Recoil 17.3 seems to be bricked

[Tcham431]

Hi folks,

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well in these uncertain times. I am hoping for some guidance and reassurance on what my options are with my issue. I've had my Recoil laptop for about 15 months now and it has performed well up until now.

This weekend I was prompted to download a Windows update. After installing the update, the laptop just would not boot. It doesn't even try, there's no way to get in to the bios, there is no activity on the screen. The fans spin up briefly, the power LED is on, and the keyboard lights up. It stays like this for roughly 30 seconds and then powers down, and tries to turn on again with the same results every time. I have tried pretty much every possible trouble shooting step I can think of but to no avail. I've opened up a support ticket with the PCSpecialist support team, but I'm fully expecting that the machine is effectively a £1600 paperweight at this point.

Does anyone have any knowledge of how PCSpecialist are likely to handle this in the context of my warranty if they are unable to repair it? Do I have any possibility of getting a replacement or a credit of any kind? I'd hate to think that after just over a year I'm £1600 out of pocket with a dead machine.

Thank you for reading, and thank you for any information you can provide!

Cheers,

Tim

 

[ubuysa]

There are a couple of things I'd try.

First, remove the battery and unplug the charger. Then hold the on button down for about 60 seconds (nothing exciting will happen). Then leave the battery out but plug the charger in and see whether it boots.

The other thing I'd try is to replace the CMOS battery. They're as cheap as chips but they can be tricky to get at on some laptops.

 

[Tcham431]

There are a couple of things I'd try.

First, remove the battery and unplug the charger. Then hold the on button down for about 60 seconds (nothing exciting will happen). Then leave the battery out but plug the charger in and see whether it boots.

The other thing I'd try is to replace the CMOS battery. They're as cheap as chips but they can be tricky to get at on some laptops.

Thanks - I've tried the battery step but no joy.

I've got the machine open currently - I can't see the CMOS battery, and I doubt it's hidden under the heatsink? So I am guessing I would likely need to fully remove the motherboard to access the CMOS battery - it's a level beyond what I would be comfortable with attempting on my own realistically! But thank you for the suggestions

 

[ubuysa]

Thanks - I've tried the battery step but no joy.

I've got the machine open currently - I can't see the CMOS battery, and I doubt it's hidden under the heatsink? So I am guessing I would likely need to fully remove the motherboard to access the CMOS battery - it's a level beyond what I would be comfortable with attempting on my own realistically! But thank you for the suggestions

It might well be under the keyboard.

 

[Deleted member 17413]

The CMOS battery (if i remember correctly) will be on the motherboard... I believe its what powers the BIOS setup?

Normally a flat round battery, roughly inbetween the size of a 5p and 10p piece.
With ALL the power uplugged (battery, power lead, hold down power button for a bit to get rid of any residual charge) take off the back and see if you can find it. With a laptop it could well be hidden under some of the casing though, so you may have to remove the actual base im not sure...

When you find the battery, remove it carefully, Pop a new battery in and reassemble.

My dad used to get me to touch the contacts of the battery together with a small screwdriver...but I think that was for another issue (not sure if it wipes BIOS...was a long time ago)

 

[ubuysa]

Oh, and don't touch the new battery with bare fingers. Apparently the oils and acids on your fjngers shorten the life of these batteries.

 

[Tcham431]

Thanks guys - I'm going to hold off on this until I hear back from the PCS support team for now. If they can send me some detailed instructions for accessing the CMOS chip on the Recoil III then I'll give it a shot!

My warranty covers me for roughly another 20 days, so I'm glad this has happened now rather than later! I'll drop by with an update if I get anywhere

 

[Tcham431]

PCS Tech Support contacted me earlier today to advise that I RMA the machine as it is likely a hardware failure. Keeping my fingers crossed for a quick turn around on the repair and shipping!

 

[Deleted member 17413]

PCS Tech Support contacted me earlier today to advise that I RMA the machine as it is likely a hardware failure. Keeping my fingers crossed for a quick turn around on the repair and shipping!

Best option really, before the warranty goes... so anything dodgy will be sorted and you dont have to pay.
in the past i've asked to send my computer into PCS for servicing before the warranty finishes...they dont do it though but it would be really nice if you could do stuff like that just as a health check before teh warranty expires.

Fortunately, you'll get that chance! (Even if it took a machine melt down to get there lol)

 

[Tcham431]

Best option really, before the warranty goes... so anything dodgy will be sorted and you dont have to pay.
in the past i've asked to send my computer into PCS for servicing before the warranty finishes...they dont do it though but it would be really nice if you could do stuff like that just as a health check before teh warranty expires.

Fortunately, you'll get that chance! (Even if it took a machine melt down to get there lol)

Haha that's a great way to think about it! Not ideal that the machine has kicked the bucket, but it at least picked a good time to do so. Silver linings!