Black Screen after BIOS udate

[Sam_26]

Hi 

I own a HP Pavilion 15-ec2004AX laptop. OS Windows 10 22H2 BIOS v - F28

Recently I have been facing black screen issue repeatedly after BIOS update. I have tried to rollback the bios to earlier version F25 using Firmware Management (F2) but error "BIOS Rollback failed unable to open BIOS Signature file "

Subsequently I tried OS reinstall which surprisingly worked and Laptop was issue free for some  time.  To avoid reoccurrence  the windows update was paused. Things appear to go smoothly however yesterday the black screen issue reappeared again

Here are my concerns: 

1. even after windows update were paused how the issue reappeared

2. I  tried to install the latest BIOS version available F29  which got rolled back automatically by the system to F28?

3. I am also unable to access advanced bios setting which seems locked by HP??

3. System Reset/restore doesn't resolve the issue??

Thanks

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Sam_26,

Welcome to the HP Support Community! 

Thanks for reaching out about your query regarding your laptop!

We're thrilled to have the opportunity to assist you and provide a solution.

Try these steps:

Check Connections: Ensure that all cables and connections are securely plugged in. Sometimes, a loose connection can cause display issues.

Boot into Safe Mode: You can try booting into Safe Mode to see if the black screen issue persists. To do this:

• Restart your laptop.
• As the machine starts, repeatedly press F8 until the Advanced Boot Options menu appears.
• Select Safe Mode and see if you are able to boot successfully.

Update Drivers: Make sure all your drivers are up to date, including graphics drivers. You can do this through Device Manager:

• Open Device Manager by typing devmgmt.msc into the Run dialog (Win + R).
• Locate your graphics driver.
• Right-click it and select Update driver.

Perform a Hard Reset: Sometimes performing a hard reset can resolve hardware or BIOS issues:

• Turn off your laptop.
• Disconnect all peripherals (e.g., external hard drives, USB drives).
• Remove the battery if possible.
• Press and hold the power button for about 15 seconds.
• Reconnect the battery and power on the laptop.

Fix Boot Issues: Use Windows Recovery Environment to fix boot issues:

• Restart your laptop.
• Press F11 repeatedly as the computer boots to enter the Recovery Environment.
• Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Repair.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Sam_26]

Hi @Kuroi_Kenshi

Well thanks for the details however all  these steps were already tried by me and failed.

Only thing that worked was OS reinstallation which is also failing as mentioned earlier. 

The Advanced BIOS setting is currently not accessible as it is restricted by HP

I think bios rollback to previous version would permanently resolve the issue which is unfortunately restricted

[Kuroi_Kenshi · Accepted solution]

Hi @Sam_26,

Thanks for your prompt response and detailed follow-up, that helps a lot!

You're absolutely right in pointing out that a rollback to a previous BIOS version might be the key here, especially since the black screen issue seems tightly linked to BIOS version F28. Unfortunately, HP devices come with signed firmware restrictions, which block rollback attempts unless the previous version is digitally signed and permitted within the system’s BIOS whitelist. That’s likely why you’re getting the “unable to open BIOS signature file” error.

That said, here are a few more advanced steps you can consider trying:

Use HP BIOS Recovery Tool:
You can try recovering the BIOS using the BIOS Recovery Environment (Win + B method). This sometimes allows older versions to be restored if the system BIOS is soft-bricked or experiencing instability.

Turn off the laptop completely.

Press and hold Win + B, then press and hold the Power button for 2-3 seconds.

Keep holding Win + B for up to 40 seconds until the BIOS recovery screen appears.

Follow the prompts to restore or reflash BIOS (if a recovery version is detected).

HP Support Assistant/SoftPaq Tool:
If the regular BIOS update fails or reverts automatically, try installing HP SoftPaq Download Manager or HP Support Assistant and flash the BIOS through there. In some rare cases, it helps bypass rollback restrictions, especially when done offline.

I hope this helps.

I'm glad I could help! 😊 If this resolved your issue, please mark it as "Accepted Solution" and click "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" Your feedback not only keeps us going but also helps others find the solution faster! 👍✨

Take care and have an amazing day ahead! 🚀

Best regards,

[Kuroi_Kenshi]

Hi @Sam_26,

A huge thank you for marking this post as the 'Accepted Solution'! We're thrilled that we could help resolve your issue. 

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to ask. We're here to help! 

Thanks again for your confirmation, and we wish you an amazing day ahead! 

Best Regards,