Samsung PN64E7000 bricked after firmware update (Aug. 24, 2012)

Today, while watching the TV, a dialogue box appeared saying something to the effect of "Would you like to update..... ." I'm not exactly sure what happened because this is my girlfriend's recollection of what she saw. She did not press any buttons and the dialogue box went away. About 3 hours after turning the TV off, it no longer turns on. The standby light turns on and the TV is receiving remote input, but the screen is completely blank -- no back light.

I went onto the Samsung website and checked the support page for the PNXXE7000 and saw that a firmware update just came out on August 24, 2012. I then conducted some basic Google research (i.e., "Samsung firmware update broke TV") and saw a whole host of threads and posts about this issue, primarily for the D7000. Does anyone know how to fix this issue? (I called service and they will be out in who-knows-how-long.)

I tried pressing "Mute, 2, 5, 8, Exit" as was suggested in the D7000 thread, but nothing happens. Is there anyone else facing this problem? (See http://www.avsforum.com/t/1328356/samsung-pn59d6500-just-got-bricked-by-firmware/0_100)

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Edited by liquidsense - 8/31/12 at 1:27pm

Yes, I called Samsung support. They are sending a local authorized technician at some time in the next week. It's really a shame because I'm hosting people this weekend, and I won't have a TV.

Just had the most bizarre conversation with a "supervisor" in the Samsung technical department. She told me that Samsung recommends that users never update their TVs unless there is a specific problem(s) that needs to be resolved. In fact, as she said, "most of the time, firmware updates will hurt your TV if you apply them when there is no specific problem with your TV." I was completely mind-boggled by that statement and I called her out on it. Why on earth would Samsung issue an update that would harm most of their TVs? She stood by her answer. Looks like I won't be getting any help from her.