While I was trying to downgrade from Middleton 2.22 BIOS, I accidentally flashed the official 1.10 BIOS without downgrading the ECP to 1.02. The flash went OK while I was in Windows 7, but when I reboot it, the screen remained black, the power light is on, the fan is on, but there is no other responses. Did I just brick it? I feel especially painful because it is a somewhat high-end T8300 model.
Additional context/questions:
- I was trying to switch from regular Middleton to SXGA+ Middleton, for LCD upgrade. I tried directly flashing the SXGA+ Middleton but the new LCD won't light up, so I thought a downgrade followed by another Middleton flash might work.
- When I tried downgrade, I first used WINUPTP.EXE (instead of WinPhlash.exe) to install 1.10 BIOS + 1.02 ECP. It used to work but today it says my system is incompatible. That's why I switched to WinPhlash.EXE. It appears that WINUPTP.EXE will correctly match ECP with BIOS version during flashing, while WinPhlash doesn't care about ECP. I still have no clue why it used to work but not this time.
- I have a separate working X61. I plugged that X61's LCD into the bricked system board, same issue. I plugged the bricked LCD into that X61's system board, it works. So, the issue is definitely in the system board.
- I read about Phoenix bios crisis tool: https://www.bios-mods.com/bios-recovery ... -recovery/ I'm not sure if X61 is phoenix but I tried it anyway. I couldn't get it to work. I also tried it on my other working X61. Fn+R or Fn+B does not activate the BIOS recover mode. So, I manually boot into the recover USB, the screen says Remove and USB and Press any key. I did that and nothing happened. The system continued to boot. I wonder if the tool even works for X61?
- I tried CMOS battery drain, power drain, memory reinstall. No effect.
- The HDD light no longer lights up or flashes. I doubt the system ever reaches POST.
Anything helps. Thank you!
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Need help: X61 bricked from BIOS and ECP version mismatch
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Re: Need help: X61 bricked from BIOS and ECP version mismatch
How about trying to boot from an external CD/DVD or the X6x-dock instead of USB (or v.v.)?
As a last resort, see if this helps: https://w3ask.com/guide-flash-bios-spi- ... rogrammer/
As a last resort, see if this helps: https://w3ask.com/guide-flash-bios-spi- ... rogrammer/
Lovely day for a Guinness! (The Real Black Stuff)
Re: Need help: X61 bricked from BIOS and ECP version mismatch
It is not enough to flash Middleton's SXGA+ BIOS. If you then just put in the SXGA+ screen you could brick your planar, the pimout is different and you require an adapter of one form or another (check the pinouts to confirm). If that's what you've done flashing the BIOS won't help.
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