Factory reset of INSYDE BIOS?

[bdm]

I've been running my 2023 Lafite Pro 14 with dual boot Win 11 and ubuntu 22.04 without problem for over 18 months. After upgrading the ubuntu from 22.04 to 24.04.1 the machine has refused to load any OS at all, even from all the live boot usb things I've tried, with or without Secure Boot enabled in the BIOS. The machine boots into the grub menu (whether on the internal ssd or on an external usb drive) but whichever OS I select the boot process quickly halts with a black screen and a non-blinking underline cursor in the top left of the screen. The only exception to this is that with Secure Boot disabled, the Windows OS puts up the message "Preparing Automatic Repair" and stays at that with no change for as long as I've waited (over 1 hour).

I can read the ssd on another machine and it appears fine. Moreover, with or without the ssd present inside the Lafite, trying to boot from a live usb gives the same result (always with Secure Boot disabled).

My conclusion (though I'm ready to be corrected) is that there is a problem with the BIOS, probably security related, which is blocking all OS boots.

QUESTIONS:
1) Do I need to do some sort of reset on the BIOS? If so, how? If with a reset a live boot is still not possible then what else should I try?
2) If I do such a reset, would there then be a way to boot the existing OS on my usb (I'm primarily interested in booting the ubuntu) without having to do a fresh install of Ubuntu and/or Windows 11?

bdm

Chassis & Display
Lafité Pro Series: 14" Matte Full HD 60 Hz 72% NTSC LED Widescreen (1920x1080)
Processor (CPU)
Intel® Core™ i5 12 Core Processor 1240P (1.7GHz, 4.4GHz Turbo)
Memory (RAM)
16GB Corsair 3200MHz SODIMM DDR4 (1 x 16GB)
Graphics Card
Integrated Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
1st M.2 SSD Drive
500GB SAMSUNG 980 PRO M.2, PCIe NVMe (up to 6900MB/R, 5000MB/W)
Memory Card Reader
Integrated 6 in 1 Card Reader (SD /Mini SD/ SDHC / SDXC / MMC / RSMMC)
AC Adaptor
1 x 90W AC Adaptor
Power Cable
1 x 1.5 Metre Cloverleaf UK Power Cable
Battery
Lafité Pro Series Integrated 53WH Lithium Ion Battery
Sound Card
2 Channel High Definition Audio + MIC/Headphone Jack
Bluetooth & Wireless
GIGABIT LAN & WIRELESS INTEL® Wi-Fi 6E AX210 (2.4 Gbps) + BT 5.0
USB/Thunderbolt Options
1 x THUNDERBOLT 4 + 1 x USB 3.2 (TYPE C) + 2 x USB 3.2
Keyboard Language
LAFITÉ PRO SERIES SINGLE COLOUR BACKLIT UK KEYBOARD
Operating System
NO OPERATING SYSTEM REQUIRED
Operating System Language
United Kingdom - English Language
Windows Recovery Media
NO RECOVERY MEDIA REQUIRED
Office Software
FREE 30 Day Trial of Microsoft 365® (Operating System Required)
Anti-Virus
Norton 360 inc. Game Optimizer - Free 90 Day License
Browser
Google Chrome™
Notebook Mouse
INTEGRATED 2 BUTTON TOUCHPAD MOUSE
Webcam
INTEGRATED 1MP HD WEBCAM
Warranty
3 Year Standard Warranty (1 Month Collect & Return, 1 Year Parts, 3 Year Labour)

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

So If you enable secure boot you can load a windows installer?

 

[bdm]

I've not tried a windows installer disk. I presumed that disabling secure boot and trying to boot another system was easier.

If a windows live usb boots ok, would that enable me just to do a reinstall of my current windows partition? Would there be hope of "reviving" the ubuntu os from that position? What, at present, is preventing other non-windows os from booting, and how might that change by reinstalling windows?

At present I'm thinking I could clone both the windows and (more importantly) the ubuntu partitions in case I can revive them somehow after wiping the ssd. (It's the settings and software I have in the ubuntu partition that would take a lot of effort to set up from scratch; the windows setup is less important.)

bdm

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

I've not tried a windows installer disk. I presumed that disabling secure boot and trying to boot another system was easier.

If a windows live usb boots ok, would that enable me just to do a reinstall of my current windows partition? Would there be hope of "reviving" the ubuntu os from that position? What, at present, is preventing other non-windows os from booting, and how might that change by reinstalling windows?

At present I'm thinking I could clone both the windows and (more importantly) the ubuntu partitions in case I can revive them somehow after wiping the ssd. (It's the settings and software I have in the ubuntu partition that would take a lot of effort to set up from scratch; the windows setup is less important.)

bdm

Until we know if the windows boot works or not, I'm not sure what the issue is, there's no reason you shouldn't be able to load any live OS boot disk as that's operating independently of the laptop. BIOS wouldn't have any effect on that, only if the CPU had failed.

 

[bdm]

I've tried to boot from a windows installer disk but to no avail - whether secure boot is on or not. With secure boot on, the usb device shows activity for about 20 seconds on so and then all goes still. Throughout this nothing more than the PCS logo is on the screen.

bdm

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

I've tried to boot from a windows installer disk but to no avail - whether secure boot is on or not. With secure boot on, the usb device shows activity for about 20 seconds on so and then all goes still. Throughout this nothing more than the PCS logo is on the screen.

bdm

how are you booting the disk? And are you sure you’re booting the right partition if it’s showing multiple in the boot options?

 

[bdm]

I select the usb using the uEFI/bios screens. I've tried selecting all the available .efi files in all locations on the usb (except the arm version).

In desperation I have also selected "Erase all secure boot settings" and "Restore secure boot to factory settings" followed by selecting the UEFI file as trusted for execution. After this it's still the same behaviour as before: accessing the usb for 20 secs or so and then all quiet with only the PCS logo on the screen.

Thanks, @SpyderTracks for your continued support!

bdm

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

I've tried selecting all the available .efi files in all locations on the usb (except the arm version).

Not sure I'm following this, the boot menu doesn't list files unless I'm getting confused with what you're meaning?

In desperation I have also selected "Erase all secure boot settings" and "Restore secure boot to factory settings" followed by selecting the UEFI file as trusted for execution. After this it's still the same behaviour as before: accessing the usb for 20 secs or so and then all quiet with only the PCS logo on the screen.

It's nothing to do with secure boot or encryption keys, those are for the installed OS, not related to booting an ISO

 

[bdm]

Sorry, yes, I should have explained more. I've tried both options in the uEFI/bios:
Boot Manager -> select EFI boot device
and
Boot from file -> selecting .efi file.

I get no joy with making any selection available in the above as far as I can see: windows installer appears to start loading for a time then stops dead.
I've tried all these things with linux boot disks too, and at best I get the grub menu. Selecting an os in this menu may provoke a short spell of disk activity and then hangs.

I'm beginning to think I've got a serious problem somewhere...

bdm

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

Sorry, yes, I should have explained more. I've tried both options in the uEFI/bios:
Boot Manager -> select EFI boot device
and
Boot from file -> selecting .efi file.

I get no joy with making any selection available in the above as far as I can see: windows installer appears to start loading for a time then stops dead.
I've tried all these things with linux boot disks too, and at best I get the grub menu. Selecting an os in this menu may provoke a short spell of disk activity and then hangs.

I'm beginning to think I've got a serious problem somewhere...

bdm

Can you post a picture of the BIOS menu? I've never seen any configuration like that in a BIOS, I'm not certain it's the right section?

This is trying to boot the windows installer right? How did you create the windows USB?

 

[bdm]

I attach a picture or the main screen of options (from a similar machine - with an identical main screen). The Boot Manager option highlighted brings up a sub-menu of the possible boot locations; the other item to its right (Boot from File) allows selection of a specific .efi file for booting. It seems to be a "more specific" way of booting from media which contains a selection of different .efi files.

My windows installer was created following PCS instructions using Windows MediaCreationTool. The usb boots fine on the working machine, but on the Lafite it shows access for about 30 secs with PCS logo on the screen, and then probably about when the Windows rotating wheel normally appears just goes dead (usb light is on but no more blinking).

I've spoken now with technical support at PCS. They suggested resetting the CMOS and "flushing the power" (holding the power button for 30 secs) as a possible cure. Doing both these made no difference. The only option PCS give now is the RMA route.

Unless there is any clearer hope that the machine won't need a new motherboard once returned, it is looking as though a completely new machine may be the "solution".

If anyone has more ideas I'd be very appreciative! Thanks @SpyderTracks for your interest to this point.
And if anyone wants to offer anything for January 2023 Lafite Pro 14 spares then I may be open for business!

bdm

 

[bdm]

Ordered RMA with PCS. Spoke with Joshua to arrange a date and in filling him in on the reasons he suggested re-flashing the bios/uefi might sort it out. He sent me the relevant files, I did the re-flash - and afterwards all was back working normally!

They'd also said that if it was the motherboard that was at fault, then if I wasn't in a hurry they could get it repaired at a fraction of the cost of a new one. Well worth knowing!

Once again, very impressed by the support and attitude of PCS staff: they all seem to be very pleasant and technically well-versed!

A happy customer!

bdm

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

Ordered RMA with PCS. Spoke with Joshua to arrange a date and in filling him in on the reasons he suggested re-flashing the bios/uefi might sort it out. He sent me the relevant files, I did the re-flash - and afterwards all was back working normally!

They'd also said that if it was the motherboard that was at fault, then if I wasn't in a hurry they could get it repaired at a fraction of the cost of a new one. Well worth knowing!

Once again, very impressed by the support and attitude of PCS staff: they all seem to be very pleasant and technically well-versed!

A happy customer!

bdm

Well, that's a really good outcome, I wouldn't have guessed the BIOS reflash at all.

Really pleased it's sorted.

 

[MrMazlum]

I have been using Windows 11 and decided to dual boot with Ubuntu 24.04.1. I followed a YouTube tutorial, but it didn’t mention BitLocker. After partitioning 100GB for Ubuntu, I encountered an error message during the installation, and Windows 11 wouldn’t boot. I tried disabling Secure Boot, but it didn’t work. I also saw the "Preparing Automatic Repair" screen when booting without the flash drive. I have the same BIOS screen. I need a step-by-step guide to re-flash my BIOS. Can you help me with this or atleast send me the sources you used.

 

[TonyCarter]

I have been using Windows 11 and decided to dual boot with Ubuntu 24.04.1. I followed a YouTube tutorial, but it didn’t mention BitLocker. After partitioning 100GB for Ubuntu, I encountered an error message during the installation, and Windows 11 wouldn’t boot. I tried disabling Secure Boot, but it didn’t work. I also saw the "Preparing Automatic Repair" screen when booting without the flash drive. I have the same BIOS screen. I need a step-by-step guide to re-flash my BIOS. Can you help me with this or atleast send me the sources you used.

The steps are to contact PCS support and get them to walk you through it…assuming you have a PCS laptop.

 

[MrMazlum]

I am using Monster Tulpar T5 V23.4 . But it has the same bios screen and the same problems so i thought i could get some help about it.

 

[BlessedSquirrel]

I am using Monster Tulpar T5 V23.4 . But it has the same bios screen and the same problems so i thought i could get some help about it.

So you'd need to contact Monster then, this is for PCSpecialist customers, it's a different BIOS