[Guncho]

So I'm embarrassed to post this as I should know better but my wife was complaining her computer was having problems connecting to websites. It would display the windows error message then it would automatically reload the correct page. So I started doing all the windows updates that were pending and there was some optional driver, bios and firmware updates as well so I figured, what the heck, might as well do those as well. So every time the computer said it had to restart I did and then it started saying the computer needed to be restarted to do the firmware/bios update so I restarted it and nothing happened but when the computer booted up it said the same message again so I restarted it again. This happened a few times but one time on a restart, the computer just started beeping and there was a progress bar. I let it go for a while but the bar never moved and the noise was frustrating me so I manually turned the laptop off. There was no warning on the screen about not turning the power off. I thought it was stuck or something. I turned it back on and a few lights came on the keyboard but nothing on the screen. So I think I turned the power off during a bios/firmware update. Google seems to say it's fixable by downloading the bios from Lenovo's website on another computer and putting it on a usb stick but at this point I am afraid to touch it.

It's still under warranty and I heard back from Lenovo and here are my options:

1 Ship the laptop to Texas. I'm guessing this could take a while with covid and there's chance we will never see this laptop again or they will have to wipe it. It would be nice to not lose everything on her laptop but not the end of the world.

2 I try and find a local repair place and see if they can fix it. If they can't I can always ship it to Texas.

What would you do?

EDIT For Canada it's North Bay not Texas.

 

[Doug Gifford]

If I was in your position I'd take it to the Canada Computers store in Kingston.

 

[Guncho]

If I was in your position I'd take it to the Canada Computes store in Kingston.

I'm in Oakville so a little far.

 

[BlueRocker]

Google seems to say it's fixable by downloading the bios from Lenovo's website on another computer and putting it on a usb stick but at this point I am afraid to touch it.

Do this - you can't do any more damage. Be patient.

 

[Doug Gifford]

I'm in Oakville so a little far.

There's one in Oakville.

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www.canadacomputers.com

 

[Guncho]

Do this - you can't do any more damage. Be patient.

Couldn't I?

I fear I could and would rather take it to a pro.

 

[terminalvertigo]

Check your local Kijiji for tech help. It'll be cheaper than a store

 

[knight_yyz]

I can probably fix it. If you want to bring it to Hamilton

 

[fretzel]

Trying pulling the battery for a few minutes. There is also a key sequence to help with this reboot but i can't recall it right now.

 

[Guncho]

Trying pulling the battery for a few minutes. There is also a key sequence to help with this reboot but i can't recall it right now.

I think I would have to open the case to access the battery.

 

[fretzel]

I think I would have to open the case to access the battery.

That's a pain if that's the case. Make sure that there is no sticker saying that you will avoid the warranty if you decide to try.

Trying to find the sequence I mentioned for you.

 

[fretzel]

Haha. Should have remembered this.

Unplug, pull battery, press and hold power for 10 seconds, install and plug in. Restart.

 

[Guncho]

Haha. Should have remembered this.

Unplug, pull battery, press and hold power for 10 seconds, install and plug in. Restart.

I don't see a sticker but I don't want to risk voiding the warranty.

Thanks though.

 

[fretzel]

I don't see a sticker but I don't want to risk voiding the warranty.

Thanks though.

I can appreciate that. I recently had a black screen and this method worked for me. I have pulled the battery before to fix this type of thing but this time I had to hold the power to get it back up and running. Laptop is over 10 years old.

 

[Diablo]

So I'm embarrassed to post this as I should know better but my wife was complaining her computer was having problems connecting to websites. It would display the windows error message then it would automatically reload the correct page. So I started doing all the windows updates that were pending and there was some optional driver, bios and firmware updates as well so I figured, what the heck, might as well do those as well. So every time the computer said it had to restart I did and then it started saying the computer needed to be restarted to do the firmware/bios update so I restarted it and nothing happened but when the computer booted up it said the same message again so I restarted it again. This happened a few times but one time on a restart, the computer just started beeping and there was a progress bar. I let it go for a while but the bar never moved and the noise was frustrating me so I manually turned the laptop off. There was no warning on the screen about not turning the power off. I thought it was stuck or something. I turned it back on and a few lights came on the keyboard but nothing on the screen. So I think I turned the power off during a bios/firmware update. Google seems to say it's fixable by downloading the bios from Lenovo's website on another computer and putting it on a usb stick but at this point I am afraid to touch it.

It's still under warranty and I heard back from Lenovo and here are my options:

1 Ship the laptop to Texas. I'm guessing this could take a while with covid and there's chance we will never see this laptop again or they will have to wipe it. It would be nice to not lose everything on her laptop but not the end of the world.

2 I try and find a local repair place and see if they can fix it. If they can't I can always ship it to Texas.

What would you do?

EDIT For Canada it's North Bay not Texas.

What would I do?
tell my wife the truth....that I was looking at porn on it and it’s best if that’s all she knew, since we are now in this together, and to burn the laptop and buy a new one.

 

[Electraglide]

Is there a Best Buy around? They might be able to help. These guys,

Geek Squad Winston Park Retail Centre: Technical Support in Oakville, ON

Visit your local Geek Squad at 2500 Winston Park Dr., Unit A in Oakville, ON to get support from our certified agents to help setup, repair & protect your tech products.

stores.bestbuy.ca

Any time I do bios and firmware upgrades or install new operating systems, things like that I hard wire to the router and not go wireless and if it's a laptop have it plugged in and not on battery.

 

[StratCat]

Buy a guitar. It will take your mind off of things.

 

[player99]

When you update the BIOS it removes all your settings. You will need to reconfigure the BIOS for your wife's machine. The BIOS is the program that tells the computer what it has for ram, hard drives, all types of settings. When you restart the machine you need to watch what it says like "hit delete to open BIOS". Then the BIOS program will open up and the settings will be accessable. I would be careful not to screw up the hard drive settings in case you get the sectors wrong and then the drive won't recognize what is on it already. This is not a big deal for a computer guy I don't think.

 

[Guncho]

When you update the BIOS it removes all your settings. You will need to reconfigure the BIOS for your wife's machine. The BIOS is the program that tells the computer what it has for ram, hard drives, all types of settings. When you restart the machine you need to watch what it says like "hit delete to open BIOS". Then the BIOS program will open up and the settings will be accessable. I would be careful not to screw up the hard drive settings in case you get the sectors wrong and then the drive won't recognize what is on it already. This is not a big deal for a computer guy I don't think.

The problem is the screen is black. I can't get into the setup screen or any screen.

 

[Paul Running]

The laptop is bricked. To unbrick you will need a recovery disk...lots of them floating on the net. The recovery will need to be done at the low-level stage.