T60 BIOS flash gone bad. Laptop Bricked. Recovery options?

[dvpatel]

While helping out a cousin of mine, I tried to flash their 15.4" Widescreen T60 (not T60p) and the process hung after saying backing up old BIOS. I waited for a while and then killed the process. I was running the BIOS update on Windows 7. I tried to reflash while in the OS and got an error. I figured the BIOS flash never started (it never said Erasing Block 1 and Writing Block 1 like it normally does) I'd reboot and try again. When I rebooted, I got a black screen. When I turn on the machine, I get the caps lock and num lock light to light up along with the HDD light and then they go off. The Power and the other light with a circle with a z in it stay on. The CD ROM Spins if there's a disk in it and then nothing. I have tried BIOS recovery procedures from mydigitallife and also tried to create a DOS Bootable disk with the phlash16 and the clean BIOS without luck. The CD Spins and sounds like it gets read but then nothing happens.

Do I have any hope?

[Harryc]

Unfortunately it sounds like the BIOS flash hung after having started. Consequently your friends T60 has been the victim of a bad BIOS flash. I do not know of any conventional fix except for systemboard replacement. There are several folks on this forum who do professional repair if the machine is out of warranty. Send me a PM for recommendations. If it under warranty, contact Lenovo. Chances are if you explain that you did everything correctly they will repair it under warranty.

[richk]

what is the full 7-character type? (from the bar code sticker)

[GrandMasterKhan]

You should never abort the process even if you think there is a problem its best to let the software resolve itself no matter how long it takes. Im crossing my fingers you are still under warranty.

[dvpatel]

Unfortunately, the T60 is well out of its warranty. The Product ID is: 6371CTO. The type is listed as: 6371-CTO on the bar code sticker.

[richk]

That is an intel-based wide screen model. Those boards are very hard to find. What are you hoping to do? Get a board and fix it yourself? Have it fixed? Replace the machine? I have one of those I bought for a customer who has not responded when I told him it had come in. If you are interested, I will let you know the status after I try again to talk to him. The one I have is like the ones that would be used if your machine was under warranty. (servicable used part, still sealed in the IBM bag) PM me if you wish to discuss

[sjthinkpader]

Unfortunately, the T60 is well out of its warranty. The Product ID is: 6371CTO. The type is listed as: 6371-CTO on the bar code sticker.

Well, call them up and bash them on the BOS update utility and see how far you get.

[GrandMasterKhan]

I hope you find a good resolution Braddah. This is why I recommend having support on the phone when doing BIOS flash updates. You get them involved and follow their instructions step by step. If something happens, well you followed instructions and used thier BIOS so how can it be your fault? My IT manager routinely does this with Dell and HP systems getting them involved in case of a Black Swan event like a brick. lol.

Anyway Braddah, you can still make an omlette with broken eggs. Maybe disassemble and eBay all the parts and use the proceeds to get a T510 ot W510 if your cousin doesn't hang you first.

[dvpatel]

Well, she's not going to hang me but I need to do it right by her and fix her laptop for her. What key combinations are there that I can try to force flash the BIOS? I guess if there are no options, I would need a board. I have never opened a laptop except to add RAM so I am clueless about laptop boards. Know all I need to know about desktops.