a problem updating Z620 BIOS

[Hadar_scpg]

I'm trying to update Z620 station BIOS at my work

tried it with windows version and with bootable USB

Transferring system ROM gets to 100%

but verifying system ROM doesn't

and then I'm getting an error message:

Error! System ROM image is invalid

station have windows 7 x64

the BIOS update was downloaded from HP website

anyone know how to fix this?

[SDH]

When you update BIOS from within Windows there are multiple things running beyond the BIOS updater program.  It turns out you can update BIOS from within BIOS itself, which is safest (but not usually necessary).

First, some HP BIOS updates state that you need to have done an earlier BIOS update first.  Make sure that is not the case for you.  Do you know what version of BIOS you are on, and have you read the details of the BIOS update you want to apply carefully?

The current BIOS for the Z620 is 3.85, and you download SP69961 to get the installer.  You can run that from your desktop, and it will place a folder on the root level of your C drive called SWSetup, na din that will be the SP69961 folder that has been unpacked by the process.  In that folder is a DOS Flash folder.  Inside that is the necessary J61_0385.BIN file that you need to copy out of there onto a regular (not bootable) USB drive, which will have nothing else on it except that .BIN file.  That is the actual BIOS update.

Shut down the computer fully, put the USB drive in one of the workstation's black USB2 ports..... I usually use the very top one out front (which is USB 2, not a blue USB3 port), start up the Z620 (this is called a cold boot), and get into BIOS.  If you already have a device plugged into that front black USB2 port use a non-blue one on the back.

Under the first tab ("File") in BIOS there will be a listing for updating the BIOS.... usually "Flash System ROM".  Choose that, and you can then select from there the USB drive as the target for the process.  Proceed, and don't forget to save changes during the process of exiting BIOS for your restart.  That last "save" may not be necessary, but I always do that anyway.

[Hadar_scpg]

in the folder that I have in my computer it create 2 folders 

HPQFlash - to install from windows

and DOS Flash to install from usb flash drive

the error I worte is what I had from the DOS Flash

after searching about that I found out it says that it means somenthing with the ROM file that I downladed isn't OK

ther are no other BIOS update for this BIOS at HP website

current bios image: ver 1.02

[SDH]

1.02..... way old.

Read the instructions straight from HP about what step-ups in BIOS you'll have to do to migrate to the current BIOS.

It can't be done in one step, I'm sure.

The step-ups, however, can be done exactly as I posted, each step.

[Hadar_scpg]

the problem is I didn't find anywhere in HP website the dribers for Z620 BIOS

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/swd/public/readIndex?sp4ts.oid=5225039&swLangOid=8&swEnvOid=4059

I only found 3.87 abd 3.85 versions of bios

[SDH]

You are correct.... I just checked and cannot find any old BIOS updaters via the normal search methods at HP.

I'd personally use the method I described from within BIOS and see if you can get the latest BIOS update 3.87 to load directly atop what you have currently.

If that does not work then you'll need to contact HP directly and see if they can provide you a link to the older BIOS updates for step-up BIOS updating.  They must have those available in their archives, and should provide a path to them if they really are needed before the latest BIOS can be loaded.  It is possible that stepwise updates used to be the case, but newer BIOS update technology from HP may have taken care of that issue.

Please let us know what you find out......

I keep seeing these BIOS updates coming, and keep applying them with no problem.  This latest one (3.87) was released late February, just a few days ago.

[joselso]

Here is a quotation from HP Description of an earlier version of the HP Z420/Z620 Workstations System BIOS

ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp63001-63500/sp63328.html

TITLE: HP Z420/Z620 Workstations System BIOS

VERSION: 03.50 Rev. A
DESCRIPTION:
This package contains the System BIOS image and flash utilities for the HP
Z420/Z620 Workstations. These utilities can be used to restore or update the
System BIOS. System BIOS is independent of the operating system.

To determine the BIOS family and BIOS date, press F10 on the target workstation
during Power On to run the Computer Setup Utility, and then select File/"System
Information". This information can be saved into a text file on a USB flash
media device by selecting File/"Save to Removable Storage Device".

For a USB flash media device to be recognized by the workstation, the device
must be attached before the workstation is Powered On.

The system BIOS 3.50 (sp63328) should include the following URL just below
"System requires a BIOS version of 01.07 or greater to update to the new 02.00
or 03.00 code base" in the release notes.

You can download HP Z420/Z620 Workstations System BIOS VERSION: 01.21 Rev. A
at:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp61001-61500/sp61313.exe
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp61001-61500/sp61313.html
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp61001-61500/sp61313.cva

WARNING: After installing a 2.xx BIOS onto the system, the system will not be
able to flash back to a 1.xx BIOS.

I hope this answers your questions.

[joselso]

NOTE:  Now it is HP's responsibility to enable users to actually perform the recommended downloads as quoted in my reply above.

[joselso]

OK, I have found a more reliable and accessible source for the BIOS update:

HP

SUPPORT COMMUNICATION - CUSTOMER ADVISORY

Document ID: c03993436

Version: 1

Advisory: HP Z420/Z620/Z820 Workstation - May Not Be Able To Update System BIOS

http://h20564.www2.hp.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docId=emr_na-c04037460

 You can download HP Z420/Z620 Workstations System BIOS VERSION: 01.23 Rev. A at:
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp64501-65000/sp64701.exe
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp64501-65000/sp64701.html
ftp://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp64501-65000/sp64701.cva

Right?

[Hadar_scpg]

at the moment I update the bios from version 1.08 to 1.14 and then to 2.08

now I have 2 more updates that I hope won't cause me any problem

from 2.08 to 3.85 and then to 3.87

I couldn't find any other updates  between 2.08 to 3.85