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New motherboard = Have to wipe HDD?

  • 01-11-2005 03:58AM
    #1
    Laguna
    Closed Accounts Posts: 2,639 ✭✭✭


    Hi there, big problem here.

    Tonight I got an email from HP-Compaq to go to their website to download and install the (critical) update for my motherboard. So I went and downloaded the new BIOS, ran the setup, the BIOS was flashed and it told me to restart. When the computer restarts it doesn't even load the BIOS screen at all, the fans go at full power and the screen stays blank.

    Basically, I'm aware the motherboard is ****ed now and am rightly pissed of at Compaq for ****ing up my computer. :mad:

    Now that I can't use my computer at all in its current state, it looks like I'm going to have to buy a Motherboard/RAM/Processor upgrade kit from Komplett. My question is...

    If I buy this upgrade kit and install it, will I have to wipe my HDD memory and lose all my programs/documents and have to reinstall windows?


Comments

  • #2
    Inspector Gadget
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,393 ✭✭✭Inspector Gadget


    Befoer you go off buying new parts, contact HPaq. It's possible that the board can be returned, or (better yet) that they'll send you a replacement BIOS ROM, assuming it's socketed. Especially since it happened after you were advised by them to do so!

    What you've done (accidentally of course) has only damaged the software that allows the motherboard to function, rather than the motherboard itself, which is almost certainly mechanically and electrically fine (assuming it was so before you flashed it). Get on to HPaq, tell them what happened, and they'll walk you through your options with that particular motherboard (depending on whether your board has a socketed Flash BIOS chip and isn't too old to have fallen off the end of HPaq's list of supported systems).

    There's a slim possibility that you may have to pay a little for a replacement chip and/or shipping, if you're out of warranty, but it should be a darn sight less than the price of the upgrade kit.

    Hope this helps,
    Gadget


  • #3
    Cabaal
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators, Regional South East Moderators Posts: 28,554 Mod ✭✭✭✭Cabaal


    Inspector Gadget wrote:
    Befoer you go off buying new parts, contact HPaq. It's possible that the board can be returned, or (better yet) that they'll send you a replacement BIOS ROM, assuming it's socketed. Especially since it happened after you were advised by them to do so!

    three words:

    Software Terms & Conditions,
    Most likely somewhere you agreed that if run the software and your house goes on fire its nothing to do with them


  • #4
    WizZard
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,762 ✭✭✭WizZard


    Where are you located? I might be able to reflash the chip for you if you tell me the type it is, and provide the BIOS image.

    I would contact HP/Compaq first though, if I were you.


  • #5
    Inspector Gadget
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,393 ✭✭✭Inspector Gadget


    Cabaal wrote:
    three words:

    Software Terms & Conditions,
    Most likely somewhere you agreed that if run the software and your house goes on fire its nothing to do with them

    In case you didn't notice, I didn't say they'd do it for nothing (the probability is that they may charge a small fee - of a few euro - and send out a new chip pre-programmed with the relevant BIOS). However, if they (Hpaq) sent an e-mail requesting that this new BIOS be applied (you are sure that the e-mail and the site you downloaded the BIOS from are legit, right Laguna?) then I'd suspect it's a very different story to if the user goes and downloads a BIOS update off the HP website of their own volition, applies it to the computer, and then things go south - I suspect the user has a bit more of a leg to stand on in this instance...

    Gadget


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