Is it possible to swap out bios?

[jd777wolf]

I have an hp n5430 and as you may know, it runs hot. I think the bios fried or something. I checked out the peripherals and made sure that the entire motherboard was not fried. There's still life! But what I really want to know is... can I swap the bios chip with that of another motherboard? $300 for a new one just isn't an option right now.

[BipolarBill]

How can we possibly know what you have - this is your first post! LOL!

Welcome to SysOpt.

What makes you think that you need a new BIOS chip? What's causing the heat? Is the CPU fan working? Is it turning too slowly?

Give us the symptoms before you jump. http://membres.lycos.fr/limagerie/smiley_hot01.gif

[jd777wolf]

Sorry for jumping the gun, but i have already researched this quite a bit trying to avoid declaring it dead.
HP admits that the particular model I own runs hot. Yeah, so what they were trying to get me to do was send them my motherboard and they'll take a look at it. Right...I'll get a hefty bill in the mail, no thanx.
I already tested my amd duron 850mhz on another comp and it worked. I tested the video card also and that works fine. hard disk... perfect. Everything seems to be working yet it doesn't want to boot up. All that happens is the fan turns on and then dies after 2 secs. I've read other posts just like mine.
In conclusion (sorry for the lenthy reply) I'm deperate here!

[Sterling_Aug]

First, check for shorts starting with the drive power connectors. Make sure the floppy drive power plug is on the right pins and tight. Look for loose wires, screws laying on the motherboard, etc.

Motherboards DO NOT run hot. Processors do, but I have never seen an HP run much over room temp unless it was going South.

Have you replaced the power supply yet? HP's use the smallest cheap *** power supplies I have ever seen.

[jd777wolf]

Thanx for the suggestion, Sterling_Aug. I have checked for loose wires and any screws laying around. All that checked out. I even replaced the phase-change compound wherever it had it. As for replacing the power supply, are you referring to a different brand of AC adaptor and battery? If not, please fill me in. Forgive my ignorance.

[BipolarBill]

Oh man - this is not a laptop, is it?


Yes it is. That's what assumptions will do. Only HP can service this unit.

[jd777wolf]

That IS a tragedy, though I already knew that.

I appreciate your help, but I'm not going to pay that much for a new board. I'd rather just buy a new laptop. It's time for an upgrade anyway.

You still haven't answered my question, though. I have the chip puller and a sodering gun, (pen, its small) if necessary. Theoretically, would the chip recognize the other controllers?

Let me know if you could, you know, for ****s and giggles.

[ukulele]

If you have another motherboard, and it's working, why don't you swap it out. If the boards are different I seriously doubt it would work especially on a laptop. I suppose if there is no hope for the laptop you could try it. Stranger fixes have worked for me. :D

[Ammok]

If you got two identical chips, should work. But it will not run any cooler and probably fry the same way the last one did.

Laptop.ROTFLMAO.:D had us all going that time.:D

Get a new laptop.:)

[stix_kua]

Originally posted by Ammok
Get a new laptop.:)

no no no no no...get a nice desktop...for however much you wish to spend on a new lapop, that much cash invested in a laptop could make you the happiest person on earth....:D

[Ammok]

Yeah, your right, never owned a laptop nor do i untend too, not untill they can slaughter my pc and i can open the b*ggers without a crowbar.

[Terminator]

I don't know how good 'customer support' (cough) is with HP. If your able to solder on a bios chip you must be extremely good at soldering cuz those connections are tiny. What will be very frustrating for you is that HP will have these chips kicking around doing nothing and costing them pennies and will charge you a fortune to fix your motherboard.
I once goosed a flash with a SOYO 5EHM motherboard and SOYO could not be better I sent the bios chip off to Holland I think it was and they flashed it properly for me and sent it back ... cost??? nothing except the postage I paid. Remember mine was a socketed bios chip so was easy to pull and send off.

If you are 100% sure it is the bios chip then it's worth asking them just to send you the chip and solder it in. Only other alternative is scan ebay or other auctions for someone selling a similar laptop for parts and you might get lucky.
HP claiming the laptop runs hot they will be meaning the CPU/drives/etc and not the bios chip. Never come across a bios chip in laptops getting remotely hot.
I don't think you'll have any chance of picking up the chip from anywhere else except HP because it will be specifically designed by HP for their laptop.
Only way I can see a bios chip blowing is by getting some cr@p on the connections and it shorting out.
List the chip code and I'll have a hunt for you.

If you get the chip happy soldering.

T

:t

[Sterling_Aug]

I bought an HP laptop a few months ago. AMD 1100 MHz for $675.

Not a bad deal.