BIOS update bricked my HP Pavilion

[dangeroustumor3]

A few months ago I downloaded a BIOS update for my laptop, and since then it has been bricked. Previously I was able to get into BIOS but not the OS, and now when I turn it on, it shows a power indicator, the fans spin up, then stop a few seconds later, and the power indicator stays on and the screen does not start. I've tried booting without a battery, the ssd, removing the ribbon cable for the display, none of it has worked. It's frustrating because it's just barely outside the warranty period. I've tried using the files HP provides for BIOS updates, but when I run them it downloads a .exe file and running that does nothing. I cannot figure out how to create a bootable USB either.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @dangeroustumor3,

Welcome to the HP Support Community. 

I'd be glad to help you! 

I'm really sorry to hear about your HP Pavilion’s situation—it must be incredibly frustrating to have your laptop bricked right after a BIOS update, especially with it being just out of warranty. I’d be glad to help you troubleshoot and see if we can bring it back to life.

Here are a few questions that might help narrow down the issue:

1. Have you tried performing a hard reset (holding down the power button for 15-30 seconds while unplugged and without a battery)?
2. Was there any error message or beeping pattern when the issue first appeared, or has it just remained unresponsive?

Now, here are some steps to try to restore or reflash the BIOS:

 

Perform an HP BIOS Recovery via Key Combination

• If your HP laptop supports it, plug in the power adapter, hold down Windows + B (or Windows + V for some models), then press the power button for about 2-3 seconds and release it while holding the keys. This should trigger the BIOS recovery screen if it’s available on your model.
• If successful, follow the on-screen instructions to reflash the BIOS.

2. Create a Bootable USB for BIOS Recovery

• Use another computer to download the BIOS update file from the HP support website. You should look for an option to create a bootable USB rather than just downloading the .exe file.
• Insert a USB drive (formatted to FAT32), and use the HP BIOS Update utility (usually a setup utility within the .exe download) to create the bootable BIOS recovery drive.
• Insert the USB into your HP laptop, hold Windows + B or Windows + V, press the power button, and try to access the BIOS recovery again.

3. Use a Different Version of the BIOS File

• On another computer, try to find an older version of the BIOS file on HP’s support page (look under “Previous Versions” if available).
• Use the same process to create a bootable USB and see if downgrading the BIOS resolves the issue.

4. Attempt a Crisis Recovery Boot

• Insert the USB drive (created in Step 2 or 3) into the laptop, then disconnect all peripherals, including battery and power cord.
• Reconnect the power cord, hold Windows + B (or Windows + V), and press the power button for several seconds. If the laptop’s BIOS is in crisis mode, it might attempt to recover from the USB automatically.

5.Test RAM and CMOS Battery

• Remove and reseat the RAM sticks, as faulty or misaligned RAM can sometimes prevent the BIOS from initializing.
• If you’re comfortable with it, try replacing the CMOS battery as it might be low and causing BIOS startup issues.

Hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance

Please mark this post as “Accepted Solution” if the issue is resolved and if you feel this reply was helpful click “Yes”.

[dangeroustumor3]

None of these solutions have worked. In addition, the ram is soldered to the motherboard and there is no CMOS battery. I'm wondering about the bootable USB, though. When I create it, it creates three folders, titled "EFI", "Hewlett-Packard", and "HP". Should I be copying the contents of one of these folders to the root of the USB, or leaving it as is when I use it to try and recover. I tried copying the contents of Hewlett-Packard to the root and removing all other folders, and it then gave me three blinks with the power button before making a small noise and turning off about 30 seconds later.

[Nal_NR]

Hi @dangeroustumor3 ,

We apologize for the inconvenience. The issue seems to persist even after attempting the troubleshooting steps mentioned above.

This might require one-on-one interaction via remote assistance to fix the issue. 

I've sent you a private message with further instructions. In order to access your private messages, click the private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Support Community profile, next to your profile Name or simply click on this link.

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the Accepted Solution button, that'll help us and others see that we've got the answers!