System recovery does not work after BIOS update on Pavilion a6242n - BIOS driver issue

[a6242n_user]

I recently updated the BIOS to 5.27 (the latest driver on HP's site for a6242n) on my A6242n Pavilion

My system recovery does not work anymore. Has anyone experienced a similar issue.

If someone could please

1. point me to a way out, so I can recover my OS Installation back System Recovery discs
2. Provide a means to revert back the BIOS driver

PS: I have successfully recovered the OS using the Factory Image as well as System Recovery discs prior to the BIOS upgrade.

[old_geekster]

Message Edited by old_geekster on 07-15-2009 07:02 PM

[a6242n_user]

Old-Geekster, I posted this here so it gets the attention of those who are in the "hardware" forum.

Not everyone has your patience to scan all postings and compare them. So please allow other folks a chance to share their wisdom.

Also your response to the posting is so general - its like "don't drink milk because your cousin is allergic to it"

I understand you may have had a problem with your BIOS flash - but this is not about something that went wrong. It is about simply reverting back to the original BIOS.

HP has no warnings posted which tell you that the System Recovery Discs will not work once you change your BIOS settings. So I am thinking there is a way to get around this and fix the issue in my original posting - however this information is not widely published. Hence my post...

[old_geekster]

As you can see, I deleted my post.

My reply was that I don't believe that you will be able to revert to the original BIOS.  I have been on these forums for many years and have never heard of HP providing the original BIOS after someone had done an update.  You can talk to HP Customer Service, as I suggested, to see if they can help you.

By the way, you did not post this in the "Hardware" section.  Both threads are in the "Operating systems and software" section.  This is why I marked it as a duplicate thread.   

Good luck! 

Message Edited by old_geekster on 07-15-2009 07:15 PM

Message Edited by old_geekster on 07-15-2009 07:17 PM

[RoyalSerpent]

I wasn't aware that the recovery CDs would not work after a BIOS update.  That would be a major blunder on the part of HP.  HP generally does not provide a download for the shipped BIOS.  May have to downgrade HP's BIOS support from a C- to F!

[gjbnh]

Is this true? That system recovery disks will not work after a BIOS update??? I just went thru hell to get recovery disks from HP, because a BOIS update cause my recovery partition to stop working??? And the f11 key is again not working! I can see the partition from Vista, but not boot/use it!!

[RasterBlaster]

I don't think a BIOS update. The BIOS update was released almost a year ago and applies to hundreds of models. Otherwise, there would be a lot of unhappy people posting here.

It sounds like you changed the operating system. That would cause this problem. XP and Vista use the F10 and F11 keys in different way, so if you change the OS it can can knock out that functionality.

Here is an except from Changing the Operating System from Windows Vista to Windows XP

The following steps outline in general, the process of changing the operating system to Windows XP. There may be other steps you will need to take depending on how your computer is configured, your application software, and your peripherals.

1. Get or make a set of system recovery discs (in English). In the event that the operating system change to Windows XP is unsatisfactory, a set of system recovery discs will be needed to return the computer to its former state.