Should I update the bios?

[harristess]

HP Support Assistant is suggesting a bios update: 

HP Consumer Desktop PC BIOS Update (ROM Family SSID 8643) 

SoftPaq number: sp146855 Version F.45

In November 2022, I updated the bios after an HP suggestion to F.44 and it changed all the startup/download settings regarding use of the SSD drive, which I had set up to improve performance. I had to change everything back to the C HDD.

Now, I'm planning to clone the HDD to the SDD, but I am nervous about updating the bios.

Can anyone advise?

Thanks 

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi:

The only thing I can tell you is that the BIOS update file your PC's support page tells you what the BIOS update does:

Driver - HP Desktop - M01-F0022na | HP® Customer Support

1. Update AMD Combo AM4 PI 1.0.0.A.

2. Provides improved security.

HP indicates the BIOS update is 'Routine,' and can be run on W10 or W11.

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp146501-147000/sp146855.html 

My experience with HP BIOS releases is that they are described in one of 3 categories:

Routine -- I interpret that to be 'not required.'

Recommended -- I interpret that to mean it's probably a good idea to update the BIOS.

Critical--I interpret that to mean that I should update the BIOS to that version.

What these two improvements in the BIOS update you received do; I have no idea since there is no further details.

The first one seems to be related to the info at the link below:

With Upcoming AMD Processors, AND Combo PI BIOS is Coming on MSI AM4 300-, 400- And 500-Series Mothe...

Updating the BIOS always carries some risks of failing, or doing other things such as what you experienced, so you will have to decide if the BIOS update is worth the risk.

Personally, I have never had an issue with updating the BIOS on any notebook or desktop PC I have ever owned, but maybe I've just been very lucky.

You will find occasional posts on the forum regarding disastrous BIOS updates.

But most of the time things work out fine, or we would see a huge number of posts regarding problems with failed BIOS updates, or problems that happened after the update was applied.

[harristess]

Thanks Paul for the fast reply.

I think I will ignore it for the time being.

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

You're very welcome.

You may want to hold off until you get a recommended or critical BIOS update notification if HP releases any further BIOS updates for your PC.