Got my computer's BIOS corrupted during an update, is there any way to fix it?

[JW90]

I'm not sure why but a BIOS update froze my system and I couldn't move the mouse or anything, had to wait for like a 30mins and decided to shut it down, when I tried to boot it again a message saying "BIOS files corrupted, attempting to launch repair" shows and then after it reboots itself another one with "The BIOS recovery files cannot be found or the files are corrupted" and asks for a USB recovery flash drive that has to be created using another PC, I did go for it but while trying to launch my BIOS installer (https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/swdetails/hp-desktop-pro-g2/23376588/swItemId/ob-27...) it just extracts the flash utility to C:\SWSetup and doesn't do anything, the utility crashes when trying to manually launch it.

I figured out it might be something with the latest BIOS update and tried that with the oldest version (0F.02 Rev.A), it launched on the other PC and let me create the USB drive, the structure was 3 folders,  with "Hewlett-Packard" and "EFI" included. When trying that USB recovery drive on the desktop it keeps throwing the same errors, doesn't even react to the USB flash drive when plugged in, regardless of what USB port it is in. I ran out of ideas and would like to fix my machine if possible, is there any way to do so? (PC is out of warranty for a few months, but I can post the SKU if required.)

[itsmyname]

@JW90 -- I had no problems downloading and running the EXE file.

I just kept clicking "Next" until I clicked "Finish".

The files in the newly-created folder are:

Directory of C:\SWSetup\SP132827

29/10/2021 05:32 PM 16,777,216           08526.bin

29/10/2021 05:32 PM                256           08526.sig

29/07/2021 03:22 AM 13,540,704           08526F31.EXE

Copy the files onto a USB memory-stick, and connect that memory-stick to your computer.

Then, power-on your computer.

Then, tell your computer to look for those files on the memory-stick, when prompted.

[itsmyname]

@JW90 --  the structure was 3 folders,  with "Hewlett-Packard" and "EFI" included. When trying that USB recovery drive on the desktop

The presence of that "EFI" folder is a hint that you need to "boot" your computer from the USB memory-stick, not just connect the memory-stick to a running Windows system.  Are you booting from the memory-stick?

[JW90]

It keeps crashing for me and I can't extract the .bin file from the most recent BIOS update (nor the previous 4), if I had to guess, it only works on HP computers as the 3 ones I tried to download it on were not.

As for the computer, it doesn't say anything related to picking the USB as a boot option, I even went to the point where I unplugged my HDD and booted the PC on with only the USB stick, and still had the same error saying "The BIOS recovery files cannot be found or the files are corrupted" with 2 short and 2 long beeps, and I did try key combinations like Win+B/Win+V and even the usual Esc spam but it just doesn't make any difference.

[itsmyname]

@JW90 --   It keeps crashing for me and I can't extract the .bin file from the most recent BIOS update (nor the previous 4), if I had to guess, it only works on HP computers as the 3 ones I tried to download it on were not.

In my previous post, I used a non-HP computer, with MSI motherboard and Intel i5 processor, and I showed the result:

        29/10/2021 05:32 PM 16,777,216           08526.bin

So, that is the "bin" file that you seek.

I even repeated the whole process on a Lenovo desktop computer. Same result.

> As for the computer, it doesn't say anything related to picking the USB as a boot option,

Power-off the computer. Connect the USB memory-stick. Power-on. Then, you will need to enter "BIOS Setup", and add the USB to the list of "bootable" devices. On some computers, you may also need to enable "boot from external devices".

However, if the BIOS is messed-up, then you will not be able to enter BIOS Setup.

This forces you to use that "emergency-boot" that is built-in to the motherboard.

On another computer, copy the "bin" file to the root-directory of the memory-stick, and try again.

Also, confirm that your memory-stick is formatted as "FAT32", not as "NTFS". The motherboard may not have support for reading NTFS-formatted file-systems.

> I even went to the point where I unplugged my HDD and booted the PC on with only the USB stick, and still had the same error saying "The BIOS recovery files cannot be found or the files are corrupted"

That does not prove that the motherboard tried to boot from the USB.

To repeat, if the BIOS is messed-up, then you cannot boot from the memory-stick.

You must use the "emergency-BIOS-recovery" boot, built-in to the motherboard.

If the BIOS were OK, then you could boot from the memory-stick, to run a utility that would update the BIOS.

Are you ready to take your computer to a qualified computer technician, to pay to get help?

[JW90]

The USB is formatted with FAT32, made sure of it and also let the utility perform it, but yeah it doesn't detect the USB at all, it says it will initiate repair and then reboots and says there are no files, and there is no way to enter the BIOS setup as you can see in the following image

Would you please try creating a recovery USB from that setup with the 2nd option (in an empty USB stick) and uploading the 3 folders for me? I'd like to give it one last try myself before taking it to a repair shop.

[itsmyname]

@JW90 -- Would you please try creating a recovery USB from that setup with the 2nd option (in an empty USB stick) and uploading the 3 folders for me? 

I would, if I could. That ".bin" file is 16 MB, and the upload limit within this forum is 5 MB. Sigh.

Do you have any friends who can create the ".bin" file on their computer, and your USB memory-stick?

> says there are no files

No files on the USB memory-stick, or no "relevant" files?  What files/folders are present on the USB memory-stick?

[JW90]

I already asked a a friend but he wasn't able to run the executable either. It's basically the same issue as the other thread (that I replied to before), maybe if you could upload in another site, anonfile or something.

[VH2000]

When I download the  SP132827 and extract there is only  1 file in the folder

it is the 08526F31.exe

No *.bin

no *. sig

very strange

[itsmyname]

@VH2000 --  there is only  1 file in the folder. it is the 08526F31.exe  -- No *.bin -- no *. sig

Correct. Run that ".exe" file, and direct it to write the two files (BIN & SIG) into that folder, rather than the alternatives (applying the update, or creating files on a USB memory-stick).