Samsung Laptops - Roll Back Bios Updates?

Hi, I´ve bricked my NP880Z5E-X01UB yesterday using the dam Samsung SW Update. During the Bios update the software freezed at 17%, and everything (mouse, keyboard etc) became non responsive. I´ve already tried to unplug the batteries (main and 3V backup) with no success. After the reboot the only thing a I see is a black screen. Now I´m trying to find a working firmware (ROM file) to flash it on the IC with an eprom writer. I´ve read a lot of threads here but I just can´t get the ROM file. I was at P03ADH and was trying to update to P05ADH when the laptop crashed. I´ve tried the procedure in the _Samsung_Update folder but simply the files are not being extracted there even if I don´t click ok or cancel. Could anyone send me the P03ADH (preferably as it was working fine before) or P05ADH rom file? thanks a lot

 

Hi, it´s me again, as long as I´m going to program the rom straight to the memory, what I really need is the ROM file, read from the BIOS, not the CAP file. If someone has a backup of this files or could save the current ROM please send me this precious file... thanks again

 

You are more likely to get the attention of an NP880Z5E owner if you post the request in the thread for that notebook along with a link to software for creating the ROM file. Also mention that you need the P05ADH BIOS.

John

 

thanks to everyone that tried to help me, I've just managed to UNBRICK my ativbook 8. I got the P03ADH.CAP from the exe file using the procedure described in another thread of this forum (searching a folder before clicking ok or cancel). All the CAP files (P03ADH or P05ADH) have half the size of the BIN image that is programmed on the 25Q64 flash memory IC (tha has 8MB). Before programming the IC I've read its contents and saved it in a BIN file. Analyzing the corrupted 8MB image, I've noticed that apparently the first 4MB of the image contained SLIC and other stuff, and that the CAP contents should go after this 4MB header. Analyzing the CAP I've also noticed that there was some SLIC contents in it that is originally filled with FF but somehow during the bios update this area is merged with the old bios SLIC data. Comparing parts of the corrupted BIN file and the CAP file Iwas able to create an Hybrid one copying and pasting what seemed to be tha SLIC data. I'm now writing this post in my ressurected laptop. One final notice, when I first loaded windows after the bios repair I had to reactivate the windows license, probably I've skiped some of the SLIC data. I hope this helps someone. I've done that by phone using the product ID with no problem. regards!

 

Congratulations. I'm impressed.

What tool(s) did you use to read and write your BIOS chip?

John

 

Samsung NP700Z5B-S01UB CPU reaching 90C, freezing shutting off etc.

Summary: tested memory, graphics cards eventually took it to a local repair and even he could not figure out why the CPU was jumping so high 90C+. Even ran the Acronis Linux boot cd and the problem is windows independent. Come to think of it after coming across a thread here, the problem might be with the bios.

(paying attention to my last post)What component in my laptop is dying? pretty sure its the hd but could use some help - Laptops - Laptop Tech Support Posted this on TH as well. Anyways from what I garnered here on NBreview http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...hronos-one-core-stuck-100-np700z5c-s02ub.html is that this problem has to do with the bios. The problem is the bios downgrading thread here is doesn't use a GUI (outdated, a challenge, but not insurmountable), and the bios files have been taken down on most of the links from 2012/2013.



Anyone with similar problems with this model? Would a bios downgrade be worth it and what's the easiest way to get past it?

EDIT: I have done everything in the OP except for running the actually flashing utility. This seems really dangerous to me and I rather avoid it. I bricked my cousin's NITRO HD once because I did not read a space correctly in Android SU.

Reading 13 pages of this thread and seeing a 50,000 strong petition to recall a notebook online make me certain I will never ever buy a Samsung Again. Idiotic.

 

@zetsui: If you know the name of the BIOS you're looking for, there is a utility on page 16 in this thread that can search for it in Samsung's database.

 

See my edit. I got the ROM file. I got it all from Support - Laptops NP700Z5BH | Samsung PCs instead of that got awful SW Update. Made sure to update ALL the drivers (rapid store graphics card etc). Still the same problem. Haven't slept 24 hours because of this BS.


Also: My current pending sector count is 100 which is horrendous, means the drive will fail soon. I am thinking of getting a new laptop and a 500gb ssd for it, but before I make a $1200 purchase I wanted to put the SSD into the laptop and see if it would work. Anyone have any experiences where an HD could possibly cause such rapid fluctuations/high temperatures in a CPU? Sounds unlikely, but I wonder if it is possible.

I was thinking maybe the SSD through its low seek times can somehow lower the cpu useage and give me lower temperatures. This way I can ride my laptop out a little longer.

On the other hand, can the faulty CPU damage my SSD over that time?


So basically, at this point the bios flash, of the same version is my last resort. I am seriously looking at a laptop replacement and will do it right before I put in the order for a new one

Since none of the two flashing programs in the OP's GUI work, what do people use to BACK UP the bios? How do they restore the failsafes? If only the most recent bios is available for download for my laptop, can I reflash that bios without problems? I miss Asus's utilities...

 

FYI for future NP940X3G users who are playing around with the BIOS, I was interested in testing older micom (which controls keyboard and possibly the touchpad)... it is actually easy to downgrade/update both BIOS/MICOM.

in cmd prompt

afuwinx64 P02ACJ.cap /p /GAN

it will update with a "ie Error: Secure Flash function is not supported on this file" but it is fine.

reboot

then I updated to ITEM_20140224_21319_WIN_P03ACJ.exe, my last BIOS/MICOM which I never had any issues. I am interested to see if the touchpad will be more reliable with this micom.

 

WOW. Holy t. So the temperatures stay the same high (which it might have been doing since I bought the system-since only now did I temp and stress test) but system completely stabilized. Acronis has no write errors to HD in Windows or without. What did I do yesterday? Went to Support - Laptops NP700Z5BH | Samsung PCs and installed all of my drivers again. Crazy. What in the living f.....

Anyways if it still messes up I know it's possibly three things: the cpu, the gpu, and what I came to think about yesterday...the power supply.
NOT memory or the hard drive which stress checked almost fine in Heavy load. Sadly might have wasted $250 on shipping in a Samsung 500gb ssd. This computer is pretty quick with its express cache.

Crazy. Samsung laptop never again. Hopefully I won't be back here.

EDIT: back...acronis errors on 87% high compression. Again 87% on no compression. This might be an HDD error. Waiting for SSD to arrive today/tomorrow.

 

Please read the excellent guide here in full that Dannemand has compiled: http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/762595-samsung-series-7-np700z5c-s03ca-my-last-hope.html#7

I just wanted to let those of you using .cap files and Sflash64/32 that the following command unbricked my laptop NP700Z5C-S03CA and allowed me to enter the bios using F2 and reset all bios settings.

sflash64 /cvar /patch



I downloaded the previous version of my bios (P06ABJ) and ran sflash64 from there but it may also work with the latest bios (P07ABJ). All this was done from WinPE on a bootable USB.

Samsung has made it impossible to rollback the bios using .cap files with sflash64 on newer laptops. Using sflash64, and /sforce to force a rollback requires a password so the only way to clear the bios NVRAM and reset the variables is to use the above method.

 

I rollback my NP940X3G this weekend just fine with *.cap so it is possible.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...ps-roll-back-bios-updates-21.html#post9791758

 

Very interesting. I got the same error with sflash64 but it did not rollback. Perhaps afuwinx64 is less limiting.

 

In cases such as Fitztorious' rolling back to an earlier BIOS isn't a goal in itself, but rather just a means to perform ANY flashing when the BIOS is already at its latest version.

We get cases almost weekly where Samsung laptop owners find themselves unable to enter BIOS (F2), Recovery (F4) or change boot device (F10 or BIOS Boot Priority page) due to corrupted NVRAM. Many don't notice it until they try to re-install Windows, finding that they cannot boot an external device. Others discover it when they update to Win8.1 and get a boot loop caused by 8.1 requiring a BIOS update on some models. In some cases, this has effectively bricked laptops, when nothing could boot, neither internal nor external devices. The thread below illustrates a couple of such cases.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/755985-how-boot-bios-when-function-buttons-not-showing.html

Our answer so far for those who ARE able to boot an external device (usually by removing the HDD/SSD to break UEFI's insistence on booting only the Windows installation) has been to use WinPE to update BIOS -- or roll back to an earlier BIOS (using isosunrise's advice in this thread) and THEN update. In either case will that clear the NVRAM, and usually "unbrick" the laptop.

Fitztorious' gutsy test showed that the NVRAM can be cleared directly with SFlash /cvar (which I feared might permabrick his laptop by clearing too much data and not re-initializing it). If no ill effects are shown over the next few days, we'll have a much simpler fix for those with semi-bricked Samsung laptops. His case is described in the thread linked below (same as previously linked by Fitztorious):

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/762595-samsung-series-7-np700z5c-s03ca-my-last-hope.html

This post is meant to provide context, and for those who come here solely to solve a semi-brick by clearing NVRAM, as opposed to actually rolling back to an earlier BIOS (which is the true purpose of this thread).

Users can follow isosunrise's advice in the OP to locate and download the latest BIOS. Or they can use Samsung's BIOSUpdate.exe (that was a link) to download the latest BIOS. In either case should they follow isosunrise's steps to extract its contents.

 

I been reading all this post and been jumping to other posts by using the links in it for the past 3 hours and now I have a strong headache lol so I apology in advance for my questions.....

np530u3c with windows 7 ,all working and booting OK,
Only problem is that the F2 doesn't work,or any other buttons that would allow me to choose which drive to boot from,
So was thinking ...

1th .....what about if reflash the BIOS with the same version number ??would this reset it ???

2th...I tried using the sw..updater ....it tells me that the latest version is already installed and will stop the installation wizard,so if I follow the tutorial regarding going to the hidden folder and copy the folder and pasts it to another location do I need just to run Winflash or any other app inside the folder to start the flashing ??

3th ....would this be able to flash the same BIOS on top of the original one even if they are the same or the flashing would stop again like when using the swupdater app ??

Thanx

 

It does indeed sound like your laptop suffers from this infliction of a corrupted NVRAM. And the solution has traditionally been to re-flash the BIOS. When you are already on the latest BIOS, it will NOT automatically flash over it again. You'd have to roll back, THEN update.

Maybe you can force flash the same version with SFlash (or afuwinx64, if that's what your BIOS uses). But member isosunrise found that the Micom doesn't get flashed this way, and I don't know if that still works to fix the NVRAM problem. Otherwise flashing any BIOS version should work.

But with member Fitztorious' recent discovery, I recommend that you read his thread (the second link in my post) and follow the guide there, instead of rolling back and up again. It will let you clear the NVRAM directly, without changing the actual BIOS (or Micom). But please wait a few more days if you can, and see if Fitztorious confirms that all is working on his computer after re-installing Windows. Member Merlok is waiting there as well, so you can keep each other company

(As a general note, you NEVER want to update your BIOS from within SW Update, since it introduces an extra risk of flash problems. We have had several cases of that. Save the BIOS file and run it standalone.)

Edit:

Wait, your Windows boots and runs, right? In that case you don't have to follow the steps in that guide to create a WinPE stick and boot that. You can just follow the commands in this thread directly. But I would still wait for Fitztorious' confirmation first. I expect him to post in his own thread about it.

 

You mean this ?
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=762595

 

Yes.

Note the Edit to my post.

 

OK ...what are the command in this thread ? Sorry for the dumbness

 

Fitztorious' post here. No need to apologize, it's a lot of links. Once Fitztorious has confirmed, we'll keep unbricking discussions out of this thread, so we don't hijack it.

 

EUREKAAAAA manage to entering BIOS using F2 YEAAAAA

I followed this tutorial ,so if you can access windows you should be able to reflash the same BIOS file on top of the one installed ,once reboot just F2 and load default setting with F9 save and exit.

Used the SFlash64.exe as flasher.

Here original link to the post
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=683727

 

@MeGuinness: Excellent, great job. Thank you for sharing that.

I wonder if this is a better approach after all, instead of clearing with /cvar. At least this way we know we're not wiping any data that shouldn't be wiped. OTOH there is always a risk associated with flashing a BIOS, in case the flash fails...

 

No problem, now i just realise that the new USB DVD drive that I received yesterday isn't working damm it.....so now I have to wait for a replacement to reinstall w7, ho well!!!

 

Yeah, you normally only want to install Windows from DVD on models with ExpressCache (which I think you have). Particularly UEFI installs.

But since Win7 is best installed in legacy BIOS mode anyway, I guess you could install from USB stick instead, and use one of the workarounds in posts #1 or #2 of the thread linked below to solve the boot problem that this will cause.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/samsung/697841-guide-how-install-windows-7-8-via-usb-np700z.html

Post #40 in that same thread ( here) has a comprehensive Win7 install guide, including steps for downgrading from Win8 (converting the HDD/SSD and BIOS settings).

 

Try using both the USB 2.0 as well as USB 3.0 ports.

John

 

The DVD USB drive it works .......I opened the case and he wasn't seated properly on the socket.
So now installing W7

 

Oh great, good job. On that too

If you have any question or issues with the installation, I suggest you post in the Win7 installation thread so we don't hijack this thread any further.

 

Seems like I've encountered the same problem as MeGuinness. I have NP530u3c-a04se.

I decided to reinstall everything yesterday and while doing so I experienced the iSSD problems which cause windows installation to hang if you partition hard drive from the installer. So I ended up going with the install windows 8.1 to whole HDD and shrink it after. While trying to figure out the reason for hanging I had enabled the UEFI from bios and this caused the F2 to stop working. So I cant enter bios but I have windows installed atm. The UEFI settings don't appear in the advanced boot menu.

So reflashing the bios should fix the problem? I'm bit hesitant to do so since my laptop is still under warranty, but then again this is probably the quickest fix for the problem. Then again there is the chance of bricking.


MeGuinness: Did you just follow the notepadfan's guide from your link?

 

This one http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=683727

 

Thanks! Fixed my problem. Reinstalling my operating systems now

 

I don't know what it was guys, either it was updating the drivers (especially the rapid storage) or installing an SSD (what I think it was since the basic SMART diagnostics on the Samsung drive fails...the only alternative to not make that a certain statemtn is that the Samsung drive doesn't have SMART diagnostics to begin with...highly doubtable on any modern drive) fixed the issue.

Used paragon os to ssd migration and then paragon to backup my new restore. That's it. 100% up and running like before. Temps pretty much the same, more in the 80s. Maybe lower but too tired to test further Not too much testing whence it came back up. Just tired and wasted too much time on this with classes going on.

Reading the Amazon reviews for my nb...and what do you learn...the first thing to go was the HDD!

This is a laptop that is excellent hardware...opened it up...easily accessible...well planned out, great battery life on essentially a desktop replacement. But let me tell you Samsung has some ty support. 50,000 in an online Series 7 petition asking for support. Unanswered.

I will not buy a SS notebook again. Save your time your money and motivation and spend some extra $1100-$1200 for something like an HP or Lenovo.

When installign the new SSD make sure to keep all the hdd enclosure screws. And remember the HDD ribbon goes STRAIGHt, no bending, back to the clip. You slip it UNDER and out, not over and through.

 

Urgent need personal help from you guys. Was invented to update the BIOS of my notebook Samsung to last most current version, and got a problem: The new Bios cut performance SATA3 port q I use the SSD. before with the old version of the Bios was reading the 430MB / s, now no more than 250MB / s.
I need to Downgrade Bios and I'm not getting.

the old version was 03PQ:
http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20110722_200_WIN_03PQ.exe (I want to get back to this)

the current version is 07PQ:
http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20130311_879_WIN_07PQ.exe (who cut performance SATA3)

qdo try to downgrade the version 03PQ by Windows as Administrator using the installer it starts to unzip the files to install the Bios folder in C: \ Users \ MyName \ AppData \ Local \ Temp \ __ Samsung_Update
however, during the installation process it shows a warning and after giving OK gives an error:

http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/83e2/567155k6je0u47h6g.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/convkey/e7ed/wfrers7eiedh2686g.jpg

In the Temp folder is stored only these 9 files above. The remaining files will not unpack because the error stops the process.

After I made a PenDrive Boot to try out the Windows install and added up all these files, but when trying to run the WinFlash or any other EXE file as the ITEM_20110722_200_WIN_03PQ.exe, the message "PROGRAM THIS CAN NOT BE RUN IN DOS MODE" .

Anyway, to racking my brain here and I could not solve. And worse version qa q 03PQ want to go back or use the WinFlash and the rom can not because it does not uncompress all the files. I made these procedures following this tutorial here.
Who can help me I appreciate it, because since yesterday to frying my brain cells trying to fix it without success!

I read every page of this forum, every comment, but not found the solution to my problem. I know that first I have to downgrade ara 02PQ version and then install the 03PQ have both here, but with the same problem. qdo run any version below 07PQ (06-05-04-03-02-01 (PQ)) in the folder "temp \ __ Samsumg_Update \" only appears the "DebugLog.txt" file and if I click OK it starts to install introduces the above error and does not extract all the necessary files. In fact he even draws for 1 second, but then goes off leaving only the most well 9. not you like me to downgrade. If someone I can unzip this file your PC and send me via MediaFire or 4shared thank me, because I have no other PC to try to extract the 02PQ.exe and 03PQ.exe

http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20110707_180_WIN_02PQ.exe
http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20110722_200_WIN_03PQ.exe

sorry for my english.

 

You aren't the first to encounter the problem of reduction in SATA speed after a BIOS update.

This report is a couple of months old. However, we got no feedback to indicate whether my suggestion worked so you can try it and report back.

John

 

I've formatted the SSD and reinstalled Windows, I tested the SATA3 without the drivers installed and also all Drivers, Windows Updates and CHIPSET latest unsolved.
So, I have no doubt that what happened was because of BIOS update.
just need someone to unzip the files and 02PQ 03PQ for me to downgrade.
the 07PQ has two versions (2012 and 2013). I can run this because all files are unzipped the Temp folder when I run the EXE installation without pressing OK. since earlier versions did not unpack the files, as I mentioned earlier. I need someone try unzipping on another PC...
another problem I forgot to mensionar was the lid of the notebook when lifting after hibernation does not turn the notebook over. I have to press the power button. version 03PQ not need it!

My problem now boils down to finding a way to extract these EXE files 03PQ 02PQ and because the rest of the process I can do.

If I can not solve, within 2 months I will sell this stuff and buy another.

 

Hi,

I have a 15" Samsung laptop (Ativ Book 8), modell number np870z5e-x01hu.

This my current BIOS version:
P02ADH.008.130604.SK
06/04/2013

According to the samsung website:
http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/BUWebServiceProc.asmx/GetContents?platformID=ADH&PartNumber=AAAA

I need this file:
http://sbuservice.samsungmobile.com/upload/BIOSUpdateItem/ITEM_20140512_21365_WIN_P05ADH.exe

I extracted its contents:

Code:

107K AFUEMMC.exe
296K AFUWIN.exe
362K afuwinx64.exe
 15K amifldrv32.sys
 16K amifldrv64.sys
9,0K ChangePwrPolicy.exe
8,0K ChangePwrPolicyXp.exe
1,6K DebugAppLog.txt
751K msvcr100.dll
4,0M P05ADH.CAP
 16K SBIOSIO32.sys
 18K SBIOSIO64.sys

According to the first post in this thread, I have AFUWIN (instead of Winflash).
But in the first post, the example is afuwinx64 P05AAB.rom /p /b /n /e /r /x
But I only see P05ADH.CAP.

Is it the right file? Despite the extension difference (CAP vs. rom)

The second question, how can I download older BIOS?
The first posts BIOSItemList files, does not contain "ADH" text.
So my modell is not listed in there.

The samsung website only returns with the most recent BIOS version.

Also I don't have windows (I got to this point using only linux), so can I flash with a windows XP installer?
Or WinPE environment?

An help is much appreciated.

 

1.See this thread for a relevant discussion of the BIOS program differences.

2. If you go back up this thread a few pages you will find a simple program that someone wrote to hunt for a particular BIOS version by working through the combinations of date and sequence number that Samsung use.

John

 

I would like to find some definitive answer how the bios is constructed on this laptop.
I have read NVRAM, Micom, BIOS, but I don't know what are those components exactly.

I mean I understand what NVRAM is (non-volatile ram, many gpu has this), but I
don't know where it sits on this laptop and how it affects the BIOS, also I don't know what Micom is.

Would be a piece of mind to know these components before updating, I would just feel more relaxed.

Thanks for the links, I will read carefully them (I just glanced through), I already downloaded WinPE image.

I have read that CAB file is half ROM. Read it here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/sam...ps-roll-back-bios-updates-21.html#post9779060

Just that guy came and go along with their discoveries.

I start to fear about this update.

I have not found the downloader program, but "wrote" one:

I'll let it run overnight, hopefully I will hit the jackpot

 

Since I could not download my current BIOS version, P02ADH, I won't update the bios on this laptop.
I otherwise figured out my backlighting issue, so I don't see anything to urge updating.
(Don't fix which ain't broken)

For the curious, this is what I tried:

So I pinged their website from 1000-60010, without luck.
I got the date from the BIOS version (P02ADH.008.130604.SK, 06/04/2013).

Without the ability to revert the new BIOS, it is a showstopper for me.

Thank you for the help by the way. Some useful resource was provided.

Have fun!

 

Hello, I have a bricked dp500a2s Samsungs, the recovery system not work, but I have tried to connect the chip winbond 25x32vsig a mini-module FT2232H.
I ready the flash, and the size is 4MB, but the recovery rom one of 2.5MB


when I open the file read from the chip with ubu, it gives me this error


help me?

the board id is krm

 

Hey guys,

First, I want to say thanks to this thread for helping me through a recent, terrible crisis. I will go step by step on how it happened and what I had to go through to get this machine running again.

I have the Series 7 Chronos NP700Z5C-S01UB. It seems to be one of the least common models that people have had problems with, but the biggest problem is that there is only one version of the BIOS (it was never updated).


1) I was trying to boot Linux Mint on a 32gb flash drive. To do so, I had to go and play with the EFI settings and the fastboot, and turn them off of factory defaults. This was the beginning of my problems.

2) When I had Linux Mint running on the flash drive, I decided to do the install option, installing it permanently on the flash drive. This, however, also installed Grub2 over the Windows bootloader. After a whole day of writing Grub scripts to try to get it to find windows, I found numerous threads about how using UEFI or EFI on these Samsungs could brick them.

3) I decided that I would use my Windows disk to reinstall Windows 7, but needed to change the boot order. This is when I learned that I could not F2 into the bios screen. Eventually, playing with Grub got me to the point where I was just in a BIOS spiral: power up, see splash screen, power down. I thought that it was totally done-for. I saw someone suggest elsewhere that disconnecting the CMOS battery would resent the BIOS to its original settings. So I did that. I cracked the case and disconnected the batteries for 5 minutes. I put it all together, and hit the power button: still no F2 into bios, but goes directly to my Windows install. Since I thought I had lost everything, I just let it run this way for about 4 months.

4) A couple of weeks ago, Microsoft pushed a Windows Update that required a restart. The computer shut itself down, and instantly went into the BIOS spiral again. F2 still wouldn't get me to the BIOS screen, and F10 took me to the one-time boot menu, but it was blank. Surprisingly enough, F4 did launch me into Samsung Recovery Solution 5.

5) Once I had access to the Recovery Solution, I backed up my files with the backup tool, and I restored Windows (I figured maybe their update did something to the boot record or something. This restore did not work. Then I learned about the admin tools in Samsung Recovery 5, which is Shift+Ctrl+F10, and the password is "secclx" (without quotes), which takes you to a place where you can do a handful of things, like (what I assume is a graphic interface for) diskpart, and go into a command prompt.

6) None of the .exes for flashing bios that come from the Samsung Mobile site that is in this thread run in the Recovery version of Windows at that point. Plus, anything with dependencies on the OS are probably not there. Also, no WI-FI, but I'm not sure if you can use ethernet connections there (wouldn't have helped me anyway).

7) Doing the rollback style BIOS flash from the command line works. My BIOS, for NP700Z5C-S01UB, is P00AAS. There are no revisions, and it is the only thing that I've seen that uses AAS series. You can get the ITEM_.... from the method on page one. I had to unpack the .exe on another computer because you cannot do this step in Recovery. I moved the files to a flash drive, and ran them from there (Recovery Solution does support USB and DVD, you can just navigate to them in the command prompt). This model uses Winflash.exe for its flashing, and I flashed it about four times with isosunrise's flags:

Code:

WinFlash.exe P00AAS.rom /v /cs /sd /sv /svs

This did not work. It seemed as if it was actually writing it and verifying it, but it didn't help. I looked at all of the flags in by doing

Code:

Winflash.exe -help

I found a flag that was /cvar, which is clear variable. So I ran this:

Code:

WinFlash.exe P00AAS.rom /v /cs /sd /sv /svs /cvar

...that was the trick. As soon as I did that flash, the computer powered down and went right into Windows on my C: drive. I restarted, F2 went right to the BIOS screen, was already on factory defaults. Restarted again, F10 goes to the one-time boot menu, and lists my HDD and my optical drive as options.

Hopefully, this is a concise little way of rolling together a lot of information on this stuff, and someone finds it helpful. I was looking at losing this, my primary machine, and it was really difficult (no money or will to buy a new machine).

And thanks again to all of you for posting your help. It is invaluable.

 

Hello evilsheep23, welcome to NBR.

Thank you for sharing this. That is excellent info. Fixing Samsung laptops that have been semi-bricked like yours is a fairly common topic here, and this recent thread (that was a link) is becoming our preferred resource for it. We still refer to isosunrise's guide in this thread for obtaining the latest BIOS. But this thread was really meant for actual BIOS rollback more than for unbricking.

You are the first to report using /cvar with the WinFlash command, which is very useful information. In fact that question was asked just a few days ago in the thread I linked.

I would encourage you to post this information in that other thread as well. I thought of moving your post there, but decided to leave the decision to you. In this case I have no problem with the information being posted in two different threads, if it can increase the chance of salvaging someone's computer.

Thanks again!

 

Thanks, Dannemand. I replied to that thread as well, with minor editing.

Also, five days of use and everything is running perfectly. Thanks, everyone!

 

Hi!

I have an Ativ Book 4 (NP470R5E) and when I installed my new SSD (from Samsung) I realized that my BIOS was cutting down SATA ports to SATA 2. I know that another user has reported the same problem in this thread but I have a different problem.

I need to edit the .ROM file with a Hex editor but when I open the program (Without clicking on "OK" or "Cancel") in my TEMP folder there is only a file (a .log file) I tried everything (Windows 10/8.1/7) and what I get is this.




Can someone extract the files for me? Or someone can tell me how to do it? The latest BIOS update is P15RAN ( Here)

Thanks!

Urko

 

Someone managed to modify their BIOS as discussed here.

That discussion may be very relevant if your computer uses a Phoenix BIOS.

John

 

Hi John,

Thanks for the reply. But my problem is when I open the .exe, without clicking "OK" or "Cancel", I go to my (C:\Users\***\AppData\Local\Temp\__Samsung_Update" folder with ALT TAB and only shows the log file. In the post of your link says that the log file alone only appears when you click on "Cancel" but I don't click on it.

Regards,

Urko

 

I finally got the .CAP file!

ing Samsung, SATA ports are set on "Gen2". I have change it to "Gen3".

Now I got a .ROM file. How can I flash it? Later I will report how I have done it.

Regards,

Urko

 

Once you have an edited .CAP file then you can reflash the BIOS using the appropriate BIOS flashing program and settings. This thread may contain some useful guidance.

Your alternative is to go back to an earlier BIOS version.

John

 

Updates:

I modified the ROM with the AMI official utility. I changed some option (SATA v3 instead of v2, etc) but the most important is "BIOS Interface Lock". That locks the BIOS options.

Then, I tried flashing the modified ROM using AFUDOS from a USB DOS stick. My AMI version is Aptivo IV (4) so, I downloaded the correct AFUDOS.exe and tried to flash my .ROM edited file. The result was the same: (0x18 Error: Secure Flash Rom verify fail.)

I tried some commands and, finally, I tried /RECOVERY command; result: Bricked BIOS. If someone has a bricked BIOS using this procedure, please do the next:

1. Use AMI's official tool to open PXXXXX.CAP file (Samsung's official file) and inmediately save it as a .ROM file (Without modifing anything)
2. Then place that "original" file in an empty USB stick with the oficial name (VERY IMPORTANT: If the .CAP file was P15RAN.CAP, name the "original" file as P15RAN.ROM)
3. In your bricked Laptop, connect the USB stick with the file into a USB 2.0 port
4. With the laptop powered off, press CTRL + HOME in the keyboard and power on the laptop keeping the keys pressed.
5. The laptop will power on with the BIOS opened with a "Flashing..." window. Wait until the process is completed.

AFUDOS gaved me that error because UEFI is protected, and I will try using other methods like using OEM .exe or FTK.

Regards,

Urko

 

Impressive. Thanks a lot for sharing that tip!

This could prove very useful to others with (semi)bricked Samsung laptops. If you'd to post about it in the thread linked by John (again here) which has become our main source for unbricking, that would be great.

 

I have just posted here my solution. Thanks!

Regards,

Urko