Elite 8000 Ultra-slim BIOS upgrade

[Segfault]

I'm trying to upgrade the BIOS for my project and despite I chose FreeDOS as my OS the file I downloaded (sp73578.exe) complains it cannot be run in DOS mode. Where from can I get a DOS compatible BIOS upgrade file? Confused ...

[wb2001]

@Segfault,

You do realize that the HP 8000 is circa 2009.  With FreeDOS,  the BIOS can not be changed, according to HP's support page. Not sure (1) why or (2) what you were planning.  Never the less, your very limited.

[Segfault]

Thanks for reply. Why on earth they tag it as a FreeDOS solution then? 

I need to boot it from USB and the current BIOS does not recognize this particular USB as a boot device. Current BIOS version is 1.02. I was told I need at least 1.03 for this USB image to boot.

So what can be done? I have a dozen of computers at my disposal but none runs Windows. 

Generally, if there is some software required for maintenence then the hardware manufacturer should provide this software. Is there a Windows OS download available from HP to flash the BIOS? Bootable from a removable media, please.

[DGroves]

if this is your system:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-compaq-8000-elite-small-form-factor-pc/4065894

download the win 7 32bit bios, sp49735

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp49501-50000/sp49735.exe

extract the sp using winzip, and use the extracted "DOS" folder to flash bios v1.07 under msdos

Description:

This package contains utilities that can be used to restore or update the 
system BIOS on the supported desktop models with a 786G7 BIOS.

Several methods for changing the BIOS version may be chosen. Included in this 
package are the following methods:

- Use the DOS utility with a preboot execution environment (PXE) management 
application or to locally update or restore the system BIOS.
- Use HPQFlash to upgrade the BIOS directly in a Microsoft Windows XP, 
Microsoft Windows Vista, or Microsoft Windows 7 environment.
- Create a CD image to upgrade/restore system BIOS.

[Segfault]

Thanks. I still don't get it. Why I have to go now and start searching for a Windows machine? Why they just don't zip it if it is for DOS? 

[DGroves]

huh?....... why do you think you need a windows system?

does your current OS not have a unzipping/extracting  program?

all you need to do is UNZIP/EXTRACT the Service pack, then copy the files found in the dos folder onto a dos formated usb key, boot from said key and run the bios update program.

[Segfault]

Yes I tried to unpack it, but ...

~/downloads $ file sp49735.exe sp49735.exe: PE32 executable (GUI) Intel 80386, for MS Windows 
~/downloads $ unzip sp49735.exe Archive: sp49735.exe End-of-central-directory signature not found. Either this file is not a zipfile, or it constitutes one disk of a multi-part archive. In the latter case the central directory and zipfile comment will be found on the last disk(s) of this archive. unzip: cannot find zipfile directory in one of sp49735.exe or sp49735.exe.zip, and cannot find sp49735.exe.ZIP, period.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, @Segfault

Format a USB flash drive with the FAT32 file system.

I have zipped up and attached the DOS file folder for sp73578 below.

Unzip the file and copy just the file contents of the DOS flash folder to your flash drive.

Restart the PC, tap the F10 key at the beginning of the HP welcome screen to get access to the BIOS.

Select the File tab, Flash System Rom command.

Select the USB flash drive, and the PC should 'see' the BIOS update file on the flash drive.

Follow the on screen instructions to update the BIOS.

[DGroves]

i just downloaded it and extracted the sp49735.exe using winRar, winZip 7-zip under windows and under DOS

so i don't know what is the problem at your end

you might want to download a newer version of your extraction program.

[Segfault]

Thanks! Will get on it.

Edit: Success!

@DGroves, this file identifies as a foreign executable, not as an archive. I fail to see the logic in your statement.