Computer with W8.1 out

[Aelin]

Here we go with the story of the laptop.
For those who haven't seen the talk in the Coffee Shop, yesterday my laptop was opened with DS4 (and wasn't connected on the web). I was only on DS4 to save a pose in DS format.
I left maybe 2 minutes to do something, then when I was back, laptop freeze. I shutted it off, because I couldn't do by another way.
Then I restarted the laptop after 1 minute. Saw HP screen, the empty screen after... and nothing more.

My hard drive turns inside (regularly the light is shown). And I hear the laptop who search to continue its way. I wait 5, 10 minutes, the screen stays desperatly empty (kind of grey/black).

From yesterday, I found some manips to try, like one or other F button. No one works.
I tried ctrl+Alt+Supp . No change.
I tried the Windows button + B . Said like that, except a cligning screen, no change.

Then at midday, I found again the story of Windows button+B. But this time, I must click on buttons before to turn on, then keep a moment clicked buttons. And for the first time I saw the BIOS! 
Well, in fact it's a process named "HP BIOS Update". It's seeking to "grab" an image of BIOS (first step 2048 something, then another step with same number). Laptop is ok with that, it seems it's a success. I have a black screen where I must click on Enter button - or not if I'm too slow.
But I'm back on the grey/black screen, and even after 10 minutes I have no change.

I tried several time this thing with HP Bios, and like it doesn't work well alone, I tried the F buttons. They always don't work.

[Aelin]

First part with the 2 times 2048 blocks, I have this message (I shorted, with no red part)

"the system bios is being recovered. The recovery will take several minutes to complete.

Writing new bios image"

Then I have the "verifying new bios image".

After "system bios recovery is complete"

Then when the black screen with words, I have
"a system bios recovery has occured
BIOS recovery (500)

Enter - continue"

And I don't know why after.

[Chiron]

Hi Aelin,

so far I kept my mouth shut because too many cooks spoil the broth, but now that you made a thread of it perhaps I can contribute my 2¢ of cheap wisdom :winks:

What you say, in particular that you can see the HP screen and the BIOS, is sort of encouraging and would suggest that most of the hardware is still OK - with the possible exception of the hard disk, but on this point there's no saying until you have a working operating system.

If you cannot get the BIOS updated on line you probably can still download the latest BIOS for your laptop from another computer and then load it manually to your laptop via USB. [I've seen your update - you don't need this, your BIOS is already OK]

If you have access to a Windows PE (one that can boot from USB), that would be precious to further diagnose what's wrong with your computer. If you're lucky it could be just a faulty sector or a corrupted track on the HD. If you don't have Win PE send me a PM and we'll look together for a way out.

[McGrandpa]

Wow, I'm sorry to hear about the trouble you are having Aelin. 

That you did get the BIOS screen seems to say the CPU and Video chip are working.  That it won't go on to boot Windows seems to say a controller chip or the HD has failed.   So not all is lost maybe?

[Aelin]

  Hard disk is what I have more precious. Some things for job are onto, and I hadn't time to take them on the external.

I have nothing from Win PE, and I guess I must have a key for W8? Alas laptop has only what came with it in basic installation, I never bought elsewhere.

I read too it's possible issue came from RAM? But that asks to open laptop

[Chiron]

With a bit of luck most (if not all) of your files are still there and can be recovered by reading them and backing them up onto a new HD. With two bits of luck the only malfunctioning area is just a small section of the system.

Perhaps I can help with PE. Mail to chiron (at) chiron-scriba.com. Finding an installation disk for Win8 shouldn't be too difficult.

I wouldn't put my money on a DRAM fault but I cannot rule it out either. If it is, don't worry: there are zillions of things in the world worse than opening a laptop :smile:

P.S.: I live near Munich - if you're in France, almost 'round the corner.

[Aelin]

One of last resort with Win PE (this will remove all of my hard drive or not?  )

I have started again my comp, and this time I had something in the down left corner, before HP screen. I arrived on the BIOS, with all options, and a series of bip very long.
Impossible to use arrows, nor the Enter button.
And I'm back to the grey/black screen now.

It's alive, it's try to stay alive.

[Aelin]

Standby guys!
I restarted again and F10 button. I took a photo, I must extract it. Wait a minute, even if I don't know if you can do something.
This time series of bip stopped

[Aelin]

Here it is
(yes, I haven't the "primary battery sn" inside)

[Aelin]

In the BIOS tab "system configuration" I have

Language                      <ENGLISH>
Virtualization technology  <ENABLED>
Card reader power saving <ENABLED>
fan always on                  <ENABLED>
action keyw mode            <ENABLED>
usb3.0 configuration in Pre-OS <ENABLED>
Boot options

Then I have a lot of things in "boot options". First of all is "POST hotkey delay (dec)    <0>"