SL510 crashed in the middle of BIOS upgrade.

[samiamgreeneggs]

I had to reinstall the OS (Windows 7) using my rescue disks after my computer was infected with a virus. The re-installation went fine and I went about downloading a series of updates via Windows Update. I also did some software updates via the Lenovo tools. While it was upgrading overnight, apparently it hung on the BIOS upgrade and made a variety of noises so my wife got annoyed at turned off the computer. Now, I just get a black screen when I turn on the computer. The rescue disk no longer work. I also tried the bootable BIOS CD-ROM (http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?DocID=DS013595) and that didn't do anything either. Any suggestions?

[Justin_1120]

Hello saminamgreeneggs,

Within the research i have done it looks like it going to be a system board replacement. If you are under warranty you can call into support center.

Here is a helpful link:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?DocID=​HT036550

[samiamgreeneggs]

Justin,

Thank you for looking into this. Unfortunately, the link you provided doesn't seem to work. Also, this laptop is no longer under warranty. I hope you can appreciate my frustration that my Lenovo laptop is now a brick because of a faulty Lenovo update and yet it doesn't seem like Lenovo wants to pay for the repairs. Is there anyone I can contact regarding this?

[Justin_1120]

I do apologize for the inconvenience. Here is the link again:

http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?DocID=PD008370

[Hiro Retired Support Specialist]

Hey Samiamgreeneggs,

The issues your having seems at first beyond repair but could I ask if you were ever given this option?

In the old days it used to be true if the BIOS flash went bad, you were out of luck, not so much anymore. Usually it will ask you if you want to do a backup of the current BIOS setup before you install the new one. Did you do a backup?

Can you run this: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-73435

Best Regards,

Hiro

[samiamgreeneggs]

Hiro,

Thanks for the help. The link you sent me is for an .exe file. If  I can't run the computer(I turn it on and the hard drive spins a little and I get a black screen), how can I run an .exe file? I tried running something similar (I linked to it in my original post) which is supposed to be a bootable CD (http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/downloads/detail.page?&LegacyDocID=MIGR-73436) but that didn't work either. I was going to try it again (burn a new disc). Is there an easy way of disconnecting the HD to make sure the computer boots from the CD?

[Hiro Retired Support Specialist]

Hey Samiamgreeneggs,

I know what your saying and I just tried to find anything we could do then say that you had to replace your motherboard. You are right and I apologize for offering something that wouldn't work. On your second question you can remove the HDD to force it try to boot from CD if your CD drive is in your Boot priority list which it should be. Once again I was just grasping at straws and I guess I should have just not offered it as a solution.

Best Regards,

Hiro

[samiamgreeneggs]

I appreciate the honesty. I feel like I hear both the CD drive and the HD drive running when I try to use the boot CD I linked to, which is why I was thinking of maybe disconnecting the hard drive.

My real frustration is with why Lenovo decided to include a BIOS upgrade with all the other upgrades when I ran the toolbox. From everything I've read, you don't mess with the BIOS firmware (for reasons which are painfully obvious at this point). Based on your profile, I can see that you were helping another customer with the same issue on a different model. I'm hardly the only person out there with this issue.  Is there someone in your customer relations group I can speak with in terms of getting Lenovo to pay for the repairs? It seems ridiculous that the Lenovo software destroyed my laptop and because it's out of warranty Lenovo won't pay for the repair.

[Hiro Retired Support Specialist]

Hey Samiamgreeneggs,

I can understand your frustration and would feel the same way if this happened to me. With other computer compaies not just Lenovo's they wont cover BIOS firmware lockups like what you are having. Lenovo is one of the few companies that is helping people under warranty with BIOS lockups unlike many other computer manufacturer. I wish there was more we could do for you, I will post a number you can try to call and get a case set up and try to get it escalated to Customer relations team.

      http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/feedback/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-76613

Best Regards,

Hiro

[samiamgreeneggs]

After running the bootable CD again, allow me to clarify. The CD drive is engaged for a few seconds and then HD runs. Is there an issue with the bootable CD?