H8-1234 corrupt BIOS + 8 beeps at boot+ can't get to BIOS recovery menu

[racermark]

The BIOS in the HP H8-1234 desktop got corrupted when another IT repair company was trying to upgrade BIOS. Turning on the computer results in 8 beeps at boot with no display.

I read other comments on having a corrupt BIOS. Attempted to get into BIOS recovery mode by holding down the Windows + B keys at boot. Also tried Windows+V.

Is there a way to recover the BIOS with a USB flash drive? I downloaded the BIOS for this computer. When I ran the setup for BIOS exe, there was no option to create a usb flash drive. It just went through the steps of updating BIOS only.

Thanks

[Lil_Boy_Blue · Accepted solution]

Hi

Hope this helps....

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02693833

[racermark]

Ok thanks. I had tried the instructions for step 1 before but didn't work. Step 2 I can't complete. The BIOS download for the system doesn't have a 'create recovery usb flash drive' option. It only updates BIOS that's it. I think that's my only hope with recovering from a usb flash drive. Let me know if there is an alternate way to create a usb recovery flash drive since wasn't possible with BIOS download.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

SO it's a

HP Pavilion HPE h8-1234 Desktop PC

 https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-pavilion-hpe-h8-1200-desktop-pc-series/5187019/m...

M3970CMNR-HP Motherboard BIOS Update

8.10 Rev. A

3.5 MB

Jan 24, 2013

AND you tried the 5 year old BIOS update, which failed? It is W7 / 8 os version only.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

downloaded and extracted with 7zip

So this the RTF that is within the SP bios update...

Title: M3970CMNR-HP Motherboard BIOS Update

Version: 8.10

Description: This package provides an update to the M3970CMNR-HP Motherboard BIOS for the supported desktop models and supported operating systems.

Purpose: Critical

Category: BIOS

Operating System:

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic (32-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (32-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (32-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise (32-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (32-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Starter (32-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Basic (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Professional (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Enterprise (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate (64-bit)

Microsoft Windows 8 (32-bit)

Microsoft Windows 8 (64-bit)

Language(s):

Global English

Enhancement/Fixes:

- Resolves issue with TV Tuner still appearing in Device Manager when disabled in "PCI Express X1 Slot2" in BIOS Setup.

- Resolves "Secure Boot Manual Logo" test failure.

Prerequisites:

- You must be logged on as an administrator to install this update.

- You must have a Microsoft Windows 7 or 8 operating system.

Installation Instructions:

1. Click the Download Only button.

2. At the File Download screen, click the Save button.

3. At the Save As screen, save the file to your Desktop.

4. If a message appears stating that the file already exists, click YES to overwrite file.

5. Double-click the icon for the update downloaded to your desktop, and then click NEXT.

6. Follow on-screen instructions.

7. If prompted to restart the system upon completion of the update, click YES and allow system to restart.

Copyright © 2013 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.

With these files within...

S:\Downloads\H8_1234_Bios>dir
  Directory of S:\Downloads\H8_1234_Bios

12/12/2018  22:58    <DIR>          .
12/12/2018  22:58    <DIR>          ..
03/12/2012  17:04         4,194,304 An2_810.rom
05/02/2010  10:10            95,232 hpprobar3.exe
02/08/2010  10:58         1,260,600 Installer.exe
26/06/2012  17:49           302,352 safuwin.exe
23/01/2013  19:50             2,223 SP60605.rtf
               5 File(s)      5,854,711 bytes
               2 Dir(s)  131,024,662,528 bytes free

Whether you can create a bootable iso or usb or whatever and then try the .exe in dos rather than win.

If in doubt please ask.

[racermark]

Thanks for the info. Another repair place yes tried to update BIOS in Windows 10 I think and it failed while doing so. They also reinstalled Windows 10 without her permission. It was a fresh install on drive.

Customer and I got a HP Compaq 8200 Elite MiniTower I7 for $200. Maxed out the memory at 16gb. The H8-1234 was 10gb. I'll play around with your tips though and try creating a bootable USB recovery BIOS drive  to try getting the H8-1234 going. It doesn't boot up just 8 beeps.

[Lil_Boy_Blue]

Hi

So if you make a W10 USB bootable media (or W7 / W8) there is a command line option.

It is usually X:, and onto that USB you may be able to copy the BIOS files and try them as a dos command.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c02693833