BIOS errors

[Mo42]

I  recently had to restore my Laptop after a catastrophic failure to its original state. From there, using my copy of Acronis I recovered to last usable backup. However, during this process I found my BIOS settings slightly different

to what they were before. I am using the latest BIOS update that was published for this model.

Am I able to rectify this by resetting the BIOS to the factory settings?  Would this affect the rest of the Laptop's data? Would it retain the BIos Version I have or reset to the BIOS Version as originally installed? As an alternative, could I overwrite the BIOS with a fresh copy of the latest version to achiever the proper settings?

Any advice on this would be welcome.

[Max3Aj · Accepted solution]

@Mo42, Welcome to HP Support Community. 

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you. 
Thanks for the detailed background. Here’s how BIOS resets and updates work for your HP Pavilion 15-ab271sa laptop and what you can do safely:

Resetting BIOS to Factory Defaults

What it does: Resets BIOS settings (boot order, Secure Boot, virtualization, fan behavior, etc.) to factory defaults for the current version.

What it does not do:

• Does not affect your OS or files.
• Does not downgrade or change the BIOS version.

Recommended: This is a safe first step to fix odd behavior or restore original settings.

Reinstalling the Current BIOS Version (Flashing the BIOS Again)

Why do it: If you suspect the BIOS itself might have been corrupted (very rare), or settings seem irreversibly off, you can re-flash the same BIOS version.

What happens:

• Reinstalls the BIOS firmware, including default settings.
• May help fix bugs or inconsistencies introduced during recovery.

Just ensure the update process isn't interrupted—use a fully charged battery and keep AC power connected.

What a BIOS Reset/Update Will Not Do

• It won’t touch your hard drive data or Windows installation.
• It won’t restore BIOS to the version that came with the laptop, unless you manually download and install an older version (not usually recommended unless needed).

Suggested Steps

Reset BIOS to Default Settings:

• Enter BIOS setup (press F10 during boot).
• Look for “Restore Defaults” or “Load Setup Defaults”.
• Save and exit.

I hope this helps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Select "Yes" on the bottom left to say “Thanks” for helping! 

Max3Aj

HP Support 

[Mo42]

Hi

Many thanks for the information. Done and dusted.

Mo