Boot problems with NUC7i7DNH1E

[darqman]

My NUC won't even show boot screen.

Turn on and LED lights up for about 30 seconds. LED goes out and comes back on and repeats. It never shows the boot screen.  If I take it apart and re-seat the M.2 drive it will boot once. When it's turned off and back on it repeats the on/off cycle until I take it apart and unplug the drive and plug it back in. 

I have already done an upgrade of the bios to latest version and reset the defaults.

Do you think the M.2 drive is going bad or is my board going out? I have about 1 year left on warranty.

Thanks.

[AlHill]

Have you tried a different HDMI monitor?

Have you tried downgrading the bios to 0068?

[darqman]

Yes, I've tried 2 monitord and a TV. Same results on all.

I have not tried downgrading bios. It was happening with original bios from 2018 and latest version. Seems odd one in between would work but I'll try.

[darqman]

Older bios has same issue.

I have a new M.2 drive arriving tomorrow. If that doesn't work I'm opening a warranty claim.

[RolandT]

I had the exactly same on my NUC10i7, so returned the NUC and, if all goes well, should get a new NUC. I hope it was really the fault of the NUC and not the drive.

[darqman]

I will post back later tonight after Amazon delivers the drive and I've had a chance to test. 

[darqman]

My new drive arrived but I have taken this thing apart so many times over the past 2 weeks trouble shooting the boot issue that now one of the bottoms screws just spins and won't tighten or loosen. So I have no way to test the new drive because I can no longer take it apart.. I have no option but to send it back.

[darqman]

Can anyone tell me how to get the 4th screw out of the bottom? Even if I send it back for a replacement how do I get my drive and memory out? I never over tightened it so I don't know why one of them won't unscrew. 

[Esteban_D_Intel]

Hello darqman,

Thank you for posting on the Intel® communities.  

Were you able the bottom cover from the NUC?

I understand that the screw that is not coming out is the one from the chassis.

Make sure to use a screwdriver that fits in order to avoid a stripped screw.

If you are able to remove it, I would like to share with you the steps to remove and install the SSD. (p.5)

Intel® NUC Kit NUC7i7DNHE

Esteban D. 

Intel Technical Support Technician

[darqman]

Esteban, the screw head is not stripped. I am able to turn it with the right size screwdriver but it won't unscrew, it just spins and doesn't loosen. What are my options?

[Esteban_D_Intel]

Hello darqman,

Thank you for your response.

In this scenario, I need to inform you that in either way we need to open up the NUC.

For testing the new SSD and determine if the issue is resolved. Or if you decide to replace the unit you would need to remove all the components.

What you can try is to carefully turn the unit upside-down and see if the bottom plate will fall off, usually when the screw is loose we should be able to take the plate off with no complications.

Let me know if you were able to remove it and test the new SSD.

Esteban D. 

Intel Technical Support Technician  

[darqman]

@Esteban_D_Intel

Well, I've got good news and I've got bad news.

The good news is that I was able to get the case open and replace the drive. The NUC now boots consistently.

The bad news is that the case is messed up now because I had to pull the rubber foot off. I then tried to cut the screw head off with a hack saw. That wasn't successful because it just kept turning. I finally got a pair of vice grips on the head of the screw and forcefully yanked the screw out. So while the new drive fixed the computer, the case is all messed up because it wouldn't open and I had to force it.

Any chance of getting a new case under warranty since it wouldn't open and I had to resort to force?

I appreciate you helping me.

[RolandT]

Hi @darqman I had a similar behavior at boot and had my NUC replaced. Just received it yesterday and so far (touch wood) it is all working as expected. So in my case the drive was not the problem.

[Esteban_D_Intel]

Hello darqman,

Thank you so much for the update.

At least we now that the SSD was the issue. It’s nice to know that you were able to swap the component and use boot the unit with no problems.

Is there a way that you could provide a picture of the chassis? This is to consider the damage of the unit.

Esteban D. 

Intel Technical Support Technician

[darqman]

It's the right rear screw that wouldn't come out. I don't want to put it back together in this case because it will just get stuck again.

[Esteban_D_Intel]

Hello darqman,

Based on the pictures we consider that due to the physical damage caused while troubleshooting the unit we won’t be able to honor the warranty on the device.

I need to share with you the Limited Warranty for Intel® NUC Mini PCs, Intel® NUC kits and Intel® NUC Boards. Please check page 19 for English.  

As the swap of the SSD, resolved this issue, we can determine that the NUC was working as expected.

If you need any additional information, please submit a new question as this thread will no longer being monitored. 

Note: If you would like to get live support for assistance on this matter feel free to Contact Intel Support

Esteban D. 

Intel Technical Support Technician