NUC5CPYB bios update broke machines

[spyle]

I have some NUC5CPYB that have 2015 bios installed on them and I tried updating two. There isn't a BIOS specific for NUC5CPYB, but all my research points to NUC5CPYH as being the same.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/18295/bios-update-pybswcel.html PY0081.BIO

they flashed just fine, but after the reboot, I don't get any output on the screen.

I have tried downloading older BIOS (PY0066.BIO is the oldest I could find) and following Recovery using security jumper and recovery from power menu, but nothing works.

Is there anything I can do to recover these?

[LeonWaksman]

Since you don't see any video output, I suggest to reset BIOS to default settings, using "blind method" (I'm assuming that your NUC is booting into BIOS and only video output is affected):  

1. Disconnect the power adapter and remove the bottom panel from your NUC.
2.  Remove the Yellow Bios Security Jumper. (page 52 in Technical Product Specification)
3. Reconnect the power adapter and power ON the NUC. Wait ~4 min. Because there is no USB stick with the BIOS file inserted, NUC should boot into configuration menu (which you probably can't see)
4. Click on F2 and wait ~ 30 seconds.

5.  Press F9(followed by "Y"), to set Bios to default settings. Press F10 (followed by "Y"), to save the settings and exit to O.S. 

6. Wait 30 seconds, press and hold the Power Button to switch NUC OFF. 

7. Disconnect the power adapter and replace the Security Jumper between pins 1-2.

8. Replace the bottom cover, reconnect the power adapter and power ON your NUC. 

Hope this will help



Leon

[spyle]

That doesnt seem to work. I dont think its just the video not coming on because the keyboard doesnt have any lights ever come one ( scroll lock and caps lock doesnt cut any on).

[Steven_Intel]

Hello spyle,

Thank you for posting on the Intel️® communities.   

Due to this product being discontinued, Intel Customer Service no longer supports inquiries for it.

You may also find the Discontinued Products website (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/discontinued-products.html) helpful to address your request.  

You can get the specifications and verify this product's discontinuance status at the Intel® Product Specifications website > Product Status > "Discontinued". https://ark.intel.com/   

Please keep in mind that this thread will no longer be monitored by Intel. Thank you for your understanding.  

Best regards,

Steven G.

Intel Customer Support Technician.

[n_scott_pearson]

I think your problem doing the BIOS recovery was being caused by the fact that you tried to go all the way back to BIOS 66. Somewhere between BIOS 64 and 69, the ME (TXE) firmware changed and, due to security restrictions, you cannot recover across this change. You need to try doing a recovery to a BIOS closer to the current. I see that BIOS 80 is still posted; you could try that first. If you need to go further back, I have copies  in my archive for BIOSs 77, 78 and 79.

...S

[spyle]

I havent gotten the BIOS 80 to work yet. Can you get me a copy of those other BIOS versions?

I also ordered a VGA cable adapter to see if there happens to be output on VGA instead of HDMI.

Is there some way to read post codes on these machines?

[n_scott_pearson]

See attached ZIP file.

...S

[spyle]

So I cant get these back. I've tried recovering both methods on several different versions of the BIOS.

I downloaded all the versions from https://drivers.softpedia.com/downloadTag/Intel%20NUC5CPYH%20Recovery%20BIOS%20Update

On another machine, I updated from BIOS version 55 to each version at a time. I got to version 66 when it did the same "bricking".

The machines have the hd and blue power led always on, the fan runs, it will power off if i hold the power button, the keyboard doesnt have any LEDs come on (like scroll lock or caps lock), I've left them for hours and came back to see the same state.

I have now tried both hdmi and vga and get no video output on either. 

Are there any way to get post codes from these?

I feel like copying the bios chip image from a working machine to these will not work, if there was a breaking change.

Is there anything else I can try?

Thanks again for the help

[spyle]

Sorry, the blue led is only on solid when in no jumper mode

[n_scott_pearson]

Have you tried powering on the unit holding the power button down for a full 3 seconds? This should result in the Power Button Menu being displayed (it may be slow; give it a minute or two to appear).

If this doesn't work, remove/unplug all drives, remove the yellow BIOS jumper and power on. After some time, you should see the Power Button Menu appear.

Does this not happen? Try both again, don't just say 'I tried this before'.

...S

[n_scott_pearson]

I have to add: You should always use the release notes to identify which BIOS updates to attempt to install (and which you shouldn't - if they're not listed, don't install them). If there were any BIOS releases that caused problems in the field and thus were withdrawn, they will not be listed in the Release Notes. Thus, only install those listed in the release notes.

I realize this probably doesn't help in this case. I have no knowledge (one way or the other) of BIOS 66 being a 'bricker'. I am simply saying - for the general audience, not just you specifically - that this can be avoided if you follow the release notes. Blindly downloading from a 3rd-party site - which can be, in general, a dangerous proposition - is not always the right answer, but this is on Intel for withdrawing the older BIOS releases; a definitely (and continuing!) customer-unfriendly action.

...S

[n_scott_pearson]

Oh, another note (reading the original post again): Holding the power button and seeing the system power off (after 4 seconds) is a (non-maskable) hardware action built into the chipset. Thus, you shouldn't consider this as being an indication of some level of life for the BIOS.

...S