After BIOS update, laptop won't boot

[Josh999]

The laptop was running fine on an ancient version of bios (f.24, I reckon).  I tried using the online installer, but it never actually updated the bios.  Just rebooted back into the OS after the whole "You need to reboot for changes to take effect" or whatever.

After trying to force it by doing a bios recovery, using either Windows+B or Windows+V and the inserting the USB with latest firmware, I came back to find the screen blank.  I couldn't get the laptop to boot.

I've gone over many variations around this, to no avail:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpiGUojtr3E

I've had the CMOS battery for 5 minutes too, but that didn't help either.  Nothing.  The only thing I can make happen is holding down power will shut it off briefly, and then it pops back on again... and does nothing.

I've also tried plugging in a screen into the HDMI and Fn+F4 or whatever to switch screens, but nothing comes up.

Kinda frustrating that these are that flakey about their bios updates and the recovery access is so voodoo.

Anyone got ideas?

[Josh999]

Overnight CMOS battery removal and continued fiddling hasn't resulted in anything new.  This is disappointing.  I have normally had good experiences with HP products (we recently bought a mid-range printer a month ago from them) and overall, I'd say this experience was hugely disappointing.

[Josh999]

Additionally, I have 2 of these with the same .24 bios.  I ran the .32 bios update and it seemed like it took (same as the bricked laptop) asked for a reboot, and as the other one, came back fine, with no change to bios.

I can't find a .25 version or similar.  Jump might just be too much.  I won't do the recover bios option which led me to the current state of affairs, but this isn't a one-time-bug.  It's repeatable.

Here's the history of available bios updates:
https://support.hp.com/us-en/drivers/selfservice/hp-15-bs100-laptop-pc/16851388/model/18686329?sku=2...

[Dilip_18]

Hi@Josh999,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! I'd like to help!

I see you are experiencing issues with the HP Notebook not booting to windows just goes to a black screen. 

The BIOS can be corrupted during normal operation from a failed BIOS upgrade, or damage from a virus.   

Recover the BIOS using a key press combination. 

Turn off the computer. Press and hold the Windows + b keys, and continue to press those keys while you press and hold the power button for 2 to 3 seconds. Release the power button, but continue pressing the Windows + b keys. 

The power light remains on, and the screen remains blank for about 40 seconds before anything is displayed. You might hear a series of beeps (usually 8 beeps). Eventually, an HP BIOS Update screen is displayed and the BIOS update begins automatically.   

NOTE: If the HP BIOS Update screen is not displayed, press and release the power button, and then immediately press the Windows + b keys at the same time, repeatedly, until the computer beeps or opens the HP BIOS Update screen. 

After the BIOS is recovered, a Continue Startup button is displayed and a timer counts down. Click the Continue Startup button to restart the computer immediately, or wait for the computer to restart automatically when the timer reaches zero.

If issue still persist then test the hard drive using HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI to rule out other hard drive issues

1. Start or restart the computer.
2. Press F2 repeatedly during start up to enter the HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI utility.
3. Select Component Tests > Hard Drive > Quick Test.
4. Click Run Once.

Once the test completes, results are displayed on the screen.

If the drive passes all tests, continue to restore a computer back to the factory default, which will isolate whether it’s a software or hardware issue. 

The HP Cloud Recovery Tool allows you to download recovery software to a USB drive. You can use the downloaded recovery image file in order to install the Windows operating system. 

Click here for the HP Cloud Recovery Tool (Windows 10) link.

For any hardware issue or repair please click on the link Phone Assist Worldwide

Hope this helps! Keep me posted. 

Please click “Accept as Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click on the YES button to reply that the response was helpful and/or to say “Thank You”.

Have a great day!

[Josh999]

Sadly I already tried all that.  No dice.  It won't pull up the BIOS recovery screen or boot.  Just a dark screen.  Some activity can get the monitor to flicker, but nothing to suggest we're getting anywhere.

I won't try and update the firmware on the other one through that method.  Obviously, the .24 firmware and update utilities are so poorly written that I'm not going to risk bricking both laptops.  Very disappointed with this and am surprised an HP product is so flakey.