Unable to Flash BIOS of ANY HP Device - Return Code = 0x103

[bios-pass]

I think the problem is the encrypted BIOS password file, if you're using one too.

Just now I was getting the 0x103 error when using the .bin BIOS password file to update the BIOSes on several computers. I had just used the BIOS Configuration Utility on these computers with the same .bin file to set the BIOS password and these are newer HP models, so I figured there wouldn't be a problem. But they all gave this same 0x103 error code.

My solution: Clear the BIOS password, update the BIOS, then reset the BIOS password.

I used the BIOS Configuration Utility on the computers to clear the password ( /nspwdfile:"" ), ran the BIOS update again, and this time it worked and I didn't get the 0x103 error. I used the BIOS Configuration utility 1 more time to put the BIOS password onto the computers.

I've had to use this same process with older HP models to update the BIOS, like hp Compaq 6550s. The HPQFlash BIOS update utility has not always accepted the encrypted password file in my experience, and so it's probably easiest to not even deal with BIOS passwords when trying to update the BIOS.

Another problem with HP's encrypted BIOS password format is that it doesn't support non-Unicode passwords, so frustratingly I can't use the BIOS Configuration Utility for older HP models. There's a lot to be desired of HP's BIOS tools in my opinion, because they're not what I think of as "enterprise"-level.

HP BIOS Configuration Utility (BCU)

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HP_BCU.html

HP System Software Manager (SSM)

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HP_SSM.html

SoftPaqs (to download the .CVA files that SSM needs)

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/

[engstromr]

I am glad I found your post.  We have had similar issues with updates, and the encrypted password on the 800G1 seems to have been the culprit.  Our other models seem to work fine with the password enabled.  Have you had issues with older models not working with the newest SSM version?  I have found the following works, but am curious if newer SSM versions drop support for older models?

SSM v3.2.4.1

HP ProBook 11 G2 - 1.03 Rev.A

HP ProBook 640 G1 - 1.39 Rev.A

HP ProBook 640 G2 - 1.05 Rev.A

HP EliteDesk 800 G1 - 2.70 Rev.A

SSM v2.51.7.1

HP ProBook 6470b - F.66 Rev.A

HP Compaq 8200 Elite - 2.29 Rev.A

In case any needs to download previous versions, they can be found here.

http://ftp.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HP_SSM.html