BIOS will not update

[HarleyW]

BIOS will not update. current version is AO.47 witch doesn't appear in previous versions. I downloaded  AO.57, it will not update,  

[Bill_To · Accepted solution]

Hi @HarleyW 

Welcome back.

The latest BIOS update for your PC is A0.59 at this Link. A0.59 may not install based upon your A0.57 experience.

A0.57 is listed in the revision history at the above site.

I don't know why you can't install A0.57. I don't know where you got A0.47. Maybe A0.47 was a security update from HP Support Assistant? HP (as a single entity) sometimes works in mysterious ways. 😀

Regards

[HarleyW]

Thanks Bill

I'm dumbfounded; I preformed a clean Win10 install on new SSD with all drivers and updates, Still no joy on updating BIOS.

Many Thanks

[Bill_To]

Hi @HarleyW 

My pleasure.

I don't know. Maybe your MB SSID is not 2B4B. The BIOS update for a 2B4B MB would not install if you have a different MB.

Check HP system info or Windows System Information. Look at the Baseboard product.

This is very unusual.

Regards

[HarleyW]

I'm Speculating that the BIOS became corrupted possibly due to malware? Chrome & Edge freeze up. I was able to update UEFI diagnostics Firmware maintenance requires USB bios image to restore from. Where to get image? I have the Windows update APP that fails. I've tried the Windows +B combination with no luck.

[Bill_To]

Hi @HarleyW 

Okay, the PC works to a certain extent but the BIOS is messed up.

I tried to create a bootable USB BIOS recovery drive using A0.59 on my PC. It fails.

Recent HP BIOS updates (2022 to 2023) now provide the option to create a USB BIOS recovery drive on a different PC.

However a local PC Tech should be able to flash the BIOS outside of the operating system using the A0.59 BIOS update files.

There are two ways to do this:

1. Use Aptio V AMI Firmware Update Utility.

2. Use a Serial USB BIOS programmer.

It is possible to repair the BIOS if you really want to fix the PC.

Regards

[HarleyW]

Good morning @Bill_To

Partially I enjoy the challenge, additionally I gain experience with newfound issues. I like the idea of community and have volunteered with a nonprofit (now one is paid) organization assisting seniors and others for 18 years. This is the first time updating or repairing a BIOS after 1000's becoming a problem.

The HP PC owner is a friend of 10 years or so. Pat called me before Christmas reporting " I think I've been hacked". His phone number had been ported out to unknown person. unknown person was able to give enough information to port Pat's number out.

The speculation on my part is that malware has changed BIOS and is forwarding information or a keylogger? There were programs that he had no idea how they got on his PC.  If I'm able to repair BIOS and issues, go away this might confirm my guess. (perhaps above my  experience)

Regards...Harley

[Bill_To]

Hi @HarleyW 

Sound good.

I would be wary of continuing to use any drives connected to the PC at or after the infection point.

The malware could migrate from the BIOS to any drive (internal or removable) connected to the PC even after doing a Windows reset or clean OS installation.

This lengthy Forum link describes using the AMI utility to flash the BIOS outside of the OS if you want to try it on your own. It is fairly complex. Some folks had success, some did not. 

I think the above problem spurred HP to begin providing a way to create USB BIOS recovery options for consumer Desktop PCs.

Regards

[HarleyW]

Hi @Bill_To

I was finally able to update BIOS offline with the link for A0.59 you sent me...Thanks ever so much for your direction.

The browsers locking up went away. I wish I knew what malware was potentially doing. I then replaced the original HD with SSD and clean install, working better now than when it was new.

Thanks again for link...Harley 

[Bill_To]

Hi @HarleyW 

My pleasure.

That's great!

I'm guessing you used the AMI BIOS flash utility.

Regards