Windows update installed BIOS version 'NOT for production use' with version `00.00.00`

[EinenNdamen]

Windows update installed a BIOS update on my system. This update seems to have broken my BIOS. Fortunately it still boots. When booting there is a red banner now saying, that the system is `Warning: This BIOS is NOT intended for production use'. Futhermore supposed version, that is istalled is `00.00.00`. This is also likely the reason for the `NOT for production use` warning, because the BIOS probably uses this version nr for developement versions.

I tried several methods for manual updating the BIOS back to a production version after windows update has pushed a broken version onto my system. I have tried the following:
- From BIOS download directly. Download works but when installing it says 'invalid BIOS image' and reverts.

- I downloaded the correct `sp.....` -exe from the hp website and attempted to install it directly from windows. This does not work with a simple `firmware installation failed` message.
- With said tool I also created a USB stick with the BIOS firmware in the `DEVFW` folder. Trying to install it this way gives more or less the same result as with the first version.

- I restored the `HP_TOOLS` partition with fat32 filesystem and gave it the label `E:` -> This seemed to have no effect at first. But finally windows seemed to have picked up on it an put a "valid" BIOS image there. Now I have the option to "install" in the BIOS but unfortunately I have the same result as with the first method. It just says `invalid BIOS image` and does not allow to install the image.

I have a dual boot setup with GRUB and LINUX Mint and Windows 10.
My system is a Elitebook 840 G5
If you need additional information, let me know.

How to resolve the issue? Why did HP push an invalid firmware image onto my system via Windows update?

Download worksInvalidRevertingAfter restoring HP_TOOLSinvalid BIOS imageDownload directly from BIOSCurrent BIOS version 00.00.00

[EinenNdamen]

See also: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-Notebooks/MS-Windows-BIOS-Update-Warning-Q78-01-28-00-Rev-A-f...

Is my BIOS bricked? Would I have to solder a new BIOS chip?

[FRKelly]

Lets say, your BIOS Update is bricked.

The installed BIOS is likely the provided bios of the last update.
In my case I dit a file compare my bios dump vs. hp version. The section with the indicidual settings differ but that's normal.

Updates could still be possible by other means, but it is not allowed to talk about here because of the forum rules

I think we should live with that no longer updateable bios. At least as long as there ist no strong neet to update.

We are still lucky in misfortune. Others with a different model got a broken computer this way.

[FRKelly]

maybe you have a look at:

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Operating-System-and-Recovery/HP-Probook-BIOS-Upgrade-1-17-fa...
https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Notebook-Boot-and-Lockup/Bios-update-crash-problem-HP-ProBook-445-G7/m...