Hp sure start Error 520

[tanzim2]

I have an HP Elitebook 840 G9 and I’ve been experiencing frequent blue screen errors ("Your device ran into a problem and needs to restart") for a few days.

To try to fix this, I used Driver Booster to scan and update all the drivers that it detected as outdated on my system.

After updating the drivers, I started getting this message on boot:

> HP Sure Start detected an unauthorized intrusion to the HP runtime firmware executing out of main memory.
> This could be an indication of an attempted attack on runtime firmware executing from main memory.
> The repeated occurrence of this problem indicates a security concern that should not be ignored.
> See the HP Sure Start events in the Windows Event Log for more details about each HP Sure Start event.
> For more information please visit: http://www.hp.com/go/techcenter/startup
> [520]

Now this HP Sure Start Recovery message appears repeatedly, and I’m concerned about whether the firmware or BIOS might be corrupted or if it’s a false positive caused by the driver updates.

Can anyone from HP or the community help me understand:
- What exactly triggers this warning?
- Could a third-party driver updater cause this issue?
- What’s the safest way to restore my system to a secure and stable state?

Thanks in advance.

[haythamkha]

Hi, I would take this warning seriously and not treat it as a normal driver message. HP documents Sure Start RTID (520) as a runtime intrusion detection event. HP says the common cause can be a security issue, but it can also indicate a defective memory module. If the issue persists, HP recommends updating the BIOS and contacting IT or HP Support. HP reference: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_6904096-6904147-16 Since the blue screens started before the Driver Booster updates, I would not assume Driver Booster is the only cause. However, I would avoid using third-party driver updater tools on business-class HP systems. They can install generic or mismatched chipset, storage, graphics, or Intel system drivers that are not the HP-tested SoftPaqs for your exact EliteBook model. My suggested recovery path would be: 1. Back up important data first. 2. Stop using Driver Booster and uninstall it. 3. In BIOS, load setup defaults: o Restart the laptop. o Press F10 to enter BIOS Setup. o Load Setup Defaults. o Save and exit. 4. Install only HP-provided drivers, BIOS, and firmware for the exact EliteBook 840 G9 product number: https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-elitebook-840-14-inch-g9-notebook-pc/2101000805 5. For business HP systems, also consider HP Image Assistant to check the correct HP driver/firmware baseline: https://ftp.ext.hp.com/pub/caps-softpaq/cmit/HPIA.html 6. Run HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI outside Windows: o Power off. o Power on and tap Esc repeatedly. o Press F2. o Run the Extensive Test, including memory and storage tests. HP Diagnostics: https://support.hp.com/us-en/help/hp-pc-hardware-diagnostics 7. Check Windows Event Viewer: o Applications and Services Logs o HP o Sure Start, BIOS, or security-related logs if present 8. If the BSOD continues, collect the files from: C:\Windows\Minidump A third-party driver updater may trigger instability or expose an existing firmware/driver problem, but repeated Sure Start 520 warnings should be escalated to HP Support, especially on an EliteBook business device. I would not ignore it or keep reinstalling random drivers.