Why BIOS v02.62 for Z840 is recalled?

[Keelung]

Hi,

About several weeks or months ago, I downloaded and updated BIOS v02.62 for Z840.

But now the latest BIOS for Z840 is v02.61. I also check OS Independent, Win10, Win11 and Linux, no v02.62 available.

So, what's happened to  v02.62 BIOS and why it's recalled ? Should I rollback to v02.61 ?

Thanks !

[DGroves]

the bios ver can also be found under the

 "system Information" tab in the bios

some people seem to have had issues with 2.62 causing a no boot problem

my advice is that if 2.62 is working fine leave it as is

downgrading it may cause major problems for you

according to HP the only major change from 2,61 to 2.62

was a security related issue

specifically: 

HP Workstation BIOS Arbitrary Write Security Update

CVE ID: CVE-2023-6138

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/ish_10167884-10167908-16/hpsbhf03915

[Keelung]

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@DGroves wrote:

some people seem to have had issues with 2.62 causing a no boot problem

---

Thus the boot issues should be fixed and then release a new version.

Since it's recalled, then leaving CVE-2023-6138 no fix ?

Just recalling and no releasing is not a responsible behavior.

[SDH]

Carefully read the links DGroves provided. Lots of us are still using 2.62 and it works fine. You can still find it from HP and install it, links below. I do that my way, from within BIOS (PDF provided in my top link):

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/Should-I-update-th...

The ReadMe from HP:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp151001-151500/sp151054.html

The SoftPaq from HP:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp151001-151500/sp151054.exe

[Keelung]

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@SDH wrote:

Carefully read the links DGroves provided. Lots of us are still using 2.62 and it works fine. You can still find it from HP and install it, links below. I do that my way, from within BIOS (PDF provided in my top link):

DGroves links are about the CVE and HP's response.

The point is about releasing updated BIOS in the production driver download page:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/hp-z840-workstation/6978842

It still now shown in above page. If it isn't shown, it's not released for most of users.

As described by DGroves, v2.62 brings some boot issues.

So, please HP fix them and then release it in the production driver download page. 

It takes too long time to release, more then one year. 

Since v2.62 released, and then recalled, please re-release a new one in the production driver download page.

Or most of users, Z840 users at least, are influenced by that CVE.

[SDH]

Keelung,

I do agree that HP could do a better job of clarifying what is going on with that.  This is one of those situations where we need to make our own decisions on how to proceed. I prefer the latest 2.62 BIOS, which HP still provides via their FTP servers via the links I posted above (same SoftPaq for the Z440/Z640/Z840).

Similar, I prefer to install Windows 11 24H2 on these fine workstations even though they are not officially Microsoft-certified for that. The Microsoft engineers could cut that off, but they don't. I'll let others do what they wish, and let HP catch up with us later. I understand that HP has to move on from these older workstations and appreciate any help they still can provide.

[DZaremba14600]

You are saying you installed Windows 11 24H2 successfully and it runs fine?

I have a Z840 dual E5-2640v4.  I'm currently on Windows 10 22H2.  I have all the latest BIOS updates including the update to TPM 2.0.  I upgraded to Windows 11 24H2 and it backed out after rebooting after the upgrade saying the system doesn't support Windows 1124H2.  I let Windows uninstall the upgrade and revert back to Windows 10 22H2.  I then installed Windows 11 23H2.  That worked and ran for a while, but it received a cumulative update and the same thing happened that had happened with the 24H2 upgrade.

Is there a trick or set up specs for getting Windows 11 24H2 running reliably on this Z840?

I'm going to provision the system with Ubuntu for a specific function, but it would be nice to be able to dual boot into Windows 11 24H2.

Thanks.

David

[SDH]

Runs fine here on multiple Z440 and Z640 workstations. Works on Z840 workstations too elsewhere (we don't use those). Gets updates fine too. I don't dual boot.

I've been using the latest version of Rufus, which is 4.7, to accomplish this. I've found that the boot drive should be GPT partitioned and then NTFS formatted before the install of W11 24H2. Generally clean installs are better than in-place upgrades to 24H2, but Rufus 4.6.1 and beyond also allowed in place upgrades. You can read up on Rufus by a google search for "what changed in rufus 4.7". If my boot drive was MBR partitioned I'd bite the bullet and start instead with fresh GPT partition, NTFS format and do a full clean install... it is that beneficial. Set BIOS to factory defaults too.

There is a HP Cloud Recovery Tool W10Pro64 build available that will have some special drivers and system settings. There is some logic to getting that and installing it on your properly partitioned boot drive and thereafter applying the Rufus 4.7 approach to get to W11 24H2... the HP preferred drivers do get pulled along with the upgrade. I've done it both ways.

Paul Tikkanen here in the forum is very helpful, respected, and prefers a different approach.

Note that the download of the Windows 24H2 .iso can be updated by Microsoft to include later 24H2 updates so I prefer to download the latest fresh if I'm making a new bootable Rufus thumb drive. In the Rufus options window that has checkboxes to tic I tic them all.

[DZaremba14600]

Wow, Thanks for the quick and informative reply!

I'm familiar with Rufus, have used it numerous times, and am aware of the Windows 10/11 install customizations it can supply, but I do need to catch up and familiarize myself with the latest version.  Its's been a while since I did anything beyond simple .iso to USB imaging.  That was going to be my plan of attack for my next attempt at this.

I will download the latest Win11 24H2 ISO, 'Rufus-ize' it and do a clean install.  Like I said, Win10 was working fine, BIOS and TPM firmware update were applied, and it was fine, upgraded to Win11 24H2 and the upgrade ran but upon reboot it rolled back to Win10.  Upgraded to Win 11 23H2 and the upgrade seemed to complete, but the next day I got the cumulative updates, and it was then that it said the system wasn't supported.  Lots of back and forth may have been the problem.  I'll definitely try a clean install using a Rufus customized ISO and see if that works and remains reliable.

I will get myself updated on the lasted Rufus, I'll do the google searching you suggested, I'll look up what Paul Tikkanen has said anywhere about alternate approaches.

All very informative,

Thank you for your assistance.

I'll try all this after the holiday weekend, and I'll report back.

Thanks.

[SDH]

PBatard, the developer of Rufus, did a big upgrade from Rufus 4.5 to 4.6.1 because Microsoft made it harder to upgrade to the W11 24H2 level. He has said that he only uses methods that MS has left open, and I'll use Rufus 4.7 for my next Rufus thumb drive build. Please do follow-up here with your experience... should be a good one.