My first experience with Windows 11 ended with my laptop bricked within a day and a half. After upgrading the HDD to a 512GB SSD and adding extra RAM, my laptop was performing well. Then, during a shutdown, I opted to shut down and update, which included a BIOS update I wasn’t familiar with. Mid-update, I plugged in my laptop, and now it won’t turn back on. I’ve tried numerous fixes with no success. On a scale of 1-10, how bricked is my laptop?
Sounds like a 11/10 situation. If you can get your hands on an EEPROM programmer and know how to use it, your laptop could be salvageable. Otherwise, the motherboard might now be just a sophisticated paperweight.
@Milan
I managed to fix it after trying countless methods, though I’m not sure which one actually worked.
@Milan
It’s frustrating how BIOS updates are bundled with OS updates without clear warnings.
It sounds like your laptop is pretty much done. You might consider returning it if that’s an option, or it might need professional repair.
Did you try any BIOS recovery methods? Sometimes removing all power sources including the battery and CMOS, then attempting a BIOS recovery can help.
Jessie said:
Did you try any BIOS recovery methods? Sometimes removing all power sources including the battery and CMOS, then attempting a BIOS recovery can help.
I’ve tried everything available, and I’m considering taking it to a technician next.
@Zander
You might not need a technician. You could try flashing the BIOS chip yourself with a cheap EEPROM programmer like the CH341A.
Piper said:
@Zander
You might not need a technician. You could try flashing the BIOS chip yourself with a cheap EEPROM programmer like the CH341A.
Would I do this with the battery removed?
@Zander
Yes, remove all power sources, then hold the power button for a bit before trying the BIOS recovery method with the charger plugged in. Make sure your SSD is installed as it might contain the old BIOS.
@Jessie
It worked! My laptop is back on. I was terrified I’d lost it for good.
Zander said:
@Jessie
It worked! My laptop is back on. I was terrified I’d lost it for good.
Great to hear! Now, make sure to disable automatic driver downloads from Windows to prevent future issues.
@Jessie
Definitely doing that. Thanks for the advice! 
Zander said:
@Jessie
Definitely doing that. Thanks for the advice!
You might want to update the thread title to include ‘(Solved)’ to help others.
Zander said:
@Jessie
Definitely doing that. Thanks for the advice!
You might want to update the thread title to include ‘(Solved)’ to help others.
How do I update the title?
@Zander
This comment is empty, admin should fix
HP laptops usually have a USB BIOS recovery option. If that doesn’t work, you might need to manually flash the BIOS. Here’s a video I made that might help: https://youtu.be/oE_dH5M6CNo. Also, try a CMOS reset by unplugging the battery and the CMOS battery, then hold the power button for 30 seconds. After that, plug in the power cable and see if it boots.
If built-in recovery methods don’t work, you’ll need to refresh the BIOS chip directly on the motherboard, or it might need to be replaced. Unfortunately, the way Windows handles BIOS updates can lead to these issues.
@Sam
Do you also have a Dell G15? How has your experience been with it?
Jessie said:
@Sam
Do you also have a Dell G15? How has your experience been with it?
I actually have two. What’s up?