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BIOS upgrade .. from Linux? Or can I use Recovery Disks leaving Ubuntu unnaffected? Or XP compatibility? Hmmn.
I created my recovery disks, then used gparted to format and partition my drive for what I need, with an ext4 file system at the top for Ubuntu Jaunty.
But then I realised I should have flashed the upgrade bios first, while I was in Vista,
I know there are ways to do this from Linux but I also am concerned I may brick my motherboard. Probably, as I understand it, the safest way is to flash via Windows. ???
So I installed an old copy of Wins XP on an NTFS partition I'd kept for MS OSes (OK, reluctantly!) .. but it *looks* like this machine doesn't like XP at all. Basically, a big fiddle to get it working. ???
So I thought, hmmn, maybe I can use the Recovery Disks to install the HP/Windows stuff into that NTFS partition I created. Then again, I suspect - hopefully incorrectly - that these will do as they say, return my PC to its factory condition, erasing all partitions. ???
... is that the case, or is there an option in the recovery process (as there should be!) to install to a specific partition, or a couple of partitions?
Note to HP: isn't it about time you broke the MS cartel and provided a separate OS option, an addon that can be purchased separately from what is otherwise (so far) a rather nice piece of kit. I do not think cartel is too strong a word. Privately I use far worse.
Sorry, rant over.
If anyone has any ideas on how I might upgrade the bios in a user-friendly - not just MS-friendly - way, I would be most grateful.
I created my recovery disks, then used gparted to format and partition my drive for what I need, with an ext4 file system at the top for Ubuntu Jaunty.
But then I realised I should have flashed the upgrade bios first, while I was in Vista,
I know there are ways to do this from Linux but I also am concerned I may brick my motherboard. Probably, as I understand it, the safest way is to flash via Windows. ???
So I installed an old copy of Wins XP on an NTFS partition I'd kept for MS OSes (OK, reluctantly!) .. but it *looks* like this machine doesn't like XP at all. Basically, a big fiddle to get it working. ???
So I thought, hmmn, maybe I can use the Recovery Disks to install the HP/Windows stuff into that NTFS partition I created. Then again, I suspect - hopefully incorrectly - that these will do as they say, return my PC to its factory condition, erasing all partitions. ???
... is that the case, or is there an option in the recovery process (as there should be!) to install to a specific partition, or a couple of partitions?
Note to HP: isn't it about time you broke the MS cartel and provided a separate OS option, an addon that can be purchased separately from what is otherwise (so far) a rather nice piece of kit. I do not think cartel is too strong a word. Privately I use far worse.
Sorry, rant over.
If anyone has any ideas on how I might upgrade the bios in a user-friendly - not just MS-friendly - way, I would be most grateful.
