BIOS Recovery

[azule]

I have an HP 290G3 that will not boot, due to BIOS corruption. I have tried resetting the BIOS, but no luck. So I decided to use the USB recovery tool built into the BIOS files. I have downloaded the two different BIOS files available for the 290G3. But, when I try to run the EXE, it starts the Installshield OK, but then the program just halts with no warning. This happens with both BIOS files. They just halt as soon as you try to get past the Installshield screen. To be sure, I have tried this on another HP PC and an Acer laptop, but with the same result.They do both create another EXE file, but running this does nothing.

Is there a way of creating the USB drive manually?

[itsmyname]

@azule -- They just halt as soon as you try to get past the Installshield screen. 

This first step should create a sub-folder inside the "C:\SwSetup" folder on any computer that you use.

What are the files inside that sub-folder?

If one file is an ".exe" file, run it. It should offer to create another folder, with the actual ".bin" file in that folder.

Put that ".bin" file onto an empty USB memory-stick, and connect that stick to your HP computer.

Then, try the usual HP "BIOS Recovery" procedure, and point it to the file on the memory-stick.

Tell us which steps work for you.

[azule]

Thanks for the reply.

The download does create a folder in the C:\SwSetup folder with an exe (with the same name). If I run the exe, nothing happens. Windows busy circle appears for a couple of seconds, then nothing. I have tried the download on two different PCs and the same thing happens.

It used to be possible to open the exe with 7zip and extract the bin file, but 7zip won't touch the exe.

[itsmyname]

@azule --  I downloaded: HP Consumer Desktop PC BIOS Update (ROM Family SSID 86E9)

via: https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp101001-101500/sp101024.exe

Running that EXE, I see:

Clicking "Next" shows me: 

Clicking "Next" shows me:

Opening that folder, I see:

Note that the first two files show today's date & time.

You will need the BIN and the SIG file to be copied onto an empty USB memory-stick.

Tell me if you can duplicate the above screens, and at what point there is a divergence.

[azule]

@Itsmyname

That's what I was expecting, but the 2 BIOS files listed for the 290G3 are sp112771.exe and sp135602.exe which do not get to the HP BIOS Update and Recovery screen.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp135501-136000/sp135602.exe

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp112501-113000/sp112771.exe

They just start the installer then it stops after the installshield screen - nothing.

However, if I run sp101024.exe, as you suggest, I do get the HP BIOS Update and Recovery screen, but that file is not on HP's site for the 290G3 - https://support.hp.com/gb-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-290-g3-small-form-factor-pc/35390253.

[JW90]

I have the same issue on another thread with a different PC, I was able to use the oldest BIOS update (by clicking on "previous versions" under the update) so that might work for you, but for me the computer doesn't react to it at all.

[itsmyname]

@azule -- You referenced:  https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp135501-136000/sp135602.exe

I downloaded it, and launched it, to see:

Then:

then:

then:

then:

then:

Then, the contents of the folder are: 

Directory of C:\SWSetup\SP135602

29/10/2021 05:15 PM  16,777,216 086E9.bin

29/10/2021 05:15 PM                  256 086E9.sig

09/09/2021 07:36 PM   13,830,720 086E9F32.EXE

I do not know why it does not work for you.

[itsmyname]

@JW90 -- in my update (with pictures) above, note the text:

         This utility is not match with your platform.

This is displayed because I used two non-HP computers: one Lenovo desktop, and one "home-built" desktop system.

The utility runs correctly to create the files in the sub-folder, but, obviously, the actual BIOS update is not compatible with the BIOS on my two computers. 

[itsmyname]

@JW90  & @azule -- when you try exactly what I did, above, do you see the same screens that I included?

If not, where does your experience not match mine?

I have run that download on a custom-built desktop PC and on a Lenovo desktop PC, with 100% success.

[azule]

@Itsmyname,

Firstly, thank you for all your help.

I get the first two screens (and it does create the subfolder in C:\swsetup), but then nothing. For a couple of seconds you get the spinning blue circle then nothing. The program just stops running.

I have now got the system fixed - I got HP to send an engineer. He was going to replace the M/B, but did manage to get the system running by using a BIOS file on a USB drive. Interestingly enough, the BIOS files from the website would not run on his laptop either. He also said that he is fixing 6 290's per month for BIOS failures, so it appears to be a known issue.

I certainly believe that there are major issues with the BIOS files that HP have published and the stories all seem to be the same - for many people, the files will not run properly.

Again thanks for your help.