Should I roll back before flashing BIOS?

[driftomatic]

Hello, I am trying to determine if the BIOS update shown on your site is the correct one for my machine: HP Compaq 8200 Elite MT PC. After selecting "Let HP find my products", it identified my machine and forwarded me to a page that asked me to "Select driver language and OS" from two boxes. I selected my language and then proceded to the next box that asked me to select my Operating system. However, it does not include any Windows 10 selections. I used to originally have Windows 7 Professional. However, I recently upgraded to Windows 10 Professional. Is it safe to select the Windows 7 Professional OS, even though I no longer have it on the machine? You see, I want to update the BIOS, because I am having booting problems after I install Memory Upgrades, and the supplier of the RAM recommends to upgrade to the latest BIOS version upgrade before installing the RAM upgrade, to eliminate these problems. I don't want to make a mistake and select the wrong BIOS update. There is a BIOS update on HP.com for my machine's MoBo, but only for Windows 7 Pro. So should I revert back to 7 Pro, before updating?  Please, inform me as to what I should do.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

You can flash the BIOS using the DOS based flash so it doesn't matter what operating system you are running that way.

Download and run the BIOS file.  An information page will open.

Follow the instructions to flash the BIOS using the F10 flash method.

You will need a USB flash drive formatted with the FAT32 file system.

Warning...some folks are having issues with the latest BIOS update v2.29 and W10.  See below...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/HP-Compaq-8200-Elit...

You may want to bring it to v2.28 for now.

[driftomatic]

Paul, where can I find this DOS based flash file?  Also, is it possible (even after I do update the BIOS) that Winidows 10 is the culprit causing all the crashes and boot problems I am having when I try to upgrade the RAM from the originally installed 4GB of RAM (4x1GB) to 32GB RAM (4x8GB)?  Or is it more likely the BIOS just needing to be updated?  I'm going to take your advice, by the way, and update to v2.28 to avoid the boot time problems others are experiencing.  David

[driftomatic]

Crap!  I just realized that I can no longer roll back to my original W-7, because I have gone beyond the 28 day trial period, at which time I must keep W-10.  Would someone please post a link as to where I may find the DOS based flash file to update my BIOS and how to perform the task.  Thanks so much.  David

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

When the instruction page opens, under the instructions for the F10 BIOS flash update there will be a link labeled View Contents of DOS Flash Folder.

You click on that and the folder will open and show the files..

You then copy the files without the folder to your FAT32-formatted USB flash drive.

I highly doubt the BIOS is causing the memory issues.

I have an 8200 Elite CMT and I installed 32 GB of memory in mine a long time ago.

It is currently running W10 (I am typing this reply on my 8200 Elite), and have no issues of any kind.

I would have to conjecture that the memory you bought is not compatible in all respects with the PC.

They are very picky regarding what memory you can install.

You have to ensure the memory you purchase is low density as well as meeting the other specs (PC3-10600, Non-ECC, unbuffered, 1.5V).

I looked up my order history on NewEgg.com and this is the memory I bought for my 8200 Elite...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820226256

You can even see my review on there...

[driftomatic]

Hi Paul, thanks for your quick response.  I'm still hesitant to flash my bios.  I've never done it, and I can't afford to brick my PC.  I just can't understand why the 32GB Kit I bought keeps crashing my computer.  I looked up the specs, and they seem to be identical to the specs of the Kit that you installed in your 8200 Elite CMT.  Here is a link to my Kit from Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Crucial-Ballistix-PC3-12800-BLS4KIT8G3D1609DS1S00-BLS4CP8G3D1609DS1S00/dp/B00...

The only spec I could not find was whether or not it is low density.   I am so distraught over this, because I have gone beyond the return date for Amazon for the 32GB Kit; so I am stuck with it!  I then bought a 16GB Kit (also Crucial Brand) thru Amazon, but from another vender, and am having boot up issues.  (I thought maybe the previous 32GB may have been too much for it to handle.  ???)  This vender is the one that advised that I update my BIOS.  I still have time to return this 16GB Kit, though.   Might it be possible that there is some kind of tweakage in the BIOS that I need to do, before installing new RAM?  FYI, I am not extremely computer savvy.  But I do know how to follow instructions.  Any advice?  David

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, David.

The memory is plug and play. 

No BIOS updates or settings need to be made.

The memory you posted the link to is a faster speed (which shouldn't make a difference because it should be backward compatible), but I can only offer up the comment that whatever memory you are trying is incompatible for some unknown reason...but it must be that it is not low density.

If you look at this link, I have given step by step instructions on how to update the BIOS and even attached the files for another forum member.  I just checked the file I had attached back then, and it is v2.28.

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Hardware-and-Upgrade-Questions/8200-bios-upgrade/m-p/5446709/hi...

So, if you want to give updating the BIOS a shot before returning the memory, I don't think I could have made it any easier.

[driftomatic]

Well Paul, I followed your instructions.  However, when I selected "Flash System ROM", it gave me an ERROR:  "Removable Media is bad or missing."  BTW, when I went to format the flash drive, it gave me two options:  NTFS or exFAT (Default).  So I chose exFAT.  Was that wrong?  I don't know how else to format it to FAT32.  Please, advise.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

I just got the flash drive I use to update the BIOS's on my HP business desktops.

I plugged it into my dc7800 CMT also running W10.

The window opened to the flash drive, and I closed it.

Then I went to the desktop, clicked on This PC, right clicked on the flash drive, which is drive E:\ in my case.

Then I selected Format from the menu, and a box opens up.

In the file system drop down list I get on my USB flash drive, I get the following options:

FAT (default) which is what you want to use.

NTFS

FAT32

exFAT

So, if you are not seeing those options, try another flash drive.

[driftomatic]

OMG, I found out why it would not format FAT32.  It's because I was using a 128 GB flash drive.  After some research, I learned that FAT32 is only for drives 32GB or less.  I followed your instructions again, and it all worked!  I was able to update the BIOS to v02.28 and everythings seems to be working with the 32GB upgrade RAM Kit, now.  I will give it some time, just to make sure, before I give it to my brother's grandson for his game playing.  Thank you so much for your help.