BIOS Update

[nopejo]

BIOS Update Questions

1. The support page says to turn off all antivirus programs before doing a BIOS Update. Is turning off "real time protection" in Windows Defender sufficient?

Should the firewall be disabled as well. Can that be done in Windows defender?

2. The HP Diagnostics GUI is available in the BIOS/UEFI. Selecting BIOS Update doesn't display any BIOS file. When you download the required BIOS update do you have to download anywhere in particular so that the HP Diagnostic Tool can find it?

3. Will the HP Diagnostic Tool make a copy of the existing BIOS before updating?

Where is the Directory Located?

[mdklassen]

> 1. The support page says to turn off all antivirus programs before doing a BIOS Update.

> Is turning off "real time protection" in Windows Defender sufficient?

I think that it is "overkill".  If the anti-virus software blocks access to the updating program, or to the BIOS file, the update will fail, leaving the current BIOS unaffected.

> Should the firewall be disabled as well?

No.

The firewall only blocks TCP/IP traffic from "outside" of the computer from reaching Windows.

Since the BIOS update is an "internal" process, the firewall software will not see any "inbounc" nor "outbound" traffic.

> Can that be done in Windows defender?

No.

The Windows Firewall is a separate component.

> 2. The HP Diagnostics GUI is available in the BIOS/UEFI.

> Selecting BIOS Update doesn't display any BIOS file.

It should list the current version of the BIOS, and the version to be loaded.

> When you download the required BIOS update,

> do you have to download anywhere in particular

> so that the HP Diagnostic Tool can find it?

Yes.  Typically, the file(s) must be in the "root" directory of a connected USB memory-stick.

Since Windows is not running, the file(s) cannot be anywhere on the 'C:' drive-letter.

> 3. Will the HP Diagnostic Tool make a copy of the existing BIOS before updating?

Probably not.

That is why some BIOS update programs run as a Windows application, to enable a "backup" copy to be written into the "System Recovery" (hidden) partition.

You did not say why you are thinking about a BIOS update.

Does your research indicate that the update will fix a problem that you are experiencing, or will it add support for newly-released processors?

There are "too many" threads in this forum about failed BIOS updates that have "bricked" the motherboard.

[mdklassen]

For a very similar question, with several responses by contributors other than me on this forum,

see: https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Operating-Systems-and-Recovery/BIOS-Update/td-p/6450571#

[mdklassen · Accepted solution]

See: Software and driver results for HP Pavilion Desktop - 500-406a

for available BIOS updates, depending on which motherboard you have.

Example, from: http://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp76501-77000/sp76898.html

it explains how to run the BIOS update software as a Windows application:

HOW TO USE:
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.

It does not mention anything about disabling anti-virus or disabling firewall.

[nopejo]

Thanks for your reply. The reason for the BIOS Update is that although the existing BIOS is working fine, there have been new BIOS Updates that address security issues. The existing BIOS shows in the HP Diagnostic picture. I think its the original one that came with the Motherboard. I suppose if I had a USB stick with the Bios Update on it then that would appear in the HP Diagnostic Bios Options as a selectable file.

Downloading the file to the PC and executing it looks like the easiest option so I will probably use that method. The USB stick method would be the safest option but too much hastle.

I will make a backup copy of the existing BIOS although I'm not sure it will help much if things go haywire.

I will also temporarily turn off my antivirus real time protection and disable my internet connection after downloading the BIOS Update. It maybe overkill but it can't do any harm.

If I brick my Motherboard I'll have more questions for the Forum about installing a new Motherboard. Would be a good learning experience. Fortunately it's not my only PC.

[nopejo]

Hi and thanks again for your help. The BIOS Update to 80.23  (SP76898) from 80.20 (unknown) was successful. Everything appears to still be working OK. One bit of advice I followed before doing it was to physically check the motherboard was actually the one in the specs. It may have been overkill but I also disabled the antivirus and internet connection to be on the safe side.

Have a great Day