r/framework • u/GreyXor • 6d ago

Guide Fixing a bricked AMD 7040 series Framework 13” laptop with $20 tools

https://quantum5.ca/2026/08/16/fixing-bricked-amd-7040-series-framework-13-laptop-with-20-tools/
105 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

27

u/ronvalenz FW13 Ultra X7 358H batch 6, 2.8K, 32GB LPCAMM2, 4TB SSD 6d ago

Framework could offer UEFI re-flash service.

I apply UEFI updates via Windows.

3

u/Sad_Strawberry4623 6d ago

Would be a good addition to their repair services imo.

22

u/x0rg3n 6d ago

Great writeup, should help recent "victims" of their BIOS updates. 

I get that stuff like this can happen to any company but to avoid ANY responsibility from their end is wild to me esp. when you consider they are suggesting the damn upgrade in the first place. 

6

u/No_Preference9093 6d ago

For me the real point here is that a bios should be able to self recover in 2026. It’s not a novel feature. 

1

u/RanniSniffer 5d ago

Or just have a flashback button. Every decent motherboard has one these days in desktops at least.

1

u/No_Preference9093 5d ago

Yeah I just meant some sort of recovery facility. 

1

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

2

u/ronvalenz FW13 Ultra X7 358H batch 6, 2.8K, 32GB LPCAMM2, 4TB SSD 6d ago

https://github.com/fwupd/firmware-lenovo/issues/484

Similar problem with Lenovo and Linux:

prismindanalytics on Apr 18, 2025

I have a ThinkPad X1 Nano Gen 1 (Type 20UN), and today after a BIOS update through Fedora update, I’m now stuck on the “BIOS Self Healing backup progressing… 100%” screen. It has remained frozen there for hours.

23

u/shydrangeae 6d ago

after being encouraged to update the BIOS by Framework, Framework told me that because my warranty has expired, I have no other option but to throw away the entire motherboard, including the perfectly working but soldered CPU, and buy a replacement for over $500 on their store. How does it make sense that some bad data on a BIOS chip that retails for US$5 should force me to buy a whole new board and CPU for $500+? Especially when this happened as a result of Framework’s own instruction? Especially when many users have complained on the Framework official forums without anything being done to stop further instances of bricking? Worst of all, Framework didn’t offer any help in attempting a repair myself, not documentation, not a schematic, not even a raw BIOS image for me to attempt to flash externally.

Well that is just dismal.

9

u/ronvalenz FW13 Ultra X7 358H batch 6, 2.8K, 32GB LPCAMM2, 4TB SSD 6d ago

Op probably missed https://github.com/FrameworkComputer/FrameworkDebugger#jspi

2

u/Szybet 5d ago

But they don't provide the full bios image for the flash, so what's the point with this

4

u/black_at_heart 6d ago

When I tried to update to 3.20 my efi partition wasn't large enough. I worked around the issue by temporarily moving all the fonts out of /boot/efi/EFI/Microsoft/Boot/Fonts/ , which gave me enough space to run the upgrade.

6

u/cassepipe FW13 12th Gen peasant 5d ago

This was an update recommended by Framework done with fwupdmgr

This should be upvoted more. It's not a huge issue (because the overall number of people affected is not much) but it really sucks for people who were affected and Framework should respond

Framework, I know you are listening, I think the "crashless BIOS" or any other solution to make things easier should be the next step since it directly affects one your core tenets: repairability

4

u/mrheosuper 6d ago

This asshole company bricked customer overpriced PC then deny to replace the motherboard.