dc7800 BIOS & MicroCode Update

[bocajoe]

I have several dc7800 (2 SFF & 1 CMT) I would like to update the BIOS & Microcode so I can upgrade the processors to the supported Q9400 CPU's I have sitting here. Can somebody help me on the process to upgrade the BIOS & MicroCode?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

Here is all the info you need to update the microcode for your dc7800's.

Files are the same for the SFF's and CMT's.

You have to copy the DOS flash files in the microcode update folder to a bootable usb flash drive, with DOS command files on it.

Put the flash drive in the PC, turn it on and the PC should boot to the usb flash drive.

At the command prompt, type Flashbin.exe and hit the enter key.

Follow the on screen instructions to update the microcode.

I zipped up and attached the utility to make a bootable flash drive below, the DOS command files you need, as well as the dc7800 microcode update files.

You make the bootable flash drive first by running sp27608.

After the utility has formatted the drive and made it bootable, copy the dos files to it, then copy the Microcode update files to it.

Copy just the files in the folders, not the folders.

After you update the microcodes, I will give you the instructions to update the BIOS.  I don't want to confuse the attached microcode files with the BIOS files.

So, you can let me know when you have completed that process.

Updating the BIOS will be easier.

[bocajoe]

Hi Paul and thank you kindly!

I'm not sure how to make a bootable flash drive.

I formatted a USB to FAT 32 and put all the files (not the folders) from the 3 attachments you graciously provided.

I then hit F10 at bootup and proceeded to Flash System ROM from the USB where it says

"File is missing or damaged. Press any key to continue"

Where did I screw up?

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome.

My instructions are flawed.

You put the flash drive in the PC, unzip and run sp27608.

That will format the flash drive and make it bootable.

Then you copy the file contents from the other two folders.

DO NOT use the flash system rom command in the BIOS to update the microcode.

You boot from the flash drive and at the command prompt, type Flashbin.exe and hit the enter key.

[bocajoe]

I'm sure I did something wrong because it says "Non System Disk or Disk Error"

Here's what I did:

Formatted a USB with Fat32

Ran SP27608.exe changing install destination to the USB and let it do it's thing

Copied all the files from both folders (not the folders) to the USB

Tried to Boot from new USB

It says "Non-System Disk or Disk Error"

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hmmmm....

I have a dc7800 CMT, and used those same files and methods to update the microcode.

I didn't even bother to format the flash drive.  I let sp27608 do that for me, and it made the flash drive bootable.

Then I copied the file contents of those other 2 folders to the flash drive, and when I put it in the PC, tapped the F9 key at the beginning of the HP welcome screen, selected the flash drive from the bootable device menu, it booted just fine to a command prompt, and then I typed flashbin.exe hit the return key, and off went the microcode update.

[bocajoe]

Sounds exactly what I did minus formatting the USB drive first. I don't have a hard drive installed in the machine currently... not sure if that makes a difference.

I'll throw in a hard drive (just in case) and try your steps again.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

In theory, the flash drive should have booted without a hard drive installed.

It should even boot without any of the files you added afterward.

The DOS command files are just needed so you can get the microcode update file to run.

Maybe try those steps with a different USB flash drive if you have one.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi:

Now that the desktop pc section of the forum is working again, here is a link to a solved post where I gave the exact same instructions to another forum member and it worked as expected.  This being for the dc7700...

http://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Software-and-How-To-Questions/invalid-processor-microcode-updat...

[HackSmash]

Did the above to flash a 7800p and I know where the directions falter.

Use the files that Paul linked

1. open the SP27608 zip and install it.

2. Now when you run this select Create a DOS startup disk and check "using DOS system files located at"

3. Next unzip the file titled DOS System Files you dl'ed from up top

4. point the Format tool to that file. 

5. Format it

6. DO NOT copy paste over the Dos System File contents on the usb, it'll format those into the usb with the format tool. 

7. ONLY copy over your DOS Flash folder contents.

8. Plug it in to the need flashed pc and boot pc from usb

9. PC jargon rolls by and stops with a blinking | after C:>

10. type Flashbin.exe after the C:> and press enter.

11. Profit

This worked for me to fix the microcode error when trying to plug in a 3.00ghz E8400 dual core into a dc7800p

Hope it helps