, it'd be great if you could share it with us here.

 

motherboard are in back orders so I have another 4/6 weeks to play with usb thumbs and Rufus