Trying To Restore A Crashed Bios With A Ch341

Ok so I have an HP Victus 16 that needed a new LCD panel. The panel got replaced and the computer booted up to the Windows login screen. PIN was entered and once it logged in, the screen went blank and it rebooted, giving a CMOS error on reboot. This happened a few times, until eventually the battery was removed, the laptop power drained, and rebooted into the BIOS. Date/time was reset, then on reboot is gave a corrupted BIOS error. Tried to run the BIOS recovery tool (Win + B on boot) which worked a few times, but it wouldn't ever complete the recovery. It finally completed the recovery on the 3rd or 4th try, and said the BIOS was successfully recovered. On reboot though, it wouldn't post, the power light would come on and the fans would spin for about 10 seconds, then it would shut down. Nothing on the screen during this. At this point, the Win + B combo would no longer launch the recovery tool either. I tried the process with and without the .bin file from HP. I tried with the most current BIOS and one version earlier. Then I re-wrote the BIOS manually using a CH341 and NeoProgrammer, which said it worked successfully, but still no boot. Just fans and power light for 10 seconds, then shut down. I mean, it has to be the BIOS right? But nothing is working. Anybody have any ideas?

 

First, how old is the laptop & does it happen to still be in Warranty (either factory and/or extended)? IF so, contact HP (and/or the extended warranty provider) for Warranty Service BEFORE digging into the unit. Wouldn't want to VOID any Warranty it has IF it has any still.

Do you have any known good memory of the same type that you could swap in to try? I have had computers not even go into BIOS because of BAD or MIA memory. You could also try to totally remove the memory and/or reseating it (even try cleaning the memory stick contacts before reseating it. Also try JUST 1 memory stick, then JUST try the other. Of course using proper ESD safety measures before removing & handling the memory.

Lastly do you know IF the BIOS IC is socketed or soldered in? Same goes for the CPU?

 

@jools1976 A successful write in NeoProgrammer doesn't by itself establish that the image is correct for this board. Even a successful read-back comparison only shows that the chip matches the file, not that the file contains the right firmware.

Before another flash, could you give the exact Victus product/model number (not the serial number), the BIOS chip marking, and which file you wrote: an original full-chip backup, an extracted HP recovery .bin, or something else? Also, are there any repeating Caps Lock/power LED blink codes during those ten seconds?

Keep any original dump unchanged and avoid trying more images until the board/image match is established. Since the trouble began immediately after a panel replacement, I wouldn't assume BIOS is the only possible fault; the display repair and power behaviour also need checking by the repairer.

AI-assisted troubleshooting suggestion; not a hands-on diagnosis of this laptop.