HP FTP site can't find BIOS

[lecce]

Hi, some old BIOS files seem to have been removed from the HP FTP site. Does anyone know why this is? Where can old files be found?

[ub6424]

Hello @lecce 

Sorry to hear that you are having problems ... I would like to help you.

Old Bios versions are no longer available ...

(1) Download BIOS Update

HP Thin Client System BIOS (L43 BIOS)

00.01.16 Rev.A

25.5 MB

Aug 31, 2021

Download

Fix and enhancements:

- Enhancement to address security vulnerabilities CVE_2021-21551.

Why should you install the update ?

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_4123786-2338478-16

Quote: "

Updating the BIOS is recommended as standard maintenance of the computer. It can also help resolve the following issues:

• An available BIOS update resolves a specific issue or improves computer performance.
• The current BIOS does not support a hardware component or a Windows upgrade.
• HP Support recommends installing a specific BIOS update.

"

(2) Use another Windows 10/11 computer to create BIOS <USB flash drive>

(3) HP Consumer Desktop PCs - Updating the BIOS (Windows)

See section <Updating the BIOS manually from a USB Flash drive (outside of Windows)>

(4) Please report your results

Kind regards

[Prométhée]

---

@lecce wrote:

Hi, some old BIOS files seem to have been removed from the HP FTP site.

Does anyone know why this is?

Sometimes you have to make room, unless you invest a lot of money, in order to increase the available space, sometimes it's easier / more profitable to delete what is obsolete

an old version of a bios, can be a security risk, so for security reasons (or other problem), it will no longer be offered/available!

Where can old files be found?

A bios update is not a trivial thing, it remains risky
if no longer available on hp sites, some may be found on third party sites, but with new risk, modified bios, /corrupted etc

---

so unless you have an excellent reason, and again, going back to an earlier version under these conditions is not recommended!

Updating the BIOS (Basic Input Output System)

CAUTION:

Only install BIOS updates from HP. Installing the BIOS incorrectly can prevent the computer from starting or being recovered. If your computer is managed by an IT service, contact them for the correct update process.

Know that here you will find many examples of failed bios!
and there is no one left to give you an effective solution, in many cases, in order to return to normal
This is a warning, sometimes it goes very well, but I think it is important to warn users of the possible risks!

[lecce]

Hi, my reason is that my network card doesn't work with BIOS 1.15 onwards. I need an old BIOS to be able to use the system otherwise it is useless to me.

[ub6424]

Hello @lecce

Either you need to update the kernel or update the network module.

Unfortunately, I can't wave a magic wand. My options are exhausted... 

Kind regards

[lecce]

Seems I'm not the only person looking for this still

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Boot-and-Lockup/Need-older-BIOS-version-for-T730/m-p/8467884

@Beer_Can I've been trying to reply to your post but this **bleep** forum keeps closing topics after no time at all.

I am considering buying a T730 off ebay (having checked with the seller the BIOS version is pre-1.15. If I do this I can try and dump the BIOS and upload it somewhere. HOWEVER the key question here - do you have evidence that pre-1.15 BIOSes resolve the NIC issue? I've tried with genuine Intel X520-DA2, Mellanox ConnectX-3 EN and get exactly the same intermittent no POST. It seems to me that doing a cold boot rather than a restart often brings the card back.

[ub6424]

Hello @lecce 

Unfortunately, I can't help you.

Kind regards

[Prométhée]

---

@lecce wrote:

Hi, my reason is that my network card doesn't work with BIOS 1.15 onwards. I need an old BIOS to be able to use the system otherwise it is useless to me.

---

ok, but ultimately your problem is it, with new hardware, or the original hardware..
what kind of network card is the problem?
You say you are looking for a previous version of the bios, and therefore precisely, did it work with another version, or do you just think it should work?
"my network card doesn't work"
more precisely ?
here we have

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c04853546

Wi-Fi networking

Fiber optic networking

then you say "I've tried with genuine Intel X520-DA2, Mellanox ConnectX-3 EN and get exactly the same intermittent no POST." so ultimately that's your problem, it's not just a card that doesn't work, but a computer that won't start if you add these models?

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-t730-thin-client/8604909/manuals

[lecce]

Correct, the T730 will not reliably boot with any of those PCI-EX network cards installed. The symptom is: no video output, system never completes POST. Only option is to pull the power cable.

The cards are standard PCI-E NICS. The X520 is PCIE2.0, the CX3 is PCIE3.0. Same problem occurs with both of them. The cards work fine in other types of machine so the cards are not faulty. 

It will usually boot from power off (though not always it seems).

If it boots successfully, on a soft reboot (no power off) it will then not recover and goes back to blank screen.

Annoyingly, when it does boot successfully, the NIC does seem to work fine. It's just that sometimes it will fail to start.

Other users have reported that this issue did not occur pre 1.15 BIOS.

[Prométhée]

at your own risk, if you have compatible cards, I would advise you to leave it at that
i found this

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-t730-thin-client/8604909/document/c05357865

The system begins to experience various issues after the BIOS is updated to version 1.06 (SoftPaq sp77642) or version 1.07 (SoftPaq sp78277).

NOTE: The issues begin to occur after updating the BIOS from 1.05 to 1.06 or to 1.07. However, the issues are not due to the new BIOS versions but are due to the BIOS flash utility. Systems that already have BIOS version 1.06 or 1.07 (from the factory) will not experience the issues.

after a good few hours of research, nothing conclusive, unless you find someone who has a more recent version, not found for download at the moment

just this

https://www.repairlap.com/threads/hp-t730-thin-client-bios.5603/