Hello Roland,

So you get no picture at all when connected to a display. No startup picture with Beomaster 5 (and Beomaster 5 recovery)?

Did it just stop working?

Can you get into the bios?

I use an old Logitech USB keybord and mouse (K520 / M310). Start the beomaster with the button on the back and pres "Del" several times to log into the bios.

Then try booting with Hiren's BootCD From USB Flash Drive (USB Pen Drive).

https://www.hiren.info/pages/bootcd-on-usb-disk

If it works, then you should be able to re-install. I prefer to make a clean installation with the service tool and to update via bang & olufsen servers.

The servicetool is a 4 GB usb flash drive, which I might be able to transfer to you, if needed.

Unfortunately, the motherboards often fail, but it could also be the harddrive.

If it is the standard mechanical drive, then you should be able to hear or feel it spinning. The harddrive is pretty easy to replace with a SSD drive, eg. WD Blue Nand 1TB SSD. SSD's with Marvell Controller 88SS1074 works.

I have attached the service manual for Beosound 5 / Beomaster 5 for info on how to replace motherboard and harddrive.

You might be able to finde a new (old stock) or used motherboard on eBay.

Look for VIA EPIA EX15000G like this:

https://theretroweb.com/motherboards/s/via-epia-ex

https://cdn.viaembedded.com/eol_products/docs/epia-ex/datasheet/VIA+EPIA+EX_datasheet_v120508.pdf

If needed, I can help you with installation tips for motherboard and SSD.

Best regards,

Jens

Hello Roland,

did you check whether the CMOS battery is still fresh, it should measure 3V?

I had that, resulting in a failing startup. After exchange it did run again.

The link to the beo5 tool could be found in the old (the 2nd archived) forum. maybe a suspicous link(??). but downloadable image without suspicous software inside, actually the binary image to be flashed onto a usb stick

good luck and best regards

Hello Roland,

I have written a few tips on how to replace the motherboard here:

/forum/imported-unmapped/the-beosound-5-beomaster-5-resources-future-proof-maintenance-thread#post-2259083

The download link for the service tool on that page is not working anymore, but here it is, including guides, etc.

Hello Jens and Kirin,

Thanks for your response.
I have tried several, but in no way can I get an image out of the BM5. No bios either.
I had already measured the cmos battery and it is over 3v.
I am going to look for another motherboard and it may take some time, but I will let you know how it turns out.

Greetings,

Roland

Hello Roland,

When you have the Beomaster 5 disassembled you could also replace the mechanical HDD with a SSD.

Beosound 5 is much better working with a SSD. With a mechanical drive the wheel is slow and lagging. With a SSD it is fast. Startup from standby has also improved. The BM5 has not failed since i did the upgrade.

I recommend to buy a WD Blue Nand SSD (Western Digital). It has the Marvell Controller 88SS1074, which is reported to work.

SSD max. 1 TB. Bigger drives will not work out of the box. I have installed a 2 TB drive, but then you have to split it in 2 x 1 TB partitions and tweak BM5 to include the second drive as music storage. Use Junction v1.07 to make a junction point in the music folder of BM5.

I have used Northon Ghost v8.3 to align BM5 (Windows XP Embedded SP2) with the correct alignment for SSD's. It might not be necessary, but I did it to be sure to get the best working system.

Windows XP Embedded SP2 is very stable when setup correctly. At work we have several old systems that have been running for years and years.

To replace the SSD I have used the service tool to make a clean installation (Clone entire HDD). You can also do a recovery with the service tool.

At the moment I use Macrium Reflect to make an image backup of the SSD:

Macrium Reflect with Windows PE 3.1
(Preinstallation Environment)

Format backup USB to NTFS (not FAT32)

Install and run Macrium Reflect latest version

Select "Other Tasks" in menu -> Create Rescue Media

Select "Advanced" -> select "Chose Base WIM" -> select "Windows PE 3.1 (WAIK)" -> Now "Build"

Insert USB drive into BM5 -> Start BM5 and keep pressing "Del" to get into the bios -> Change boot to USB flash drive.

Macrium rescue media will load when you restart. Make an image backup to the USB.

It will be approx. 12 GB depending on how much music you have stored.

So you will need a USB flash drive with minimum 15 GB free space.

Best regards,

Jens

Jens,

Thank you for your support.

I have sent you a PM

Roland

Hello Roland,

I have e-mailed a link to download the service tool + info + other tools from my Onedrive.

If anyone else need the service tool for Beomaster 5, here it is, including guides on how to install a SSD on 1TB and 2TB (split SSD in two 1TB):

Hello Jens,

I managed to get a new original motherboard and did a clean install with the software you provided (service tool) on a 1T HDD. Everything is now working again. The software has been updated to 7.04.01.1945 and the radio database was also updating.
Now I have a question: There are quite a lot of radio stations that don't work. If I look at the last radio database update, it says 31-12-2021.
Is B&O no longer doing an update for the n.radio database?

Regards,
Roland

Hello Roland,

I am glad the service tool worked for you.

Regarding radio stations my BM5 says latest N.Radio update 22-2-2023.

When I did the installation it took some time for radion stations to update, so wait a day or so to see if it gets updated.

Please let us know if it gets updated for reference.

Best regards,

Jens