Problem:

Black screen. No BIOS read-outs. Not possible to enter the BIOS menu. CPU fan, hard drive and other indicator lights up and works normally.

Synopsis:

PC starts normally at about every 30 attempts. In this case, the BIOS (F2) or Windows 7 starts normally. Observations suggest that PC will only start when it is completely cold, ie when it has been off for at least 2 hours between 2 start-up attempts. This time can be reduced to about 15 min, if cooling elements are placed on both sides of the motherboard (below the PC, and on top of the keyboard).

What has been studied / tried?

Power supply and connectors - ok.

Battery ok (though worn and should be replaced because it will no longer charge for max capacity).

CMOS battery holds 3V (although volt drops at loads > 5 mA).

Ram, HDD and CPU is tested / changed and found ok.

Motherboards (incl. Graphics chip) has been tested and found ok using various test programs from the official Lenovo Support.

Visual inspection of the motherboard: Nothing to report.

Heating the graphics chip using heat gun (in order to eliminate any cold solder joints) did not solve the problem.

Attempt installation of the latest original BIOS executable file from the Lenovo Support (only possible under Windows) fails:

• Error 216 - Failed to read the BIOS from ROM! Status = 1604

Attempts unpacking of the original BIOS executable file from Lenovo Support succeed not in spite of several attempts.

Attempting to install the 'BIOS alternative made' (Links.C) using. Phoenix BIOS Recovery (WINCRIS.EXE) also fails.

Solution:

On another PC, perform the following:

1. Download and un-rar 'HP tool' (Links.K)
2. Install HP program: 'HP USB DOS Drive.exe'
3. Create a bootable USB key (max 4GB): In Administrator mode run the program: 'HPUSBFW.exe'. Tick ​​the 'Quick Format' and 'Create a DOS startup disk'. Mark 'Using DOS system files located that' and specify the path where the extracted DOS98 directory is located
4. Register on www.bios-mods.com download and un-rar file 'BIOS alternative made' (Links.C)
5. Copy the extracted files from point.4 to the root of the USB key

On the sick Lenovo PC perform the following (and it is a prerequisite that it is one of the times where the PC has "desired" to start):

1. Make sure your computer will boot from the USB key: Either by editing the boot order in the BIOS. Or by activating the Novo button. Or, press F12 (Boot Devices). Or keep pressing the Fn + B down, connect the AC adapter and then turn on the PC by pressing the Power button (Links.A)
2. When the PC is started from the USB in DOS mode run: 'flash.bat'

Now BIOS is updated and the PC can start as normal and without any problems !

However, there are a few things that should be corrected:

• Download and install the latest original BIOS Lenovo Support:

• Follow the instructions from the Lenovo Support

• Possibly Windows must be re-activated (min should at least):

• Locate your Windows license label and enter 'Product Key'

Error Cause / conclusion:

Corrupt BIOS

Undecided:

• What made the BIOS become corrupted?
• Why would the PC only start when it was cold?

Links:

A) Phoenix BIOS Recovery:

https://www.bios-mods.com/bios-recovery/phoenix-bios-recovery/

B) Brand New Z580 Ideapad Will not Start (Black Screen):

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-P-Y-and-Z-series/Brand-New-Z580-Ideapad-Won-t-Start-Black-screen/td-p/900627/page/2

C) Lenovo Z580 BIOS Mod V3.1 FINAL [2.7]:

https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-Lenovo-Z580-BIOS-Mod-V3-1-FINAL-02-07-DOWNLOAD

D) Z580 Bios Key:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-PY-and-Z-series/Z580-Bios-key/mp/974459/highlight/true#M100613

E) Ideapad Z580 stuck on Boot Menu after BIOS update forsøger:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-P-Y-and-Z-series/Ideapad-Z580-stuck-on-Boot-Menu-after-BIOS-update-attempt/m-p/1740871#M80540

F) Lenovo IdeaPad Y560 BIOS Recovery:

https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-PY-and-Z-series/Lenovo-ideaPad-Y560-BIOS-Recovery/td-p/377911

G) Firmware issues on L322X:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19522061

H) Inspiron 5720 17R booting problem:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/laptop/f/3518/t/19579193

I) Solved: Bios upgrade:

https://forums.techguy.org/threads/solved-bios-upgrade.1044089/

J) How to Flash modified or original BIOS:

https://www.bios-mods.com/forum/Thread-HOW-TO-FLASH-MODIFIED-OR-ORIGINAL-BIOS

K) HP tool (Flash Package), which can create a bootable USB key:

http://www.mediafire.com/download/1b2zr67o1y5v4gr/FLASH+PACKAGE.rar

Configuration:

Laptop from 2012:                     Lenovo IdeaPad Z580, Model 2151, Core i5, System Board LZ3A

BIOS version:                            5FCN34WW

UBC version:                             5FEC32WW

OS:                                            Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

RAM:                                         2 x 4 GB

HDD:                                         Hitachi 700 GB

Graphic:                                    Intel HD Graphics 3000

Author:

Torpilot                                 ***********Hotmail.com

Date:                                         October 5, 2015

Mod's Edit: Email address removed to protect owner from its unwanted use.

I first want to say thank you for such an informative, detailed write-up. 

Everything in the procedure worked for me, with no issues, until the (optional) step of "Download and install the latest original BIOS Lenovo Support." I downloaded the Z580 BIOS updater from Link A, released 8/13/2014. Upon attempting the installation of the first file, Public.exe, it appears to be successful, the computer reboots, and then is stuck gets stuck in an infinite boot loop asking to select the boot device. This has been detailed by other users, Link B.

If you decide to attempt the Lenovo BIOS update and get stuck in this boot loop, try the following:

• When the boot device screen comes up, press tab to select Bios Options
• Under Bios Options, scroll to the rightmost menu and change the boot type from UEFI to Legacy (Link B). This allows the PC to boot, but under a slow legacy debugging mode - things are NOT fixed at this point. 
• Insert your bootable USB key, containing Flash.bat and then restart the computer
• When the computer boots, keep pressing F12 to choose the boot device, and move the USB key to the top of the list
• The portable Windows 98 OS will then start from the USB key, and you can reinstall the BIOS from the "Flash.bat" file. 

Note, I did not have to reactivate Windows after this procedure. 

System Specifications:

• Lenovo Z580, model 2151, manufactured 2012/05/24
• Core i5-3210M processor
• 2x4 GB RAM
• Intel HD3000 graphics
• Windows 7 home premium 64-bit OS

A) http://support.lenovo.com/us/en/products/laptops-and-netbooks/ideapad-z-series-laptops/ideapad-z580/...

B) https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-P-Y-and-Z-series/Ideapad-Z580-stuck-on-Boot-Menu-after-BIOS-upda...

I am definitely going to try this with my dad's pc when I next see him. He started having these symptoms a few days ago, as posted here: https://forums.lenovo.com/t5/Lenovo-P-Y-and-Z-series/Z580-black-screen/m-p/2255120#M138693

Thank you for the detailed write up, really appreciate it. I just hope it works!

Hallo,

first, sorry for my bad English, hope you understand me.

Have the same issue with my Z580. My USB-drive is equiped in the way described.

It appeard first some weeks before christmas 2015. Because I need my laptop at the moment, I let him run, all the time.  I switched it off by accident one times, one time an Windows-update, and the day before yesterday, I got a bluescreen. Now the laptop doesnt start anymore. Tried it several times. Guess about 200 times for now. But nothing happens.

Are there ways to force the laptop to start? Im sitting in front of my open window, to cool it down, and its cold outside...

Or can I update the Bios in another way? Without the laptop running?

Dont know, what to do. Dont want to buy a new laptop, if the problem can be solved that easily.

I put mine in a bag and then in the fridge :)

Your method fixed my issue.

The problem you described was precisly what I was having.

The laptop was laying around for a week-- unable to do anything with it unitl I stumbled across your solution. It took me about a day of idly turning the laptop off and on trying to switch the BIOS order. Then another day trying to get it to boot for the second time and finally booting through the USB.

I'm so glad you took the time and effort to write on the forum your solution. I'm eternally grateful as this laptop costed me a pretty dime and I really thought it was for trash.

Thanks again. :heart:

Hello spacemudd.

Thank you for your much valued feedback. It makes me happy to hear that you could use my recipe. Great to be able to help others. Have a good time.

I just want to mirror what spacemudd said. I finally got around to looking at my dads laptop at the weekend and it's now working, and £300 on a new laptop has been saved. Thank you very much. 

Although, I almost gave up when it wouldn't boot from the USB! Turns out, there was a setting in the BIOS where you can turn USB boot on or off. Once I found that, everything was a piece of cake!

Thanks again.

My one doesnt start anymore ...

Is there any possibility to force the laptop to start?

Or to get into the dos-mode?

Is it the colder the better for booting?

Thanks for help