Cannot open BIOS utilities (setup menu, boot selection, UEFI diagnostics)

[klepon_eyang]

For the past few months I haven't been able to update my firmware, the preinstall steps works but the usual BIOS update screen doesn't appear and the system continues to boot Windows without updating the firmware. The same thing occurs when trying to update the UEFI diagnostics tool, just a reboot without update.

Today I decided to give another shot at updating the diagnostics tool by directly booting the EFI file using a thumb drive. When I did that it showed an error message regarding unverified keys (I can't remember the details) so I disabled secure boot and the update works. I figured secure boot is also what's causing the failed firmware update so I tried updating it again and sure enough it successfully updates and boots to Windows without an issue.

After that, I turned secure boot back on which brought us to this issue. Because the BIOS setup can't be opened, I can't turn secure boot off. I tried recovering the BIOS by pressing Win + B + power button but the recovered BIOS is the latest version after updating which meant the problem still persist. Another possibility that I read is resetting the battery but I never opened my laptop before so I would like to avoid this if possible. What other options do I have to resolve this problem?

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @klepon_eyang 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Since Secure Boot is re-enabled and you're unable to access BIOS utilities on your Victus by HP 16-s0000, the most effective recovery option is to perform a full CMOS reset using the built-in HP Hardware Diagnostics UEFI USB utility—without relying on BIOS access. This avoids opening the laptop and can restore access to BIOS menus.

Step-by-Step: Restore BIOS Access Without Opening the Laptop

1. Create HP Hardware Diagnostics UEFI USB

Download the tool from:
HP PC Hardware Diagnostics UEFI

Use the installer to create a bootable USB drive.

Insert the USB into your laptop.

This tool bypasses Secure Boot restrictions and allows low-level diagnostics and resets.

 

2. Boot from USB Diagnostics

• Power off the laptop.
• Press Esc repeatedly while powering on.
• If the Startup Menu doesn’t appear, try F9 or F2 immediately after pressing power.

If BIOS menus are blocked, the USB may still boot directly into diagnostics.

 

3. Run System Board Test

• In the diagnostics menu, select Component Tests > System Board.
• Run the test and observe results.

This checks for firmware integrity and may trigger a reset of corrupted BIOS flags.

 

4. Reset BIOS via Diagnostics

• In the same diagnostics menu, look for Firmware Management.
• Select Restore Factory Defaults or Reset Secure Boot Keys.

This can restore BIOS access without opening the chassis or removing the battery.

 

5. Alternative Boot via EFI Shell

If diagnostics fail to load:

• Format a USB drive as FAT32.
• Create a folder EFI\Boot and place an EFI shell file named Bootx64.efi inside.
• Boot from this USB and use shell commands to inspect or reset NVRAM.

This method is advanced but can bypass locked BIOS states.

 

6. Check for HP BIOS Configuration Utility (Windows)

Download from: HP BIOS Configuration Utility

Run in Windows to check if Secure Boot or BIOS settings can be modified from within the OS.

Some HP models allow limited BIOS control via this utility.

Let me know if the diagnostics USB boots successfully or if the BIOS Configuration Utility detects your system. 

You're doing everything right—this sequence should help restore BIOS access without needing to open the laptop or reset the battery manually.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye

[klepon_eyang · Accepted solution]

Thank you for the response @Hawks_Eye 

After looking into it some more I saw another thread mentioning similar issue after updating to F.30. It turns out it has nothing to do with secure boot. The "solution" is to unplug all USB peripherals which in my case is mouse and keyboard before booting into the BIOS menu, this surprisingly fix the problem and I was able to access all of BIOS utility which was previously inaccessible. I hope HP will release a fix for this soon as it is quite an inconvenience.