Gigabyte BRIX - GB-BXi3-4010 - dead??! :-/

[cdk]

Just flashed the bios on my GB-BXi3-4010 with the new F5 bios from Gigabytes website. After I rebooted everything went fine and it loaded windows.

Then i turned off/shut down the device from Windows and now it won’t boot up. The blue LED is on but the screen is black.

I know it does not boot up, because I have a TeamViewer client installed on it - and it does not come online, so I can reach it from another computer as I was able to before.

Is there any way I can reflash it og recover the old BIOS? I have tried to clear CMOS but it didn't solve the problem. Even though I'm sure it does NOT boot up, I tried both the HDMI and the minidisplay port but there is no signal. I also tried to ping the device - the router has a locked IP to the MAC adr. on the device - but there is no response.

Help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[edwin]

Contact Gigabyte tech support with your issue as this is not standard behaviour and at this moment in time we do not know if they put whatever security in this device to prevent flashing of a previous bios.

[grrr]

Just flashed the bios on my GB-BXi3-4010 with the new F5 bios from Gigabytes website. After I rebooted everything went fine and it loaded windows.

Then i turned off/shut down the device from Windows and now it won’t boot up. The blue LED is on but the screen is black.

I know it does not boot up, because I have a TeamViewer client installed on it - and it does not come online, so I can reach it from another computer as I was able to before.

Is there any way I can reflash it og recover the old BIOS? I have tried to clear CMOS but it didn't solve the problem. Even though I'm sure it does NOT boot up, I tried both the HDMI and the minidisplay port but there is no signal. I also tried to ping the device - the router has a locked IP to the MAC adr. on the device - but there is no response.

Help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Same here CDK, how did you get on?

regards
grrr

[edwin]

The model name should spell BRICKs not BRIX...

Right, did you get a reply from Gigabyte CDK?

Grrr, did you contact Gigabyte tech support yet?

[dchang0]

The same thing happened to me with a GB-BXi5-4500. EXACTLY the same problem:

1) Had loud fan problem, so I downloaded the rev. F5 BIOS from Gigabyte's USA site to fix that exact issue.
2) Used the American Megatrends Windows 64-bit flash utility to flash successfully.
3) Rebooted and went into BIOS setup to confirm revision. It definitely said rev. F5.
4) Made no changes to any BIOS settings and exited without saving.
5) System would no longer boot. I get only the black screen with blue power light. Tried different monitors, tried both DisplayPort and HDMI, no luck. System definitely does not boot up. I tried draining the BIOS by removing the battery, no luck. I also tried reseating the memory and SSD modules, no luck.

So, basically, it seems that after flashing the F5 BIOS, you can get exactly one boot out of it before it gets bricked.

I've started a ticket with Gigabyte, but they have not even viewed it yet.

[dchang0]

Follow up:

I got a response from eSupport AND called them directly too. Both said to reseat the RAM and clear CMOS by pulling the CMOS battery connector for a long time (15 minutes or more). If those steps don't work, the BRIX would have to be returned for warranty repair.

These steps did not work for me, so I will be sending my GB-BXi7-4500 in for repair/replacement.

Good luck to you guys out there with the same issue. The standard warranty for BRIX systems is 3 years.

A tip from the tech support guy: after the flashing, when the system is rebooted, WAIT as long as possible for it to finish POST before assuming the flash went wrong and holding down the power button to shut it off. Some models of BRIX have longer boot-up times. In my case, the boot-up was very fast, and I got into the BIOS setup menu successfully, so there appears to be some other kind of problem.

[SixIron]

I have the same problem as the OP on my BXi3-4010. Successfully flashed bios, rebooted, all good. Ran some Windows updates, rebooted, nothing but black screen since. Somewhat ironically, I was hoping the newer bios would fix periodic black screens after resuming from sleep, but those were always fixed by power cycling it. For troubleshooting I removed the msata drive. Bought a 2nd stick of Crucial 1.35v DDR3 sodimm just to make sure it wasn't the memory. Removed the motherboard and unplugged the cmos battery connector for at least 10 minutes. Lastly, I just went and bought a miniDP-HDMI adapter (I don't have a DP monitor). Unless there is a clear cmos jumper as well (I sure didn't see any), I don't think there is anything further I can do. Opened a ticket with Gigabyte.

I think these are amazing little computers but I'm pretty frustrated with it right now. At this point, when/if I get an RMA replacement I'll probably just sell it and move on.

[edwin]

Ok, please everybody, let us know what the outcome is (fix/RMA/suggestions from tech support) as this seems to be a bigger issue than Gigabyte wants to admit. Eventually we may be able to make a list of things to try before opening a ticket with Gigabyte.

@dchang0: thanks for the WAIT before hard shutdown tip, it may save a few systems from being bricked...

[plasmaman]

Hi
I have the same problem. My Brix 4010 does not boot up after Bios F6 update. Blue light, no image and high speed fan.
Anyone found a fix?
Thanks !!!!!

[edwin]

Did you already contact Gigabyte tech support?

[ironicisthis]

Just joined to say same thing happened me with brix 2807. Gigabyte were useless. They were so helpful when i had to alter the BIOS to get to win 10 but now I also have a brick. bought a NUC i5 with m.2 ssd. thye won't admit that it is acommon problem and had me checking all the hardware and pulling batteries and all that total wate.

[edwin]

What is the end result? A swap with a working one or a refund or basically nothing? If enough people are showing up might be time for a class action suit.