Successful Solution to update Z840 (and Z640 etc) TPM to 2.0 -- updated

[ed_avis]

This is an update and "me too" to the report at https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Operating-Systems-and-Recovery/Successful-Solution-to-update-z...

Annoyingly the forum software does not let me post a response; I have to start a new topic.  The original instructions were as follows.

Product: HP Z840 Base Model Workstation

Hello all,

If like myself you have read a lot of posts on this board but found no immediate solution, here's a proven solution to upgrade the z840 (and possibly z240, z440, z640) from TPM 1.2 to TPM 2.0.

My workstation refused to update the TPM as the update instructions are incorrect.

The latest BIOS version does not allow the TPM to update. I.E. do not follow the instruction to update to latest BIOS prior to flashing the TPM. The TPMConfig software will set the 2.0 firmware and reboot, but no TPM firmware flash will occur.

An older BIOS version is required.

1. Obtain BIOS revision v02.54 (06/12/2020).  This is contained in SP104013. (https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp104001-104500/sp104013.exe )
2. Flash the BIOS.
3. Obtain the TPM Update software.  This is contained in SP87753. (https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp87501-88000/sp87753.exe)  ref: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c05806110 
4. Run TPMConfig to update the TPM, selecting the 2.0 version
5. Update your BIOS again to the latest version from the support site.

Kind regards,

Jez

My comments are that this method worked for me on the Z640, with one tweak.  I was not allowed to downgrade the BIOS version.  I could run the installer for BIOS 2.54 as detailed above, but on rebooting the PC it said "BIOS update denied by system policy".  However I could work around this by copying the new BIOS to a USB stick.  The instructions for that are section III of WS_Flash_Instructions.pdf, which is part of the files created by SP104013 in C:\SWSetup\SP104013.  To recap that, you make a directory on the USB stick (suppose it's drive E:) called E:\Hewlett-Packard\BIOS\New and then copy the new BIOS image to that.  The installer program C:\SWSetup\SP104013\HPBIOSUPDREC\HPBIOSUPDREC64.EXE has an option to do this copying.  You need to manually create the empty directory structure first.  Once the file has been copied to the USB stick, reboot and press Esc or F1 to enter BIOS setup, then use the option to flash BIOS from a USB device.  It still fusses about downgrading but allows it once you confirm you're really certain by typing in a code displayed on screen.  With the BIOS downgraded I was able to follow the remaining steps and get TPM 2.0.