HP Pavilion ec2021nr BIOS Rollback

[psychonaut25]

I am a professional computer technician. I'm a freelancer and I've been in business since 2018. My dad is a retired software engineer, specializing in C++. He owns an HP Pavilion ec2021nr with Windows 10 (64-bit) which was refusing to boot, and the warning message he received said that it was due to thermal issues.

I ran hardware diagnostics from the BIOS. I ran the short test on the hard drive and it passed. I ran both the short and the long test on the RAM, and it passed both tests. I then replaced the thermal paste with Cryofuze-7. I coated both dies with a thin, even layer of paste. I also replaced all of the thermal pads. I always wear an anti-static wristband connected to ground, and I also ground one of the laptop's hinges, when I perform my work on the hardware.

This resolved the thermal problems. In the BIOS, I ran the diagnostic tests on the fans; both the speed test and the thermal test. They passed both tests.

Then, I decided to update the BIOS. I retrieved the BIOS update file from this link. The file I downloaded was called sp167291.exe and it was released on December 11th, 2025 . When I ran it, it extracted the file BIOSUpdate.exe, which I ran and then extracted its files onto an otherwise empty USB drive formatted as FAT32. With the laptop unplugged from its wall adapter, I disconnected its battery, and I removed the SSD from the laptop. I then plugged the USB drive into the laptop, and connected the laptop's wall adapter into the laptop, so it would maintain constant power. I then turned the laptop on, and pressed Win + B.  The BIOS began to update itself automatically. I waited until the BIOS update had completed, and the laptop automatically rebooted, before I removed the USB drive from the laptop. I thought I was being prudent, but evidently I was wrong. 

Ever since I performed this BIOS update, the laptop freezes constantly. Even the BIOS itself freezes — not only the operating system. Every time the computer freezes, the only solution is to hold down the power button and perform a hard reboot.

Then things deteriorated. I managed to boot the laptop up and get past the POST and into the Windows 10 login prompt. The Windows login prompt said that my dad's PIN had expired and prompted the user to create a new PIN. So, I brought the laptop to my dad and told him to create a new PIN. He clicked on the button to create a new PIN, and while he was trying to do so, the laptop froze, and it looked like this:Windows Login Prompt

 
Evidently the BIOS update really doesn't work on this laptop. As such, I need to rollback the BIOS to the version that was released in 2021. However, the link I posted, from which I retrieved the BIOS update, does not include previous BIOS versions to download. I need to know where I can download previous BIOS versions, so that I can un-brick this laptop. Any help would be greatly appreciated, because this laptop is now useless. Thank you.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Unfortunately, according to the release notes, previous BIOS versions cannot be installed.

support.hp.com/soar-attachment/235/col105789-ob-355478-1-ob-355478-1_sp167291_releasedoc.html

For future reference, if you can usually find the previous BIOS releases when you click on the 'See Full Details' link on the BIOS update page that first shows up.

HP Pav Gaming Laptop 15-ec2021nr (353L6UA) Software and Driver Details

Click to expand the Revision History at the bottom right of the page.

[psychonaut25]

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@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

Unfortunately, according to the release notes, previous BIOS versions cannot be installed.

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Not with that attitude, they can't 😉

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@Paul_Tikkanen wrote:

For future reference, if you can usually find the previous BIOS releases when you click on the 'See Full Details' link on the BIOS update page that first shows up.

HP Pav Gaming Laptop 15-ec2021nr (353L6UA) Software and Driver Details

Click to expand the Revision History at the bottom right of the page.

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Thank you kindly 😊

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.